Over the next few days, a flood of intelligence poured in to Shinji.
This included valuable information obtained at great cost by the Demon Slayer Corps, clues extracted through interrogations of demons, and various details gathered from human society.
After compiling all this intelligence, Shinji reached a startling conclusion.
The demons were losing control!
This wasn't just one or two demons—it was the entire demon population, as a collective or species, spiraling out of control.
This phenomenon had started with the lowest-tier demons.
The recent surge in demon attacks across various regions was the most direct consequence of this loss of control.
As time passed, the phenomenon began spreading from low-tier demons to higher-tier ones, like a virus.
Take the president's wife, coerced by Shinji, for example. Previously, aside from her bloodthirsty demonic nature, she had blended seamlessly into human society, allowing her to remain hidden in its upper echelons.
But just yesterday, she had suddenly gone berserk, transforming into a bloodthirsty monster. She slaughtered her mansion's servants and subordinates before vanishing without a trace.
This was not an isolated case.
Through her investigations, Karin discovered that numerous demons embedded in human society's upper ranks had recently gone mad, causing a series of horrific, bloody incidents.
The source of all this chaos was likely the mysterious figure—the Demon King.
Atop a high mountain outside Kyoto, Shinji gazed at the eerily silent city, his expression grave.
In the days since counter-invading the Demon Slayer world, he could clearly sense the world teetering toward collapse. All order, all rules, seemed to be unraveling, twisting.
"Could this be the consequence of being targeted by the Hegemon?" Shinji felt a chill seep into his heart.
Others might not notice these changes, but as a Lampbearer, he could distinctly feel the Demon Slayer world crumbling. The Hegemon's power was penetrating the barrier, influencing this world. The ability to affect an entire world, causing it to warp and distort, was beyond his imagination.
Suddenly, a team appeared at the mountain's base, advancing toward Kyoto.
Shinji glanced at them and then looked away.
This team, led by Haku, was an elite squad of the Demon Slayer Corps tasked with investigating Kyoto's situation.
Looking at the lifeless surroundings, Zenitsu said, "This is way too creepy!"
"Hmph, coward!" Genya Shinazugawa snorted.
Zenitsu, annoyed, retorted, "An entire city suddenly goes silent, and that's not scary?"
Genya scoffed, "So what?"
Nezuko glanced at Haku, leading the group, then addressed the bickering duo. "Is this the time to argue?"
As the strongest swordsman in the Corps after Haku, her words silenced Zenitsu and Genya.
With the sharp rise in demon attacks and the uncontrollable madness of demons hidden in human society's upper ranks, the existence of demons could no longer be concealed—it was now known to the world.
Coupled with several cities losing all contact, human society was plunged into unprecedented panic, with doomsday theories running rampant.
The Demon Slayer Corps scoffed at such notions. To them, the source of this chaos was merely demons.
Nezuko quickened her pace, catching up to Haku. "Haku, we're almost at Kyoto. Do we enter now?"
Haku nodded slightly, then addressed the group behind him. "Over a dozen swordsmen have already gone missing in the city, so everyone must be cautious this time. No one acts alone!"
"Yes!" The Corps members nodded in unison.
Soon, Haku's Demon Slayer squad entered Kyoto.
Contrary to expectations of ruins and rivers of blood, the city appeared largely unchanged—except for the absence of people.
Inosuke emerged from a shop, muttering, "Weird… not a single person anywhere."
Others in the squad, having searched nearby shops and houses, returned to the main street where Haku stood, shaking their heads.
Haku frowned slightly.
Though the streets were somewhat chaotic, with scattered items and haphazardly parked vehicles, the city showed no signs of a major battle.
Moments later, the squad regrouped.
Genya said, "We've searched the whole street—no people, no demons."
Kanao added, "Not even bloodstains."
Nezuko glanced at the darkening sky above and asked Haku, "Haku, it's getting late. Do we keep going deeper?"
"Yes," Haku nodded.
This investigation of Kyoto was ordered by Shinji, not only to uncover what had happened but also to determine if the mysterious figure was hiding here. Naturally, Haku wouldn't turn back easily.
The squad pressed deeper into the empty streets.
As time passed, the already overcast sky grew completely dark.
The Demon Slayer Corps was accustomed to fighting demons at night, so the darkness didn't faze them. The Hashira maintained formation, while lower-ranking swordsmen lit torches. Under the flickering firelight, the squad stood out starkly against the city.
Despite this, they marched resolutely through the pitch-black city.
After some time, Haku suddenly halted.
The squad instinctively stopped, alert. Nezuko approached, whispering, "What's wrong?"
Haku tilted his ear, listening. "Listen."
At his cue, the Demon Slayer swordsmen held their breath, straining their ears.
The empty city was already eerily silent, so with everyone still and focused, only their faint breathing and the crackling of torches could be heard.
After a few moments, they faintly detected a subtle sound carried by the wind.
Zenitsu asked, "Is that the wind?"
Haku shook his head. "No, it's footsteps—lots and lots of footsteps! Everyone, be on guard. Something's closing in on us!"
At Haku's loud warning, the squad tensed.
The sound in the wind grew louder, more chaotic. They finally recognized it as footsteps—countless, dense footsteps.
Realizing the gravity, the swordsmen tightened their formation, standing back-to-back in a circle.
Genya roared, "What are you waiting for? Light the houses around us!"
At his command, the swordsmen hurled their torches, setting nearby buildings ablaze. As the flames rose, the surroundings brightened, revealing layers of shadowy figures in the darkness.