Tokyo, Asakusa.
Inside a massive mansion.
BANG!
A sharp shattering sound echoed through the room, startling Hashimoto Rei, who was in the middle of preparing dinner.
She immediately stopped what she was doing and hurried toward the study, following the direction of the noise.
"Tsukihiko! Are you alright?"
Seeing the shattered teacup on the floor and the man standing there with veins bulging across his forehead and a dark expression on his face, Hashimoto Rei paused briefly before walking over and asking with concern.
"Did something happen? You..."
"Shut up! Did I give you permission to speak?!"
Thorny vine whips formed from blood suddenly rose into the air.
In the blink of an eye, Hashimoto Rei was torn apart, reduced to nothing more than scattered fragments.
After disposing of the wife who had accompanied him for several years, the rage burning inside Muzan did not lessen in the slightest. Instead, it grew even more intense.
"Nakime!"
"I am here, Lord Muzan."
A woman with pale skin and long black hair appeared out of thin air beside him.
"I will give you three minutes."
Muzan slowly raised his head as an unprecedented killing intent surfaced within his crimson eyes.
"Summon all the Upper Rank demons to me!"
"Yes, Lord Muzan!"
Sensing Muzan's terrible mood, Nakime did not dare delay and immediately began to play her biwa.
Strum! Strum!
Amid the rapid sound of the biwa strings, the surrounding scenery suddenly shifted.
Nakime and Muzan appeared inside a chaotic and disordered space.
Like a child's messy graffiti, twisted corridors leaned at strange angles, walls stretched in random directions, and doors floated in mid air as if shattered and suspended in place.
Standing at the highest point of this chaotic space, Nakime continued to play the biwa while several figures radiating powerful auras were summoned into the Infinity Castle.
"Oh my, it has been quite a long time since Lord Muzan summoned all of us together."
A monster whose body was fused with a pot and whose head had fins glanced around before finally looking toward Muzan standing above them.
"It really has been a long time. The last time we saw a gathering like this must have been over a hundred years ago."
Doma waved his iron fan while speaking, echoing the sentiment as he also looked upward along with the others present.
"Lord Muzan, you seem to be in quite a bad mood. Did something happen?"
"Did something happen?"
Hearing Doma's question, Muzan subconsciously recalled the scenes of the three Lower Rank demons being killed and of Daki and Gyutaro being captured alive not long ago.
At the end of all those memories, Cain's mocking laughter rang through his mind like a sharp blade.
[Regret what? Is that trash Muzan going to suddenly jump out and punch me?]
BOOM!
The ground beneath Muzan's feet shattered with a loud crash as a vast and terrifying aura erupted from his body.
"Doma, if I remember correctly, it was you who recommended Daki and Gyutaro to become Upper Rank demons, wasn't it?"
"Yes, Lord Muzan."
"Then answer me this. Have you found the blue spider lily?"
"The followers of the Eternal Paradise Cult are working hard to search for it."
"Then have you wiped out the Ubuyashiki Clan?"
"The followers of the Eternal Paradise Cult..."
"Shut up!"
Muzan's figure suddenly blurred.
In the next instant he appeared directly in front of Doma, twisting his head off with a twisted and furious expression.
"The blue spider lily has not been found! The Ubuyashiki Clan still exists!"
"Even the Upper Rank demon you recommended has been captured alive by the Demon Slayer Corps, bringing shame to the Upper Ranks!"
"Tell me, Doma! What use are you! What value does your continued existence even have!"
"Gyutaro was captured alive?"
Doma blinked, showing a hint of surprise.
But in reality, his heart remained completely unmoved.
As someone who could not understand emotions even when he was human, Doma felt no fear even while facing Muzan's furious interrogation.
His rainbow colored eyes met Muzan's gaze for several seconds.
After roughly understanding what Muzan was thinking, a smile appeared on Doma's face as he spoke calmly.
"Lord Muzan, since Daki and Gyutaro were captured alive, that means you already know their current location, correct?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Please give me their coordinates. I will personally take action to help you clean house and bring the Demon Slayer Hashira before you alive."
"Lord Muzan, please calm your anger."
Beside him, Gyokko also spoke up.
"I am willing to take action together with Lord Doma to capture the Demon Slayer Hashira alive and wash away this humiliation for you!"
"Hmph. A group of useless trash."
Muzan snorted coldly and tossed Doma's head back onto his body.
Although Doma looked extremely unpleasant to him right now, he was still Upper Rank Two after all.
If Muzan killed him recklessly, the remaining useless demons would only give him more trouble.
"I will give you one last chance."
"Doma! If you fail to accomplish what you promised, there will be no need for you to come back and see me!"
After speaking those words, Muzan turned around and stepped into the passage opened by Nakime, leaving the Infinity Castle without another glance.
At the same time, the battle scenes of Cain killing the Lower Rank demons and single handedly suppressing Daki and Gyutaro appeared inside Doma's mind.
"I see. That level of strength is indeed impressive. No wonder Gyutaro was captured alive."
After finishing reviewing those memories, Doma gained a clearer understanding of Cain's strength.
He was very strong.
Far stronger than any Hashira Doma had seen before.
However, if it was only to that extent, Doma still had many ways to deal with him.
While stroking his chin thoughtfully, Doma turned his gaze toward the figure standing not far away.
"Akaza-dono, this target seems to be exactly the kind of opponent you like the most. Are you interested in coming along with me?"
"Get lost."
Akaza turned around and left without even glancing back.
Perhaps Muzan had done it intentionally, because Doma was not the only one who received those blood memories.
The other Upper Rank demons present had also witnessed the battle scenes involving Cain.
To be honest, Akaza was indeed very interested in Cain and could not wait to fight him.
But the moment he remembered that helping Doma would be part of it, his fighting spirit immediately faded.
"Doma, do not be careless."
At that moment, a calm voice sounded from a nearby corner.
"The strength that man displayed in those images is likely not his full power."
"Oh? What insight do you have, Kokushibo-dono?"
Doma turned his gaze toward the corner.
"His movements, his expressions, his attitude. From beginning to end, he never treated the battle seriously."
Kokushibo's six eyes opened simultaneously as he evaluated the Cain shown in the blood memories.
"He possesses strength comparable to the first generation of Demon Slayer Hashira. If you become careless, you will die."
"Then if this Hashira named Cain were to fight you, Kokushibo-dono, would you win?"
"I will win."
Kokushibo's expression remained indifferent as he turned and walked away, leaving behind a domineering declaration.
"If I personally take action, I will surely sever his head within one hundred moves."
"As expected of Kokushibo-dono."
Doma clapped his hands lightly.
After watching Kokushibo leave, his gaze shifted toward the finned monster standing nearby.
"Gyokko, after hearing Kokushibo-dono's evaluation, are you so frightened that you want to withdraw?"
"Lord Doma, I am not tired of living yet."
Gyokko tilted his head while giving his answer.
Putting aside Cain's strength, he had just sworn a pledge before Muzan.
If he ran away now out of fear, even as an Upper Rank demon he would not escape death.
"I will help you deal with the other enemies."
"According to the memories Lord Muzan shared with us, besides the man named Cain, there is also another Hashira named Kochō Kanae guarding Gyutaro."
"Oh. That woman."
Doma's smile widened.
"Speaking of which, she is quite to my taste. I like her very much."
"Then I will keep watch and capture her for you as a gift, Lord Doma."
"Very well. I will leave it to you."
Doma chuckled and waved his iron fan as he walked toward the exit of the Infinity Castle that appeared in front of him.
"Let us go. We should end this farce as quickly as possible and avoid keeping Lord Muzan waiting for too long."
"I agree."
Compared to the always relaxed Doma, Gyokko was far more concerned about Muzan's opinion.
Following behind Doma, Gyokko stepped through the gate of the Infinity Castle and arrived at the outskirts of the Yoshiwara Red-Light District.
Looking at the fallen trees surrounding them and the unusually large craters in the ground, Hantengu quickly recognized this as the location where Gyutaro had been defeated and captured not long ago.
"Lord Doma, do you know which direction the Demon Slayer Corps went?"
"That is something we will have to ask Lord Muzan."
Doma chuckled and stood there as if speaking to himself.
"Lord Muzan, could I trouble you to help point the way?"
"..."
...
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GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.