DS Chapter 80: Before the Battle! The Gap Between Ren and Sanemi Narrows
Among them, the trio was currently the weakest, but they possessed tremendous potential for growth.
Above them were the Lower Rank demons.
In the early days of the Demon Slayer Corps, slaying one of the Lower Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki was enough to earn the title of Hashira.
Above that stood the ordinary Hashira.
This included the Insect, Sound, Love, Serpent, Water, Flame, Mist, and Wind Hashira.
Each specialized in different areas, making it difficult to determine who was stronger. Victory often depended more on compatibility than raw power.
Even among the weakest Upper Ranks, strength varied greatly. Generally speaking, however, a Hashira without a Demon Slayer Mark stood little chance of defeating even the lowest-ranked Upper Rank.
The Upper Ranks themselves were even more uneven.
Some possessed overwhelming strength and could fight multiple Hashira simultaneously.
Others...
Were considerably less impressive.
Like a certain pot demon...
Who could practically stop to take a dump right in front of you.
Above them...
Stood the strongest Hashira of the current era.
Gyomei Himejima.
Ren fully agreed that Gyomei's Stone Breathing training bordered on inhuman.
Then came the highest echelon.
Upper Ranks One, Two, and Three.
The difference in strength between each Upper Rank was almost like a sheer cliff.
The Infinity Castle battle demonstrated that perfectly.
Some required two Hashira.
Others required three.
And some...
Needed four opponents working together.
Ren could say one thing with absolute confidence.
If Akaza hadn't left because of dawn...
If Doma hadn't been so arrogant...
And if Kokushibo hadn't hesitated...
The three strongest Upper Ranks could have wiped out almost the entire Demon Slayer Corps.
That was why...
Humans had to be smarter than demons.
More cunning.
Otherwise...
Victory would be impossible.
As for Muzan Kibutsuji...
And Yoriichi Tsugikuni...
Their strength needed no explanation.
Those who knew...
Already understood.
Putting those thoughts aside, Ren focused on himself.
At present...
His strength was probably somewhere above a Lower Rank demon...
But still below that of an ordinary Hashira.
Today's battle was the decisive step toward becoming a Hashira.
Only by proving he possessed Hashira-level strength could he officially join the Demon Slayer Corps.
After several days of exploration, Ren had already realized something.
Trying to grow stronger alone would become increasingly difficult.
Especially when it came to studying the Breathing Styles and combat techniques of the Hashira.
Every Hashira possessed a unique style.
And those techniques were precisely the treasures Ren needed most.
"Iguro-san."
"Thank you for the information."
"See you all later."
After thanking Obanai, Ren bid farewell to the Hashira and continued onward with Kanao.
The two crossed the courtyard and gradually approached the Ubuyashiki Estate.
The area around the residence was unusually quiet.
Most of the people nearby were Kakushi members working diligently.
They were likely trying to maintain a peaceful environment for Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
Looking up at the mansion before him, Ren couldn't help admiring it.
Compared to the Butterfly Mansion...
The Ubuyashiki Estate was on an entirely different scale.
Then again...
The Ubuyashiki family was extraordinarily wealthy.
After centuries of accumulated fortune, combined with the family's remarkable foresight and business talent...
They had become one of the nation's wealthiest households.
The enormous estate before him was proof enough.
After all...
What ordinary family lived in a residence this large?
Thinking about it, Ren couldn't help sighing.
The Ubuyashiki family clearly wasn't lacking money.
The only reason the Butterfly Mansion remained so financially strained...
Was because Shinobu was too proud to ask for help.
If it had been Ren...
He would have asked without hesitation.
Give me funding.
I'm saving humanity, after all.
How could they possibly refuse?
Just as he was lost in thought...
A familiar figure appeared from around the corner of the estate.
Sanemi Shinazugawa.
The two stopped almost simultaneously.
Neither spoke.
They simply looked at one another.
Sanemi appeared energetic.
His eyes were sharp.
His posture remained as imposing as ever.
He certainly didn't look like someone who had donated three large buckets of blood yesterday.
Ren rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Strange.
Why does he look so full of energy?
Perhaps...
Shinobu's idea really could work.
With Sanemi's terrifying recovery ability...
He might genuinely become the Butterfly Mansion's regular blood donor.
Of course...
Ren wisely kept those thoughts to himself.
Instead, he smiled.
"Sanemi."
"Long time no see."
Sanemi's eyebrow twitched.
"...We saw each other yesterday."
"During the blood transfusion."
For a brief moment...
Silence filled the courtyard.
Ren simply waved dismissively.
"No need to dwell on the past."
Then he asked with genuine concern,
"How are you feeling?"
"The blood loss won't affect today's match, will it?"
Sanemi snorted.
"Instead of worrying about me..."
"You should worry about yourself."
"I'm in perfect condition."
"And I won't hold back."
"If you're smart..."
"You still have time to walk away."
Ren merely smiled.
"That won't be necessary."
"Besides..."
"Who could possibly outrun you?"
"Shinobu told me you ran out of the Butterfly Mansion before sunrise."
"Even she couldn't catch you."
"And she's supposed to be one of the fastest Hashira."
Sanemi remained silent.
Apparently...
Some unpleasant memory had resurfaced.
For some reason...
The more he looked at Ren...
The more he felt the young man was becoming just like Shinobu.
Sharp-tongued.
Sanemi let out a quiet sigh.
He decided it was best not to continue the conversation.
Turning around, he headed toward his preparation room without another word.
Ren likewise entered the estate with Kanao.
Both competitors had been assigned separate preparation rooms inside Kagaya Ubuyashiki's residence.
Kagaya's daughters had already prepared hot water and everything necessary to ensure both fighters entered the match in peak condition.
Just as they were about to part ways...
Sanemi suddenly spoke again.
Neither of them turned around.
Standing back to back...
His voice carried an unusual seriousness.
"Ren."
"I acknowledged you back at the Butterfly Mansion."
"So today..."
"I'll fight with everything I've got."
"...Don't die."
As his words faded...
A strong wind swept through the courtyard.
Ren quietly looked in Sanemi's direction.
Without either of them realizing it...
The distance between them had already grown much smaller.
A faint smile appeared on Ren's face.
"I won't."
"Because..."
"I have something I refuse to lose as well."
"Thank you."
With that...
Ren and Kanao disappeared into the estate.
Sanemi remained standing there for a long moment.
Then...
A faint smile slowly spread across his face.
"...That brat."