In the following days, the tragedies outside continued. Crows occasionally delivered reports of demons causing chaos in various places, massacring civilians, and attacking houses adorned with wisteria crests.
But the entire Demon Slayer Corps displayed astonishing restraint.
Everyone had entered a state of pent-up, almost mad readiness… all their anger, grief, and resentment were transformed by these young swordsmen into an almost self-torturing motivation for training.
In the courtyard, the sound of wooden swords striking echoed from early morning until late at night.
Even the usually mild-mannered members now swung their blades with a ferocity that seemed ready to die together with the enemy.
Taka stood by the waterfall at the rear mountain, gazing at the rushing torrent below.
Beside him stood two solemn-faced elders and comrades.
Sakonji, wearing his tengu mask, spoke with a hoarse and vigorous voice: "Your breathing and sword forms are approaching perfection, Storm Hashira. If you can master the meaning of circulation and rotation in Water Breathing, you can further tame that violent power within you."
Giyu beside him remained quiet and taciturn. Under Sakonji's direction, he swung his Nichirin Sword, tracing arcs of azure light in the air.
"War has no constant form, water has no constant shape." Sakonji said.
"Water can flow quietly, and it can also split mountains and crack rocks. Precisely because it has no form, it can take on any form."
"Become water, Taka. Learn the flow between soft and hard."
Taka closed his eyes and gripped the Tonan at his waist.
The long blade seemed to sense its master's state of mind, emitting a series of low hums.
He began to attempt adjusting his breathing according to Sakonji's teachings.
Now, his Breathing Style was no longer merely a martial art to strengthen the body, but more like a concept he used to explore the application of his own power.
By integrating Reiryoku into his breathing, his power was no longer confined to individual techniques.
"Flame's power generation seeks its fierceness, Water's circulation seeks its continuity...." Taka murmured to himself.
Strange phenomena began to appear around him. A spiraling energy, mixing deep blue and dark red, was surging. This made Sakonji, who had only learned mortal martial arts, stare with grave eyes.
"Thunder's surging seeks its swiftness and decisiveness, Wind's wildness seeks its freedom and unrestraint...."
"And, the steadiness of rock that encompasses all..."
With the help of the ancient texts left by Kagaya, and the generous guidance of the Stone Hashira and Water Hashira, he was attempting to fuse all the breathing forces into a completely new Breathing Style.
Was this Sun Breathing? He did not know.
But he could feel that his physical strength had now far surpassed the mundane.
Taka abruptly opened his eyes. The long sword in his hand swung out horizontally.
A strange, high-temperature black-red sword energy burst forth from the tip of his blade.
Those sword energies interwove in the air, faintly forming a burning sun wheel with sharp edges.
In that instant, the waterfall's flow was forcibly severed by an invisible force.
Even the water that continued to fall could not disperse this burning sword energy for a long time, instead flowing down from the sides.
And this slash, he had not released Tonan's power at all. It was entirely his sword energy stirring the Reishi in the air.
Sakonji's pupils contracted violently behind his mask.
From this power, he felt destruction, something more pure than a demon, something he had never seen before.
Giyu also tightened his grip on his Nichirin Sword, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
Taka sheathed his sword and gently touched his chest.
His lungs faintly ached. This forcibly fused Reiryoku Breathing Style placed an immense burden on his internal organs.
"As expected, it's still different." Taka looked at his hand, muttering to himself.
These past few days, he had repeatedly watched Tanjiro demonstrate Hinokami Kagura.
It was like a sacred dance, as if a god were performing. Every movement carried a kind of compassion and dignity that shone upon all things.
And his own move just now...
"It seems my Sun Breathing does not possess the warmth of sunlight." Taka said calmly.
But this should probably be enough.
Those who exhaust all paths ultimately arrive at the same destination.
As long as he could sever Muzan's head, even if this power was somewhat distorted, Taka didn't care at all.
Another three days passed.
On this day, on his way to the training ground, Taka encountered Tanjiro, who was carrying a huge box and walking hurriedly.
"Taka-san!" Tanjiro stopped, the mark on his forehead seeming even deeper than a few days ago. "Has your training made progress?"
"I've found some kind of direction, I suppose." Taka looked at the boy's clear eyes. "And you? Can your body handle it?"
"No problem! Rengoku-san gave me a lot of guidance. I feel that the movements of Hinokami Kagura are becoming more and more fluid!" Although Tanjiro was tired, his eyes were exceptionally bright.
"It's just... Zenitsu he...."
"What about him?" Taka frowned.
Ever since news arrived from Mount Momo that Jigoro had committed seppuku, that cowardly boy had completely changed.
"He's been in the rear mountain for three days and nights now." Tanjiro's face showed concern. "He won't talk to us, and won't let anyone near."
"I can feel it, the sound of thunder there.... has become very sad."
Taka was silent for a moment, looking towards the rear mountain.
There, indeed, faint golden lightning could be seen flickering beneath the dark clouds.
'That boy who once only cried and wanted to find girls had finally grown into a true swordsman amidst blood and tears, hadn't he?'
"Let him be." Taka walked past Tanjiro and continued on his way. "Some mountains can only be climbed alone. Some grudges can only be avenged alone."
…
Late at night, Ubuyashiki Estate.
Tonight's moonlight was especially desolate. The clouds were thick, like a massive shroud, blocking the starlight completely.
Due to Shinobu's severe injuries not yet healed, the entire estate's medical logistics work fell on Aoi and a few young members.
To prevent the Hashira fighting on the front lines from being distracted, news of Oyakata-sama's worsening condition and the severity of Shinobu's injuries were being tightly suppressed.
In the inner residence, Amane and her two children were quietly keeping vigil by Kagaya's side.
Kagaya now barely had the strength to speak.
His body emitted a faint, withered odor, wrapped entirely in bandages. But he always faced the direction of the courtyard.
"They're here...."
Kagaya suddenly uttered two extremely faint words.
Amane, keeping vigil beside him, shuddered.
She had heard no sound, nor sensed any aura.
But in the next second, the entire sea of wisteria blossoms around the Ubuyashiki Estate withered in an instant.
An unprecedented, oppressive malice that made one want to vomit instantly enveloped the entire estate.
From the shadows of the courtyard, a man in a suit and white formal wear slowly emerged.
His movements were as graceful as a gentleman attending a banquet.
But in those scarlet vertical pupils was only the madness and violence accumulated over a thousand years.
The progenitor of demons, Kibutsuji Muzan.
"Finally.... I see you, Muzan... I knew it, for this life of mine, you would surely come to kill it yourself..."
"Ubuyashiki...." Muzan spoke softly, his tone full of arrogance. "I, on the other hand, find this quite disappointing from the bottom of my heart."
His gaze swept over the closed doors, over this seemingly defenseless courtyard.
In his perception, there were indeed no traces of those annoying Hashira here.
'It seemed the intelligence was correct. Those self-righteous fools had all been pinned down in various places by the minor demons I had sent.'
"Ugly.... How utterly ugly your posture is...."
Muzan stood before Kagaya.
He looked down at the dying Kagaya, as if looking down at his own former, dying self.
A surge of delight welled up from the depths of his heart.