Tokyo, Asakusa.
After leaving the Infinity Castle, Kibutsuji Muzan returned to the residence where he had been staying.
Although he was enraged by Cain's remarks, Muzan did not choose to take action personally.
Hundreds of years ago, Muzan once encountered a wandering Tsugikuni Yoriichi while taking a stroll.
After that battle, he came to understand one thing deeply.
This world is vast, and there are many terrifying monsters hidden within it.
Unless there was news regarding the blue spider lily, he would act as little as possible in order to reduce the risk of exposing himself.
After assigning the task of killing the Demon Slayer Hashira to Doma, Muzan cautiously retreated behind the scenes and began secretly observing the situation.
[Lord Muzan, could I trouble you to help point the way?]
"Hmph! Useless trash!"
Hearing the voice inside his mind, Muzan, who had been secretly observing the progress of the two, snorted coldly and transmitted new blood memories.
After capturing Daki and Gyutaro alive, Cain did not imprison them or seal them inside any containers.
Perhaps he believed such methods were not secure enough for Upper Rank demons.
Instead, he chose to guard them personally.
With Kochō Kanae carrying Daki's head and Cain carrying Gyutaro's torso, the two of them headed directly toward the border of Tokyo.
Bundling this memory together with the still updating new memories, Muzan transmitted everything into Doma's mind like a live broadcast.
"Thank you for your assistance, Lord Muzan."
After receiving Muzan's guidance, Doma immediately set off with Gyokko, heading westward.
Three hours later, following Cain's trail, Doma and his companion arrived at the border of Tokyo.
"We have arrived, Gyokko."
Looking at the courtyard that appeared ahead of them, Doma stopped and spoke.
"Gyutaro, as well as the Demon Slayer Hashira, are all inside that courtyard right now."
"I understand. Allow me to take the lead from here."
Gyokko shuffled forward a few steps and retrieved a jar covered in fish scales.
With the intention of ending the battle quickly, Gyokko went all out and pushed his Blood Demon Art to its limit.
In the next instant, a large number of fish-man monsters burst out from the jar.
They resembled grotesque combinations of goldfish and catfish, each with a jar mounted on its back and a pair of legs growing beneath its body.
Under Gyokko's control, these fish-man monsters surged forward like a tidal wave, instantly smashing through the courtyard gate and flooding into the compound.
However, the situation inside the courtyard was completely different from what Gyokko had imagined.
After the fish-man monsters charged inside, no screams or alarmed cries could be heard.
It was as if they had entered an empty city.
The fish-man monsters advanced freely through the courtyard and quickly occupied most of the area.
"Hmm?"
Looking at this unexpected situation, Gyokko paused briefly before turning his head to the side.
"Lord Doma, are you certain the Demon Slayer Corps members are inside this courtyard?"
"Hmm. It seems something unexpected has occurred."
Doma casually inserted his fingers into his own skull and stirred them around while Gyokko watched.
If the memories Muzan provided were accurate, Cain and the others had indeed entered this courtyard.
At the end of the memory, Doma clearly saw Cain carrying Gyutaro into a dark secret chamber.
"A secret chamber... found it."
An ice pillar erupted from the ground beneath him.
Standing on top of the ice pillar and looking down across the courtyard, Doma quickly located his target.
Blood Demon Art: Winter Ice Spikes!
With a sweep of his iron fan, Doma's blood transformed into a massive storm of ice spikes that filled the sky as they shot toward the secret chamber.
At the exact moment the attack descended, the previously silent secret chamber finally reacted.
BOOM!
The door of the secret chamber was kicked open violently.
A tall figure wielding dual Nichirin Blades charged out from within.
In the next instant, countless arcs of blade light flashed through the air, slicing apart every incoming ice spike.
"Huh? Who is this guy?"
A look of surprise appeared on Gyokko's face.
As Upper Rank Two, the destructive power of Doma's Blood Demon Art was second only to Muzan.
Even a casual attack from him was not something an ordinary swordsman could block.
"It seems we have obtained an unexpected gain."
Even Doma had not expected this development.
Taking Gyokko with him, Doma leapt down from the ice pillar, entered the courtyard, and arrived in front of the secret chamber entrance.
Looking at the flamboyantly dressed man wielding dual blades not far away, Doma observed him for a moment before asking.
"Are you also a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"That's right! I am the Sound Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, Uzui Tengen!"
Uzui Tengen adjusted the forehead protector on his brow as a brilliant and confident smile spread across his face.
"I didn't expect two Upper Rank demons to show up at once. Did you come here looking for death?"
"Looking for death?"
Gyokko let out a series of eerie laughs.
"Sound Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps! You have no idea what you are facing!"
"Call out your companions. I know there are other Hashira hiding inside that secret chamber!"
"Hmm? You know that too?"
"Fool! Have you still not realized it!"
"Your every move has long been observed by Lord Muzan!"
"Observed... I see. So that is why you two caught up so quickly."
Uzui Tengen revealed an expression of sudden understanding, as if he had just learned this secret.
After that, his gaze passed over Gyokko and Doma and began scanning the area behind them.
"If Muzan knows our situation, then he probably did not send only two Upper Rank demons, right?"
"Where are the other Upper Rank demons? Muzan himself should be here too, shouldn't he? Why don't you show yourselves!"
"Unfortunately, there are no other Upper Rank demons hiding nearby. Lord Muzan has not come either."
At that moment, Doma's voice sounded.
Knowing that Muzan was watching the situation, he decisively interrupted Uzui Tengen before the latter could say anything that might anger Muzan.
His iron fan swayed gently.
Several small ice figures identical to Doma appeared around him.
"Call out everyone inside the secret chamber."
"To deal with you, I alone am sufficient."
"Haha! Interesting!"
Uzui Tengen suddenly burst into loud laughter, as if he had just heard a joke.
"Everyone! Did you hear that? He wants to fight all of us by himself!"
"Yes. We heard."
A deep and resonant voice responded.
Under the gaze of Doma and Gyokko, a towering figure stepped out from the secret chamber.
"Hmm?"
Gyokko looked startled.
"And who might you be?"
"Amitabha. This humble one is the Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei. I have come to deliver the two of you from suffering."
Holding a hand axe while dragging a heavy spiked flail behind him, Himejima Gyomei walked forward and stood beside Uzui Tengen.
At the same moment, two additional sets of footsteps sounded.
"Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyu."
"Flower Hashira, Kochō Kanae."
Tomioka Giyu and Kochō Kanae stepped out from the paths on the left and right sides.
Together with Uzui Tengen and Himejima Gyomei, they formed a pincer formation that trapped Gyokko and Doma in the center.
"Four Hashira?"
Gyokko seemed somewhat surprised.
"This is rather unexpected."
Even Doma had not anticipated such a situation.
After looking around, he asked calmly.
"This place could not possibly be the legendary Ubuyashiki Residence, could it?"
"You are overthinking it."
Uzui Tengen snorted dismissively.
"Why would we bring Upper Rank demons to the Ubuyashiki Residence? This is the home of the current Flame Hashira, Rengoku Shinjuro."
"Then where is the Flame Hashira?"
"The Flame Hashira is guarding Upper Rank Six."
The answer came from behind them.
Hearing this voice, both familiar and unfamiliar, Doma slowly narrowed his eyes and turned around.
The next moment, a black haired youth wearing a lightning patterned haori appeared within his sight.
"Thunder Hashira, Cain."
Resting one hand on the hilt of the Nichirin Blade at his waist, Cain revealed a faint smile.
"You two. Are you ready to begin your journey?"
...
Crack!
Another crisp shattering sound echoed through the room as yet another unfortunate teacup was crushed into fragments by Muzan.
"Trash! All of you are trash!"
Watching the images being transmitted into his mind, Muzan's expression twisted with fury.
Gyokko was dead.
Under the combined assault of Tomioka Giyu, Kochō Kanae, and Uzui Tengen, he lasted only a few minutes before his head was severed.
Doma was also dead.
Facing Cain and Himejima Gyomei in a two against one battle, he managed to drag the fight into a prolonged struggle.
If the battle had continued longer, Doma would have had a high chance of winning by relying on the power of his Blood Demon Art.
Unfortunately, reality had no room for such possibilities.
After Gyokko fell, Tomioka Giyu and the other two immediately joined the battle against Doma.
Outnumbered and facing the combined attacks of five Hashira, even Doma could not withstand the pressure.
Within just a few minutes he revealed an opening, and Cain severed his head with a single strike.
"Lord Muzan, should we inform Lord Kokushibo and Lord Akaza to mobilize?"
Nakime asked from the side.
Although she did not know the exact details of the battle, Muzan's expression alone was enough to tell her what had happened.
Her fingers rested on the strings of her biwa, ready to act.
As soon as Muzan gave the order, she would immediately transport Kokushibo and Akaza to the Infinity Castle.
However, to Nakime's surprise, Muzan did not accept her suggestion.
Instead, he glared at her coldly.
"Are you giving me orders, Nakime?"
"I would never dare! Please calm your anger, Lord Muzan!"
Nakime immediately fell to her knees with a loud thud, fear clearly visible on her face.
"Enough. No more useless talk."
A look of disgust appeared on Muzan's face.
"I am growing tired of your incompetence."
"I will personally take action next and eliminate those disgusting Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen."
Muzan narrowed his eyes as his vision connected with Gyutaro, who was far away.
Gyutaro was currently located inside a dark and isolated secret chamber.
His head hung low while a Nichirin Blade remained pressed against his neck.
Yet even several minutes after Doma and the others had died, that blade had still not fallen.
Clearly, even though they knew Muzan could see everything around Gyutaro, Cain and the others had no intention of killing him yet.
"Trying to lure me out, are you? Very well. Then I will play along."
After a brief outburst of anger, Muzan had already realized the true objective of Cain and the others.
Compared with the past century, the strength of the Hashira of this generation had become far greater.
Aside from Cain, who managed to capture Gyutaro alive, Himejima Gyomei and the others were also quite formidable.
If these people were willing to pay a certain price, even Kokushibo might potentially be defeated.
However...
Recalling how Cain and the others struggled to resist Doma during the recent battle,
Muzan narrowed his eyes as a dense killing intent emerged from his body.
But their current strength was still far inferior compared to Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
Once the battle began, even if he faced five opponents alone, he could achieve victory in a short period of time.
"Nakime, teleport me to..."
"Lord Muzan?"
Seeing Muzan suddenly fall silent halfway through his sentence, Nakime showed a puzzled expression.
"Shall I teleport you?"
"No. Do not teleport for now."
Muzan remained standing in place as his gaze crossed the vast distance and met Cain's eyes.
At that moment, Cain, who was holding Gyutaro's head, raised a slip of paper before him.
[Meet at the Ubuyashiki Residence in ten days.]
...
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GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.