Tokyo, Asakusa.
After leaving the Infinity Castle, Kibutsuji Muzan returned to the residence where he had been living.
Although he was enraged by Lynn's remarks, Muzan did not choose to take action personally.
Hundreds of years ago, Muzan encountered a wild Tsugikuni Yoriichi while out for a stroll.
After that battle, he realized one thing deeply.
This world is vast, and there are many monsters.
Unless there was news of the blue spider lily, he would act as little as possible to reduce his exposure.
After assigning the task of killing the Demon Slayer Hashira and cleaning house to Doma, Muzan very prudently retreated behind the scenes to start spying.
[Lord Muzan, could I trouble you to help point the way? ]
"Hmph! Useless trash!"
Hearing the voice in his head, Muzan, who was secretly observing the progress of the two, snorted coldly and transmitted new blood memories.
After capturing Daki and Gyutaro alive, Lynn did not imprison them or lock them in any sealed containers.
Perhaps considering that such methods were not secure for Upper Rank Demons, he chose to guard them personally.
With Kocho Kanae carrying Daki's head and Lynn carrying Gyutaro's torso, the two headed directly toward the border of Tokyo.
Packaging this memory along with the still-updating new memories, Muzan transmitted it all into Doma's mind in a live-streaming fashion.
"Thank you for your assistance, Lord Muzan."
Having received Muzan's guidance, Doma immediately set off with Hantengu, heading westward.
Three hours later, following Lynn's trail, Doma and his companion arrived at the border of Tokyo.
"We're here, Hantengu."
Gazing at the courtyard that appeared ahead in his line of sight, Doma stopped and spoke.
"Gyutaro, as well as the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, are all in that courtyard right now."
"I understand. I'll take the lead from here."
Hantengu shuffled forward a few steps and retrieved a jar covered in fish scales.
Holding the idea of a quick resolution, Hantengu went all out, pushing his Blood Demon Art to its limit.
The next second, a large number of fish-man monsters, resembling goldfish and catfish in appearance, with jars on their backs and a pair of legs growing beneath them, sprang forth from the jar.
Under Hantengu's control, these fish-man monsters surged toward the courtyard in a mighty wave, instantly smashing through the courtyard gate and entering inside.
However, contrary to what Hantengu had imagined, after these fish-man monsters charged into the courtyard, no screams or cries of alarm came from within.
It was as if they had entered an empty city. The fish-man monsters advanced unhindered toward the depths of the courtyard, quickly occupying most of the area.
"Hmm?"
Staring at this unexpected scene, Hantengu paused for a moment before looking to the side.
"Lord Doma, are you certain the Demon Slayer Corps members are in this courtyard?"
"Hmm~ It seems something unexpected has happened."
Doma inserted his fingers into his own head and, under Hantengu's watchful gaze, stirred them around.
If the memories Muzan provided were not mistaken, Lynn and the others did indeed enter this courtyard.
At the end of the memory, he saw Lynn taking Gyutaro into a dark, secret chamber.
"A secret chamber... found it."
An ice pillar erupted from the ground. Standing atop the ice pillar and looking down upon the courtyard, Doma quickly identified his target.
Blood Demon Art: Winter's Ice Spikes!
His iron fan swept through the air. Doma's blood transformed into a sky-covering barrage of ice spikes shooting toward the secret chamber.
And at the very moment his attack descended, the previously quiet secret chamber finally reacted.
Boom——!
The door of the secret chamber was kicked open. A tall figure wielding dual blades charged out from within.
The next second, countless flashes of blade light arced through the air, severing all the oncoming ice spikes.
"Huh? Who is this guy?"
A look of surprise appeared on Hantengu's face.
As Upper Rank Two, the power of Doma's Blood Demon Art could be said to be second only to Muzan's.
Even a casual strike was not something just any nobody could block.
"It seems we have an unexpected gain."
Doma also hadn't anticipated this situation.
Taking Hantengu with him, Doma jumped down from the ice pillar, entered the courtyard, and arrived at the entrance to the secret chamber.
Looking at the ornately dressed man wielding dual blades not far away, he sized him up and asked.
"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, a bright, hearty smile appearing on his face.
"I didn't expect two Upper Rank Demons to show up at once. Are you here to die?"
"To die?"
Hantengu let out a series of sinister chuckles.
"Sound Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps! You have no idea what you're facing!"
"Call out your companions. I know there are other Hashira hiding in that secret chamber!"
"Hmm? You know that too?"
"Fool! Haven't you figured it out yet, even now!"
"Your every move has long been seen by Lord Muzan!"
"Seen... I see. So that's why you two caught up so quickly."
Uzui Tengen wore an expression of sudden realization, as if he had just learned this secret.
After that, his gaze passed over Hantengu and the other, looking behind them, observing left and right.
"Since Muzan knows our situation, he probably didn't send just two Upper Rank Demons, right?"
"Where are the other Upper Rank Demons? Muzan himself should be here too, shouldn't he? Aren't you going to show yourselves yet!"
"Regrettably, there are no other Upper Rank Demons hiding. Lord Muzan has not come either."
Just then, Doma's voice rang out.
Knowing that Muzan was watching the live stream, he decisively interrupted Uzui Tengen's speech to prevent him from saying anything insulting that might anger Muzan.
His iron fan swayed slightly. Several small ice figures, identical in appearance to Doma, materialized around them.
"Call out everyone from the secret chamber."
"To deal with you, I alone am sufficient."
"Haha! Interesting!"
Uzui Tengen, as if hearing some joke, suddenly let out a string of hearty laughter.
"Everyone! You heard that, right? He wants to take on all of us by himself!"
"Yes, we heard."
A deep, resonant voice responded.
Under the gaze of Doma and Hantengu, a figure even taller than Uzui Tengen emerged from the secret chamber.
"Hmm?"
Hantengu was taken aback: "And who are you?"
"Amitabha. This humble one is the Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei. I have come to deliver you both from your suffering."
Himejima Gyomei, gripping a hand-axe and dragging a spiked flail, came to stand beside Uzui Tengen.
At the same time, two more sets of footsteps sounded.
"Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyu."
"Flower Hashira, Kocho Kanae."
Tomioka Giyu and Kocho Kanae emerged from the paths on the left and right, forming a pincer formation with Uzui Tengen and Himejima Gyomei, trapping Hantengu and Doma in the middle.
"Four Hashira?"
Hantengu was somewhat surprised by this development.
"This is rather unexpected."
Doma also hadn't foreseen this situation. After sweeping his gaze around, he asked, "This place couldn't possibly be the legendary Ubuyashiki Residence, could it?"
"You're overthinking it."
Uzui Tengen let out a derisive snort: "Why would we ever 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 reply came from behind.
Hearing this voice, both familiar and unfamiliar, Doma narrowed his eyes and turned to look.
The next second, a black-haired youth draped in a lightning-patterned haori appeared in his line of sight.
"Thunder Hashira, Lynn."
Resting his palm on the nichirin blade at his waist, a faint smile appeared on Lynn's face.
"You two, are you ready for your journey?"
...
Crack——!
A crisp shattering sound rang out as another innocent cup was crushed into fragments by Muzan.
"Trash! All of you are trash!"
Watching the images transmitted into his mind, Muzan's expression twisted with rage.
Hantengu was dead.
Under the combined assault of the Demon Slayer Corps' Tomioka Giyu, Kocho Kanae, and Uzui Tengen, he had lasted only a few minutes before his head was severed.
Doma was also dead.
Facing Lynn and Himejima Gyomei in a two-on-one battle, he had dragged the fight into a protracted struggle.
If it had continued, Doma had a high probability of winning by leveraging the power of his Blood Demon Art.
But unfortunately, there were no 'ifs'.
As Hantengu fell, Tomioka Giyu and the other two immediately joined the Siege on Doma.
Outnumbered and facing the combined attacks of five Hashira, even Doma was no match.
In just a few minutes, he revealed an opening and Lynn severed his head with a single blade stroke.
"Lord Muzan, should we inform Lord Kokushibo and Lord Akaza to mobilize?"
Nakime, standing nearby, asked.
Although she didn't know the exact details of the battle, just looking at Muzan's expression told her what had happened.
Her fingers resting on the strings of her biwa, Nakime was already prepared.
As soon as Muzan gave the order, she would instantly transport Kokushibo and Akaza to the Infinity Castle.
However, what Nakime didn't expect was that after hearing her suggestion, Muzan not only didn't agree but instead glared at her.
"Are you giving me orders, Nakime!"
"I wouldn't dare! Please calm your anger, Lord Muzan!"
Nakime fell to her knees with a thud, a look of awe and fear on her face.
"Enough! No more useless talk!"
An expression of disgust appeared on Muzan's face: "I'm getting rather tired of your incompetence."
"I will take action myself next, to eliminate those disgusting Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen."
Muzan narrowed his eyes, his vision connecting with Gyutaro's far away.
The place where Gyutaro currently was, was a dark, unrelated secret chamber.
His head was bowed, a nichirin blade constantly pressed against his neck.
But even several minutes after Doma and the others died, that nichirin blade still had not fallen.
Clearly, even knowing that Muzan could see everything around Gyutaro, Lynn and the others still did not intend to kill Gyutaro.
"Trying to lure me out, are you? Then have it your way."
After a brief burst of fury, Muzan had already realized the true objective of Lynn and the others.
Compared to the past nearly hundred years, the strength of the Hashira of this generation is even more formidable.
Excluding Lynn, who managed to capture Gyutaro alive, Himejima Gyomei and the others are not weak either.
If these people were willing to pay a certain price, even Kokushibo could potentially be defeated.
However, ...
Recalling the difficult performance of Lynn and the others as they barely resisted Doma's attack during the recent battle,
Muzan narrowed his eyes, an unprecedented, thick killing intent surfacing on his body.
But at this level, it is still far too inferior compared to Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
Once a fight broke out, even if he fought five against one, he could achieve victory in a short time.
"Nakime, teleport me to..."
"Lord Muzan?"
Seeing Muzan suddenly fall silent halfway through his sentence, Nakime showed a hint of confusion on her face.
"Shall I teleport you?"
"No, don't teleport for now."
Muzan stood in place, his gaze crossing the vast distance to meet Lynn's eyes.
At this moment, Lynn, holding Gyutaro's head, presented a slip of paper before him.
[Meet at the Ubuyashiki Residence in ten days. ]
...