"What the hell—?"
Doma was momentarily stunned as Kairo Retsu suddenly appeared right in front of him, bringing down a strange rod-like weapon with crushing force.
Though it wasn't a Nichirin Blade, the sheer weight behind the strike made it thunder down at Doma's skull.
In the next instant, Doma reacted—his iron fan flung Kairo away with a gust.
"What a shame. If your weapon had been a Nichirin Blade, I might've actually been in danger," Doma muttered. His head, now missing most of its features, had only a mouth left to speak, while the rest of his face twisted grotesquely as it regenerated.
"Hah. Like I ever thought this would be enough to finish you off."
Kairo, though gravely injured by the Blood Demon Art, was already healing at an extraordinary pace.
Even before entering the castle, he had informed Naofumi Iwatani and Kazuma Satou via Gathering Hub comms, instructing them to rotate Recovery Potions and minimize casualties inside Infinity Castle.
All four of them had stacked Wide-Range and Free Meal builds for this operation!
"Grand Master!"
Tanjiro and Giyu Tomioka leapt into the room behind Kairo, immediately taking in the tragic scene.
Though about a dozen girls had been rescued and protected, the floor farther out was scattered with corpses—girls too far gone for even Recovery Potions to save.
Tanjiro also laid eyes on Doma, who stood smiling serenely, the stench of blood wafting off him so strongly that Tanjiro couldn't even guess how many people he'd devoured.
"Tanjiro? Giyu-san?"
Shinobu was surprised—she'd been facing Doma alone since falling into the Infinity Castle and hadn't known about Kairo or the others.
"Grand Master? So that's what they call you. Impressive, very impressive."
Doma clapped politely, feigning admiration.
"To possess such miraculous abilities… That strange healing power—is that also your doing?
Too bad it only prolongs the pain before death."
He waved his fan again, sending a chunk of ice flying to scoop up a severed arm from the floor, delivering it into his own hands.
"Just like these girls—once they die outright, that healing ability becomes worthless, doesn't it?"
"…You want to protect them?"
Tanjiro tightened his grip on his Nichirin Blade, glancing back at the trembling girls huddled behind them.
Fighting Doma while protecting these civilians—
The pressure was crushing.
"Ahahahahahaha!"
But just then, Kairo let out a booming laugh after glancing back at the rescued girls.
"Have you lost your mind?"
Doma tilted his head. "Laughing in a moment like this—how bizarre."
"I laugh at Muzan's folly, and at you—Upper Rank scum with low IQ."
Kairo raised his Insect Glaive toward Doma, his Wiggler Head swaying as he spoke:
"When did you get the idea that I wasn't prepared for you?"
"I'm the Grand Master of the Monster Hunters!"
He roared.
"You think I'd let a few defenseless girls—who contribute absolutely nothing to the hunt—be used to threaten me?! You overestimated my morality, you bastard!!"
"!"
Giyu's eyes widened in shock. But Tanjiro, noticing Giyu's reaction, gently shook his wrist and gave him a look—"Not now."
Kairo continued, suddenly shifting tone:
"…But damn it, you were right about my morality. I'm not letting a single one of them die."
"So, a question!"
He narrowed his eyes at Doma.
"You know the air is filled with your Blood Demon Art's icy spores, so why do you think I'm still here chatting with you instead of attacking?"
"You're waiting for reinforcements," Doma replied, tapping his chin with his fan.
"If all the Demon Slayer Pillars have this kind of healing ability, it'll certainly be a problem…"
Though he maintained his eerie smile, Doma's eyes sharpened.
"But I think you've overlooked something…
This is the demons' domain."
Just as he spoke, the space around them shook violently, accompanied by the sound of Infinity Castle's walls being torn apart.
The noise grew louder—closer.
Then, the ceiling exploded, ripped open by brute force.
A figure with peach-pink short hair and pale skin crashed down:
Akaza.
He landed hard in front of them, kicking up blood-stained debris.
"Ha! Long time no see!"
Akaza locked his gaze straight on Tanjiro.
"You're still alive?! Man, you're a tough one!"
"Kamado Tanjiro!!!"
He yelled excitedly. He had been tracking Kairo and Tanjiro's trail the whole time. To find so many opponents here—he couldn't help but be thrilled.
"Two… Upper Ranks…!"
Shinobu's face turned pale.
And Tanjiro's fury exploded upon seeing the one who killed Kyojuro Rengoku.
"AKAZA!!!"
"No—wait!!"
Kairo suddenly stepped forward, raising his voice to cut through the tension and draw both Akaza and Doma's attention.
"This is the moment I've been waiting for!"
"Joseph! Your best matchup is here!"
Kairo shouted.
"It's time to switch targets! Tanjiro, can you and Joseph handle Akaza together?"
"Understood!"
Tanjiro replied immediately, no hesitation in his voice.
Joseph, though, seemed annoyed.
"We're switching now?! You pain-in-the-ass Grand Master!"
Still, without skipping a beat, he charged toward Akaza.
"Hey, Kamado-whatever—don't drag me down!"
"Yes, sir! Unknown stranger!"
Tanjiro shouted back respectfully as they charged together.
"Wait! Just the two of them—how can they possibly fight an Upper Rank?!" Giyu shouted, concern rising.
But Kairo motioned for him to stay calm.
"Doma… honestly, I think your death today is gonna be hilarious."
Kairo grinned.
"You don't even get a backstory flashback. You have no idea what kind of power love and bonds can bring out in people."