"We respectfully welcome Oyakata-sama!" The eight Hashira spoke in unison.
"Everyone, good afternoon. The weather today is truly fine, as wonderful as my mood right now. It is a pleasure to see all of you again," Kagaya said slowly.
His voice was gentle like water, making Tanjiro and the others feel unconsciously lighthearted and joyous, a slight floaty sensation in their heads.
"Oyakata-sama, we are also overjoyed to see you in good health," Gyomei, the Stone Hashira, said with tear-filled eyes and a choked voice.
Kagaya smiled and nodded. Assisted by the two white-haired girls, he knelt on the tatami mat, signaling the Hashira to rise.
After coughing twice, Kagaya said, "The reason I've convened this impromptu Hashira Meeting is due to a vital piece of information concerning our ultimate goal: Kibutsuji Muzan."
The Hashira had already received some preliminary information and were mentally prepared, so their expressions were not overly excited.
Kagaya's 'gaze' swept around, settling on Aomori in the distance. He spoke softly, "Aomori-san, I wonder if you would kindly recount the events of your encounter for us."
Instantly, the eyes of everyone present focused on Aomori.
Aomori's expression was calm. He stepped forward and, like an outsider, began recounting the beginning and end of his encounter with Muzan in an even, unfluctuating tone.
"Red eyes, young male, wearing formal attire..." Kagaya sighed. "It seems Muzan has been living amongst us, disguised as a human. After all these years, we have finally caught his trail."
"Aomori-san, I hope you can spare some time later to cooperate with an artist to create a portrait of Muzan, which will facilitate our search for his whereabouts."
"Certainly. Regarding the mission to destroy Muzan and his subordinate Demons, I can cooperate with you. In return, I would like to have the authority within the Demon Slayer Corps to deploy the Hashira and to utilize the highest-grade resources." Aomori spoke directly. Time was pressing, so he saw no need to mince words.
At this declaration, everyone except Kagaya, who remained outwardly calm, was shocked.
Sanemi could hold back no longer. He turned toward Aomori and challenged him, "Hey, you bastard, do you know what you're saying? You actually want to command us. It's not even confirmed that the person you met was Muzan. Perhaps it was just some small-time Demon."
"I have similar doubts. How can you be certain the Demon you encountered was Muzan? You should at least provide evidence," Kyojuro, the Flame Hashira, stated bluntly.
"I doubt he can produce any," Obanai, the Serpent Hashira, sneered.
Gyomei chanted a sutra, and Muichiro gazed at the sky, both making no comment.
Giyu stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "I trust my own judgment. Only Muzan would leave behind such an astonishing demonic presence."
"Hah, how convenient. I only trust my own judgment, too," Sanemi scoffed.
"Tomioka-san, as far as I know, you weren't present at the time. Your word isn't entirely convincing then. Aomori-san, it seems you still need to provide reliable evidence," Kanae also sided with Sanemi.
Aomori shook his head. "I have no evidence. If I must point to one, then the evidence is myself."
"If I were to beat all of you down right here, would that prove I wasn't lying?"
"You said you'd beat all of us down?" Sanemi cracked his knuckles, showing a chilling smile. "Excellent, that suits me perfectly!"
"Hahahaha!" Kyojuro let out a hearty laugh. "That certainly gets the blood pumping!"
"As the God of Festivities, I don't believe any human can beat me down," Tengen said confidently, stroking his hair.
Obanai chuckled, "Humans are always blind to their own limitations."
Kanae shook her head, not holding out much hope for Aomori, and even mentally prepared herself to provide him with first aid later.
Muichiro was still spacey, adrift in thought.
Giyu glanced sideways at Sanemi and said, "Aomori-san is stronger than I am."
'Is he trying to say Aomori is stronger than him, meaning stronger than us? Hmph, what an arrogant bastard,' Sanemi's anger continued to rise.
"Such provocation against the Hashira is not something I can ignore," Gyomei, who had been observing the entire time, finally spoke. He bowed to Kagaya and said, "Oyakata-sama, please allow us to spar with Aomori-san. Should we lose, we will agree to his terms."
"You are all my dear children, and I do not wish to see any of you hurt. However, this is indeed a solution that satisfies both parties. Therefore, I propose that the match be conducted without weapons, bare-handed." Since blades are unforgiving, Kagaya chose a compromise, unwilling for them to accidentally kill each other.
"I agree with Oyakata-sama's proposal. Namu Amida Butsu," Gyomei was the first to speak.
The other Hashira also expressed their agreement. After all, they weren't fighting Demons and didn't need to go all-out.
Aomori also nodded in acceptance. This suited his plans perfectly.
Regarding bare-handed combat, Aomori, a novice practitioner of Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, declared that everyone present was trash.
"Why don't you all come at me at once?" Aomori did not wait for them to set the rules and beckoned them with a hook of his hand.
"Aomori-nii, you're going to fight five people?" Tanjiro asked in astonishment. He subconsciously excluded Giy, the gentle older sister Kanae, and the zoning-out Muichiro from the opposing team.
"No, I'm going to fight all eight."
That is truly damn arrogant!
A similar thought flashed through the minds of all the Hashira present. They were among the strongest humans, and such blatant disrespect was intolerable.
The volatile Wind Man, Sanemi, could not stand it. He charged at Aomori first, "Say that after you beat me!"
The Hashira were all swordsmen who had mastered Total Concentration Breathing: Constant. As Sanemi raised his hand and stepped forward, Wind Breathing circulated rapidly. In the blink of an eye, he was behind Aomori. He clasped his hands tightly, raising them above his head, and swung them down like a heavy hammer toward Aomori's head.
However, the next second, the large figure of Aomori vanished from his sight. Immediately after, an overwhelming force pressed down on his head, pinning him to the ground.
His forehead hit the ground, stunning Sanemi. Through the haze, he heard that detestable voice: "Is that enough?"
In that flash of action, Tanjiro didn't know what had happened. All he saw was the terrifyingly fierce man pinned to the ground by Aomori, with dense cracks spiderwebbing across the cement floor.
'He feels like he's from a different world,' he couldn't help but step back a few paces, keeping his distance to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
"Amazing! Take this!" Kyojuro praised him, taking two steps forward and throwing a straight right punch that was accompanied by rolling heat waves.
Simultaneously, Tengen appeared behind Aomori, his large, fan-sized palms striking toward Aomori's ears—a double ear-slap!
To Aomori's left, Obanai appeared, his small hands jabbing like awls toward Aomori's waist.
To Aomori's right was Kanae's fast, whipping kick.
It wasn't over yet! Muichiro, who had previously been daydreaming, leaped above Aomori. His wide clothing obscured his hands and feet, making it impossible to guess his direction of attack.
While Tanjiro was still reeling from Sanemi's defeat, Kyojuro and the others, though astonished, simultaneously used the opportunity to corner Aomori.
Find the opening, deliver the killing blow.
This was the combat readiness of the strongest Demon Slayers known as the Hashira, a level few others could ever reach.
Unfortunately, their opponent was Aomori.
'Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist!'
Slap, slap, slap, slap, slap!
With five continuous, sharp sounds, Kyojuro and the others who were attacking were sent flying backward at the same time.
A hand rested on Kyojuro's back, catching him.
"Gyomei, thanks," Kyojuro rubbed his wrist and said, "Be careful, his speed is incredible."
Gyomei shook his head. Though blind, his exceptional hearing allowed him to "see" more than Rengoku and the others.
"Namu Amida Butsu. It's not just his speed."
He took off his monk's robe, revealing rock-solid muscle, and spread his arms, embracing Aomori like a giant bear.
Beside them, Giyu opened his right hand, looked at it twice, curled his fingers back into his palm, clenched his fist, and took a step toward Aomori. He, too, joined the fray.
The eight Hashira surrounded Aomori!
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You can read the ahead chapter on Patr if you're interested: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]