The tiny demon collapsed into a puddle of flesh, dead beyond any doubt.
As if celebrating the group's victory, the sun slowly climbed from the east, lighting up this sleepless land.
Whether it was the sunlight, or the fact that its true weak point had been destroyed, the demon's remaining scraps scattered and faded at a terrifying speed.
"Nezuko!"
Warm sunlight spilled across Tanjiro's body, but instead of comfort, it sent pure terror through him.
Dragging his battered body, he forced himself forward.
"Nezuko! You have to find somewhere to hide from the sun! Don't let it touch you, please!"
Tanjiro screamed, but his legs grew heavier with every step.
The entire area had been smashed into ruin, nothing left standing.
Where could they even find shade?
At last, Tanjiro's strength gave out. He collapsed face-first to the ground.
Pressed into the dirt, he wept helpless, worthless tears.
"Nezuko… it's my fault… I'm sorry…"
Hearing Tanjiro's broken voice, Muichiro Tokito and Mitsuri Kanroji, who had hurried over, both felt their hearts sink.
Nezuko was the only demon they had ever seen coexist with humans.
A kind demon.
For her to die like this, without even a chance to understand why, was unbearable.
"Tanjiro…" Muichiro hesitated, his voice unusually gentle. "Don't be sad. With sunlight this bright, maybe Nezuko…"
He trailed off, unable to finish.
"Kamado sir! Kamado sir!"
Kotetsu came running, shaking Tanjiro's trembling body where he lay.
"Kotetsu…" Tanjiro managed, barely recognizing him, barely able to speak.
"Kamado sir… your sister… she seems to have broken free of the sun."
Kotetsu pointed.
Tanjiro followed his finger.
A figure was walking toward them, slow and unsteady.
Tanjiro rubbed his eyes hard.
It really was Nezuko.
"G-G-Good morning, big brother…"
Nezuko's voice was weak.
But Tanjiro was even weaker.
He hugged her once, like he was afraid she would vanish, then promptly fainted on the spot.
"Kamado's fine," someone said. "He just hit his limit in that fight. Let him rest and he'll recover."
Only then did everyone finally let out the breath they had been holding.
When they looked at Nezuko again, it was with relief so intense it almost hurt.
The first demon ever recorded to withstand sunlight.
Unbelievable.
At the same time, in a wealthy household.
Inside a study, a young boy had torn books apart and scattered them everywhere.
He did not care.
Because just moments ago, he had obtained something that made every hardship he'd endured until now feel meaningless.
"Well done, Hantengu… you finally found it…"
"The first demon to conquer sunlight has been born."
"Hantengu, your death had value!"
The boy covered his face, excitement making the veins stand out across his skin.
"Finally… finally I've found her. That demon girl…"
Muzan checked the information again and again, everything he'd seen through Hantengu's eyes.
That demon named Nezuko had conquered sunlight, the nightmare that killed demons instantly.
"If I absorb that demon girl into my body, I'll gain her factor… and break sunlight forever."
"Then this world will have nothing left that can threaten me."
"True perfection."
"True eternity!"
Muzan had lost all his usual composure, laughing wildly, intoxicated by his own dream.
"Hm? What's going on, son? Why is it such a mess in here?"
A kind-looking woman entered with servants behind her.
Seeing the books scattered all over the floor, she didn't scold him.
Her eyes were full of affection.
"Luna, clean this up," she told a servant. Then she smiled at the boy. "Dinner's almost ready."
As she stepped forward to pat her son's head…
Bang!
Before she even took two steps, her head exploded in midair.
Blood and pale matter splashed across the floor, filling the room with the stench of death.
"M-Madam? W-What… your head…"
Thud.
A servant collapsed, trembling uncontrollably as she stared at the woman's body, dead beyond any doubt.
"Finally… I can leave this place."
Muzan's body shifted in front of the servant's eyes, returning to his true form.
"This disgusting house… it makes me sick."
"As long as I devour that demon girl, I'll overcome the curse that's haunted me for a century…"
"…then…" Muzan threw his head back, laughter shaking the entire mansion. "Hahahahaha!"
The servant, frozen in terror, finally understood.
The man in front of her was…
A murderer.
"Murderer! Murderer!"
"My lord! My lady has been killed!"
"Somebody help! There's a murderer here!"
She screamed and crawled toward the door.
"So loud."
Muzan frowned, lifted a hand casually.
Half the servant's body instantly turned into a mist of blood that splattered across the ground.
"Don't rush," Muzan said softly. "Everyone in this estate will join you soon enough…"
…Please send flowers…
At the Ubuyashiki Estate, the Demon Slayer Corps had already received news that Upper Rank Four and Upper Rank Five had been eliminated.
As the Hashira who had personally slain Upper Rank Five Gyokko, Muichiro Tokito was summoned, and a Hashira meeting was convened at once.
"In the last battle," Muichiro said calmly, "I was poisoned severely. My entire body went numb, and I couldn't make any effective attacks."
"Even with Breathing, the poison still spread through me quickly."
"Later, when I tried to save Kotetsu, he was nearly killed."
"A rage I'd never felt before made me forget the pain… and at the same time, I recovered my lost memories."
"But by then, I couldn't stay calm anymore."
"Looking back, my heart rate had gone past two hundred. My body temperature was over thirty-nine degrees."
Shinobu Kocho tilted her head, curious. "That state is basically the edge of death. Could you still move like that?"
Muichiro nodded. "Yes. That's why I believe those conditions are the minimum threshold to awaken the mark."
"Whether you die or survive… that might be the test of whether someone is qualified."
Amane Ubuyashiki, the Master's wife, asked gently, "Intense exertion can push the heart to two hundred. But why would the temperature exceed thirty-nine?"
Muichiro answered obediently, "Because earlier, I received treatment from Ms. Kocho. I had a fever."
"My temperature was measured at thirty-nine degrees with a thermometer, the same as the bodily state when the mark appears."
Sanemi Shinazugawa clicked his tongue. "Tch. That's all it takes?"
Giyu Tomioka replied flatly, "Sounds simple. Just like your brain is simple. Kinda enviable."
Sanemi's eyes flared. "What did you say? I'll kill you."
"Nothing," Giyu said.
Shinobu quickly stepped between them with a smile. "In any case, discovering the mark may be the Hashira's first priority."
"Oh, right."
Shinobu's eyes brightened as if she'd remembered something.
"I may have found a boy who can awaken it too. And he isn't even a Hashira."
"Not a Hashira? Impossible!" Sanemi blurted, refusing to believe it.
Amane looked surprised. "Really?"
Shinobu smiled. "Based on my observations, that boy in the Corps may have the same potential."
"And as for proof…" She turned her gaze. "Rengoku should be able to confirm it."
Everyone looked toward Kyojuro Rengoku, who had just returned from a mission.
Rengoku stared forward, voice booming with certainty.
"Vincent Fox truly has that kind of strength!"
…To be continued.
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The deeper he goes, the more the truth unravels. Don't wait read ahead and witness Vincent's rise before the world catches up!
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