Himejima Gyomei once again put his palms together, tears streaming down his face.
He was simply overwhelmed with admiration.
Though he had arrived late and missed the sight of Yohan flying through the sky, he had caught the very moment the massive boulder was shattered into dust.
"I thought you were in some sort of trouble, Master Yohan… so I rushed over, hoping to lend a hand…"
"I didn't expect that this ruckus was just a result of your… training."
What an unfathomably powerful person.
As the most physically powerful of the Hashira, Gyomei had always believed that although Yohan might be stronger than him, the difference between them shouldn't be that vast.
After all, apart from a select few, most Hashira hadn't truly witnessed the terrifying strength of the Upper Moons. Even with Shinobu Kocho's detailed descriptions, the other Hashira still held confidence in themselves—because they were Hashira, after all.
Gyomei, though humble and devout, had been no exception.
But what he just witnessed had completely shattered that belief. His respect for Yohan's power grew boundlessly.
And even more than his power—was Yohan's character.
"To possess such overwhelming strength… and yet, when faced with Sanemi's doubts, he merely knocked him unconscious rather than retaliating with true force…"
Gyomei had already conveniently forgotten the fact that Sanemi had been peeled out from inside a wall afterward.
A true strong man has pride—but what Gyomei saw in Yohan was something even purer, more restrained.
As a follower of Buddha, he couldn't help but be moved.
"No, wait—let me explain," Yohan tried to speak up, confused. What was this whole "admiration" thing? He had no clue what Gyomei was talking about.
"There's no need to say more, Master Yohan. I only came to thank you for saving Shinobu and for slaying Upper Moon Two, Doma."
"Now that we've met, I'll take my leave."
If even someone as powerful as Yohan kept to his training regimen after defeating an Upper Moon, how could he, merely a Hashira, allow himself to slack off?
Gyomei couldn't wait to get back to his region and continue his spiritual practice.
Yohan watched as Gyomei rushed down the mountain path without even turning back, scratching his head in confusion.
What just happened?
Having finished testing the next stage of his Incursio:Demon Armor technique, Yohan also started descending the mountain.
He was starving. Time to eat.
….
"Hahaha! You all are having quite the feast, I see!"
It was Rengoku Kyojuro, who had been away for a while.
He had recently returned to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters after completing his training, and after bidding farewell to Master ubuyashiki, he came straight to the Butterfly Mansion.
He had two reasons: to visit the injured Flower Hashira, and to see how Yohan and Kanroji were doing.
"You mean you're just here to mooch a meal!" Kanroji pouted as she stared at the food vanishing from the table at lightning speed. She was starting to feel like dinner might not be enough tonight.
No way! I need to eat faster too!
"Haha!" Yohan chuckled. This kind of ordinary life was still what he enjoyed the most.
"Rengoku Kyojuro, looks like you've finally stepped into your father's shoes, huh?"
Seeing Kyojuro wrapped in the flame-patterned haori that marked the Flame Hashira, Yohan immediately realized he had officially inherited the title.
Putting down his chopsticks and turning around, Kyojuro beamed, "That's right, Yohan! I am now the Flame Hashira."
During his time training away from the Corps, Kyojuro hadn't wasted a moment. After independently defeating a Lower Moon demon, he had finally met the requirements to become a Hashira.
His return to Headquarters was in part to report that very achievement.
"You've really grown stronger, Kyojuro."
Yohan was genuinely happy for him.
"Hahaha, but speaking of strength—Yohan, you're the one who truly amazes me."
Kyojuro had only heard the news after reaching the headquarters. He had been proud of slaying a Lower Moon, thinking it a grand accomplishment.
But Yohan… Yohan had done exactly as he promised.
He had slain Upper Moon Two, Doma.
"I'd never lie to you," Yohan said with a smile.
Kyojuro's cheerful and righteous nature had always been easy to like.
"So, what will you do next?"
"Well," Kyojuro paused, "on my way back to Headquarters, something happened."
"There's been a string of deaths on a train. Several swordsmen from the Hidden Division were sent to investigate, but all of them have gone missing. It's almost certainly demon-related."
"Too many people have already been hurt. I need to head there as soon as possible."
"A train… The Mugen Train?" Yohan thought to himself.
Because of his presence, the original timeline had been completely upended. It wasn't impossible for the Mugen Train incident to happen earlier than expected.
More importantly, having just killed Doma, this was likely Muzan Kibutsuji's counterattack.
That made Yohan certain—he couldn't let Kyojuro go alone. Especially now that he'd grown even stronger.
Demons needed to be eliminated as soon as possible.
[Ding!]
[Host, please proceed to the Mugen Train. The next mission will now begin.]
With the system's prompt, Yohan's decision was solidified.
"Kyojuro, I'll come with you this time."
"Huh? You're interested in investigating too?" Kyojuro was a little surprised by Yohan's offer.
"Yohan? Yohan? Something's going on, isn't it?" Kanroji, as the one who understood Yohan best, immediately picked up on it. She knew he wouldn't act without reason. This investigation wasn't going to be simple.
With a faint smile, Yohan answered, "Yeah… I just have a feeling I might run into an old friend."
"Old… friend?!"
Everyone looked puzzled.
Most of the people Yohan knew were right here. Did he have other acquaintances out in the world?
But Rengoku Kyojuro seemed to realize something immediately.
"Yohan… you don't mean—?"
His expression turned solemn.
Unlike the others, Kyojuro's first thought went directly to the demons involved in the incident.
There was only one figure that came to mind.
Seeing his face, Yohan nodded slightly.
"That's right. Him."
"Our old friend… Upper Moon Three."
"Akaza!"
Another Upper Moon!?
Though no longer shocked by their presence—most of the people here had faced one already—it was still startling.
It hadn't been long since Doma's death. And now, another Upper Moon was showing up.
Were Upper Moons always this available now?
"So you see, Kyojuro, we're definitely going together on this one."
"Alright!"
Kyojuro was clearly fired up. Last time he'd faced Akaza, he'd gone down far too early. The rest of the fight had been left entirely to Yohan.
This time, no matter what, he was determined to fight shoulder to shoulder with him.
His excitement was written all over his face. Yohan could tell exactly what he was thinking just by looking.
He didn't dampen Kyojuro's enthusiasm. After all, even he wasn't sure how strong he had become after this latest breakthrough.
….
"Lord Akaza… Are you sure they'll come?"
Somewhere before all this, the Lower Moon One—Enmu—had just killed another Demon Slayer who had been sent to scout the Mugen Train.
He couldn't understand why Akaza, of all demons, was here with him.
And not helping—just silently letting him do the killing.
With Akaza's power, these weaklings would be nothing.
"Don't worry. Just do as I say," Akaza replied calmly.
Sitting in the moving train, he didn't say another word.
He simply stared into the distance—at a brightly lit town just beyond the tracks.
Ever since being scolded by Muzan, Akaza had thrown himself into harsh training.
He had even dared to repeatedly challenge Kokushibo, Upper Moon One, risking being devoured.
Though he lost every time, for some reason Kokushibo never swallowed him—he just kept accepting his challenges.
And finally, after once again having his head sliced off—
He broke through.
Now, Akaza could fully suppress his explosive aura of battle spirit.
The death of Doma was already known among the Upper Moons. But now, Akaza firmly believed he had surpassed him.
Because—
He had reached the pinnacle of combat mastery.
Staring into the pitch-black sky, Akaza whispered to himself:
"You better come, Yohan…"
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