After the news of Lexon's capture reached the other Hashira...
"Lexon was captured, his status is unknown?" On a certain rooftop, Tengen Uzui listened to the news from the Kasugai Crow, his expression gradually turning serious.
"Hah," Obanai Iguro, leaning against a tree with his head lowered, let out a cold laugh, his words laced with sarcasm. "As expected for a braggart..."
But the next moment, a click of his tongue was heard from under his mask.
"Mr. Lexon?" Mitsuri Kanroji, sitting on a long bench, was in some disbelief.
In a certain training ground, Sanemi Shinazugawa was swinging the Nichirin Sword in his hand, a violent gale like a sharp blade striking the wooden posts.
His eyes were full of brutal, bloodshot veins.
In the dense forest, Muichiro Tokito's walking pace did not change in the slightest.
Sitting on a rock, Gyomei Himejima's eyes shed two streams of clear tears. He clasped his hands together and silently chanted, "Namu Amida Butsu."
"I see. I understand," Giyu Tomioka, walking on the street, nodded with an expressionless face, continuing to walk without any wavering.
However, his hand had unconsciously moved to the hilt of the Nichirin Sword at his waist.
'Where is this?'
When Lexon came to his senses, he found himself standing in a strange place.
Classic Japanese-style buildings were everywhere, their spatial layout bizarre and jumbled, as if they had been deliberately twisted into shape.
A distorted, unordered space where the sense of direction was completely useless.
The empty corridors and stairs showed no signs of life.
The light from the lanterns was somewhat dim and gloomy, reflecting off all the surrounding objects.
The name of this place surfaced in Lexon's mind.
The Infinity Castle.
Muzan's safe house.
And also his main base.
'It seems that "twang" of the biwa just now was Nakime's Blood Demon Art.'
Lexon's mind turned quickly.
'It was probably Muzan activating Gyokko's curse through their blood connection to transmit the power to break the pot, and then using the power of the curse as a medium for Nakime to cast her Blood Demon Art and bring me to the Infinity Castle...'
He knew most of the information about Demon Slayer like the back of his hand and easily deduced Muzan's plan.
'Then where's Gyokko?'
Lexon looked around but didn't see a trace of him.
'I thought he would be transported along with me.'
'I was even thinking of cutting him down with one slash.'
"Twang."
Another familiar sound of a biwa rang out.
As the sound fell, Lexon suddenly felt many gazes directed at him.
An extremely dense scent of demons assaulted his nostrils.
In the surrounding corridors and stairs, many figures abruptly appeared.
Curiosity... greed... jealousy...
The meanings contained in the gazes directed at him were all different, yet they all shared the same sentiment...
That was an absolute malice towards Lexon.
Lexon scanned his surroundings...
There were expected targets, and also unexpected ones.
Looking down from a high building, there was Muzan Kibutsuji, in the form of a woman in a kimono.
Between a certain corridor, the Upper Rank One, Kokushibo, was quietly watching Lexon with his six eyes.
Sitting far away on the eaves of a certain house, waving a fan and smiling at Lexon, was the Upper Rank Two, Doma.
Crouching like a lion on the railing of a corridor, ready to pounce, was the Upper Rank Three, Akaza.
Hiding in a corner, furtively watching Lexon, was the Upper Rank Four, Hantengu, with a large swollen forehead, two horns on his head, and the face of a Hannya-like old man.
Standing on a tatami mat, staring at Lexon with venomous hatred, was the Upper Rank Five, Gyokko.
Sitting on the windowsill of a certain building, curiously looking at Lexon, was a beautiful woman with an exceptionally enchanting aura, six flower hairpins in her hair, and flower tattoos on her left cheek and right forehead—the Upper Rank Six, Daki.
From behind her, the head of a young man with medium-short black and green hair, his face covered in black spots, and a gloomy look in his eyes, was vaguely poking out.
That was the other Upper Rank Six, Gyuutaro. He and Daki were two-in-one; even if one of them was beheaded by a Nichirin Sword, they would not die.
Sitting behind Muzan Kibutsuji, holding a biwa, her long hair draped over her face, was the controller of the Infinity Castle, Nakime.
These were all targets Lexon had expected. Although so many heavyweight figures from the demon camp had all arrived at once, he ultimately didn't feel much surprise.
But there was one other female demon standing on the eaves, playing with the heads at her waist, who was an unexpected target, making him feel a little surprised.
Youmei...
And the three newcomer heads at her waist...
Hu Yan... Huang Ming... the unknown middle-aged fat man...
'Where's Rin Tabane?'
Lexon felt it was a little strange that one of the newcomers was missing.
But she was most likely dead.
'A ninety percent chance she's dead.'
Lexon thought.
'But my teammates seem to have some bad luck...'
'A total of five veterans. Two were killed by Muzan, one was traumatized by Muzan and had a huge psychological shadow, one was turned into a demon by Muzan, and one is missing...'
'And of the four newcomers besides myself, the heads of three are hanging from the waist of the demonized Youmei, and one is missing.'
'Truly bad luck.'
"Tell me how you can change between human and demon," Muzan's cold, condescending voice suddenly came.
He was now absolutely confident that he would not let the other party escape.
With all six Upper Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki gathered, and even himself present, to escape from the absolutely sealed Infinity Castle? Absolutely impossible!
The power the other had displayed after demonizing last time was only comparable to Kokushibo's. Muzan believed that he might not even need to act himself; the six Upper Ranks alone would be enough to take him down.
"I'm not telling you," Lexon's response was exactly the same as the one Muzan had received when he asked in the alley.
"If you don't talk, I'll eat you. You can't escape," the sharp, vertical pupils in Muzan's eyes glowed red.
Compared to eating Lexon directly, Muzan actually wanted to get an answer from him first... and after getting the answer, then eat him.
"As if you'd let me go even if I told you," Lexon said with a smile. He had long known what kind of demon Muzan was and also knew his thoughts.
"If you tell me, I'll let you go," the corners of Muzan Kibutsuji's mouth curled up slightly, a sinister light in his eyes.
"Who are you trying to fool?" Lexon raised his Nichirin Sword and pointed it at Muzan, saying flatly, "If you want to eat me, then come."
"Do it," the smile on Muzan Kibutsuji's mouth gradually flattened. He waved a slender arm and gave the order.
"Bang!"
The moment Muzan's voice fell, a figure could no longer hold back. Its power instantly erupted, and it violently smashed the wooden corridor it was on, its entire body smashing towards Lexon like a speeding cannonball.
'So eager...'
Lexon's excellent vision and reaction speed naturally recognized that the one rushing at him was the Upper Rank Three, Akaza, that demon who was obsessed with martial arts and crazy about fighting.
[Activate Mark]
As the thought fell, a series of sinister white markings suddenly appeared on Lexon's face.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]