Um... excuse me, are you looking for Muzan because...
Before Tanjiro could finish speaking, a crow flapped its wings, descended from the sky, landed on his shoulder, and began shouting in a sharp, human voice:
"Caw—! Caw—! Emergency order! Emergency order!"
"Kamado Tanjiro! Immediately bring the mysterious person in front of you back to Headquarters! Repeat! Bring him back to Headquarters immediately!"
"The Master has given the order! No mistakes allowed! Caw—!"
The messenger crow, named 'Kasugai Crow,' had a voice filled with unprecedented urgency and a hint of... reverence?
Tanjiro was completely stunned.
The Master?
Lord Ubuyashiki Kagaya already knew about this person's existence?
What exactly was going on?
Hansen looked up at the noisy, fussing crow, finding it slightly irritating.
["Kasugai Crow": Crows assigned by the Demon Slayer Corps to their official members.]
[— Ability List —]
["Low Altitude Flight (N)":...]
["Basic Communication (N)":...]
Sure enough, the abilities were useless.
Hansen shook his head internally, then said to Tanjiro: "It looks like your boss wants to see me."
"Then lead the way. It just so happens that I also wanted to meet these so-called 'Pillars' of yours."
"Huh?"
Tanjiro felt like his brain couldn't process any more information.
He could only nod blankly, then, supporting the nearly unconscious Zenitsu while pulling Inosuke, who still wanted to rush forward and fight Hansen, he followed behind Hansen.
Along the way, Tanjiro's emotions were incredibly complex.
He secretly observed Hansen walking ahead.
The man walked with unhurried steps and a relaxed posture, as if he wasn't traversing a perilous forest, but strolling in his own backyard garden.
The surrounding darkness seemed to retreat far away simply because of his presence.
Tanjiro's sense of smell told him that ever since he started walking with this person, the presence of all demons within several miles had vanished.
They hadn't left; rather, like creatures meeting their natural predator, they had completely held their breath out of extreme fear, not daring to move an inch.
Just who exactly was this person?
Perhaps he... truly could become the light of hope that would end Muzan Kibutsuji and terminate this tragedy that had lasted for a thousand years?
Thinking this, Tanjiro's gaze couldn't help but become fervent... After passing through a wisteria forest, the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters—the Ubuyashiki Estate—appeared before them.
This ancient and quiet residence was currently permeated by an unusual atmosphere of tension.
When Tanjiro led Hansen into the courtyard, nine sharp gazes instantly focused on Hansen.
They were the highest-ranking and strongest swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps—
The Pillars.
Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Pillar, had bright eyes filled with curiosity and fighting spirit.
Tengen Uzui, the Sound Pillar, stood with his arms crossed, sizing up Hansen with a flamboyant and scrutinizing gaze.
Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Pillar, had slightly flushed cheeks and whispered, "What a handsome man."
Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Pillar, the most imposing figure, held prayer beads, weeping incessantly, muttering, "Amitabha, this person is not human..."
Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Pillar, had vacant eyes, seemingly looking at Hansen, yet also looking at the sky behind him.
Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Pillar, watched cautiously with a cold gaze while his white snake, Kaburamaru, coiled around his neck, flicked its tongue.
Giyu Tomioka, the Water Pillar, stood silently in the corner, just watching.
Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Pillar, wore a serene smile and silently observed the approaching group.
Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Pillar, was the most volatile.
He bared his teeth in a snarl, his face covered in scars making him look especially fierce, and he demanded rudely, "Hey! Who the hell are you?!"
"This is the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, not a place just any stray cat or dog can wander into!"
Facing the astonishing pressure emanating from these nine powerhouses, who represented the peak of human combat strength, Tanjiro, following behind, could barely breathe.
However, Hansen, who was the focus, didn't even lift an eyelid.
"'Stray cat or dog'?" He repeated, then smiled, "Indeed, in my eyes, there isn't much difference between you and stray cats or dogs."
"What did you say?!"
Sanemi Shinazugawa instantly exploded in rage!
He violently drew his Nichirin Blade, pushed off the ground, and shot toward Hansen like a green whirlwind!
"Wind Breathing!"
"First Form!"
"Dust Whirlwind Cutter!"
The fierce slash whipped up a gale, aiming directly for Hansen's neck!
Tanjiro's heart nearly leaped out of his chest in fright, and he shouted, "Mr. Shinazugawa! Don't!"
However, it was already too late.
Shinazugawa's blade was so fast that not even an afterimage could be seen.
But this ultimate strike stopped abruptly, three inches away from Hansen's neck.
It was as if it had struck an invisible, intangible, yet utterly indestructible absolute barrier.
"Hm?" Sanemi Shinazugawa's eyes widened. He felt an unimaginable force gripping his blade, and no matter how he channeled his breathing or exerted all his strength, he couldn't advance an inch!
What was this?! It wasn't a Blood Demon Art!
"Too weak." Hansen finally glanced up at him and commented somewhat boredly, "Your strength, speed, and technique are all a mess."
"Mmm! Interesting!" Before anyone could react, Kyojuro Rengoku's booming voice rang out, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. "To block Sanemi's slash purely with aura! I want to try it myself!"
"Flame Breathing!"
"Second Form!"
"Rising Scorching Sun!"
Rengoku swung his blade upward, a spiral of blazing fire erupted from the ground, and the scorching blade sliced toward Hansen at a speed superior to Shinazugawa's!
At the same time, a flamboyant figure flashed into position!
"Allow this God of Festivals to put on a flamboyant joint performance!" The Sound Pillar, Tengen Uzui, swung his massive twin blades, "Sound Breathing...!"
"Fourth Form!"
"Constant Resounding Slashes!"
The blades spun at high speed, accompanied by violent explosions, forming a pincer attack with the Flame Pillar's strike!
Wind, Flame, Sound!
The combined attack of three Pillar-level experts was enough to instantly flatten a building!
"Inosuke! Get back!" Tanjiro was struck with terror, frantically dragging the equally stunned Inosuke and Zenitsu backward.
However, facing this world-shattering encirclement, Hansen merely raised his left hand slightly.
"Too noisy."
He flicked his finger.
A crisp "ding" sound, clearly overriding the sounds of wind, fire, and explosions, precisely struck Shinazugawa's blade.
Clang—!
Sanemi Shinazugawa felt an unparalleled immense force transmit through the impact, and the web of skin between his thumb and index finger instantly tore open!
His Nichirin Blade flew out of his grasp and plunged into the ground far away!
He himself stumbled back more than a dozen steps before collapsing onto the ground, his face showing an expression of utter disbelief.
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