Enmu's body collapsed to the side. Blood gushed from the stump of his neck while his severed head rolled across the roof of the carriage. In the next moment, several tentacle-like arms sprouted from beneath the head, lifting it upright again.
"Oh my… now I understand how that lord felt when he said he wanted to kill the Hashira—and you."
The floating head slowly straightened itself.
"Your existence is truly irritating."
Aoyama stepped forward and swung his blade again, severing the head once more. He planted his foot firmly on Enmu's head and looked down coldly.
"Heh. Let me remind you—you stopped being human a long time ago."
With that, he turned to leave.
For Enmu, the attack still caused no real damage. Watching Aoyama walk away, he couldn't help but call out.
"Hey! Aren't you curious why I can still talk even after my neck was cut off?"
He had expected shock… fear… something entertaining. Instead, he saw none of it. The lack of reaction left him strangely frustrated.
Aoyama stopped and glanced back without expression.
"That's because this isn't your real body. Of course you won't die."
Enmu's expression changed instantly. This man was far more troublesome than he expected.
"Well then! Since you already know the reason, let's make a deal!" Enmu said quickly. "This entire train is my blood, my flesh, my bones. Everyone inside is nothing more than bait."
Aoyama stared at him silently, his gaze devoid of emotion.
That emotionless calm made Enmu uneasy. He couldn't read Aoyama 's mind at all.
"Come now!" Enmu continued enticingly. "Why don't you hand yourself over to me? If you do, I'll spare everyone on this train. Isn't protecting humans the whole point of the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Still no response.
Enmu pressed on.
"It's a great bargain, isn't it? One life in exchange for more than two hundred. Totally worth it."
Finally, Aoyama 's expression changed.
But what appeared on his face was only disgust and annoyance.
"You really talk too much."
His blade flashed again.
This time, he split the endlessly chattering head clean in half.
Inside the carriage, Nezuko used her Blood Demon Art to burn away the ropes tied around Tanjiro and the others. One by one, they awoke from their dreams.
The girl who had been shouting about rebellion still held an ice pick, trying to stab Rengoku Kyojuro.
"Why aren't you helping?! Don't you want to keep having those beautiful dreams?!"
At that moment, Aoyamaclimbed through the window from outside. Hearing the girl's words, his eyes narrowed. He strode forward and struck the girl on the neck with a sharp hand chop, knocking her unconscious instantly.
Seeing Aoyama return safely, Nezuko's pink cheeks lit up with a bright smile.
"Aoyama -senpai!"
"Aoyama little—uh, senpai!" Inosuke blurted, quickly correcting the title he had nearly said out of habit from the dream.
"Aoyama ! Where did you go? I can't believe something like this happened while I was asleep. I'm ashamed as a Hashira," Rengoku said, clearly blaming himself.
Time was running short. Aoyama scanned the entire carriage. Enmu's flesh had already begun spreading throughout the train, trying to swallow the sleeping passengers.
"Rengoku-san! Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu! There's no safe place left on this train. The entire train has fused with the demon. Please protect the passengers. I'll find the demon's real body and cut it down to end this."
Rengoku nodded. The plan made sense—but could Aoyama really face the demon alone?
Sensing his concern, Aoyama smiled slightly.
"Don't worry, Rengoku-san. All of us will make it through this safely."
With that, he left the carriage.
From their earlier clash on the roof, he had already determined where Enmu's true head was hiding—the locomotive at the front of the train.
Disgusting masses of demon flesh continued to sprout everywhere, grabbing at the passengers. Behind him, Tanjiro kept swinging his Nichirin Blade.
"Ah! What do we do? It keeps growing back!"
Rengoku's voice rang out loudly.
"Kamado boy! Like this!"
His blade slashed down with overwhelming force, shredding the demon flesh into tiny pieces.
"If you cut them into smaller fragments, their regeneration slows—but only for a short time!"
"Yes, Rengoku-san!"
Following his instructions, Tanjiro swung his sword rapidly.
"Kamado boy! I'll protect the passengers in the rear five carriages! You handle the remaining three!"
Tanjiro froze for a moment, deeply impressed. Just handling one carriage was already difficult for him, yet Rengoku planned to guard five alone.
While Tanjiro was distracted, a demonic arm lunged toward his heart from behind.
Aoyama , who hadn't gone far yet, saw it. With a flash of movement, he appeared behind Tanjiro and severed the arm instantly.
Then he slapped Tanjiro hard across the face.
"At a time like this, why are you spacing out?!"
"Yes! Aoyama -senpai!"
Tanjiro lowered his head, ashamed.
"Protect the passengers. Protect yourself. And protect Nezuko."
Leaving those words behind, Aoyama turned and continued forward, cutting apart the demonic flesh blocking his path. He had to move quickly—he needed to reach the front and sever Enmu's true neck.
Zenitsu, still asleep, continued using Thunder Breathing: First Form, instinctively defending the passengers in his carriage.
Nezuko also fought with her own strength, protecting the travelers.
Meanwhile, Inosuke had somehow climbed onto the roof of the train. Using Beast Breathing Seventh Form, he sensed the demon's true location.
"Hehehe! I'm the boss! If someone's cutting off that demon's head, I'm getting in on it!"
Hearing the heavy footsteps on the roof, Aoyama knew it was Inosuke. If he was coming along, he might as well be useful.
At last, they reached the locomotive.
Standing outside, Aoyama kicked the door open with a single strike.
Inside, the conductor spun around in panic.
"Ah—!"
"You! What are you doing?! This area isn't open to passengers!"
He rushed forward to stop them.
Inosuke climbed in through the window and eyed the conductor suspiciously.
"This guy's suspicious! Hehehe—but the demon's neck must be here!"
He charged forward in excitement.
The moment he stepped inside, countless demonic arms burst out from the narrow space, trapping him completely.
"Light Breathing—Fourth Form: Radiant Flash!"
Aoyama 's blade cut through every arm restraining Inosuke, freeing him instantly.
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