"I have to cut it off this time!"
Tanjirou surged forward, emerging from the swirling wind with fierce determination. In an instant, he reached Gyuutarou. The demon's face twisted with malice, and the blood he spilled transformed into a whirling sickle. But before the weapon could be launched, Tanjirou struck it down with a clean, powerful sweep.
This was the moment—Gyuutarou was at his weakest.
Not far away, Inosuke was dashing through the chaos, clutching Daki's severed head while crying in panic.
"Bro! Think of something quick! I don't wanna die!"
"Shut up!" came the irritated response.
At that very moment, time seemed to freeze for Tanjirou. The debris floating in the air, the spattering blood—all of it hung still, like a frozen image. He could see the panic on Gyuutarou's face, the flicker of dread in his eyes. And then, he noticed it—the opening on Gyuutarou's neck.
Suddenly, the scar on Tanjirou's forehead ignited, glowing like fire, spreading out into a blazing, fiery pattern.
"Hinokami Kagura—Flame Dance!"
With a powerful roar, he slashed forward with every ounce of strength in his body. His blade, heated by the sheer intensity of his attack, glowed red-hot at the tip.
Time resumed.
A head spun through the air before crashing to the ground with a dull thud. Far off, Daki's head landed as well, rolling to a stop.
It was over.
"Nooooo!" both demons shrieked in anguish.
"Get down!"
James leapt forward, positioning himself between the exhausted Tanjirou and the paralyzed Uzui Tengen. With a powerful push, he dragged them both back as a violent pressure filled the air.
The two severed heads glowed with a dark, ominous light. A powerful surge of demonic energy erupted—their final act of destruction.
Zenitsu and Inosuke, sensing the threat, scrambled to escape as well.
BOOM!!
The explosion erupted with incredible force, sending Zenitsu and Inosuke flying.
"Damn it!" James cursed. He realized the shockwave was catching up to him. Without hesitation, he stomped the ground, causing the earth to crack and collapse beneath him. The impact sent stone and debris flying. A depression formed beneath his feet, and he threw himself into the pit with Tanjirou and Tengen, shielding them with his body.
Night was supposed to be dark—but in that moment, it was brighter than noon. A colossal mushroom cloud rose into the sky. The shockwave flattened every house in the district, and sand and stones tore through the air like bullets. Smoke engulfed the entire corner of Yoshiwara.
And then, finally, silence.
---
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters
When Ubuyashiki received the message from the messenger crow, his hands trembled. His pale face, weakened from illness, broke into a smile.
"This… this is a change the likes of which haven't occurred in a thousand years. The death of an Upper Rank demon—our mission to eliminate Kibutsuji Muzan draws closer. Ahem… Excellent… truly excellent."
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he ignored it.
"Share the good news with every member of the Corps," he said, leaning back as his wife gently helped him lie down again.
---
Back at the devastated battlefield, the destruction stretched as far as the eye could see. A man wandered the ruins, kicking away splintered wood and broken tiles, letting out a sigh.
"The damage… it's brutal."
Suddenly, a loud crack split the air. The man—Yin—snapped to attention and rushed toward the sound. A pale, bloodied hand reached up through the rubble, smashing away broken stone and wood.
Before Yin could react, Tanjirou and Uzui Tengen were tossed from the wreckage.
"Lord Tengen!" Yin gasped, running over to examine his injuries. Purple lines traced across Tengen's face—Gyuutarou's venom.
A moment later, James burst out of the rubble, coughing and covered in grime. His once-white clothes were now stained black from dust and smoke.
Tiny Nezuko appeared, carrying both Inosuke and Zenitsu on her back. She dropped them near Tanjirou and immediately got to work purging the poison from his body.
Though clumsy at first, Nezuko had finally learned to wield her Blood Demon Art—flames that could burn demonic energy without harming humans.
Tanjirou and Tengen began to stir.
They had done it.
They had slain an Upper Six demon—and no one had died.
Uzui Tengen erupted in triumphant laughter, boasting about the splendor of the moment. A warm, celebratory atmosphere swept through the ruins.
Soon, his three wives arrived. They had been brewing an antidote, but it seemed unnecessary now. Tears streaming down their faces, they rushed to him, embracing him tightly. The four collapsed into each other's arms, overwhelmed with relief.
Tanjirou clung to Nezuko, crying freely.
"It's so good… it's so good that we're all alive…"
Zenitsu, now awake, frowned at the emotional scene. He glanced at Inosuke.
"No way I'm hugging you," he muttered. The very idea made him shiver in embarrassment.
James watched them all, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
This is how it should end. A happy ending.
Suddenly, Tanjirou turned to James, still holding Nezuko's hand tightly.
"Mr. James, thank you! Truly… if not for you, I don't know what would've happened to us. And—if I may—could I make a request?"
James tilted his head slightly.
"I hope you'll join the Demon Slayer Corps! A warrior like you, with such strength and compassion—we need you."
Tanjirou rose unsteadily to his feet and bowed deeply.
James stepped forward, helping him up.
"Are all Demon Slayers like you?" he asked curiously.
"I don't know," Tanjirou said honestly, "But every one of them I've met is better than me."
"Are there any swordsmen stronger than you?"
"Of course," Tanjirou said quickly.
Uzui Tengen, standing tall once again, placed a hand on his wife's shoulder and stepped forward.
"I'm Uzui Tengen, Sound Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps," he said proudly. "I offer my deepest thanks to you, James. On behalf of the Corps, I formally invite you to join us."
He bowed low in respect.
James could tell it wasn't just formality. This was sincere gratitude.
Even in the original timeline of this world, the battle against Gyuutarou and Daki was chaotic and came with great losses. But now—Tanjirou was better trained, the Sound Pillar survived intact, and thanks to his intervention, the outcome was no longer uncertain.
This world is different now.
James scratched his head, then smiled.
"Alright, alright. Don't get all dramatic on me. I'll join."
This was one of his goals, after all. The Demon Slayer Corps was filled with swordmasters and veterans—there was no better place to sharpen his skills.
"Awesome! Mr. James, I—"
Before Tanjirou could finish, he collapsed forward again, face-first into the dirt.
"Tanjirou! TANJIROU!" Zenitsu shrieked, shaking him. "Don't die on me now!"
Even Nezuko's eyes welled up with tears.
"He's just unconscious," Yin said after checking Tanjirou's pulse. "Completely exhausted."
Uzui Tengen stepped forward again.
"No time to waste. We need to return to headquarters. We need medical attention—and we must report to the Master. The battle is over, but the war is not."
Everyone agreed.
James looked up at the sky, now returning to its natural dark hue.
So this is it… I've finally entered the core of this world's story. The Demon Slayer Corps. The war is far from over, and I've only just begun.
Next stop—the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)