"The sacred Wide-Range connects us all!"
Kairo Retsu shouted this as he unleashed a torrent of healing across the Infinity Castle via Wide-Range, spreading the potent recovery power of Recovery Potions to all humans within.
This was one phase of the Muzan Annihilation Plan—and Kairo's gear and skills were entirely tailored for support.
Currently, his loadout focused on:
• Speed Eating Lv. 3
• Free Meal – Secret Art
• Free Meal Lv. 3
• Wide-Range Lv. 5
Speed Eating let him consume potions faster, Wide-Range shared the potion effects with allies, and Free Meal gave a chance to reuse items without consumption.
Combined with the huge stock of items in Kairo's pouch, he had become a walking fountain of healing—so long as his supply held out, the humans in the Infinity Castle were practically immortal.
Charging forward with his Scoutflies blazing a trail, Kairo was quickly targeted by a group of demons. But any demon that tried to ambush him was immediately cut down by Tanjiro and Giyu Tomioka, who were closely guarding Kairo's flanks.
At the same time, Kairo kept listening carefully to the sounds coming in from Joseph Joestar's side.
Joseph, currently engaged with Doma, was relying on Wide-Range's healing to sustain himself. He had concealed his Ripple breathing from Doma, not using it for direct offense.
Instead, he used sheer recovery power to tangle with Doma's Blood Demon Art, stalling the Upper Rank demon and creating the chance for Shinobu Kocho to rescue the girls from the Eternal Paradise Cult.
After a brutal charge that sent Doma flying with his shield, Joseph gave Shinobu the opening she needed to relocate the girls to a relatively safe area.
"Oh my, looks like you're trying to protect those cute little darlings," Doma remarked, unfazed by Shinobu's actions.
After all, trying to protect that many civilians in the Infinity Castle was nearly impossible.
"How very sad for them."
Doma waved his fan, releasing several icy spikes toward Joseph.
"So pitiful—so weak, and yet still showing up here. I didn't even get the chance to eat them yet."
He shed a few mechanical tears.
"If this goes on, the other demons will probably rip them apart. To prevent that, I must kill you and eat them myself—so I can guide them into eternal life through me."
"You bastard! You were human once too, weren't you?!"
Joseph raised his shield and blocked the incoming spikes.
"But you've long lost anything human about you… No—your brain was never human to begin with! You're even worse than the Pillar Men!"
"I don't know who these 'Pillar Men' are," Doma replied, his smile locked in place, "but that's such a cruel thing to say."
"Why can't you understand? They were so afraid, so I, as the High Priest of the Eternal Paradise Cult, simply wanted to give them happiness."
Doma twirled his iron fan again, conjuring an enormous blizzard inside the room.
"Everyone fears death. That's why I eat them—so they can live with me forever. I guide them toward the most exalted salvation."
"So you too… accept my love. Let me guide you."
With those words, the howling ice storm surged forward—targeting Joseph and the girls behind him.
The sheer force of the blizzard sent the girls into a panic. Joseph quickly understood that his weapons alone weren't enough to block it.
"Grand Master! I need a huge burst of stamina!"
Joseph shouted without hesitation, and then—performed a move that stunned Shinobu Kocho.
She watched as Joseph dropped both his shield and sword, facing the oncoming storm with bare hands.
"No! You can't face Blood Demon Arts like that—!"
But before she could finish, Joseph hurled a massive furball from his hands and began deep breathing.
"OBADORAAAMON!!!"
Simultaneously, back on Kairo's side, as Tanjiro looked on in confusion, Kairo gulped a Recovery Potion in one hand—and tore into a giant grilled steak with the other.
[Grilled Meat: Restores stamina and reduces max stamina depletion.]
"Take this! The ultimate defensive technique I learned from the Grand Master—
The Ultra-Wide Felyne-Colored Ripple Barrier!!"
As Joseph roared, Ripple energy exploded outward with no regard for stamina costs.
It surged into the mass of Felyne fur, straightening the strands into needle-like rigidity.
With a sweeping motion, Joseph cast the energized fur upward—forming a broad, shimmering defensive wall.
The raging blizzard crashed into the barrier of fur—but couldn't push through.
The ice crystals embedded in the wind clattered harmlessly to the ground, making crisp sounds as they landed.
"Sir…"
Shinobu, still unaware of Joseph's name, called out anxiously.
"We can't stall like this forever! His Blood Demon Art spreads freezing powder into the air!"
"YAKAMASHII!!"
Joseph didn't even turn his head as he bellowed back.
"I'm stalling him ON PURPOSE!"
Even Joseph felt the pressure—though he had a one-hit-kill option against Doma, their compatibility was poor.
Against someone like Akaza, he could've traded blows up close and melted him with Ripple.
But Doma's wide-range attacks, plus the need to defend the civilians behind him, put Joseph at a major disadvantage.
"Somebody—ANYBODY—get here already!!"
—————————
"Any other demons—just don't you DARE show up right now!!!"
Kairo Retsu shouted as he sprinted through the castle, desperately following his Scoutflies.
"This scent…"
Tanjiro, rushing alongside him, suddenly picked up a heavy scent of blood—mixed with the pungent aroma of wisteria poison.
"It's Shinobu-san's blood!"
Tanjiro cried out immediately, fear gripping his heart.
"We're close!"
Kairo saw lotus blossoms up ahead and felt the air temperature drop.
"Doma! You bastard—I'M COMING FOR YOU!!!"
Without hesitation, Kairo activated the jet propulsion on his Insect Glaive.
The powerful boost launched him into the air—and he hurled himself toward the source of the icy cold.
In the next instant, he landed in the scene—
The floor was soaked in blood, reeking of wisteria and iron.
Joseph stood between a group of terrified girls and the storm.
Nearby, Shinobu's wrist had been cut open. Her pale face was visible as she sprayed her blood into the air.
That bloody wisteria-laced mist was the scent Tanjiro had picked up earlier.
Suspended in midair by his Insect Glaive, Kairo didn't hesitate—he activated another burst of jet power.
Like a cannonball, he hurled himself directly at Doma.
"DOMA!!!
Your Arch-Tempered Grandpa Wiggler is HERE!!!"