The shadow of death loomed over Gyokko. Just by standing there, Yosuke's very presence crushed him with unbearable pressure.
Instinct screamed at Gyokko: if he turned to flee now, he would surely die. His only chance of survival lay in seizing the initiative himself.
"Blood Demon Art: Ten Thousand Gliding Slime Fish!"
Gyokko produced ten jars engraved with sticky fish motifs. From them surged a tidal wave of ten thousand razor-toothed sticky fish, rushing at Yosuke like a vast ocean.
At the very moment the swarm descended, Gyokko invoked another art — Blood Demon Art: Murderous Fish Scales.
The glistening scales on his body made his movements unpredictable, allowing him to leap and bound at blistering speed as he charged Yosuke.
His desperate plan was this: the sticky fish would hold Yosuke off, even for a moment. Then, using the high mobility of his fish-scale technique, he would close in, touch Yosuke with his "God-Hand" and transform him into a fish. That would cancel Yosuke's Blood Domain technique, giving Gyokko the chance to escape.
It was the only possible path to survival.
But Yosuke's response was merciless.
"Blood Breathing, First Form: Crimson Decay!"
Crimson petals burst forth from blooming scarlet blossoms that enveloped Yosuke, exploding outward in a storm of flower fragments. The shockwave roared across the battlefield.
In an instant, Gyokko's ten thousand sticky fish were annihilated, and even Gyokko himself — halfway through his charge — was hurled through the air.
The scales he had once boasted were harder than diamond shattered in great swathes, leaving his body a bleeding ruin. Worse, the venom of Crimson Decay seeped in through his wounds, corroding his will.
Gyokko's consciousness began to blur. His killing intent swelled, threatening to drown his instinct to survive.
He slapped his head frantically, forcing himself to resist. If he lost even the will to live, then no amount of blood-fueled rage could give him a chance against Yosuke.
Bloodshot eyes darted toward Tokitō Muichirō, resting behind Yosuke. His earlier plan had failed, but now—perhaps that boy was the only key to escape.
"Blood Demon Art: Blood Prison Basin!"
From a jar adorned with crashing waves, Gyokko splashed a torrent of water toward Yousuke.
At the same instant—
"Blood Demon Art: Thousand Needle Fish Kill!"
He covertly summoned forth goldfish that spat poisonous needles straight at Muichirō, then spun and bolted in the opposite direction without looking back.
As he neared the edge of the Blood Domain, hope filled his heart.
"Just a little more—! I'm about to live!"
But suddenly, pain exploded in his chest. A hand pierced straight through him from behind.
Gyokko turned in disbelief. Meeting him were Yosuke's eyes — cold, merciless.
And behind them, before Muichirō, a shield of blood had risen from the Blood Domain, intercepting every poisoned needle.
From elation to despair, Gyokko's mind snapped. He screamed hysterically:
"You can't kill me! I'm a demon — just like you! You can't kill me!"
Yosuke sneered.
"Fool. Muzan Kibutsuji can strip away the powers and immortality of demons made from his blood, erasing them with ease. He holds the right of life and death over you all. As one who also bears the title of Demon King… do you truly think I cannot?"
Gyokko felt it then — his very blood cells unraveling, disintegrating inside him. Despair crushed him.
"No… don't… don't kill me! I have information about the Blue Spider Lily! If you let me live, I'll tell you everything!"
Yosuke's voice turned mocking, almost amused.
"Oh? Then let's hear it."
The inner destruction paused, and Gyokko gasped out desperately:
"Deep in Mount Noto near Takamatsu Town, within a wisteria forest, people say the Blue Spider Lily has been sighted at night!"
But no sooner had the words left him than the dissolution resumed, devouring his body from within.
"You lied to me?!"
Yosuke laughed with scorn.
"An Azure Spider Lily that blooms at night? What a pathetic joke."
Under Gyokko's terrified gaze, his body crumbled into nothingness.
The Upper Rank Five of the Twelve Kizuki was no more.
Yousuke walked over to Tokitō Muichirō. Thanks to his breathing techniques, the boy's bleeding had stopped.
"You holding up?"
Muichirō gave a wordless nod, then lifted his head to meet Yousuke's eyes.
"I want to ask… earlier, you said I reminded you of her. Who is she?"
Sitting down beside him, Yosuke's gaze softened with memory.
"Her name was Kaori. You are the descendant of the Tokitō clan, a family of warriors from the Warring States era. She was one of the ancestors of the Ubuyashiki line."
"My ancestor…" Muichirō murmured.
"You care about that?" Yosuke asked.
Muichirō lowered his head, struggling to recall the past, but only emptiness answered him. His eyes clouded with confusion.
"I can't remember anything from before. But I vaguely recall someone once told me — the 'Mu' in my name 'Muichirō' meant 'nothing,' as in 'incompetent.' But somehow… I feel like that wasn't the true meaning."
"Is that why you feel lost?" Yousuke pressed gently.
Muichirō said nothing, curling into himself.
"That person's words may not have meant what you think. The 'Mu' in Muichirō could also mean 'infinite.' Infinite hope. Isn't that so?"
Muichirō froze, Yosuke's words stirring something deep in his mind. A faint memory surfaced — a voice telling him:
"The 'Mu' in Muichirō is infinite. It is the boundless strength you wield to protect others."
Sensing the Demon Slayer Corps approaching, Yosuke spread his blood-forged wings and began to rise.
"I look forward to the day you recover the memories buried in your heart, and the feelings you've lost. Farewell, descendant of Kaori… Tokitō Muichirō."
As the words echoed, Muichirō's once lifeless eyes began to shine. His long-numb heart burned with warmth again.
"Muichirō! Are you alright?!"
Uzui Tengen rushed in, panic in his voice as he saw the boy drenched in blood. Survivors from the battle had already sent their kasugai crow to summon the Sound Hashira, who had raced here without pause.
But Muichirō, still lost in the haze of resurfacing memories, did not respond.
"Where's Upper Rank Five?" Uzui pressed again.
At last, Muichirō lifted his head. A smile graced his lips.
"I'm fine. Upper Rank Five… is dead."
Uzui stared in shock at the smile — something he had never once seen on Muichirō's face.
"That smile… what's going on? You're not Tokitō Muichirō! Who are you?!"
Instantly, Muichirō's smile vanished. His face returned to its usual blank mask.
"You're mistaken," he said flatly.
The familiar aura returned. Uzui exhaled in relief, shaking his head inwardly.
"Even a god who governs flamboyance can make mistakes sometimes."