Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters
Chiba Yo hastily made his way to Kagaya's residence.
"Master," Chiba Yo respectfully greeted Kagaya, who was inside the house.
"Yo, is there something you need to see me about?" Kagaya asked Chiba Yo in a gentle voice.
"Master, do you know about Crimson Blades?" Chiba Yo didn't explain directly, but instead asked Kagaya first.
After Mr. Tetsuimaru left, Chiba Yo spent almost a day finally figuring out how to turn a nichirin blade into a Crimson Blade. He then eagerly came to inform the Master, hoping that all Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen could possess this power in the future.
Kagaya was momentarily stunned when he heard Chiba Yo's words, then, remembering something, he asked, "Are you referring to the Crimson Blade that can suppress a demon's regeneration?"
"That's right. Mr. Tetsuimaru, who forged my nichirin blade, analyzed that the Crimson Blade is a transformation of the nichirin blade, and this was confirmed in my previous battles. I have now found a way to turn a nichirin blade into a Crimson Blade," Chiba Yo said to Kagaya with some excitement.
Kagaya's state of mind also changed slightly after hearing Chiba Yo's words. The Kasugai Crow's previous report to him hadn't mentioned the Crimson Blade, so Kagaya didn't know that Chiba Yo could turn a nichirin blade into a Crimson Blade.
"Have you confirmed that the Crimson Blade can suppress a demon's regeneration?" Kagaya asked Chiba Yo.
"Yes," Chiba Yo nodded and continued, "I confirmed it during my battle with Lower Moon Two. The Lower Moon Two, injured by my blade, couldn't immediately regenerate its limbs."
"Good. In that case, since the other Pillars haven't gone on missions yet, I will gather everyone now. Let the Pillars try it first, and if it works, we can gradually teach it to the other swordsmen," Kagaya chose to believe Chiba Yo's words and immediately made arrangements.
Kagaya was very keen on anything that could enhance the Demon Slayer Corps' strength.
Before long, the other Nine Pillars were all summoned here.
Kagaya first explained to them, and after listening to Kagaya's explanation, the gazes of the Nine Pillars converged on Chiba Yo.
"Alright, Yo, please begin," Kagaya said to Chiba Yo.
Chiba Yo didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "The method to turn a nichirin blade into a Crimson Blade capable of suppressing demon regeneration lies in grip strength. Powerful grip strength can activate the sun power contained within the nichirin blade, causing its temperature to rise rapidly and acquire the ability to suppress demon regeneration."
As Chiba Yo spoke, he took out his nichirin blade, then gripped the hilt with both hands and held it upright in front of him. The blade, the color of obsidian, was displayed before everyone.
Then Chiba Yo began to increase his grip strength. A crimson hue appeared on the pitch-black blade and gradually spread across the entire blade. Before long, the originally pitch-black nichirin blade transformed into a Crimson Blade.
"How flamboyant," Tengen Uzui couldn't help but exclaim as he watched the scene before him.
"Can turning a nichirin blade like this truly grant the ability to suppress demon regeneration?" The Serpent Pillar, on the other hand, questioned whether the Crimson Blade could suppress demon regeneration.
Although he currently had a good impression of Chiba Yo, he felt that matters of public importance should be handled with more rigor.
"Its ability has already been tested in my battle with Lower Moon Two," Chiba Yo explained.
"I also just received confirmation from the Kasugai Crow; the Crimson Blade can indeed suppress demon regeneration," Kagaya also spoke up.
The other Pillars no longer had any questions.
"In that case, we will try to acquire this ability as soon as possible," Gyomei Himejima said, pressing his palms together.
"Also, regarding the Breath Styles / Marks we discussed last time, since Chiba's Breath Styles / Marks are innate, I'll awaken my own Breath Styles / Marks first, and then I'll tell you how to awaken them," Sanemi added with great enthusiasm.
Giyuu, standing by, looked at Sanemi with an expression that seemed to say, "I can't believe you actually said that."
At this moment, Kagaya spoke.
"Regarding the Breath Styles / Marks, I omitted a point last time that I will tell you now."
Kagaya's voice was very solemn, and the Pillars' attention was drawn to him. They looked at him with questions.
The atmosphere in the room became very serious.
"In the records, every swordsman with Breath Styles / Marks, without exception, did not live past twenty-five years old…" Kagaya slowly finished this sentence.
The reason Kagaya didn't mention this last time was that he was somewhat concerned whether Chiba Yo, who had only recently joined the Demon Slayer Corps, could bear this outcome. He was very familiar with the other Pillars, but he didn't know much about Chiba Yo before.
However, after speaking with Chiba Yo last time, Kagaya felt that Chiba Yo's resilience was not weak, so he chose to explain this matter to all the Pillars.
They all don't live past twenty-five… So, what my teacher's father meant by "only being a short-lived ghost" was this…
Chiba Yo now fully understood what Shinjuro had said back then. This news still shocked him greatly.
However, he didn't develop any negative emotions like fear or resentment. Not living past twenty-five was not something difficult for him to accept now.
If it were in the past, he would definitely worry about who would take care of his mother if he died so early, but he no longer had such worries.
However, one thing he didn't know was that what Kagaya said was inaccurate. An exception existed: Yoriichi, the man who, despite having Breath Styles / Marks, lived to be over eighty years old and cornered Muzan in the Sengoku period.
The room fell silent due to Kagaya's words, not out of fear of the side effects of the Breath Styles / Marks, but out of sympathy for Chiba Yo and not knowing what to say.
"In that case, I can only slay all demons before I turn twenty-five," a firm voice broke the silent atmosphere. Chiba Yo looked at Kagaya and said nonchalantly.
"That's right! Your words are very much to my liking! It's just not living past twenty-five. If we can exterminate all demons, what does it matter if we're short-lived?" Sanemi expressed strong agreement with Chiba Yo's words, clenching his right hand and grinning.
"That's what I wanted to say too," the Serpent Pillar followed, expressing his agreement.
"I'm really looking forward to my Breath Styles / Marks. It will definitely make me even more flamboyant," Tengen Uzui said, stroking his chin.
The other Pillars also didn't mind this drawback of the Breath Styles / Marks; in fact, they were all somewhat looking forward to their appearance.
"I see… So what will happen if I awaken Breath Styles / Marks then…" Gyomei Himejima murmured to himself.
Seeing the atmosphere in the room lighten, Kagaya also smiled.
Just then, a Kasugai Crow flew in through the window and landed in front of Kagaya. A letter was tied to the crow's leg.
Kagaya untied the letter from the crow's leg and read it, then looked up.
"A Twelve Kizuki has appeared on Mount Natagumo. Many Demon Slayer Corps members have already been sacrificed. Giyuu, Shinobu, you two go there. Yo, you go with them too. It'll be a good opportunity to test the Crimson Blade again."