The news of the Upper Moons' deaths spread like wildfire.
And it was no accident—it was a deliberate decision made by Kagaya Ubuyashiki himself.
The current generation of Demon Slayers desperately needed a morale boost. True, the elite warriors like the Hashira were the sharpest blades against the Demon King. But the everyday Demon Slayers—those who bled and died in the shadows—were no less crucial.
In the courtyard of the headquarters, a rare sight greeted the eye: Kagaya Ubuyashiki was taking a walk. Not to ponder over military strategy or issue orders—no, today, he simply gazed at the falling petals of the wisteria flowers.
" aren't you going to rest a little?" asked Amane gently.
"Amane," Kagaya spoke in a distant, almost dreamlike voice, "Did you know something?"
He looked up, eyes fixed on the cascade of purple petals dancing in the breeze.
"Wisteria blossoms resemble butterflies. When they bloom, it's like a thousand purple butterflies taking flight. There's a saying—every encounter is the beginning of a parting, and every parting paves the way for the next meeting. Fate or resentment... Today's cause is tomorrow's consequence. And tomorrow's cause? It too is born from today's choice."
He closed his eyes for a moment, as if lost in memory.
"This... this is the lingering longing of generations. For centuries, the Ubuyashiki family has led the Demon Slayer Corps. Not because we are mighty, but because we've had warriors walking beside us who are."
"I don't know how much longer I can keep walking down this road... But I'm fortunate—so fortunate—to have witnessed the dawn. This light, this hope... I must grasp it, and carry it forward for the sake of those who've stood beside us all this time."
Somehow, without realizing it, tears had started to roll down his pale face.
It wasn't weakness. It was release. It was freedom.
"Master Ubuyashiki!"
"All the Hashira have arrived!"
"I'll be right there."
He gently wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes, composed himself, and headed inside with calm determination.
Inside the meeting hall, the Hashira were already gathered. The moment Kagaya stepped into the room, their hushed conversations faded to respectful silence.
"Stone Hashira—Himejima Gyomei."
"Wind Hashira—Sanemi Shinazugawa."
"Serpent Hashira—Obanai Iguro."
"Mist Hashira—Muichiro Tokito."
"Insect Hashira—Kanae Kocho."
"Sound Hashira—Tengen Uzui."
"Water Hashira—Giyu Tomioka."
"Flame Hashira—Kyojuro Rengoku."
"Reporting in, Master!" ×8
"Please, everyone, take your seats," said Kagaya with a gentle smile. "To see you all here once more is my greatest honor."
"I'm sure many of you have guessed the reason I've called this meeting. But before we begin... we are still waiting for one final person."
Creak—
The door slid open.
"Sorry I'm late, everyone."
Yohan stepped into the room. It wasn't as if he had planned to make a dramatic entrance—he had simply been dragged off to play by Mitsuri and completely lost track of time.
"Yohan-kun, please, come in and sit," Kagaya greeted warmly, completely unconcerned. He understood Yohan's nature well—this was no slight or show of disrespect.
Among the other Hashira, there wasn't a trace of discontent. If anything, those who had fought beside him wore smiles of welcome.
"You've arrived, Yohan." Gyomei's tears, as always, began to flow freely.
Only Sanemi let out a subtle scoff and turned away. But even he stayed quiet. He knew very well the gulf between himself and Yohan now. And after all, this was the man who had slaughtered several Upper Moons. What was a little tardiness compared to that?
Every Hashira present knew in their heart: Yohan had become a pillar of transformation within the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Now then, I trust you all understand why you've been summoned," Kagaya began. "We must discuss the matter of Muzan Kibutsuji."
No one spoke. Everyone awaited his next words.
"You've all heard of the victory at Peach Mountain. The defeat of nearly all the Upper Moons. Thanks to Yohan and those who fought beside him, the Demon Slayer Corps is standing on the brink of its final battle."
His voice trembled—not with fear, but with unrestrained hope.
"And so, we must now decide on our strategy for the endgame."
"First, Kanae will brief us on the progress regarding the Blue Spider Lily research."
Kanae rose and spoke clearly, "Currently, with the combined efforts of Shinobu and Tamayo, we have developed a prototype of a serum that may allow demons to survive under sunlight."
"We're now moving into final testing and refinement stages."
"Excellent!" Kagaya nodded, visibly pleased with the progress.
"Continue this work under the Butterfly Estate. Now, we must shift our focus to how we will draw out Muzan Kibutsuji—and how we will deploy our forces for the final battle."
"This strategy will be crafted by the Hashira—together with Yohan."
"Yohan-kun, we'll be counting on you."
Seeing the attention fall on him, Yohan finally spoke.
"No need to be so formal, Master. I do happen to have an idea for luring Muzan out, and I believe it's worth discussing…"
"Oh?" Kagaya's eyes lit up. "Please, share it with us."
"I have intel on the current whereabouts of Upper Moon Six. If Muzan hasn't hidden her yet, we might have the perfect opportunity to draw him out—through her."
"You…" Kagaya was speechless, caught between admiration and astonishment. This man—he never ceased to surprise him. The other Hashira, too, were taken aback.
"You know where Upper Moon Six is hiding?" Kanae asked, a hint of concern coloring her voice. "Would Muzan really leave her exposed, especially when he knows she's all that's left?"
"That's just it," Kagaya interjected, his expression firm. "We Ubuyashikis have fought him for generations. We know the kind of monster he is. When he's in danger, he disappears. But as for others—he doesn't care. Not about their safety. Not about their lives."
He paused, gaze unwavering.
"To Muzan, everyone is expendable but himself."
"I agree," said Yohan, nodding. "That's exactly why we still have a chance."
"Then we must seize it," Kagaya murmured. "We'll draft a detailed battle plan soon. But for now, I want to hear everyone's thoughts on what lies ahead."
The room fell quiet for a breath, and then Gyomei was the first to speak:
"Master Ubuyashiki, I believe we must begin intensive training—especially for the regular members of the Corps."
It was something Gyomei had thought about ever since the base was attacked. In the final battle, they would face all the might Muzan could summon. If the Demon Slayers had even a slight increase in their strength... more might survive.
Sacrifice was inevitable.
But it could be minimized.
"Very well," Kagaya said solemnly. "I'll organize the arrangements for that."
"Master," Muichiro Tokito stepped forward, "I have an idea of my own about increasing power levels—something I experienced during my battle with Gyokko at Peach Mountain..."
And so, the Hashira meeting continued—each voice filled not only with strategy, but with the fire of hope.
The end was near.
But this time... it was Muzan who should tremble.
- - - - - - - - -
50% OFF on patreon till 15th of September.