Deep within the shifting corridors of the Infinity Castle, Tsukihiko's eyes snapped open. The moment the Divine Officials made their move, he felt it.
"They've appeared so quickly," he mused, a cold smile touching his lips. "It seems this so-called Divine Official clan is very protective of Japan's history."
On the surface, Tsukihiko had completely overwhelmed Kagaya Ubuyashiki and the Demon Slayer Corps. He had even asserted his dominance over the official Japanese government. But he was not careless. He knew that unseen forces could still be lurking in the shadows, and he controlled every detail of his plan with absolute precision.
In this world, the Demon Slayer Corps was the most obvious enemy of the demons. However, two other powers operated from the shadows: the Japanese government and the Divine Official clan. Kagaya Ubuyashiki, chosen as a spokesperson by the Divine Officials, held tremendous influence over both the government and the common people.
Many of the Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps had tragic pasts, similar to the demons of the Twelve Kizuki. The only difference was the path they chose to walk. Muzan Kibutsuji had never bothered to build connections within the Japanese government, but Ubuyashiki had spent centuries weaving his family's influence into the nation's bureaucracy. This gave him a quiet, invisible power. Combined with his unique ability to sense the future, it allowed the Demon Slayer Corps to always stand with the strong.
But everything had changed when Tsukihiko arrived.
The once-mighty Demon Slayer Corps was nearly wiped out during the battle on the Infinity Train. Now, at this critical moment, Ubuyashiki's true backers had finally been forced to reveal themselves. The Divine Official clan, the most mysterious force in the entire country, was making its move.
Their goal was simple: restore the Ubuyashiki family to power and set the world back on its proper course. From their perspective, Muzan Kibutsuji was nothing more than a tool that had gone rogue. He had begun to meddle with the Japanese government and even the Imperial Family. The Prime Minister and his entire Cabinet, the highest authorities in the Taisho era, were already under Muzan's control.
If the Divine Officials didn't act now, the Ubuyashiki family and the Demon Slayer Corps would be completely destroyed. All of Japan would fall under the demonic rule of a single king, ushering in an age of unimaginable terror.
A calm smile returned to Tsukihiko's face. "But what does it matter if the Divine Official clan acts personally? There's an even bigger trap waiting for them. This is the perfect opportunity for the Twelve Kizuki to complete their transformation."
He closed his eyes again, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "After all, my throne has no place for trash."
In that instant, the thoughts and actions of every demon in Japan became an open book to him.
"This time," he thought, "I want to see if these legendary Marked Swordsmen are as powerful as the stories claim."
Three hours after Tsukihiko fully absorbed the bloodline of the Divine Official clan, the highest levels of the Japanese government were thrown into chaos. The Japanese Imperial Family faced a shock unlike any they had ever known.
First, Emperor Taisho, the most powerful figure in the nation, realized his orders were being ignored. He couldn't even get a message out of the Imperial Palace. To his horror, he discovered that the entire palace and every member of the Imperial Family had been secretly surrounded by countless demons.
The Imperial Family had its own protectors—descendants of the great Onmyoji, Abe no Seimei, and powerful priests from ancient shrines. But even they could feel a terrible storm brewing. Worse, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet members, who had always been completely loyal to the Emperor, were suddenly out of contact. Even with his limited intellect, Emperor Taisho understood that a terrifying conspiracy was unfolding. The recent demon attacks, assassination attempts, and rebellions across Japan had already shaken the country. Now, it seemed the true enemy was at his door.
Then came the second shock. The Crown Prince, Hirohito, and his brothers vanished overnight. As the heirs to the throne, they were protected by the most powerful warriors and priests in the country. It should have been impossible for anyone to reach them, especially within the heavily guarded walls of the Imperial Palace.
According to a divination performed by the Shinto Onmyoji, the missing princes were most likely in the Yoshiwara pleasure district. Soon, Emperor Taisho issued an imperial decree, and the news sent a tremor through all of Japan.
At the same time, at the Ubuyashiki ancestral home, the remaining Hashira gathered.
"What I've just explained is all the information we have on the Mark," Divine Official Amane said, her gaze sweeping over the six Hashira seated before her. Their expressions were calm, but she could see the tension in their eyes. "According to our records, the first person to awaken the Mark was a man named Yoriichi Tsugikuni."
Her voice was soft but clear. "The Breathing Styles you use were also created by him. However, you can all innovate and build upon the styles you've learned. By doing so, you can create a Breathing Style that is perfect for you. When you use it with a Nichirin Sword, you can cause the most damage to a demon."
The Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, spoke up. "If this Yoriichi Tsugikuni was so powerful and talented, why didn't he…"
"Allow me to answer that," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said calmly, his gentle voice filling the room. "Yoriichi Tsugikuni's talent and strength were beyond measure, and his hatred for demons was just as deep. According to the information we have, he actually fought Muzan Kibutsuji centuries ago."
The six Hashira stared at him in shock.
"The details of that battle have been lost to time," Kagaya continued, "but we know one thing for certain: Muzan Kibutsuji was severely wounded and forced to flee for his life. It was because of that battle that Muzan adopted his current strategy. He hides in the shadows, rarely fighting directly, always elusive and unpredictable."
He let out a soft sigh. "But unfortunately, Muzan Kibutsuji has a long life, while Yoriichi Tsugikuni was only a man. In the end, even he couldn't win against time. Even a swordsman as strong as Yoriichi couldn't defy old age. In the end, he was killed by his own brother, Kokushibo, who had become a demon."
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