Unlike the Upper Moons still frozen in shock, Tokito Muichiro and Himejima Gyomei were now surging with battle fervor.
The shift in morale lit a fire in their spirits, and it was transforming into tangible power.
Faster... even faster!
Tokito Muichiro was fully immersed in his breathing technique. His mind and body moved in harmony, as if unlocking something deep within. His limbs moved more fluidly, his reflexes sharpened, and his body temperature soared.
A pale blue cloud-like mark bloomed on his forehead and cheek. The Demon Slayer Mark!
He had awakened it.
The mark drastically amplified his physical abilities—but at a grave cost. Those who bore it rarely lived past twenty-five.
But in this moment, Tokito felt nothing but clarity. His perception of Gyokko had slowed to a crawl.
Mist Breathing, Seventh Form: Obscuring Clouds
A technique born of his own ingenuity. His movements became erratic and unpredictable. He emerged slowly like a turtle, but vanished in an instant like a phantom.
To Gyokko's eyes, Muichiro had vanished entirely—
Slash!
Blade raised, blade fell.
Muichiro reappeared just as suddenly and struck clean through Gyokko's neck. Not even the demon's diamond-hard scales could withstand the cut this time.
"No! No way!"
The grinning artist froze, disbelieving. In the blink of an eye, the boy who mocked his art had grown powerful enough to kill him.
Why?
Why did it happen so fast?
Kokushibo had been blocked.
And now he, Gyokko, had been decapitated by this mere child?
"You little brat… I won't let you… I swear I'll—"
Even as his head rolled to the ground, Gyokko shouted his defiance, refusing to accept reality.
Muichiro didn't even glance down.
Mist Breathing, Sixth Form: Lunar Dispersing Mist
A glittering arc of mist swept through the air—
And Gyokko's severed head was split into countless fragments.
His cries ceased forever.
Slain by a Nichirin blade, the Fifth Upper Moon, Gyokko, was dead!
After the kill, Muichiro snapped out of his trance. A tidal wave of agony surged through his body. His blood screamed under the strain, the mark's power fading fast.
Fatigue crashed into him. For the time being, he was completely spent.
Still, Gyokko's death had changed everything.
If Yohan had symbolized the hope of victory…
Then Gyokko's death was the signal of their counterattack!
"No…! Gyokko… Gyokko is dead!?"
Hantengu's cowardly clone broke down in terror. Hiding in the shadows like a rat, the demon was trembling.
He had always shirked responsibility, always assumed this would be a simple massacre of the Demon Slayers.
Yet now… it was the Upper Moons who were dying.
Clutching his own throat in panic, the coward cowered.
"Haha! Well done, Muichiro!"
"If everyone's going all out, then I can't be the weak link!"
Himejima Gyomei roared in exhilaration, veins bulging down his arms as he spun his chained flail and battle axe.
Stone Breathing, Fifth Form: Arcs of Justice
With a thunderous stomp, he launched himself into the air. His weapons flung in unison, raining destruction down.
The ground exploded beneath Zohakuten.
Blood sprayed in every direction.
"This power…?"
Zohakuten, shocked, realized his arms had been shattered by the impact.
His entire torso bore a gaping wound from the meteor hammer.
"DIE!"
Gyomei gave him no breathing room. Blow after blow crashed down.
What had once been an even match was now a one-sided beatdown.
This was Gyomei Himejima at full strength, unchained and inspired by Yohan and Muichiro's breakthroughs.
He was the strongest Pillar for a reason.
"Guess I'd better finish this too," Yohan murmured casually.
While the other two Pillars fought with full vigilance, Yohan remained eerily relaxed.
His armor was too powerful. There was no need for caution.
Seeing the others shine only spurred him to finish off Kokushibo.
This trip to Peach Mountain had turned out to be very fruitful.
"Die… Die… DIE!!"
Kokushibo, now fully mutated, launched himself at Yohan.
His monstrous form favored close combat. Thorny vines erupted from his back and whipped toward Yohan with lethal force.
"Hand-to-hand combat? That's my favorite!"
Their eyes met, and both knew—this was the right opponent.
Yohan met Kokushibo head-on.
The vines slammed into his golden armor but left no mark.
Yohan's fist, on the other hand, shattered the vines with a single punch.
It had become a brutal melee.
….
"Old man, I'm heading down the mountain. Take care of yourself."
Tengen Uzui had fully recovered.
With his strength restored, he was determined to seek out the other Pillars.
Too much time had passed. Something was wrong.
Uzui knew this was all part of Muzan's plan.
The so-called traitor incident was only bait. The real goal was to lure the Pillars.
"…If that's true, then the real danger lies below the mountain."
The demon he fought earlier had strong blood demon arts—but not enough to challenge a Pillar.
That could only mean something worse was waiting for them.
He had no time to waste.
The traitor problem was resolved. Keeping the old man safe on the mountain was all that mattered now.
"I'll be careful here. Go quickly," said Jigoro solemnly.
The aged former Pillar had no intention of descending.
Tengen Uzui sped off down the mountain.
The Sound Pillar was on the move—
Charging into battle!
….
CRACK!
Another test tube shattered.
In the Infinity Castle, Muzan Kibutsuji stared at the fragments, horrified.
"Gyokko… is dead!?"
He had sensed it the moment it happened.
And the face of the one who slew him… that mark!
A face from long-buried memory erupted from the depths of Muzan's cells.
That man—
The one with the mark—
Yoriichi Tsugikuni!
The only man who had ever truly brought the King of Demons to the brink of death.
"Useless trash!"
Muzan seethed, though he didn't rage like before.
Yes, Gyokko was dead.
But Kokushibo still remained.
He would not fail.
Though Muzan never saw Kokushibo as truly powerful, he was more than enough to deal with the Pillars.
"Kokushibo, Hantengu…
Don't disappoint me."
The demon king's voice echoed coldly through the halls of the Infinity Castle.