The moment Akaza spoke, a violent and terrifying killing intent erupted from his body. The air on Mount Sagiri grew thick and heavy, charged with a palpable sense of dread. The power radiating from this single demon was enough to make the ancient trees groan and the very ground seem to tremble.
"You..." Urokodaki breathed, a deep chill running through him despite his decades of experience.
He's strong. Too strong.
Even with all his pride as a former Hashira, a man who had slain countless demons for the Corps, he was shaken by the raw power Akaza displayed. As Upper Rank Three, the demon known as the "Fist Demon," Akaza's combat techniques were nearly flawless. When combined with the incredible regenerative abilities of a demon and his powerful Blood Demon Art, he was an opponent on a completely different level.
"Don't disappoint me, old man," Akaza grinned, his voice sharp with anticipation. "Show me the power of a former Hashira!"
He lunged. "Destructive Kill: Disorder!"
In a flash, Akaza vanished, reappearing in mid-air directly above Urokodaki. He shot downward like a cannonball, his fist aimed to shatter not just his target, but the very ground beneath him.
Something's not right! Urokodaki thought, his body moving on pure instinct. He dodged, leaving a series of afterimages as a terrifying force slammed into the spot where he'd just been standing.
As he moved, his mind raced. The Twelve Kizuki have always been arrogant, but this is too open. Muzan knows I can contact the Demon Slayer Corps. Why send an Upper Rank here on a suicide mission?
The pieces clicked together with horrifying speed. This wasn't a direct assault. It was a diversion.
If their true target isn't me, then... A bold and terrible thought seized him. His eyes widened behind the tengu mask. You came for Nezuko!
The image of Tanjiro, heading off to the Final Selection with his sword held high, flashed before his eyes. He never imagined that Muzan Kibutsuji would make a direct move for the girl.
"You arrogant monster!" Urokodaki roared.
In an instant, his composure shattered, replaced by a monstrous killing intent of his own. The powerful energy of the Water Breathing style exploded from his body as he drew his blade. The ground around them cracked and split as the two powerful fighters finally collided with a thunderous crash.
At almost the same moment, in the Ubuyashiki family's ancestral home, Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat on his throne. Supported by his wife, Amane, he fought against the waves of pain wracking his cursed body.
"The Final Selection on Mount Fujikasane has begun," Amane said softly.
The Demon Slayer Corps had flourished under Kagaya's leadership, producing nine powerful and loyal Hashira. But for the Corps to survive, it needed new, fresh blood. The selection was vital for their future.
"A terrible thing has happened!"
Two figures suddenly appeared in the room like streaks of light, kneeling before Kagaya. It was Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, and Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira.
"Master! We've just received urgent news," Giyu reported, his voice grim. "Muzan Kibutsuji and his Twelve Kizuki are on the move."
"It's not just the Lower Ranks," Rengoku added, his usual boisterous energy replaced with a fiery intensity. "All of the Upper Ranks have been deployed. Within a few short hours, hundreds of demon incidents have occurred, not just in Tokyo, but across several prefectures!"
Giyu's face grew even darker. "More importantly, the official Japanese military has gotten involved."
Even Kagaya, with his sharp and unshakable mind, felt his heart tremble. "What exactly is going on?"
"According to our intelligence, members of the Cabinet and even the Imperial Family have been assassinated," Rengoku explained quickly. "And the assassins did something despicable. They left Nichirin Blades at the scenes of the murders!"
The words fell like a physical blow. Kagaya's face turned grim. Nichirin Blades were the exclusive weapons of the Demon Slayer Corps, as normal weapons were useless against demons. The Corps had always kept its distance from the government, and since the nationwide sword ban, they were technically considered outlaws. To be framed for assassinating the nation's leaders at such a sensitive time was a masterstroke of political destruction.
"This is clearly Muzan's scheme," Kagaya sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "He's planning something big." He looked at the two Hashira. "The Final Selection is happening right now on Mount Fujikasane. You two must go at once."
His voice was quiet but firm. "If Muzan is making his move now, at this exact time, there is no way he would ignore a mountain filled with our future demon slayers."
Giyu and Rengoku's eyes widened in understanding. In the next moment, they vanished, speeding towards their new mission.
"A great calamity is about to begin," Kagaya whispered to the empty room, his face seeming to age a decade in an instant.
At that very same moment, in Asakusa, Tokyo, the chilling dread that had gripped Tamayo and Yushiro suddenly became real.
Outside their hidden home, a series of crisp, clear knocks echoed through the silence.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The calm, gentle sound should not have been frightening. But it was impossible. Their residence was protected by a Blood Demon Art that made it completely invisible and undetectable to the outside world. No one should have been able to find them, let alone knock on their door.
Then, a graceful and mysterious voice spoke, seeming to come from everywhere at once. "A hundred years can feel like a dream, can't it? So many regrettable things in the past."
The voice was a nightmare made real, and it echoed directly in Tamayo's ears, making her feel as if she had been plunged into the deepest level of hell.
"Tamayo," the voice said, shedding all pretense of poetry and becoming cold and sharp. "It's been many years. Did you truly think you could hide from an old acquaintance forever?"