On the mountainside at the edge of Kawamoto, Kokushibo stood in the shade, his expression calm.
From his position, he could clearly see the battlefield from the previous night.
The Demon Slayers were already repairing the damaged houses.
His thoughts were complicated.
He had the chance to kill Raiden, yet at the final moment, he allowed him to awaken the Demon Slayer Mark, shifting the outcome.
Was this the same mistake Akaza made?
Muzan had once mentioned that when Akaza first encountered Raiden, he had the opportunity to kill him. Instead, he hesitated, giving Raiden the chance to grow stronger, which led to failure.
Now, Kokushibo had done the same.
His pride did not accept it.
"Next time, I will personally take your head."
After one last glance at the battlefield, Kokushibo turned to leave.
Although Muzan likely already knew through shared vision, Kokushibo still intended to report in person. It was his duty.
Just as he moved, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Return to Infinity Castle."
The words struck like thunder, freezing him in place.
Muzan.
Infinity Castle.
Had another Upper Rank died?
Was it Gyokko? Hantengu? Or Doma?
Doma seemed unlikely. Even though Kokushibo found him unpleasant, he acknowledged his strength.
Aside from Raiden, whom he had just faced, no one in the Demon Slayer Corps should be capable of killing Doma.
So it had to be Gyokko or Hantengu.
Still, Muzan's tone carried clear irritation.
Kokushibo stopped moving.
There was no need to act further. Nakime would locate him and bring him to Infinity Castle.
A few seconds passed.
A sharp note echoed.
His surroundings shifted.
Infinity Castle unfolded before him, its endless structures twisting in impossible directions, lit by dim yellow lights.
Kokushibo scanned the area briefly before stepping onto a high platform, waiting in silence.
Another note rang out.
A figure appeared on a nearby platform, slightly lower than his own.
Akaza.
Akaza looked around, confusion written across his face.
Infinity Castle again?
Had another Upper Rank died?
His thoughts raced.
Three Upper Ranks had gone to the Swordsmith Village.
Had they failed?
What exactly happened there?
Then a realization struck him.
Why were only he and Upper Rank One present?
Where were Doma and Gyokko?
Dead?
All of them?
Kokushibo had the same thought.
Something was wrong.
After Nakime summoned Akaza, she stopped.
No further movement.
Silence settled heavily across the space.
The tension grew unbearable.
Then the realization took shape.
It was not that Nakime refused to summon the others.
There was no one left to summon.
Both Kokushibo and Akaza felt their bodies tense.
All dead?
Impossible.
Losing one Upper Rank was understandable.
But three?
What could have caused such a disaster?
Had the Demon Slayer Corps deployed all their Hashira to the Swordsmith Village?
Even then, Gyokko and Hantengu might fall, but Doma should have escaped.
Akaza clenched his fists.
He had fought Doma before.
That Blood Demon Art was troublesome, but Doma was not weak.
Even if he could not win, he should have survived.
So why was he gone?
"Where are the others? Why is it only us?"
Akaza finally spoke, unable to ignore the thought any longer.
Nakime answered calmly, her face hidden behind her hair.
"All the Upper Ranks have been killed."
Akaza's pupils shrank.
"Killed?"
All three?
In the Swordsmith Village?
Before the shock could settle, a presence descended.
On the highest platform, Muzan appeared in the form of a woman, dressed in a loose kimono.
His gaze fell on Akaza, cold and filled with killing intent.
Three Upper Ranks had died.
Even if Muzan had never placed much faith in them, this result was unacceptable.
They had consumed his blood, yet failed to destroy a single village.
Instead, they were wiped out.
Akaza frowned, confused.
This had nothing to do with him.
Why was he being questioned?
Muzan spoke again, his voice low and dangerous.
"Do you know who did it, Akaza?"
Akaza hesitated.
He had not been part of that mission.
How could he know?
Then a thought surfaced.
Raiden.
Muzan was speaking about Raiden.
But that made no sense.
How much time had passed since their last encounter?
Raiden was not even stronger than Doma back then.
How could he have killed all three?
Muzan's expression twisted, veins rising beneath his skin.
"It was him. Raiden. The one you still underestimate."
His voice turned sharp, filled with fury.
"Three Upper Ranks died by his hand."
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