~# Keep the chapters coming — Support with Power Stones!
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Dawn broke over Japan.
Kaido arrived at Corps headquarters via sword-flight, Tamayo and Yushiro in tow. Kagaya and the Kocho sisters were already waiting—Kuroha had sent word ahead.
Shinobu still looked uncomfortable with the arrangement, but out of respect for her sister, Master, and Kaido, she kept her objections to herself.
"Master!"
"Welcome back, child. Thank you for your hard work."
"It was nothing. Mission accomplished—but I'd like to escort them to the Butterfly Mansion personally. I promised Tamayo-nee I'd keep her safe."
"Of course."
Kaido turned to Tamayo. "Tamayo-nee, we'll take you to the mansion now."
"Thank you for everything."
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A village on the outskirts of Corps territory.
Several Demon Slayers patrolled the area, laughing and chatting as they moved through the streets. Behind them, one figure walked alone—sullen, withdrawn, completely disconnected from his teammates' camaraderie.
"Hey, Risa! You trained with the Dragon Hashira, right? How'd that go? Tell us!"
"Yeah! I saw the Dragon Hashira wearing those girl's clothes during that time—he looked absolutely gorgeous! Risa, what was it like being around him?"
The squad teased Risa relentlessly. Everyone knew she had feelings for the Dragon Hashira—everyone except Kaido himself.
"I... I... oh, stop teasing me! Misa-nee, why are you making me talk about this??"
Misa—Risa's older sister and fellow Corps member—grinned mischievously at her sibling's flustered expression.
"Oh my, little Risa's getting bold, talking back to me now! You've been crushing on the Dragon Hashira forever. Did something actually happen between you two—"
"It's not like that! The Dragon Hashira's really kind and... and cute, it's just... it's just..."
"Just what? Come on, spill!"
The conversation died abruptly.
Their squad leader spotted a figure ahead—no, not a figure. A demon.
The creature had six eyes, black hair tied in a high ponytail, and wore purple samurai armor. A katana hung at his waist. Deep crimson flame-like markings ran from his left temple down to his right jaw and neck.
Even from a distance, the oppressive aura radiating from this demon was suffocating.
"Contact! Demon ahead! Battle stations!"
Everyone drew their Nichirin Blades. As the demon approached, that crushing pressure intensified with every step.
"Damn... this thing's power is insane!"
"Don't panic! We attack together and we can take him down! Kaigaku, what the hell are you doing back there?? Get up here and fight!" The squad leader turned, shouting at the figure still lingering behind.
"...Fine." Kaigaku moved forward reluctantly, joining the formation. His eyes held nothing but contempt.
"Misa, Risa—Kaigaku and I will attack from the front to create an opening. You two hit him from the sides!"
Misa and Risa: "Right!"
"Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter!"
"Thunder Breathing, Fourth Form: Distant Thunder!"
The two charged forward, blades flashing. They didn't expect to behead the demon immediately—just get close enough to create opportunities for their teammates.
Reality proved far crueler.
The moment Misa and Risa moved, the demon casually drew his blade and swung once—a single, effortless motion that deflected both charging attacks and sent the attackers flying backward.
"Kura! Kaigaku! Are you okay??"
"Cough... guh..." Kura—the male squad member who'd charged with Kaigaku—collapsed, blood pouring from his mouth. His chest bore a massive gash carved deep enough to expose bone. His Nichirin Blade lay in two pieces beside him.
"Misa... Risa... run... get this intel... back to headquarters... he's Upper..." Kura never finished. His eyes glazed over as death claimed him.
Kaigaku had only suffered minor scrapes—but his expression was pure terror. In that brief clash, he'd seen the kanji carved into the demon's central pair of eyes.
Left eye: Upper Rank.
Right eye: One...
This was Upper Rank One—Kokushibo.
'Upper Rank One?? Why the hell is he here?? This is impossible! I'm going to die! What do I do?? What the hell do I do??'
Kaigaku's body trembled uncontrollably.
'No—I have to survive! Why should I care if everyone else dies?? As long as I make it out alive, nothing else matters!'
A vicious plan crystallized in his mind.
"Everyone! That attack was strong, but if we hit him from multiple angles simultaneously, we can take his head! Then we report back!" Kaigaku shouted with false confidence.
The remaining squad members rallied at his words, their morale surging. They raised their blades and charged Kokushibo once more.
Kaigaku hung back, waiting for everyone's attention to shift—then turned and ran.
Risa's sharp eyes caught the movement. "Kaigaku, you coward! You're abandoning us??"
"That's Upper Rank One! You want me to commit suicide?? I'm not that stupid! Is wanting to live a crime??"
"You bastard!" Risa's voice shook with fury and horror—horror that this demon was Upper Rank One, and rage that Kaigaku had known and said nothing, choosing instead to sacrifice his teammates.
"Say whatever you want—I'm staying alive!" Kaigaku didn't even look back.
"Risa, watch out!"
Kokushibo swung his blade—Moon Breathing creating a sweeping arc of invisible death. Misa threw herself in front of her sister, Nichirin Blade raised defensively. The impact sent both sisters crashing through a nearby building wall.
The other squad members fought with their last breaths, refusing to retreat despite fatal wounds. Their eyes held nothing but determination as they charged Kokushibo one final time...
"Sis! Don't scare me! You'll be okay! You have to be okay!" Risa crawled to Misa, tears streaming down her face as she tried to lift her sister's broken body.
Blood soaked through Misa's uniform from the devastating wound she'd taken protecting Risa.
"Cough... Risa... run... get this intel... back to the Corps... and... this letter..." Misa's trembling hand pulled a blood-stained envelope from her pocket. "Give it... to the Dragon Hashira..."
Risa shook her head violently, sobbing. "No! We leave together! Mom and Dad are already gone—I can't lose you too!"
"Listen to me... you're only Kanoe rank... going back there means death... I'm Kinoe... I can at least... buy you time... Don't let me down..."
Misa shoved Risa away with the last of her strength, gripped her blade, and staggered toward Kokushibo on legs that barely supported her weight. Before disappearing through the rubble, she looked back with a smile.
"Live."
"Sis..." Risa's heart felt like it was being crushed in a vice.
But she understood—this was the chance her sister had bought with her life. She couldn't waste it. Clutching the letter to her chest, Risa fled on injured legs.
Misa emerged from the destroyed wall, surveying the corpses of her teammates and the demon before her—along with Kaigaku, kneeling on the ground with his legs slashed, blood pooling beneath him.
She looked at Kaigaku with pure disgust. This trash had gotten everyone killed and nearly murdered her sister too.
People like him didn't deserve to call themselves Demon Slayers.
"Kaigaku, you spineless piece of filth!"
Kaigaku didn't respond. He kept his forehead pressed to the ground, body shaking. When he'd tried to flee, Kokushibo had appeared in front of him instantly—dragged him back and crippled his legs to prevent another escape.
"Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!" Misa pushed her broken body into motion, blade aimed for Kokushibo's neck.
Kokushibo stood motionless, allowing the strike to land.
CLANG!
Misa's blade shattered on contact. Kokushibo's hand shot out, catching her throat. Six eyes studied her with something almost resembling curiosity.
"You possess... admirable courage..."
"I'm so... honored... to be praised... by a demon... asshole." Misa emphasized the word "honored" with dripping sarcasm before spitting directly in Kokushibo's face.
He remained unmoved.
"The Hashira... will destroy you... all of you demons... and you'll die... beneath the Dragon Hashira's blade..."
The mention of "Dragon Hashira" triggered something in Kokushibo.
Memories surfaced—Muzan's recollections transmitted from Gyutaro, and his own final encounter with Yoriichi centuries ago.
'Brother... how pitiful you are...'
"Yoriichi..."
Jealousy—irrational, all-consuming jealousy—surged through him at the memory. His grip tightened. Misa's arms went limp as life left her body.
Kokushibo tossed her corpse aside like garbage, then turned his attention to Kaigaku, still kneeling.
"Do you wish... to survive... to become stronger..."
Kaigaku's head snapped up. "Yes! If you let me live, I'll do anything!"
Kokushibo approached and sliced his own wrist open, blood welling from the wound.
Kaigaku didn't hesitate. Ignoring the pain in his legs, he cupped his hands beneath the flowing blood.
"Drink it... if you gain... that person's approval... you will become... one of us..."
Kokushibo's speech came in broken fragments as he pulled his arm back.
"This blood... is precious... do not spill... a single drop... or your head... will part from your body..."
Kaigaku stared at the blood pooled in his trembling hands. He didn't dare let a single drop fall. Then he raised his hands to his mouth and drank every last bit.
"AAAAAHHH!"
Kaigaku writhed on the ground, body convulsing in agony. Kokushibo simply watched.
"The stronger the swordsman... the longer the transformation takes... I required... three full days... let us see... how long you last..."
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Infinity Castle.
Since Upper Rank Four's death, Muzan had gone eerily silent—but it was merely the calm before the storm.
He'd injected Nakime with massive amounts of his blood, elevating her to the new Upper Rank Four position.
Now he used her detached eyeball clones to search for two things: Nezuko, who'd conquered the sun, and the location of Corps headquarters.
"Muzan-sama, another location confirmed. I've mapped sixty percent of the Corps members' residences, but still no sign of the girl who overcame sunlight."
Nakime—with a single eye marked with the kanji for "Four"—reported everything she witnessed to her master.
"Nakime, your growth has exceeded my expectations. Excellent work."
"I live to serve, Muzan-sama."
"Continue the search."
"Yes, my lord."
"Nezuko... Ubuyashiki... it won't be long now. Hehehehe..."
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"KOKUSHIBO!"
A roar of pure rage erupted from Kaido's estate, accompanied by a wave of murderous intent so intense it seemed to warp the very air.
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