~# Keep the chapters coming — Support with Power Stones!
<><><><><><><><>
"CAW! Dragon Hashira Kaido has slain Upper Rank Two—Doma! Assisted by Flower Hashira Kanae Kocho and Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho! No casualties!"
Throughout the Infinity Castle, crows bearing Yushiro's talismans broadcast the announcement at full volume.
"Kaido-nii took down another Upper Rank! He's incredible!"
"Indeed! Most impressive! We three must redouble our efforts as well!"
"Wait—stop!" Giyu's warning cut through their momentum. Kyojuro and Tanjiro froze immediately.
"Tomioka-san, what's wrong?"
"Something's coming."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Above them, something massive crashed through the Castle's levels—descending fast.
"What's causing that vibration? It's intense! Something's about to break through!" Tanjiro's thoughts raced as the impacts grew louder.
"Get back! Both of you!"
CRASH!
The ceiling exploded inward. A figure landed before them with enough force to crater the floor.
Kyojuro and Tanjiro recognized him instantly.
Upper Rank Three—Akaza.
"Long time no see, Kyojuro Rengoku! And you—Tanjiro Kamado! I'm shocked a weakling like you survived this long!" Akaza's grin widened as his eyes swept across the trio. "Shame I didn't run into that white-haired demon slayer. Hearing he killed Doma made my entire year! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The three warriors immediately assumed combat stances—but this time, Akaza didn't attack. Instead, his gaze lingered on Kyojuro and Giyu.
What he saw made his blood sing with anticipation.
Around Giyu, a deep blue fighting spirit radiated like the ocean itself—profound, steady, inexorable. Around Kyojuro, flames had coalesced into something denser than before, his aura solidifying into tangible reality.
"Another Hashira! And a powerful one at that!! What's your name?"
Giyu remained silent, eyes locked on Akaza.
"Not much for conversation? Doesn't matter." Akaza extended his hand toward both Hashira in invitation. "I'll make the same offer as last time. Kyojuro Rengoku—and you, the silent one—why not become demons? We could fight forever, explore the ultimate heights of martial perfection together. What do you say?"
He completely ignored Tanjiro's presence, his focus entirely on the two Hashira. Even after all this time, Akaza hadn't abandoned his desire to turn Kyojuro. Now, with a second candidate before him, his battle lust intensified.
"I refuse!" Kyojuro's voice rang with absolute conviction.
"Same." Giyu's response was characteristically brief.
"Is that so? Then—"
BANG!
Akaza's right foot exploded against the floor. He launched forward, fist aimed directly at Tanjiro.
━━━━━━━━
Meanwhile, in a hidden location within Tokyo.
Eight-year-old Kiriya Ubuyashiki—98th leader of the Demon Slayer Corps—was mapping the Infinity Castle's layout using visual feeds transmitted through talismans on the crows' foreheads. His older sisters, Kuina and Kanata, assisted him.
Tears streamed down Kuina's face as she remembered her parents and younger sisters supposedly dying alongside Muzan.
"Don't cry," Kiriya said firmly, his young voice carrying authority beyond his years. "We can't stop working. We won't lose—especially with the Dragon Hashira fighting for us. We'll win this war."
"Yes!"
What they didn't know was that Kagaya hadn't died at all. Only those at Kaido's estate—and Kaido himself—knew the truth.
Outside, two guardians stood watch: Shinjuro Rengoku and Kaido's clone.
Originally, this duty would have fallen to Shinjuro and the retired Tengen Uzui. But Kaido's arrival had created ripples—butterfly effects that altered the timeline's natural flow.
Anticipating these changes, Kaido had begged the system to extend the Clone Talisman's duration before departing. The system refused initially—until Kaido deployed his ultimate bargaining chip: he'd wear any outfit the system provided (within reason) if it agreed.
The system extended the clone's lifespan to six hours. More than enough.
"Kiriya is remarkable," Shinjuro observed. "Still processing the loss of his parents, yet already commanding the Corps—fulfilling his duty without hesitation. And you, Kaido—even as a clone, you execute every task flawlessly."
"I may be a copy, but I have my own consciousness, Rengoku-san. And yes—Kiriya truly is exceptional."
"Indeed. When children who've barely lost their baby teeth work this hard, how can I do any less? I'll stake the Rengoku name itself to protect them—just as your original body and my son staked their lives protecting those passengers on the Mugen Train."
"Agreed. And..." The clone's gaze drifted toward the distance. "I believe the original and his comrades will succeed."
In another room, Sakonji Urokodaki wiped sweat from Nezuko's forehead with a damp cloth. Watching her writhe in agony made his chest tighten.
"I've administered the medicine that demon—Tamayo—provided, just as instructed. I pray it will restore Nezuko's humanity..."
"If Nezuko becomes human again, Muzan's entire plan crumbles. But still... I never imagined I'd live to see this day. Kaido, Nezuko, Tanjiro—don't you dare lose!"
━━━━━━━━
"Let me dispose of the weakling first—then we'll have a proper conversation!"
Akaza's fist rocketed toward Tanjiro's face. But the boy didn't flinch—he leapt upward, flipping mid-air to land behind the demon.
"Hinokami Kagura: Raging Sun!"
A vertical arc of flame carved into Akaza's arm. 'Come on! It has to work! If I can't sever an arm, I'll never take his head!'
SLASH!
Kyojuro and Giyu moved to assist—then froze as Tanjiro's blade sheared clean through bone and sinew, severing the limb completely.
Landing in a crouch, Tanjiro pivoted for a follow-up strike—and found Akaza's other fist already in motion.
"Hinokami Kagura: Fake Rainbow!"
At the last instant before impact, Tanjiro twisted his body at impossible angles, high-speed rotation creating multiple afterimages. Akaza's punch passed through empty air.
Not only that—during the evasion, Tanjiro's blade kissed across Akaza's face, drawing blood.
Akaza's eyes widened. The "weakling" he'd dismissed had not only severed his arm but dodged a second attack while landing a counter-strike.
'I can do this!' Tanjiro's confidence surged. 'Over a month of Hashira training—I've grown so much! I can win this!'
Everything had transpired in mere seconds. Kyojuro and Giyu watched in astonishment.
'That level of skill rivals a Hashira,' Giyu thought, memories surfacing of their first meeting on a snowy mountain. The frightened boy clinging to his demon sister had transformed into this. 'Fighting to protect what matters most—refusing to let life and dignity be stripped away.'
Kyojuro felt pride swell in his chest. The young man he'd protected on that train now possessed the strength to face Upper Ranks as an equal.
"I take back what I said, Tanjiro Kamado. Kyojuro and that white-haired demon slayer were right—you've become strong. Out of respect, I'll honor you properly."
Akaza's battle aura exploded outward.
"Technique Development: Destructive Death—Compass Needle!"
A twelve-pointed snowflake array materialized beneath his feet, each point marked with kanji from one to twelve.
Akaza's grin turned feral, his eyes alight with savage joy.
"Now then—let the feast begin!"
<><><><><><><><>
~# 30 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
~# Every 200 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter!
~# Add to Library!