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Two whirlpools subtly spin beside the dream passage, through which the snake tail of Vanessa and the dog-like face of Old Keller can be clearly seen... waiting eagerly for Roy's summons.
However, it is morning now, still a day away from the agreed date,
Roy restrained his urge to pull the two into the dream realm to gather intelligence on the Dark Continent, and this time... did not pause, diving headlong into the dream passage, quickly arriving at the azure Sea of Cognition, reaching out to open the Demon Slayer Gate adorned with a demon head ornament!
....
Muzan has not been doing well lately,
He's bewildered,
Puzzled,
Afraid... Ever since he parted with that red-headed boy on the Infinity Train, he stayed cooped up in the Infinity Castle, not taking a single step outside, leaving everything to Douma to handle, unexpectedly... this Upper Second whom he once relied on as a strong arm, whom he deemed no less capable than Kokushibo in certain aspects, brought him one piece of dreadful news after another without respite....
"Lord, the Demon Slayer Corps have acquired the Red Blade,"
"Lord, the Hashira have inexplicably grown stronger, matching the Ghost Moons without using Breathing Techniques, relying only on physical bodies,"
"Lord, Gyutaro has died in battle... Several new Ghost Moons you've been nurturing have also been killed by Gyomei Himejima along with several other Hashira,"
"I know, I know all along, damn it... Don't say anymore!" One day, Muzan snapped, cursing Douma furiously and sent him away!
Ironically, what Muzan couldn't foresee was that this separation from Douma would be... a farewell forever!
He watched as the woman with the butterfly hairband swung a blindingly red Nichirin Sword, slicing off Douma's head, destroying his heart, dismembering his limbs, barely stopping short of devouring his flesh and blood... Finally, rational Tomioka Giyu restrained her… Such tremendous power, such incredible speed, such rapid advancement... For a moment, it reminded him of that moonlit night when he encountered Yoriichi, causing him to tremble in fear!
"What is going on?"
"Rock, why could a woman kill Douma?"
Without employing a Demon Slayer Mark, without using the Transparent World, just flesh combined with Breathing Technique... defeated Douma, Kibutsuji Muzan's fangs were bared, veins throbbed on his forehead, and he glared with red eyes at Kokushibo beside him, his sole subordinate... His final bastion, waiting for his answer.
However, Kokushibo remained silent, simply staring blankly at the image revealed by the demon eye, showing Kochou Shinobu as she savaged Douma, almost in madness—experiencing for the first time a profound confusion.....
Indeed, how did she manage that? With a human's body, rivaling an Evil Ghost, wasn't that capability reserved only to Yoriichi... born with Demon Slayer Mark and the Transparent World?
Why... did she, along with that boy behind her and those past-present Hashira, the Flame Hashira, Snake Hashira, Sound Hashira... whatever Hashira they were, suddenly become so much stronger, why?!
"I also want to know the answer, Lord." Kokushibo, formerly known as Tsugikuni Rock, involuntarily grasped his sword "Void Cry God Departed," confused: "If humans can become this strong just with their bodies, what was the point of me turning into a ghost?"
Muzan froze, stunned,
Indeed, when human bodies can rival ghosts, what significance does his centuries-long pursuit of perfect form hold?
Even if he truly finds the Blue Spider Lily, successfully walking in sunlight, in the end... he's still surpassed by humans,
Muzan took a deep breath, feeling suffocated... suffocation so intense it was despairing and terrifying just to think about!
The great terror of the unknown loomed... Infinity Castle instantly plunged into a bizarre silence... seemingly influenced by their emotions, Nakime stopped playing her biwa and buried her face in her hair, silently, until Muzan suddenly spoke: "At least, we possess a life far longer than they do."
She plucked the zither strings, as if parting the clouds and confusion, revealing the bright moon behind....
Kibutsuji Muzan appeared enlightened, turning his head towards Kokushibo: "Humans will inevitably die of old age, like Yoriichi once did, even if they become stronger, at the moment of their death, they will eventually become mere dust, whereas I, and you,"
"Will live on eternally... as long as we reside in this Infinity Castle, patiently waiting for them to die of old age, yes, die of old age... that's enough!"
"Yoriichi...." Kokushibo gazed upwards with his six eyes, blankly staring at the ceiling, immediately envisioning Tsugikuni Yoriichi's fiery red hair, clogs on his feet, samurai sword at his waist, unknowingly… they merged with the image of the child named... Kamado Eiichiro seen on the Infinity Train, after a while, he sighed quietly: "Let's hope so....."
"Zheng" resonated another sound of the zither....
Infinity Castle vanished into the void.....
Meanwhile, at the Demon Slayer Corps' base, the secluded courtyard hidden within the wisteria forest, having parted ways with Roy last time, they convened another Hashira Alliance Meeting.
This meeting had only one agenda—
To hunt Upper Moon One, along with the Ghost King shrouded behind him... Kibutsuji Muzan!
"Excuse me, Lord, I couldn't extract any useful information from that guy." Douma was dead, the newly risen Ghost Moons were also dead, the Evil Ghosts were nearly wiped out, according to intelligence gathered by "In," recently, Evil Ghost incidents have been scarce, which is undoubtedly great news for the Demon Slayer Corps, the world, men and women, old and young living in this world.
For Kochou Shinobu... it was a gratifying journey of revenge!
Regrettably, Douma's mouth was harder than she imagined, or perhaps Kibutsuji Muzan exerted some control, directly manipulating his life and death, forcing him to say nothing, in any case… attempting to extract information on Upper Moon One and Kibutsuji Muzan's specific whereabouts from Upper Second was completely thwarted!
Kochou Shinobu and Tomioka Giyu knelt on one knee, bowing their heads in apology.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya, now free of curses, has opened his Acupoints, noticeably more vigorous, not only regaining vision in nearly blind eyes, his height and frame visibly grew, becoming slightly more robust, also much more spiritually serene, warm, and optimistic.....
Sitting cross-legged on the wooden corridor, accompanied by his wife, Tamao, his gaze passed over the Hashira, watching his daughters, Hinae, Nichika, Kanata, Kanao, along with his now healthy son, Kiriya, swinging wooden swords with earnestness in the courtyard, claiming their desire to learn from the Hashira, repay Lord Eiichiro, he gestured amiably, speaking warmly: "Shinobu, Giyu, rise."
The current leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, his eyes concealed warm amusement, glanced across Kyojuro, Tengen Uzui, Izuki Kobane, and other Hashira, smiling gently: "I've always believed Lord Eiichiro has a solution, because he....."
"Brought about the current positive situation, brought about your advancement... didn't he?"
As the Acupoints opened, "Divine Power" bestowed blessings, hence distinguishing mortals from gods... The Hashira nodded spontaneously, their gaze collectively directed towards the empty cushion beside Ubuyashiki Kagaya under the corridor... As of last parting, absent without a trace, devoid of news... and it's unknown whether the Lord's Kasugai Crow will find him....
"Namu Amitabha Buddha, as the Lord stated, it is indeed so. We should all be grateful to Lord Eiichiro." A prayerful strike of the alms bowl sounded, from a corner under the corridor, Gyomei Himejima uttered Buddha's Name, his already towering figure grew another inch since opening the Acupoints, tempered through "Nen," though kneeling, he resembled a formidable iron tower, densely packed under the corridor eave....
Not just him, the first to convert to the "Sun God Sect," Kyojuro Rengoku, Tomioka Giyu who shares a lineage with Roy, and also... Kochou Shinobu, Izuki Kobane, Tengen Uzui among others, displayed various transformations... these transformations burgeoned as Roy reopened the Demon Slayer Gate, re-entering the Demon Slayer World, pouring in the panel prompt sounds like a torrent....
Instantly submerging him!