Dong dong dong.
The sound of the bells echoed throughout the Swordsmith Village.
As a logistics organization of the Demon Slayer Corps, even though the Swordsmith Village lacked the ability to deal with demons, they were not lacking in judgment when facing a crisis.
After the bells rang, the villagers of Swordsmith Village organized themselves in an orderly fashion and headed to the shelter... Meanwhile.
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
Butterfly Mansion.
"Miss Shinobu, why haven't you rested yet?" Kanzaki Aoi brought tea to the corridor and handed the teacup on the tray to Kochou Shinobu, who was sitting on the veranda.
Kochou Shinobu seemed slightly distracted while gazing at the bright night sky. Only when the steaming heat of the tea hit her face did she suddenly come back to her senses.
"Ah, I apologize. Did Aoi-chan just say something?" Kochou Shinobu took the tea in one hand, pursed her lips, and said with some embarrassment.
Kanzaki Aoi didn't react much and asked again, "It's already this late. Aren't you going to rest, Miss Shinobu?"
Hearing this, Kochou Shinobu held the teacup and looked up at the silver moon.
After a long moment, she covered her chest with one hand, looking wistful, and spoke haltingly.
"I don't know why... I just feel... very uneasy..."
Kanzaki Aoi was slightly startled. "Uneasy? Why?"
Kochou Shinobu took a small sip of tea, smiled, and shook her head. "I don't know. I just feel like something bad is about to happen."
Kanzaki Aoi tilted her head. "A girl's sixth sense?"
Kochou Shinobu looked at her amusedly. "Perhaps. Aoi-chan, you should go to sleep first. I'll sit here for a bit and then go back inside."
This unease was far less pleasant than Kochou Shinobu made it seem; it felt as if someone was fiercely gripping her heart, making it difficult to breathe.
Forget falling asleep, even sitting here felt agonizing.
This strange feeling seemed to have appeared once before... It felt like... it felt like it was when... "I understand. Well, please rest early, Miss Shinobu. Good night." Kanzaki Aoi bowed slightly, and just as she turned to leave, a black shadow streaked across the sky.
"Is that..." Kochou Shinobu's delicate purple eyes widened slightly, her heart growing more uneasy, and she involuntarily stood up.
She remembered. This familiar unease was what she felt when a loved one was nearly taken away... Meanwhile, Zenitsu and the others in the ruins had to face Hantengu, who was evolving again.
Anger bit down on Joy, and placed his palm on the crown of Sorrow's head, completely absorbing the remaining three in the blink of an eye.
Anger's hunched body trembled slightly, and a dark aura far exceeding the ordinary emanated from within him.
"What's going on? This aura..."
Feeling the aura bursting forth from Anger's body, everyone felt a pang of dread.
Genya looked horrified. "His appearance has changed too."
Zenitsu swallowed. "Is he turning back to normal?"
"No, it seems to have gotten even worse..." Inosuke's wise blue boar eyes stared intently.
"He got younger!"
After absorbing Joy, Sorrow, and Pleasure, Anger's physical form changed.
Not only did his appearance become younger, but his body also shrank significantly. He looked like he had suddenly reverted from a young man to a boy, and on his back, a Raijin Drum inscribed with the character 'Hatred' emerged.
Although he looked younger, the aura he emitted was completely different from before.
In less than twenty minutes, this strange demon evolved from a frail old demon into a formidable young demon, and now... the oppressive feeling this boy demon gave everyone was that of a true Upper Rank Demon Moon.
"This is the true... Upper Rank Demon..." Zenitsu lowered his head and looked at his wrist.
It was trembling slightly.
He had clearly gotten used to Miss Mizuki's much deeper aura. Was it because he knew in his heart that Miss Mizuki wouldn't harm them?
No... they had already faced a monster like Upper Rank One. A mere Upper Rank Four was nothing to fear.
Inosuke gripped his Nichirin Blade tightly with both hands, trembling with excitement. "Ohoho! This guy is incredible!"
"Beast Breathing, First Form: Pierce and Throw!"
Inosuke clashed his two swords together and charged straight toward Hantengu, who had transformed into a boy.
"idiot!" Zenitsu broke out in a cold sweat, wanting to stop him.
This guy swallowed the other clones, his body changed again, and they didn't know how his abilities had changed.
This idiot just charged straight in, showing no caution whatsoever.
Although Zenitsu intended to stop him, Pig Assault could not be halted.
It's hard to figure out what's going on in Inosuke's mind.
Just as Inosuke charged, Tanjirou finally crawled out of the ruins, staring in shock at Hantengu, whose appearance had completely changed.
His appearance changed again.
Can we cut off his head now?
Or will he transform into an even younger, more powerful state even if they behead him again?
Damn it!
Upper Rank Demons truly are different from other demons.
Unable to find a breakthrough point immediately, Tanjirou felt anxious.
The demons they previously encountered could be killed simply by cutting off their heads.
But the Upper Rank Demon Moons they were facing now—Akaza, Gyuutarou and Daki, and even the current Upper Rank Four—were all types that couldn't be killed by decapitation.
Tanjirou finally understood why these Upper Rank Demon Moons were so difficult to deal with.
No... something is wrong.
It's something they overlooked... Suddenly, without any warning, like the night breeze momentarily scattering the smell of sulfur from a hot spring, an indescribably dark scent entered Tanjirou's nostrils.
What is this smell...?
Tanjirou turned around in surprise, looking at the deep, dark forest behind him.
Is there something in the forest?
"Inosuke!!"
Before he could think further, Zenitsu's shout came from behind him.
Tanjirou looked back and saw the child-like Hantengu, who, facing the fierce charge of Inosuke, expressionlessly struck the thunder drums on his back with the drumsticks in his hand.
A Wood Dragon lifted itself from behind Hantengu and opened its large mouth toward Inosuke.
Buzz!!!
Following a piercing buzz, Inosuke was hit head-on, sent flying backward spitting blood, and was caught by Zenitsu.
That was... Joy's sonic attack, and Pleasure's gale!
Does this guy possess the abilities of the other demons now?
Cold sweat beaded on Tanjirou's forehead. Just as he was about to step forward to help, that strange aura appeared again behind him.
Suddenly and without warning, Tanjirou flinched, and a flash of inspiration went through his mind.
He abruptly looked up, scanned the group, and locked his gaze onto Genya.
"Genya! There's one more, one more clone! That one is the main body!" Tanjirou charged forward with his sword. "It's in the woods, go find it!"
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