Evening · Unnamed Outskirts
A quiet, uninhabited, unnamed suburban area gradually became noisy as people moved through it.
"Do you think Kibutsuji Muzan is really in this wilderness?"
"Since Lord Chen has led us here, of course he is. Didn't you see that the Pillars didn't say a word?"
"Right, right, right! I was overthinking it!"
Hundreds of Demon Slayer Corps members, who had followed Zhong Chen to an unnamed suburban area, couldn't help but discuss among themselves as they looked at the desolate surroundings.
Zhong Chen didn't care about the discussions behind him. If it weren't for the Pillars' request, he would have wanted to handle everything by himself. To be honest, after being away for so many days, he did miss that adorable creature a bit.
"Rimuru should be awake by now. I wonder what she's doing. Goblin Village must be very busy with its initial construction!"
Slime World · Night · Dwarf Kingdom Elf Bar
"Wahahaha, but this is truly astonishing. The sword I forged with all my skill was instantly mass-produced!"
Kajin, the dwarf wearing a pointy construction hat, sat in a booth with a wine glass in his hand, exclaiming to Rimuru, who was being held by a golden-haired elf lady.
"That's because the prototype you forged, Kajin, was excellent. I merely analyzed it and then replicated it using magic ore blocks!"
Rimuru, with her brainwave pad on her head, replied, holding her wine glass.
"Wow! Is this an elf lady! So good!"
Dog author: Weren't you a girl in your past life?
Rimuru: None of your business ￣ω￣ =
Hearing her words, everyone present exchanged glances, and Rimuru, seeing the awkward silence, asked curiously:
"Did I overstep?"
Hearing this, Kajin, who had recovered, immediately raised his wine glass and said boisterously:
"Next time, I'll definitely forge an amazing sword that even the master (master doesn't necessarily mean a man, it's just a respectful title) can't imitate!"
Rimuru, looking at Kajin, also happily raised her wine glass:
"That's the spirit! Cheers!!! Bartender, another round!"
The slender, golden-haired proprietress in a purple dress, holding a bottle of beer, smiled charmingly at Rimuru.
"Oh my, Slime, can you taste it? (⌒_⌒;)"
Rimuru, holding her wine glass with her materialized small hand, said happily:
"I can't taste it, but with a beautiful person pouring the drink, everything is delicious!"
Hearing Rimuru's straightforward compliment, the proprietress's charming face beamed even more brightly:
"Oh my, such sweet words. Here, please drink!"
"It's so great to be a guest! This is simply heaven!"
"Another round!! ~ (￣▽￣)~*"
"Hai (Yes)!"
Zhong Chen: Drinking in a bar full of elf ladies, and being held in their arms, how enviable... no... how infuriating!
Leaving aside Rimuru, who was indulging in the gentle embrace and had completely forgotten Zhong Chen, let's shift our perspective back to the Demon Slayer World.
"This is about the place."
Zhong Chen's divine sense scanned the entire Neon, finally discovering that the Infinity Castle, the different dimension opened by Nakime, was located here.
"Lord Chen, is this it?"
Rengoku Kyoujurou, with his flame-like hair, heard that they had arrived and turned to look at the empty surroundings, asking doubtfully.
"This is it. Muzan is hidden within a different dimension. You won't see anything here!"
Zhong Chen, summoning Linglong, raised his right hand and replied casually, looking forward.
"A different dimension!!! * 9"
The surrounding Pillars all exclaimed in surprise.
"No wonder we couldn't find Muzan no matter how hard we looked. Damn it! To think he's hidden in a different dimension, is it a Blood Demon Art?"
"There's a Blood Demon Art that can open a different dimension!"
While the Pillars were marveling at the power of the Blood Demon Art, only Kanae Kocho, who had been observing Zhong Chen, noticed his actions:
"Lord Chen, what are you doing?"
Zhong Chen, holding Linglong, didn't answer Kanae Kocho's question. He simply channeled spiritual power into the sword blade with his right hand and lightly slashed from left to right.
"Zzzzz..."
As if space itself was being cut, a spatial rift, about ten meters wide, appeared before everyone's eyes. Everything within the space could be clearly seen through the gap.
The internal structure of the space appeared very complex, filled with ancient Japanese buildings, mostly wooden structures.
The pavilions and window frames on each level were lifelike. Everyone who witnessed this scene was utterly shocked.
"Is this Kibutsuji Muzan's lair?"
"It's truly astonishing!"
"Lord Chen is so powerful, to be able to easily find Muzan's lair!"
"Is the final battle finally here!"
Infinity Castle
Nakime, who was playing the biwa, suddenly felt the barrier being broken. Startled, she instantly stood up. How could anyone find the Infinity Castle? How could my Blood Demon Art be broken!!
"Nakime! What happened? Why are you so flustered!"
Seeing Nakime suddenly stand up, Muzan, who was lying on his side drinking, opened his scarlet eyes and asked displeased.
Hearing Muzan's icy voice, Nakime knelt on the ground in a panic and replied:
"I am very sorry, Lord Muzan! I sensed that the Infinity Castle's barrier has been broken, and someone has intruded into the Infinity Castle!!"
"What! You said someone broke the Infinity Castle's barrier? How is that possible!!"
Hearing Nakime's words, Muzan also stood up in shock, his mind racing, wondering who could break the Infinity Castle's barrier:
"Who is it? The Demon Slayer Corps? Impossible! They don't have that ability! Then who could it be?"
Suddenly, he remembered someone, a young man who filled him with fear. It was because of this young man that he decided to retreat into the Infinity Castle and dare not go out.
"Could it be the one who killed Douma!!! No, I need to change locations. The Infinity Castle is no longer safe. I need to leave quickly!"
"Nakime! Notify the Twelve Kizuki to go and eliminate the intruders!"
"Yes, Lord Muzan!"
One has to admit, the scumbag boss's ability to cling to life is truly admirable. With just a slight clue, he sends his subordinates to their deaths while he makes his escape. Unfortunately, it was already too late.
Just as Kibutsuji Muzan was about to flee, a voice suddenly echoed throughout the entire Infinity Castle:
"Muzan! Come out and get some sun!!!"
All the demons in the Infinity Castle were terrified upon hearing this voice.
"Who... is this! So bold! Aren't they afraid of Lord Muzan's wrath?"
"It's over, if Lord Muzan gets angry, none of us will survive!"
"I haven't eaten enough human flesh yet, I don't want to die!"
The Twelve Kizuki, who also heard this voice, also changed their expressions. One of them, a humanoid creature with six eyes, warned the surrounding demons with a solemn expression:
"Those who don't want to die, shut up!!!"
This six-eyed monster was the Upper Rank One of the Twelve Kizuki, Kokushibo!!!
Kokushibo, originally named Tsugikuni Michikatsu, joined the Demon Slayer Corps because he was jealous of his younger brother Tsugikuni Yoriichi's swordsmanship talent. To surpass his brother, he later betrayed humanity out of fear of death (Marked Demon Slayers are fated to die at 25).
After becoming a demon, he pledged allegiance to Kibutsuji Muzan and became Upper Rank One, changing his name to Kokushibo. He uses his self-created "Moon Breathing" and his strength is second only to Muzan.
Kokushibo, who was wondering who the intruder was, suddenly received a message from Nakime in his ear:
"Lord Kokushibo, Lord Muzan has ordered all Twelve Kizuki to eliminate the intruders!!"
Upon hearing the message, Kokushibo's eyes immediately revealed killing intent. He reached for the katana at his waist and said coldly:
"Let the intruder's blood fill you!!!"