After more than a month of silence, the air at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters suddenly buzzed with an inexplicable restlessness today.
The space above the courtyard suddenly rippled with visible waves, like a stone tossed into a tranquil lake.
The next moment, a figure stepped out from within.
He wore a flame-patterned haori, his long golden-red hair more dazzling than ever, as if real flames were dancing among the strands.
Kyojuro Rengoku had returned.
He no longer gripped his Nichirin Sword. Instead, he held a searing blade forged entirely of solidified flames. The majestic fire totem on its handguard radiated a terrifying heat capable of incinerating all creation.
Just by him standing there, the grass and trees in the courtyard began to curl and turn a scorched yellow.
Immediately after, the ripples appeared again.
A gloomy aura spread as Obanai Iguro silently materialized. Around his heterochromic snake-like eyes were profound purple Sage Mode markings. A majestic power stemming from ancient senjutsu caused Kaburamaru, the white snake coiled around his neck, to visibly surge in size.
"Hmph, still making such a flashy entrance," Tengen Uzui remarked with a light chuckle.
He stepped out from another spatial ripple. He no longer wore his Nichirin Swords at his waist; in their place was an exquisitely complex, gold-and-white Driver, its embedded gems shimmering with iridescent light.
Following that, the spatial fluctuations continued without pause.
One figure after another returned, each carrying a completely reborn aura.
Muichiro Tokito hovered in midair, stepping on empty space. His eyes were clear, yet they seemed to reflect the ultimate truths of the entire world.
Sanemi Shinazugawa was wreathed in cyan magical cyclones that sliced microscopic fissures into the very fabric of space.
Wherever Giyuu Tomioka stepped, the air seemed to transform into actual flowing water, gently swirling around him.
Mitsuri Kanroji's pink hair had somehow been mostly dyed a berserk shade of green. The aura radiating from her body caused the ground beneath her feet to crack inch by inch.
Shinobu Kocho lightly tapped her fingertip, letting a single drop of venom fall onto a withered wisteria trellis. Defying the laws of life, the dead wood instantly bloomed into a crystal-clear, venomous flower.
Gyomei Himejima pressed his hands together. His already rock-like physique now exuded an indestructible, terrifying pressure that shattered human limits, his bald head gleaming brightly in the sunlight.
Finally, it was Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke.
The Nichirin Sword in Tanjiro's hand burned with the golden solar flames of Compassion and Pride.
Zenitsu Agatsuma was covered in a crackling blue Lightning Chakra Armor.
Inosuke Hashibira, meanwhile, had completely transformed into a ferocious mythical beast-man. He wielded a massive kanabo wreathed in pitch-black Haki, radiating the tyrannical aura of a mythological monster.
They did not exchange many words.
They simply stood in silence, sensing the unfathomable, god-like vastness of the power residing within each other.
Then, they looked at one another and smiled.
In those smiles, there was no longer any confusion or fear of the future—only absolute confidence and a battle intent fierce enough to scorch the heavens.
They were no longer merely Hashira, nor were they just human swordsmen.
They were monsters capable of rewriting history, shifting the world's balance, and even forging new myths!
"Everyone..."
A weak yet deeply gratified voice drifted from the veranda.
Supported by his family, Kagaya Ubuyashiki slowly walked out.
As he "looked" toward the group, his long-blind eyes seemed to pierce through the veil of the material world, clearly "seeing" the terrifying, world-destroying energies within them—energies that could rival the blazing sun itself.
His frail body, ravaged by illness, trembled violently from extreme emotion.
Two lines of clear tears slid silently down his scarred cheeks.
"Welcome... back."
From their master, the group learned of the earth-shattering changes that had occurred in the outside world over the past month.
Muzan Kibutsuji had not only conquered the sun but had also taken control of the nation's Daimyo. He had established an unprecedented demon army and framed the Demon Slayer Corps as traitors to the country.
Upon hearing all this, not a single person in the courtyard showed a hint of panic.
Kyojuro Rengoku stepped forward. His flaming eyes stared straight into the empty void, as if he could already see the Demon King within the Infinity Castle.
"Master, there is no need for any further rest," he declared.
His voice rang like a massive temple bell, causing the air to hum with its resonance.
"Offense is the best defense!"
"Ohhh! My thoughts exactly!!" Sanemi Shinazugawa agreed with a maniacal laugh, the wind magic around him instantly surging.
"I can't wait to send those ugly demons to hell in the most flamboyant way possible!" Tengen Uzui toyed with the Driver on his waist, a boastful smirk curling his lips.
Everyone's fighting spirit was uncontainable; they were eager to finally end this thousand-year grudge.
They decided that tomorrow at noon, when the sun was at its absolute peak, they would launch a direct assault on Muzan's lair!
...
Meanwhile, inside the Infinity Castle.
Muzan Kibutsuji sat upon his remodeled throne, comfortably basking in the midday sunlight streaming through the skylight.
Through the controlled Daimyo, he had already made a proclamation to the entire nation.
In three days, he would perform a miracle, allowing the world to witness the birth of a new god.
And today was the grand funeral he had prepared for the reckless Demon Slayer Corps.
Below his line of sight, in a massive clearing specially carved out for this purpose, countless heavy artillery pieces and machine guns procured from Western powers were set up. Their dark muzzles and barrels were all aimed dead center at the clearing.
He was just waiting for the prey to enter.
The next day, at noon.
The members of the Demon Slayer Corps had finished assembling. Just as they were preparing to charge toward the Muzan-occupied Kyoto in their own respective ways...
A sudden anomaly occurred!
Without any warning, sliding wooden doors materialized directly beneath their feet!
A powerful, irresistible suction force emanated from behind the doors.
It was Nakime's Blood Demon Art, and an enhanced version at that!
Muzan had lost his patience for waiting. He decided to strike first, dragging these arrogant ants straight into his home turf!
However, things were different now.
Giyuu Tomioka merely tapped the air lightly with his toes. Like a weightless feather, his body traced a perfect, flowing arc, landing softly beside the door.
Muichiro Tokito did not even move; his body naturally levitated in midair.
"Oh my, what a flashy welcome ceremony!" Tengen Uzui exclaimed.
He executed an exaggerated backflip, tracing a dazzling trajectory through the air before landing steadily on the edge of the open doorway.
They showed no signs of panic, merely looking down into the open doorways with absolute composure.
On the other side of the doors, the twisted, bizarre architecture of the Infinity Castle was clearly visible.
Upon the throne sat Muzan Kibutsuji, bathing in the sunlight.
Beside him stood the Upper Rank demons, their auras magnified several times over.
And in the plaza below were hundreds of newborn demons, howling with bloodlust under the sun.
"So he took the initiative to open the doors to his lair for us," Obanai Iguro noted.
A trace of icy mockery flickered in his snake-like eyes, which shimmered with senjutsu light.
"It would be rude to refuse such gracious hospitality."
The group exchanged glances, instantly understanding each other's thoughts.
It saved them the trouble of searching.
Fighting here meant they could go all out without any reservations, free from the worry of causing collateral damage to the outside world.
The next moment.
Kyojuro Rengoku was the first to move!
He transformed into a blazing meteor, plunging into the Infinity Castle while wrapped in roaring air!
Sanemi Shinazugawa followed closely behind, whipping up a world-destroying gale!
The Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, plummeted like a pink-and-green cannonball, carrying enough force to smash through a mountain range!
One figure after another willingly descended into the twisted citadel, each in their own violent and spectacular manner.
Watching the Demon Slayer swordsmen fall from the sky in various stances, Muzan was momentarily stunned, but a mocking smirk quickly curled his lips.
He could sense that these pests were indeed stronger than they were a month ago.
But so what?
Before him—a god who had evolved into the Ultimate Being—they were nothing more than slightly sturdier ants.
"It seems you all possess the resolve to die," Muzan stated.
He slowly stood up from his throne and spread his arms, as if embracing his impending victory.
"Welcome to your graveyard."
"Although you appear to have grown much stronger than before, I am no longer what I once was. Even if that nauseating Tsugikuni Yoriichi were to resurrect, he would die here today!"