"What are you thinking?"
Kairo Retsu looked at Sanemi with the kind of expression one reserves for idiots.
"You think Muzan's actually stupid enough to just drink blood that's obviously been spiked with poison and Rare Blood?"
"!"
Though Sanemi really hadn't considered that, Kairo's tone was infuriating.
Veins popping on his forehead, Sanemi held his temper and snapped,
"Then what are you planning? According to you, Muzan won't fall for something so blatant—so how exactly are you going to get the Wisteria poison into him?"
"You're misunderstanding something."
Kairo replied flatly,
"Shinobu's blood is for something else."
Just as he spoke, Kazuma came charging in—shouting while chewing on a Max Potion and healing Demon Slayers along the way:
"Where's the poison blood from Shinobu?! The mechanisms are already set up over there!"
"Oh oh! That's the one!"
Kazuma spotted the barrel of Shinobu's blood and immediately had two Demon Slayer troops haul it away—leaving a thoroughly confused Wind Hashira standing behind.
"Then what do you need my blood for?!" Sanemi growled.
"You planning to use it as demon food or something?"
His eyes darted toward Tamayo with unmistakable hostility.
"Watch your tone!"
Yushiro stepped forward to block him.
"Lady Tamayo nearly died at Muzan's hands trying to help you!"
"You clearly don't understand our hunters' most powerful tactics!" Kairo shouted back.
"Besides, this mission doesn't come with a cart limit!"
"Then what the hell is your plan?!"
Sanemi was getting truly agitated now.
"If you're just going to keep talking in circles, I'm heading back to fight Muzan now!"
"Fine! I'll tell you!"
Kairo jabbed a finger into Sanemi's chest.
"You're Rare Blood—demons see you as a hundred-person feast. Just the scent of you alone can make them delirious…"
"Muzan's already been poisoned by Tamayo, forced to fight, and hasn't had a single human meal to replenish himself. And the key difference from before is—he still hasn't eaten anyone as nourishment."
Kairo raised his arm in a sweeping motion.
"Muzan doesn't have a neck weak point. The Demon Slayers can only wear him down. In that kind of starving state… what do you think Muzan will do if he realizes that someone among the attackers is extreme-grade Rare Blood?"
Sanemi was silent for a long moment, then slowly nodded with resolve.
"I understand. Let's do it!"
"…Do what exactly?"
"Poison, explosives, whatever it takes," Sanemi said without hesitation.
"As long as I'm the bait, we can get all that stuff into his stomach, right? If that kills Muzan, it's just one life—no big deal."
"...He really didn't get what we were saying."
Kairo turned to Ubuyashiki and pointed.
"Look at this kid—hotheaded as hell."
"Sanemi." Ubuyashiki spoke gently but firmly.
"Guildmaster Kairo didn't bring Lady Tamayo here to make you the bait—he plans to do it himself."
"He's going to disguise himself as Rare Blood to trick Muzan into devouring him."
"That's—!"
Sanemi began to protest—but the words died in his throat as he remembered watching Kairo and Kazuma resurrect in front of him earlier.
"So, you get it now?"
Kairo opened his arms, beaming.
"We didn't come here just to let people die. To save as many lives as possible, we're going to use everything we have."
Kairo stepped forward, rapping his fist on Sanemi's shoulder.
"Shinobu's blood. Your blood. And our ability to revive."
"At this point, are you really still wondering why we can come back to life?"
He added,
"So hurry up and bleed already! Then join the fight against Muzan!"
"These epic moments? Aren't for you 'perma-death' types!"
Sanemi looked at Kairo—now standing within arm's reach—and then at Ubuyashiki and Tamayo.
Finally, he unsheathed his blade and plunged it into his own arm, slicing deep.
Tamayo and Yushiro instinctively backed off to avoid the scent of his blood.
A heavy stream of crimson poured into the massive barrel.
Sanemi's face went pale… then red again thanks to the Recovery Potion… and then pale again from more blood loss. The cycle repeated.
"I understand."
Sanemi bowed deeply to Kairo.
"Thank you for protecting the Demon Slayer Corps. But if it really comes down to needing sacrifices—take this life without hesitation."
"If my Rare Blood helps you, use as much as you need. As long as Muzan dies."
"Don't underestimate us hunters."
Kairo's tiger eyes flared.
"The four of us? We're burly experts from across the multiverse! Elite warriors from every realm! Each of us has our own specialty!"
"Forget Muzan—even perfect organisms, waves of monsters, or dungeon masters—we'll wipe 'em all out!"
"No way in hell we're letting our perfect ending get ruined by some filthy amphibian like Muzan!!"
Kairo roared:
"No one is dying in this hunt!"
He seized Sanemi's sword and twisted it in the wound, deepening the gash:
"So bleed faster—and hurry up and join the fight to wear Muzan down!"
"...?!"
Sanemi stared in disbelief at how casually Kairo had twisted a blade into his open wound. The pain was excruciating—and he couldn't even tell if he should be angry or… still grateful.
——
Meanwhile, high above, another heavy-hitter was closing in on the arena.
Naofumi Iwatani was dangling from a wingdrake, soaring toward the battlefield. From midair, he could already see Joseph Joestar and the Demon Slayers launching wave after wave of attacks on Muzan.
Seeing Muzan's regenerating back tendrils, Naofumi couldn't help but curse:
"What a goddamn overpowered regen rate… His actual combat power isn't even that impressive, but this regeneration is ridiculous."
Naofumi had already blasted Muzan's body to shreds several times using his Heavy Bowgun, but Muzan always regenerated instantly—and could even reshape his flesh at will.
Aside from being unable to face the sun, that morphing flesh was nearly as broken as what Joseph would eventually face from the Perfect Being Kars.
"This kind of guy… someone handed him god-tier potential and he still plays like garbage. Does he even have a brain? He's so stupid it hurts."
With that thought, Naofumi landed inside the temporary arena.
Amid the clack-clack of his Heavy Bowgun being reassembled, Naofumi once again stepped onto the battlefield.
"Boom… The Shield Hero returns!"