The Kasugai Crow continued its report.
"Hashira Raiden fought Upper Rank Two, Doma, and killed him in two moves. He then also killed Hantengu."
The crow's words struck the room like a bomb.
There was no physical damage, yet Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Amane stood frozen in shock.
"Gyokko was killed by Muichiro Tokito," the Kasugai Crow continued, unaware of the change in the atmosphere.
But Kagaya and Amane were no longer listening.
Their minds were fixed on a single thought.
Raiden had killed Upper Rank Two, Doma, in only two moves.
That was an Upper Rank demon. Not just any demon, but Upper Rank Two.
Two moves?
Kagaya's pale eyes looked distant. His emotions felt like they had just endured a violent storm, leaving him drifting in a silent void.
Upper Rank demons had died.
Three of them.
Including the previously slain Upper Rank Six, Gyutaro, only two Upper Rank demons of the Twelve Kizuki remained.
It felt unreal, almost like a dream.
For over 113 years, the ranks of the Upper Moons had never changed. Yet since Raiden appeared, they had begun to fall one after another.
The catalyst behind this century long shift was Raiden.
Kagaya had once suspected this possibility, but now he was completely certain.
Raiden was the person who would change the balance between demons and demon slayers.
A faint smile slowly appeared on Kagaya's lips, something that had been absent for a long time.
Muzan.
The stain you left upon the Ubuyashiki family will be erased in my generation.
Amane noticed Kagaya's rare smile and her eyes filled with tears.
Fortunately, the Swordsmith Village was safe.
Raiden and the others had survived.
The heavy atmosphere in the room gradually faded, and Kagaya's breathing slowly returned to normal.
---
The other Hashira soon received the same message.
"Sound Hashira Raiden has killed Upper Rank Two Doma and Upper Rank Four Hantengu at the Swordsmith Village."
Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku laughed with excitement.
"My judgment has always been excellent! I look forward to fighting alongside Raiden next time!"
Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho blinked in surprise.
"Upper Rank Two, Doma? Raiden killed him?"
Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka remained expressionless.
"Mm."
Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima pressed his palms together.
"Namu Amida Butsu. May those wicked demons be guided to the afterlife."
Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa curled his lip.
"If I had run into those two demons, I could have taken them down in the Swordsmith Village as well."
Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro suddenly sat upright on a tree branch.
"The Swordsmith Village? Mitsuri is there too. Is she alright?"
Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui crossed his arms.
"Raiden in the Swordsmith Village might be just a little more flamboyant than me now."
Every Hashira reacted differently, but when they first heard the crow's report, each of them fell into stunned silence.
If someone had merely held off an Upper Rank demon or exchanged blows with one, they might have only been mildly surprised. After all, a brief clash did not clearly determine the strength of either side.
But Raiden's situation was different.
He had truly killed Upper Rank Two and Upper Rank Four.
That carried far greater weight than a simple encounter.
None of the Hashira could confidently claim they could accomplish such a feat.
Especially not killing Upper Rank Two in only two moves.
If the Kasugai Crow's report was accurate, every Hashira understood one thing.
Raiden's strength had already surpassed theirs.
---
Back at the Swordsmith Village, the villagers and the Demon Slayer Corps rescue team had mostly finished the repairs.
Raiden watched the swordsmiths bow in gratitude, a faint smile on his face.
The feeling of having his efforts recognized by others was strangely satisfying.
On the way back through the village, swordsmiths continuously approached him to express their thanks.
Although they had not personally seen Raiden fight the demons, word had already spread about who had saved them.
When Raiden returned to the village center, he noticed Muichiro Tokito being supported by Kotetsu.
Muichiro's body trembled slightly, as if he might collapse at any moment.
Yet Muichiro did not seem concerned about his condition.
Instead, his eyes searched eagerly for something.
Then he saw Raiden.
Muichiro's eyes lit up, and he stumbled forward.
"I remember now," Muichiro said. "Thank you, Raiden."
Raiden nodded.
The hollow emptiness that once filled Muichiro's eyes had disappeared.
Muichiro had regained his memories.
Raiden thought for a moment.
Now that Muichiro had recovered his memories, his attitude toward others should improve. Still, the change might not be dramatic.
In the past, Muichiro had shown an unusually warm attitude toward Tanjiro.
But Tanjiro was not here.
Raiden wondered how Muichiro would treat him.
Becoming friends verbally should be fine, right?
Raiden hesitated briefly.
Just as he was about to speak, Muichiro suddenly said,
"At the last Hashira meeting, you said you wanted to be friends with me. Does that still count?"
Raiden paused for a moment before answering.
"Of course."
"I'm willing to be your friend."
Muichiro smiled.
Then, as if he had finally completed something important, his body went limp and he collapsed forward.
Right into Raiden's arms.
Muichiro had fainted.
Raiden quickly supported him.
This... happened just like that?
A notification suddenly appeared in his system.
[Ding]
[Successfully added Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito as a friend!]
[Detected that Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito's intimacy level with the host is: Friend]
[Randomly granting two rewards]
[Obtained Talent: Superior Talent]
[Obtained Skill: Mist Breathing Seventh Form, Obscuring Clouds (Profound Mastery)]
[Do you wish to fuse Talent: Superior Talent?]
[No]
Raiden stared at the system panel in disbelief.
He had not even finished processing Muichiro collapsing into his arms, and now the system had given him another surprise.
Not only had Muichiro agreed to be his friend, but their relationship had skipped the stage of Initial Acquaintance and jumped directly to Friend.
All because of that one sentence Raiden had said before leaving earlier?
At the time, he had simply been worried that Muichiro might be killed by Gyokko before regaining his memories. So he casually used a line he remembered from the original story.
He had not expected it to affect Muichiro this much.
But then Raiden noticed something else.
Superior Talent?
Was the system messing with him?
He had just gathered five Superior Talents and successfully advanced to that level.
Now he had obtained another one.
Was there a level even higher than Superior Talent?
Raiden sighed softly.
If only this Superior Talent could be exchanged for comprehension. What he really needed now was Superior Comprehension.
Still, at least Muichiro had given him more than just that.
Mist Breathing Seventh Form, Obscuring Clouds.
This was the technique Muichiro used to defeat Gyokko.
The technique relied on extremely fast movements with sudden shifts in rhythm, confusing the opponent before delivering a fatal strike in an instant.
Combined with Raiden's Transparent World, the technique was perfect.
With Obscuring Clouds enhancing his movement, every aspect of his combat ability would reach its peak while using the Transparent World.
Speed.
Attack.
Disruption.
All of it amplified.
Every strike could become a killing blow.