The fires had died.
The wind now whispered across a wounded forest, carrying ash and the faint stench of scorched demon blood.
In the distance, Hell's portal had closed. No new monsters emerged, not tonight.
But the Demon Slayer Corps knew…
This wasn't over.
Hell Retreats... For Now
In the deepest layer of Hell, the Dark Lord stood at the edge of a scorched cliff, his back to a lake of lava that boiled with screaming souls. He clutched the remains of his priest's soul in his clawed hand, its essence draining away into nothing.
"So... he is here."
The voice echoed across the damned realm.
A tremble ran through the demonic landscape—Hell itself feared him.
The Dark Lord scowled, then turned to his high generals.
"He cannot come here unless the portal is opened."
"But we can still go to him."
He sat on the black throne again, his throne built on the remains of his past enemies. His skeletal fingers drummed on the bone armrest.
"This is no longer a conquest…"
"This is revenge."
But he needed an anchor—an outer source on Earth to open the next portal.
And until then… he waited, planning.
Demon Slayer HQ – Night
The sky above the HQ was a blanket of stars, peaceful and quiet.
But below, tension reigned.
The injured were healing, Kakushi and healers tending to them. Some of the younger Slayers cried silently from the trauma of the Hell invasion.
Others, wide-eyed and pale, couldn't sleep.
Some just stared at the spot where the Slayer stood earlier, where a pile of demon corpses once was.
Slayer's Dorm
Inside his dorm—which now had a broken wall instead of a doorframe, thanks to his earlier "entrance"—the Slayer sat motionless on his massive oak log.
He had removed his helmet again, his stern expression barely lit by the flickering flame of a nearby torch. He didn't speak. Didn't sleep.
He simply waited.
Tanjiro Arrives
The crunch of gravel echoed softly as Tanjiro approached.He held a tray—a warm, simple meal.
He knocked lightly.
"Slayer-san… It's me. I brought some food. I hope it's alright… again."
He stepped in. The Slayer's eyes turned slightly toward him but said nothing.
Tanjiro placed the tray down beside him and smiled.
"You saved everyone again. Thank you…"
No response. Just silence.
But Slayer picked up the food. That was enough.
Tanjiro's eyes flicked over to the massive Crucible sword resting beside the log, the faint red runes still softly glowing even now.
"...Even demons fear you. I saw it today."
Still, no answer.
But Tanjiro sat with him for a moment. It wasn't about words—it was about respect.
Upper Moons' Cabin
Elsewhere, in a heavily guarded and separated cabin, Muzan and the remaining Upper Moons sat in silence.
The blood-red moonlight washed across their tense faces.
Doma finally broke the silence.
"Well, this is certainly new, isn't it? Us… being protected by the Slayer Corps."
Akaza clenched his fists, his pride cracked from watching the Slayer tear through Hell's legions with bare hands.
"He wasn't even fighting us. He didn't even look at us."
Kokushibo, arms folded, stared at the floor.
"That man is not from this world. He is not like us. And that… blade of his. It devours souls."
Muzan looked to the wall, where a sliver of moonlight crept through a crack.
"For now, we are safer here than out there. But that does not mean we are safe."
Doma's smile faded for once.
"...So what now? We fight with the humans?"
Muzan finally answered.
"We survive. And if that means fighting against Hell… we fight."
Hashira Meeting – HQ Hall
Meanwhile, the Hashiras gathered in a private chamber.
Tomioka stood silently as usual, arms crossed.
Shinobu glanced toward the closed window, her tone mild but clear.
"I never thought I'd see the day we house demons. Not just any demons, but Upper Moons."
Sanemi slammed his fist on the floor.
"We're letting Muzan stay here like some kind of guest?! Are you all insane?!"
Mitsuri looked concerned.
"But they're… different now. They saw the Slayer. They're afraid."
Gyomei said quietly:
"They are not our allies. But they are not the enemy tonight."
Tengen tapped his fingers on his swords.
"He scares them. More than they scare me."
Kagaya's voice, though weak, came through the curtain behind them.
"If the Slayer considers them worth sparing… then they are not our concern. Hell is a greater threat now."
The Calm Before War
And so the night settled again.
A night of rest for some.A night of deep thought for others.A night of waiting for one.
The Slayer sat on the log under the moonlight, Crucible now planted in the ground beside him. His armor reflected the stars. His eyes stayed fixed on the far horizon.
He knew this wasn't over.
And the worst was still to come.