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Over the next few days, Kaito, with the assistance of a Hidden Corps team, began setting up a barrier around the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
Three days later, as the barrier was nearing completion, Mitsuri Kanroji, the Flame Hashira's Tsuguko, returned to the headquarters.
At that moment, several Hashira and Tanjuro Kamado were gathered at the main residence, discussing the details of the upcoming battle.
"You really managed to capture the demon, Mitsuri!" Rengoku exclaimed, looking at the large wooden crate being pushed on a cart by a Hidden Corps member behind her.
"Yes, Master," Kanroji replied, bowing to Kagaya, who stood on the corridor.
"Lord Ubuyashiki, the demon—former Lower Moon Six, Kyogai—has been successfully captured."
She glanced at the crate on the cart.
"The demon has been confined in the crate the entire way, with his eyes covered by a black cloth. Muzan shouldn't be able to discern the location of the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters through him."
"You've done well, Kanroji," Kagaya said with a gentle smile, praising her.
"N-No… it's all thanks to the intelligence provided by Lord Ubuyashiki!" Kanroji's eyes sparkled with excitement upon receiving her lord's praise, her voice tinged with nervousness.
"Oh, the demon's here?" Kaito said, lightly floating down from the roof and approaching the crate.
"You got back quickly," he said, turning to Mitsuri Kanroji. "Miss Kanroji, since you've completed Ubuyashiki-sama's trial, I can awaken your mark anytime."
"T-Thank you, Uchiha-san!" Kanroji said excitedly, bowing repeatedly.
Kaito waved a hand dismissively and patted the wooden crate. "Since the demon's here, let's get to work. Two of you, help move this guy to the spot where I've placed the Blue Spider Lily."
"Yes, Uchiha-san," a Hidden Corps member from the corner rushed forward, joining the one who had accompanied Kanroji to push the cart toward the back courtyard.
Kaito followed them to a temporary straw hut set up in the back courtyard.
"Alright, you two can go rest," he said, dismissing the two young Hidden Corps members before opening the crate.
"Mmph, mmph…"
Inside, Kyogai, tightly bound with sturdy iron chains, had his eyes covered with a black cloth and a stone stuffed in his fanged mouth. His robust frame was embedded with six drums.
At that moment, Kagaya and several swordsmen followed.
"Tch, so this is the former Lower Moon Six?" Sanemi stepped forward, roughly grabbing the demon's head with his fingers. "Must've been kicked out of the Twelve Kizuki for being too weak."
He slammed Kyogai's head against the edge of the crate, producing a dull thud.
"Trash like you—why don't you just die if you're so weak?!"
"Mmph, mmph…" Kyogai, provoked, began struggling fiercely.
Clang, clang. The wooden crate on the cart started to wobble.
"Ha!" Sanemi grinned maliciously, slamming Kyogai's head a few more times. "Not convinced you're trash, huh? You piece of garbage!!"
Blood flowed from the wound on Kyogai's forehead, though it quickly healed.
Kyogai struggled even more violently, his strength causing the crate to topple from the cart to the ground.
Bound by iron chains, Kyogai wriggled out of the crate, lunging his head toward Sanemi, only to be brutally stomped in the face.
"Trash is trash!" Sanemi snarled, drawing his Nichirin Blade.
"Enough, Shinazugawa," Tengen stepped forward, grabbing his hand to stop him from unsheathing the blade. "This is important bait. You can't kill him yet."
"I know! Relax, I won't kill him," Sanemi said with a menacing grin, drawing his blade and piercing it through Kyogai's chest, pinning him to the ground. "I'm just teaching him a lesson so he knows his existence is garbage!"
Kaito shook his head and stepped forward. "Shinazugawa-san, let me test the Blue Spider Lily's effects first."
"Fine, it's yours," Sanemi said, stepping back without withdrawing his blade.
Kaito didn't mind. He entered the straw hut and dispelled the small barrier around the Blue Spider Lily.
A faint, eerie fragrance spread, and Kyogai, pinned to the ground by the Nichirin Blade, suddenly grew frantic, writhing recklessly. The wound where the blade pierced his chest began gushing blood.
"Oh, it seems demons really crave this flower," Kaito said, picking up the flowerpot.
"Shinazugawa-san, please remove the cloth from his eyes and the stone from his mouth."
"No need for the trouble," Sanemi said, yanking out his Nichirin Blade, letting the demon's blood splatter on him. He then slashed at Kyogai's face.
"Trash like this doesn't die so easily."
The slash nearly split Kyogai's face in two, shattering the black cloth over his eyes and the stone in his mouth.
"Ah!!!" Kyogai cried out in pain, his wounds quickly regenerating.
Sanemi leaned down, staring at the "Lower Six" marked with an X in Kyogai's right eye, sneering mockingly. "Total trash."
"Pfft!!" Kyogai spat out the broken stone, mixed with blood and saliva, aiming for Sanemi's face.
Sanemi dodged with a dark expression, raising his foot to kick, but Kyogai rolled away, wriggling toward Kaito.
His eyes were fixed on the Blue Spider Lily in Kaito's hands, his gaze vacant and filled with raw desire.
"See that, Muzan?" Kaito said with a slow smile, holding the beautiful, dreamlike blue flowers and staring into the demon's eyes.
As if locking gazes with Muzan, watching through the demon across space and time.
"If you want the Blue Spider Lily, come and get it."
He plucked a flower and crouched down, tossing it into the demon's mouth.
"Now, let's see what happens when this demon consumes the Blue Spider Lily."
As the flower entered his mouth, Kyogai swallowed it eagerly.
Everyone watched closely, observing what changes would occur.
"Ah!!!"
Suddenly, Kyogai writhed on the ground like a stranded fish, his eyes bulging as he let out a shrill wail.
Hiss…
His skin turned bright red, and scalding white mist began rising from his body.
"Has it begun?" Kaito narrowed his eyes.