A sudden stillness fell over the battlefield. The air grew heavy, and for a moment, it felt like no one could breathe—not Tanjiro Kamado, who had just arrived, nor Shinobu Kocho, who was already pushed to her limit.
Just moments ago, the presence of Upper Rank Two Douma had been overwhelming. He had pushed them to the very edge of their capabilities. If he had been truly serious about killing them, it was doubtful that Shinobu and Mitsuri Kanroji would still be standing.
But now, even with Tanjiro and the others as reinforcements, the situation had become impossibly worse. Two more demons had appeared, and they were clearly terrifying in their own right. While the full extent of their power was unknown, the six-eyed swordsman, Kokushibo, and the martial artist, Akaza, radiated an immense pressure. Their arrival was so significant that even the perpetually relaxed Douma now wore a serious expression.
There was only one possible explanation: these newcomers were also members of the Twelve Kizuki, and their strength was at least equal to Douma's, if not greater.
It was terrifying. Utterly terrifying. This time, it truly felt like they were doomed.
Akaza shot a sharp, predatory grin at Douma. "Are you enjoying this little game of yours, Douma? The Master didn't order us to kill all the Hashira, but they're still our enemies. Or are you just playing with them because they're women?" His voice was laced with cold contempt.
Ever since learning the ultimate martial truth from Tsukihiko—With no woman in your heart, your sword will be divine—Akaza had committed himself to this philosophy. The girl whose face he could no longer remember was a thing of the past; pursuing emotions would only slow down his fists. His one true desire had always been strength. He wanted to become a Fighting Demon so powerful that even Tsukihiko would have to acknowledge him.
Because of this, he found himself respecting Kokushibo far more than he used to. Kokushibo's immense power was undeniable. Akaza knew that despite his own recent growth, there was still a considerable gap between him and Upper Rank One. In his earlier fight against the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, and the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, he had only won through sheer force of will. Of course, relying on a demon's unique stamina and recovery wasn't cheating; it was simply part of his strength.
Seeing Douma, who possessed such incredible power but lacked any real ambition, still ranked above him was infuriating.
"Hehe, women..." Douma, who had seemed lost in thought, flashed a wicked smile. "You're right. It's precisely because they're women. And not just any women, but beautiful women!"
A chilling silence fell once more. The faces of Shinobu Kocho, Mitsuri Kanroji, and Kanao Tsuyuri turned to ice. It was agonizing enough that Shinobu couldn't avenge her sister by killing Douma. Now, surrounded by the enemy, they all faced the very real possibility of dying here. But to be humiliated so directly because of their gender was something they could never accept.
"Damn it!"
"You bastard!"
Tanjiro and Inosuke Hashibira roared in unison, lunging forward to attack Douma. It didn't matter if they could win. It didn't matter if they were outmatched. They would never allow an enemy to insult their comrades like this. That wasn't the way of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"You're asking for death!" Douma's smile vanished, replaced by a frigid glare. "Since you're so eager to die, I suppose I can grant your wish."
He clapped his hands together, and in an instant, countless sharp ice spikes materialized in the air. At the same time, two massive ice statues appeared beside him, breathing out a terrifyingly cold mist.
However, before the mist could spread, a violent impact shattered the air above. Cracking sounds echoed as the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, descended, his axe and flail ready for battle.
"Hehe, another one? How interesting," a cold smile played on Douma's lips. "But you don't seem to understand. This is exactly what I wanted to see."
As he spoke, a brilliant aura erupted from his body, expanding in every direction. From within the swirling mist, dozens of figures emerged, each one a perfect copy of Douma in appearance, build, and presence.
Crystalline Divine Child!
"Attack!"
"Attack!"
Tanjiro and Inosuke charged forward, followed closely by Kanao Tsuyuri and Sanemi Shinazugawa. Shinobu and Mitsuri moved as well, their blades flashing. They refused to let their younger comrades die before they did.
Just as the army of ice clones closed in on the Slayers, ready to strike them down, a new figure descended from the sky. An ancient Nichirin sword sliced through the air, its movement creating a sound like a thousand blades singing at once.
"How dare you!"
The voice was one Shinobu and the others knew intimately, yet they couldn't believe they were hearing it. As the words echoed across the battlefield, Douma's Crystalline Divine Children shattered into countless glittering fragments.
"Damn it... Who... Who is that!?" Douma's mind reeled.
Kokushibo and Akaza stared intently at the figure hovering in mid-air, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Master..."
The shocked whispers from Shinobu and the others confirmed the man's identity. It was the current head of the Ubuyashiki family, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, and the man most hated by all demons.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
But this was impossible. The head of the Ubuyashiki clan was supposed to be dying, afflicted by a curse that had already brought him to death's door. How could he be here now? More than that, he looked completely transformed, radiating a terrifying power that startled even the strongest demons.
What was going on?
In that moment, an unbelievable chill ran down the spines of all the Twelve Kizuki, including Kokushibo. Even as demons, they felt as if they were looking at a ghost.
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