"Yosh! Just in time."
Uzui Tengen finally let out a breath of relief, his anxious expression easing.
It had been a close call—if not for the sheer speed of Sound Breathing, a tragedy would've unfolded right before his eyes.
"You... you..."
Old man Jigoro Kuwajima stared at the flamboyant man standing in front of him. Words caught in his throat.
"Old man, go rest at the back. Once I deal with this bastard, I'll come check on you."
"Ah…"
Jigoro didn't argue. He knew better than anyone the weight of the moment—staying here would only drag the situation down.
Though in truth, he didn't expect to be saved.
He had already decided to die—to atone with his life. He no longer wished to live.
Once the former Thunder Pillar stepped aside, Uzui Tengen finally turned his full attention to Kaigaku.
Seeing Kaigaku's now monstrous form, he couldn't help but frown.
"Tch. How completely un-flamboyant."
Kaigaku, unable to make sense of this bejeweled weirdo's insult, only saw someone blocking his path.
With a ferocious snarl, Kaigaku roared, "Then die!"
Thunder Breathing, Fifth Form: Heat Lightning!
His Nichirin blade released a high-voltage blast of lightning, superheated and crackling toward Uzui.
Sound Breathing, Fourth Form: Constant Resounding Slashes!
In a split-second, Uzui spun his twin blades, slashing all around him with tremendous speed.
Lightning clashed with shimmering blades—the collision exploded with thunderous bursts.
"What a glamorous sound," Uzui laughed loudly.
"Kaigaku, was it? Time to pay for your sins!"
He thought back to the letter from Master, to the atrocities committed by this former Demon Slayer, now turned demon.
Murder, betrayal, desecration.
The thought alone made Uzui boil with killing intent.
"Pay? Why the hell would I need to pay?"
Kaigaku sneered. He didn't fear this Pillar, despite knowing his rank.
Why should he?
He was no longer a mere foot soldier of the Demon Slayer Corps—he was now a demon blessed with Muzan-sama's blood!
"You're beyond saving…"
Uzui's face darkened. There was no point wasting words.
For what Kaigaku had done, death was mercy.
"Then come. Let's dance!"
The clash reignited, both unleashing their breathing styles, lightning against sound.
….
Elsewhere under the moonlight…
"Lord Kokushibo, even the Pillars have appeared. Are we still not making a move?"
Gyokko watched the battle with an odd glint in his eyes, puzzled by Kokushibo's stillness.
Six eyes blinked slowly. Kokushibo seemed to sense something. "No, Gyokko. Hantengu. We're heading down the mountain. There's someone we must greet."
He turned and walked toward the base of the Peach Mountain.
"Hehehe… So that's it. The real prey is down there."
"Oh, how wonderful! Muzan-sama will surely be pleased with this!"
"Hmph. They're not 'prey.' They're enemies," corrected Hantengu, the hunched, elderly-looking demon.
"That doesn't matter now. Let's go!"
The Upper Moons faded into the shadows, descending the mountain.
….
At the foot of the mountain,
Gyomei Himejima and Muichiro Tokito were racing up the path.
"I hope Tengen made it in time."
"I just pray the former Thunder Pillar is still alive," murmured Gyomei, tears streaming even as he ran.
Despite the sheer size of the meteor hammer and chained axe on his back, he moved like a shadow.
Beside him, Muichiro remained silent, eyes focused, deep in thought.
Like Uzui, they had just completed missions when Master Ubuyashiki's urgent summons reached them—they came at once.
"Stop!"
Muichiro halted instantly at Gyomei's signal, looking up at him in alert.
"Someone's coming."
There was no need for elaboration. Gyomei had already gripped his massive weapon.
Muichiro drew his Nichirin sword, eyes narrowing.
He trusted Gyomei's instincts. Among the Pillars, none had sharper senses than the Stone Pillar.
"An enemy?"
The question hung in the air—but in their hearts, they already knew.
This wasn't just a casual passerby.
"Hehehe... As expected, more have arrived. Lord Kokushibo was right."
A sinister voice echoed through the trees.
Out stepped a swordsman with six eyes, dressed in the attire of an ancient samurai.
Behind him followed a man with a grotesque jar and an old, hunched figure.
Demons.
Gyomei and Muichiro immediately realized—they had encountered powerful enemies.
"Hmm... They look strong. Are they Pillars?"
"If they are, then perfect!"
"That makes three Pillars today!"
Gyokko laughed, full of twisted joy.
"Three!?"
"You… What have you done to Tengen!?"
Gyomei's booming voice demanded answers. From their words, he now knew—Uzui had already arrived.
"Haha, Tengen? You mean that flashy guy on the mountain?"
"Don't worry, he's not dead yet. But who knows what'll happen soon."
Gyokko seemed all too happy to chat as he slithered forward from his jar.
"But before you worry about him, perhaps you should be more concerned about yourselves."
He grinned cruelly, as if offering a glimpse into the hell awaiting them.
Upper Moons.
The moment the two Pillars looked closely at their opponents' eyes, realization struck them like a hammer.
These were not ordinary demons.
Gyokko—Upper Moon Five.
With Kokushibo and Hantengu present, this meant…
Three Upper Moons!
Only four remained after Akaza and Doma's defeat.
And now, three had gathered here at the peach mountain!
"This… is going to be hell," Gyomei whispered.
For a moment, even his pure white eyes stopped shedding tears.
Muichiro's cloudy gaze turned razor-sharp. They both knew—
Aside from Muzan, the Upper Moons were the most dangerous enemies alive.
And three now stood before them.
"Stop wasting time," Kokushibo growled.
"Kill the Pillars quickly. I don't want to be delayed."
"Then allow the great Gyokko-sama to deliver your deaths!"
Gyokko laughed, but inwardly, he was wary.
If this mission failed… if they disappointed Muzan-sama again… even they might be annihilated.
Of course, that didn't mean he respected his foes.
After all, they were the mightiest among demons:
Upper Moon One: Kokushibo.
Upper Moon Four: Hantengu.
Upper Moon Five: Gyokko.
With this lineup, if they couldn't take out two Pillars, then truly—they didn't deserve their ranks.
"Come, my darlings!"
Blood Demon Art—Ten Thousand Gliding Slime Fish!
One by one, grotesque aquatic monsters crawled from Gyokko's pots.
Dark green fluid dripped from their claws, touching the ground and scorching it black.
Poison.