Chapter 9: Platinum Prophecy
The silent mountain forest was swept by a gentle night breeze, yet it couldn't dispel the awkward atmosphere, frozen like ice, that hung in the air.
Tanjiro, lying on the ground, looked at Tomioka Giyu, whose face was as calm as water, then at Arthur, whose expression was serene, and his mind raced.
'Europe? What's that? Mr. Arthur isn't a Demon Slayer Corps member? But he clearly defeated such a powerful Twelve Kizuki in one move!'
'Mr. Tomioka's expression is so scary... Why isn't he explaining? Couldn't he just say he's a Demon Slayer Corps member?'
On one side was a calm senior, on the other a mysterious strongman; both were benefactors who had saved his siblings, and Tanjiro genuinely didn't want them to come to blows.
Just as Tanjiro was torn, not knowing what to do, an unexpected figure broke the deadlock.
Whoosh!
A petite figure tore through the night wind, carrying sharp killing intent, and rapidly lunged towards Nezuko, who was still lying in a pool of blood!
Tomioka Giyu's pupils contracted slightly; recognizing the newcomer, his body already moved, preparing to intercept forcefully.
But he was fast, and someone else was even faster!
A golden light instantly flashed, and Arthur arrived, having started later.
His platinum longsword precisely blocked the petite figure's path, forcefully cutting off that fatal lunge!
"Oh?"
The intruder in mid-air let out a soft exclamation, clearly surprised by this sudden obstruction.
She used the recoil from the sword to lightly float back more than ten steps, steadying herself, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed.
"Sir, the one you're protecting is a demon, you know. Could you please move aside?"
Arthur looked up, carefully scrutinizing this uninvited guest.
She wore a pink and white haori with a butterfly pattern, had short black hair styled in a 'yakai-maki', and her face was delicate and gentle.
A faint smile was on her face, yet deep within her beautiful purple eyes, an unyielding, icy killing intent was congealed.
"So, you demon slayers don't need to confirm the situation before acting?"
Arthur's voice carried a hint of playfulness. Kocho Shinobu's eyes narrowed further, like a lazy yet dangerous cat.
She tilted her head, smiling as she retorted.
"Situation? No need."
The smile on her face remained unchanged, but her tone was resolute.
"Slaying evil demons must be done without the slightest hesitation."
Hearing this, Arthur merely chuckled softly, not bothering to argue further.
He raised his platinum longsword, pointing it towards Kocho Shinobu, his attitude self-evident.
Just then, Tomioka Giyu quickly stepped forward, blocking between the two, and shook his head at Kocho Shinobu.
"Stop, he should not be an enemy."
Kocho Shinobu's brows furrowed, and her tone carried a hint of accusation.
"Mr. Tomioka, as a 'Hashira', are you also going to shield a demon?"
Facing his colleague's questioning, Tomioka Giyu maintained his perpetually unmoving, stoic expression, his gaze unwavering.
Kocho Shinobu looked at the two people blocking her and fell into a brief silence.
She secretly assessed the situation.
To ensure a single strike could slay that demon, her lunge just now was held nothing back; both speed and power were pushed to their limits.
Yet, it was not only easily intercepted by that unfamiliar swordsman, but she didn't even see when he appeared.
The immense recoil from the sword still made her right wrist tingle faintly.
This man's strength was unfathomable!
Plus, another Hashira-level individual, Tomioka Giyu, who clearly intended to protect that demon—
The situation was becoming tricky.
Just as the atmosphere solidified again, with the three parties in a standoff, a pitch-black Kasugai Crow broke the forest's silence, flying directly towards the group.
"Order! Order! An order from headquarters!"
"Immediately bring Tanjiro and the demon Nezuko back to headquarters. Tanjiro wears a checkered haori and has a scar on his forehead. The demon Nezuko carries a bamboo muzzle."
"Furthermore: if you encounter a male holding a platinum longsword, be sure to treat him with respect and invite him to return to headquarters with you!"
"Repeat, immediately bring..."
The Kasugai Crow's sharp voice echoed through the forest, its message causing Tomioka Giyu and Kocho Shinobu to freeze simultaneously.
The two turned their heads in unison, their gazes focusing on Arthur, who was protecting Nezuko.
In his hand, he held a platinum longsword that shone with a unique luster.
Arthur raised his head with interest, looking at the Kasugai Crow as it circled and flew away.
He knew of messenger pigeons that delivered news and had heard of talking mynah birds, but a crow that could speak human language so fluently was indeed rare.
Moreover, someone at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters knew of his existence? And even specified his weapon?
He had only arrived in this world a short while ago.
'Does this world possess prophetic abilities?'
"My sincerest apologies, I was quite rude just now."
Kocho Shinobu reined in her killing intent, her impeccable, gentle fake smile returning to her face.
After quickly exchanging information with Tomioka Giyu, they seemed to have reached a consensus, and she bowed slightly to Arthur.
"My name is Kocho Shinobu, the Insect Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Mr. Arthur, would you be willing to accept our invitation and accompany us to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters?"
Although her demeanor was gentle and polite, and her tone soft and delicate.
Arthur could keenly sense that deep within her heart, she still harbored dissatisfaction and wariness towards him.
However, he didn't care about these minor details, simply nodding to indicate for her to lead the way.
'Flesh-eating demons, demon-slaying swordsmen; the structure of this world is gradually becoming clearer.'
'A visit to their headquarters might yield more clues about the world's calamity.'
...
At the same time, in the Infinity Castle.
Deep within this upside-down, structurally twisted, infinitely extending otherworldly construct.
Several figures were forcibly summoned, abruptly appearing amidst the intersecting architecture.
"Where is this...?"
Lower Moon Six looked around, its eyes filled with confusion and alarm.
Its gaze quickly fixed on the woman on the high platform, holding a biwa with an expressionless face.
"Is it that woman's Blood Demon Art? It looks like the entire space is twisting around her..."
As it pondered, Lower Moon Six suddenly realized a problem—
Rui, Lower Moon Five, also a Lower Moon, was not here!
Thrum!
Nakime plucked the biwa string again, and under the influence of spatial power, the Lower Moon demons, originally scattered, were instantly moved to the same area.
This completely undefendable, even unreactable, forced teleportation caused cold sweat to seep from the brows of several Lower Moon demons, who usually ran rampant, and their unease rapidly expanded.
Just as the five demons were filled with apprehension, a figure appeared without warning on the high platform before them.
It was a geisha wearing a luxurious kimono, with a beautiful face but an oppressively icy demeanor.
"Bow your heads, kneel, and submit to me."
The calm, unruffled voice entered the ears of every Lower Moon demon, yet it seemed to carry a magical power of 'what is said is done,' instantly stripping them of control over their bodies.
Thud! Thud!
The five ruthless demons, like puppets on strings, uncontrollably prostrated themselves before the figure on the high platform, their foreheads pressed against the cold ground.
Only then did their remaining reason allow them to realize—
This woman before them, whose aura and appearance were completely different from before, was their absolute ruler.
The progenitor who had lived for over a thousand years, standing at the apex of all demons, Muzan Kibutsuji!
"My deepest... deepest apologies! Lord Muzan!"
Lower Moon Four, Hantengu, spoke with a trembling voice, attempting to explain.
"Because your appearance and aura have changed, we were momentarily unable to..."
"Who permitted you to speak?"
An icy voice interrupted his defense.
The next second, a thorny whip made of flesh and blood, like a living venomous snake, instantly enveloped Lower Moon Four completely.
Rip... Rip...
Bone-chilling sounds of bone and flesh tearing and dull chewing came from within the flesh whip, brief and urgent.
When the thorny whip retracted, only a puddle of foul blood remained, Lower Moon Four utterly annihilated.
Their boss's brutal act of instantly turning hostile and eliminating them at the slightest disagreement left the remaining Lower Moons utterly silent, their breathing almost stopped, as terror gripped their hearts.
Casually obliterating a Lower Moon, Muzan Kibutsuji vented some of the anger that had accumulated in his heart due to Rui's death.
His gaze swept over the four demons below, and he continued in his emotionless voice.
"Rui was killed, Lower Moon Five."
"I only ask one thing—why are the Lower Moon demons so weak?"
The question struck the hearts of the four demons like a heavy hammer; they trembled even more violently, yet not one dared to look up and answer.
Muzan looked at these useless beings who lacked even the courage to face his questioning, and in his crimson eyes, emotions of brutality and impatience surged once again.
His personality was extremely contradictory; he possessed both arrogant contempt for everything and a deep-seated cowardice.
On one hand, he yearned for powerful subordinates to consolidate his rule, while on the other, he pathologically feared his subordinates becoming too strong and uniting to threaten him.
This contradictory psychology led him to strictly control his subordinates, even issuing prohibitions against demons gathering privately.
But there were always exceptions, such as Rui.
Rui's experience of being sickly during his human life bore a subtle resemblance to Muzan's own, which led him to bestow unusual care and affection upon Rui.
Therefore, against the backdrop where all demons had to fight individually, only Rui was tacitly allowed by him.
To form a twisted, false family and play cruel, bloody games of house.
Now, Rui, whom he regarded as his "son," was dead, and this completely ignited the Demon King's already twisted and pathological psyche.
"For the past hundred years or more, the positions of the Upper Moons have never changed. Only the Upper Moons are capable of repeatedly sending the Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira to their graves."
"I've had enough of your incompetence, you Lower Moons!"
Muzan's voice suddenly rose, and deep within his crimson eyes, a viscous, inky blackness seemed to swirl.
"If you cannot immediately demonstrate appropriate value... then there is no longer any need for the Lower Moon demons to exist!"
As his voice fell, an immense, suffocating terror descended, as if to completely crush this Infinity Castle along with the remaining four Lower Moon demons!