This all happened so suddenly that the others could not react in time to stop it, and Kagaya Ubuyashiki who was left Stupidified by Sukuna's command, had only just realized what was occurring.
"Sanemi, stop!" Kagaya Ubuyashiki called out in agitation, but it was already too late.
Just as Sanemi Shinazugawa locked onto Sukuna and prepared to take his head in a single strike, he suddenly noticed a change in Sukuna's posture. The fingers of the hands that had been crossed over his chest seemed to twitch slightly.
It all happened in an instant. Sanemi Shinazugawa had only just registered this information; his brain had not yet had time to process it.
What is that guy doing? Is he looking down on me?
After all, this was the being who had killed Giyu Tomioka and Kyojuro Rengoku. No matter how much he might disdain his enemies, he would not underestimate someone capable of defeating those two.
What a pity. He did not yet understand that what he considered taking things seriously might still fall far short for certain beings.
The moment this thought crossed his mind, Sanemi Shinazugawa felt searing pain in his arms and body.
Before First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter could even reach Sukuna, Sanemi Shinazugawa had already been struck by the Dismantle Sukuna unleashed.
This Slash did not merely sever Sanemi's sword-wielding hands. It split his entire body down the middle. Nor did it end there. The residual force of this attack destroyed more than half of the house where Ubuyashiki stood.
The remaining five Hashira drew their blades almost simultaneously on instinct, but they were still stunned by the bloody scene before them.
Sanemi's two halves toppled past each other, his internal organs, brains, and entrails spilling across the ground.
"No way…"
"How could…"
None of them could believe that the current Wind Hashira had been cut down before their eyes just one second ago.
Though Shinobu was consumed with self-blame, feeling that Sanemi's death was her own failure to stop him, she desperately wanted to avoid further unnecessary casualties. Her eyes red, she gripped her sword hilt tightly and addressed the five before her in a very serious, pleading tone.
"Everyone, please stay calm! Don't act rashly."
Sukuna alone stood apart like an outsider, looking with contempt at the five people pointing their blades at him.
If killing that man just now was not enough of an intimidation tactic, he did not mind killing a few more to make these brats behave.
Ubuyashiki's voice shattered the tense, ready-to-break atmosphere.
"Enough. All of you, step back."
Based on his usual understanding of Sanemi's character, and from the reactions and words of the others, he could roughly guess Sanemi's fate, if not the exact details.
"But Master—" Mitsuri started to say something, perhaps that they could hold the line here while their master escaped, but he cut her off.
He released his daughter's supporting hand and knelt earnestly in Sukuna's direction, bowing low as if in worship.
"Great and fearsome God, Ryomen Sukuna-sama, please be merciful and forgive the transgression of my swordsman. This was entirely my failure to discipline him. If punishment is due, please let it fall on me."
This was the first time the swordsmen had ever seen their revered master prostrate himself so humbly before anyone.
Even if they were usually slow to grasp things, between the deaths of Giyu Tomioka and Kyojuro Rengoku, Shinobu's deferential attitude, the death of Sanemi Shinazugawa just now, and finally their own master voluntarily lowering himself before Sukuna, they finally understood the gravity of the situation.
The Sukuna before them was not merely a demon who could walk in daylight. He existed on an entirely different level from those demons. Perhaps he really is a demon god walking beneath the sun.
Sukuna's gaze swept across the assembled swordsmen. His meaning could not have been clearer. Even your own revered master has knelt to me, and yet you still dare point your blades in my direction?
At first, they did not get the message. Not until they saw Shinobu beside Sukuna kneel respectfully, and then looked back at Ubuyashiki bowing his head, did they finally lower their weapons and kneel before Sukuna one by one.
In truth, given the temperaments of the Demon Slayer Corps members, it would normally have been impossible for them to kneel to anyone other than the Familt head himself.
But Sukuna was an exceptional case. Beyond the overwhelming power he had just displayed, he was not a demon with whom they were locked in an eternal struggle to the death. Moreover, Kyojuro Rengoku's final judgment had been that they should seek Sukuna's aid against demons, not make an enemy of him. Even their master had taken such actions. Multiple factors working together led them to act as they did.
This did not mean, however, that they had submitted like Shinobu, Who had given up on all thoughts of even standing against Sukuna.
This scene before him was nothing new to Sukuna. He had grown accustomed to others kneeling before him a thousand years ago.
Sukuna spoke flatly. "I made a promise to Kyojuro Rengoku. As long as you provide me with Breathing Techniques and stronger enemies, I will not slaughter the Demon Slayer Corps. But provocation is an exception. Is that clear?"
Ubuyashiki was silent for a moment, then let out a quiet, resigned sigh. He understood now that Sukuna's intentions were exactly as he had previously learned.
"I will keep that firmly in mind." Kagaya Ubuyashiki then ventured a question. "May I ask… during the incident in Asakusa, when you fought Muzan Kibutsuji, did you use your full power?"
Sukuna merely smiled coldly and asked in return, "Why don't you take a guess?"
"I understand."
Even without a direct answer,it was enough to convince him that Sukuna's true strength exceeded even that.
After all,he had obtained reports from the military regarding the Asakusa incident. They clearly documented the location of the disaster. Within a circular area roughly two hundred meters in diameter, not a single person had survived.
More accurately, no living thing had survived. And every object within had been sliced to pieces. And yet, this still seemed not to be Sukuna's full power.
He could not help but feel a pang of regret. In the end, even with all his hypotheticals, he had still underestimated Sukuna. If only he had taken this more seriously from the very beginning, perhaps Sanemi would not have had to pay with his life.
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