The moment they stepped into Northern Village Street, waves of voices and the rich aroma of food washed over them.
Stone-paved roads stretched between rows of packed storefronts. Shop clerks shouted lively to attract customers, steam rose from food stalls, and people in colorful clothes filled the bustling street. It was every bit the picture of a thriving city.
"Wow! Look at that candy figure! It's so cute!"
Zenitsu's eyes lit up as he rushed toward a candy stand, pointing eagerly at a rabbit-shaped sugar figure, practically drooling.
"Zenitsu, stop staring at candy. We're here to investigate!"
Tanjiro grabbed him by the sleeve, his tone helpless, though his eyes scanned their surroundings cautiously.
The air carried the strong scent of roasted food, but beneath it—faint, nearly hidden—was something darker, something wrong. It was subtle, but his sharp nose couldn't miss it.
Tō frowned, his gaze fixed on the dark alley at the end of the street. The light there seemed swallowed by shadow, even under the afternoon sun. It was empty, utterly still, a cold breath whispering out from within—a sharp contrast to the lively streets around them.
"Hahahaha! Tanjiro! Tō! Don't look so tense!"
Rengoku Kyojuro's booming laugh broke the stillness. He strode toward them, holding several paper-wrapped bundles filled with grilled meat, dango, and pancakes.
"Try the local food first! A full stomach gives you strength for an investigation!"
He thrust a skewer of grilled meat into Tō's hand, a stick of dango to Tanjiro, then stuffed a bag of pancakes into Zenitsu and Inosuke's arms. "Inosuke! These pancakes are nice and chewy—you'll love them!"
"Tasty!"
Inosuke took a huge bite, his cheeks bulging under the boar mask. His muffled voice came out loud and proud. "Jutanro! Blue hair! Try this! It's even better than yesterday's meat!"
"I told you, it's Tanjiro! And he's Tō! How hard is that?!"
Tanjiro sighed but smiled anyway, taking a bite of dango. The soft sweetness melted across his tongue, easing his tension for just a moment.
They split up after that—two groups searching for clues. Kyojuro and Inosuke went to question residents, while Tanjiro, Tō, and Zenitsu headed toward the alleys and the last known locations of the missing people.
But after an entire day of searching, they found nothing. The townsfolk only knew people had gone missing—none had seen what took them. The alleys held only faint traces of demonic energy but no sign of the demon itself. Even the Kakushi's hidden markings gave only one clue: the demon moves at night.
"Looks like this demon's smart. Hiding during the day," Kyojuro said, his brows furrowing as the sun began to sink.
They regrouped at a small inn near dusk. "We'll stay here tonight. Keep watch in turns. When it shows itself, we strike."
The innkeeper, a kind middle-aged woman, quickly prepared two rooms—one for Kyojuro and Inosuke, the other for Tanjiro, Tō, and Zenitsu.
After changing into the inn's loose sleepwear, they gathered at the table to decide their watch order:
First shift: Inosuke (from dusk to one a.m.)
Second shift: Zenitsu (from one a.m. to four a.m.)
Third shift: Tō (from four a.m. to dawn)
Kyojuro and Tanjiro would rest and stand by for emergencies.
Night soon fell. Northern Village Street grew quiet, the bustle replaced by the occasional bark of a distant dog.
Inosuke sat outside in the courtyard, gripping his Nichirin Sword. At first, he stared into the dark with full excitement. But an hour later, he started yawning—and by midnight, his eyelids drooped heavily.
He suddenly slammed the door open and burst into Tanjiro's room, grabbing Zenitsu by the arm and shaking him violently. "Hey! Coward! Your turn to watch! I've been staring at the dark for hours and not even a shadow showed up!"
Zenitsu, dizzy from being shaken, finally broke free, glaring furiously as Inosuke dove straight into bed and fell asleep instantly. "You idiot, Inosuke! Can't you ever be gentle?!"
Still grumbling, Zenitsu rubbed his eyes, threw on his jacket, and stepped out into the courtyard with his Nichirin Sword.
He sat down on a stone bench, yawning loudly as the wind rustled the trees overhead. The once-bustling city was now wrapped in silence, only the moonlight glinting faintly off the rooftops.
The night wind carried a cool chill. Zenitsu shivered and pulled his collar tight.
He had always been timid, and standing guard alone only made his nerves worse. Before long, his head began to droop, and the Nichirin Sword in his hands nearly slipped to the ground.
Then—boom!
A deafening explosion echoed from the distance, shaking the ground beneath his feet.
Zenitsu jolted awake, eyes wide. He spun toward the direction of the sound—it had come from the west side of town, only a few hundred meters away.
He strained his ears. The night was deathly still. Even the dogs had stopped barking. The only sound left was his own heartbeat—thump, thump.
"Nobody else woke up?"
He peeked into the room. Inside, all was silent. It seemed Kyojuro and the others hadn't heard the explosion at all—only his sensitive hearing had picked it up.
He hesitated but gripped his Nichirin Sword tighter and quietly slid open the inn's front door.
The street was pitch-dark. A few paper lanterns swung under the eaves, their faint light barely pushing back the shadows.
Zenitsu took a deep breath and leapt onto the roof of a nearby shop, gazing toward where the sound had come from.
The sight that met him froze him in place.
The once-bustling houses were now piles of ruin—walls collapsed, roof tiles shattered, beams charred black.
Some buildings were cut clean in half, their broken interiors exposed to the night.
Worse still, the entire area was silent. No voices, no movement—only the thick stench of blood and demon energy drifting through the wind, making his stomach twist in fear.
"W-What happened here…?"
His voice trembled. Just as he turned to run back and wake the others, a shadow leapt from the ruins and landed on the roof before him.
It was a tall, powerfully built man with short, spiked pink hair. Blue markings covered his bare skin, coiling over his muscles like tattoos carved into stone.
His eyes were a cold gold, and at their center, clear as day, glowed the words: Upper Moon Three.
The killing intent radiating from him was suffocating—far beyond any demon Zenitsu had ever faced.
"A member of the Demon Slayer Corps? Such a weak human. Disgusting."
Zenitsu's heart almost stopped. He turned to flee, but Akaza's hand clamped down on his shoulder before he could move.
Pain shot through him—sharp and deep. It felt as though his bones were being crushed.
"Help! Somebody!"
Zenitsu screamed, yanking his sword free in desperation. Lightning sparked across the blade.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
Golden light burst forth, the slash moving faster than the eye could follow.
Akaza didn't even dodge. He let the blade strike his arm.
Clang!
The Nichirin Sword bounced off with a metallic ring. Only a shallow mark was left on Akaza's skin—and it healed instantly.
"Pathetic. I really hate the weak."
Akaza sneered and raised his hand, ready to crush Zenitsu's shoulder completely.
"Let him go!"
A roaring voice rang out. Rengoku Kyojuro charged forward from the inn, his Nichirin Sword ablaze with orange-red fire.
"Flame Breathing, Third Form: Blazing Universe!"
The fiery blade slashed toward Akaza's back. Akaza released Zenitsu and turned, blocking with his fist.
Boom!
Flame and flesh collided. The shockwave sent dust flying as Akaza slid back two steps, his golden eyes narrowing in interest.
"Oh? The Flame Hashira, huh? I've never killed one of you before."
Zenitsu rolled away, scrambling to his feet. "Tanjiro! Tō! Inosuke! Get out here! It's Upper Moon Three!"
At his shout, the others burst from their rooms. Tanjiro saw Akaza on the roof and his pupils shrank. He unsheathed his blade without hesitation, flames spiraling up its length.
"Hinokami Kagura: Sunflower Thrust!"
Tō drew his own sword, blue-green energy swirling. "Storm Breathing, Third Form: Flooding Smoke Tempest!"
Inosuke sprang onto the roof, roaring as he swung both blades. "Beast Breathing! Beast Rush! Take this!"
Akaza faced the four of them without fear.
He dodged Tanjiro's thrust with a slight twist, then punched Tō's blade aside, forcing him back. His leg shot out next, kicking away Inosuke's strike. Every move was blindingly fast.
"Hahahaha! Good! Come at me!"
Akaza's grin widened, his excitement growing. His fists blurred, each strike strong enough to crush stone.
"Show me, little slayers—how many of my punches can you take?!"
Kyojuro's flames clashed with Akaza's fists, sparks and embers scattering through the night.
Tanjiro's Hinokami Kagura moved in sharp, fiery arcs but couldn't breach Akaza's guard.
Tō's Storm Breathing slashed fast as the wind, leaving shallow cuts across Akaza's skin that healed in seconds.
Inosuke attacked wildly but was knocked aside with a single punch, sent crashing into a nearby roof with a grunt.
The fight blazed hotter and faster. Akaza's power surged as he swung again—his punch knocked Kyojuro's sword off its path, his other hand slashing at Kyojuro's chest.
Kyojuro barely dodged, but claws raked across his side, blood blooming red through his haori.
"Kyojuro-san!"
Tanjiro shouted, charging forward. Flames flared along his blade.
"Hinokami Kagura: Fire Wheel!"
Akaza turned toward him, grinning cruelly, raising his arm to meet the strike head-on.
Golden eyes met fiery orange as their blades and fists collided—
and the real battle had only just begun.