Inside the Infinity Castle, Muzan Kibutsuji slowly closed his eyes, silently sensing the disappearance of Hairo.
After the death of Upper Rank Three, Akaza, who had escaped his control, another mber of the Twelve Kizuki had now fallen.
In such a short span of ti, three mbers of the Twelve Kizuki had died one after another.
Suddenly, the long-lost Demon Slayer Marks and the Bright Red Nichirin Swords had reappeared within the Demon Slayer Corps, causing the strength of the Corps to rise sharply once more. Little by little, they were becoming a greater threat.
And for perhaps the first ti in a long while, Muzan felt fear stirring inside him.
For all these years, Muzan Kibutsuji had never liked taking risks.
As the first demon and absolute ruler of demonkind, possessing a lifespan that was nearly eternal, he had always preferred patience over recklessness.
Unlike humans with their brief and fragile lives, he had endless ti.
All he needed to do was wait.
Wait for the strong to grow old.
Wait for them to weaken.
Wait until they could no longer even lift their blades.
Just like that man who still haunted him even now—
Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
A man who had once seed almost like a god walking among mortals.
But no matter how powerful Yoriichi had been, he was still only flesh and blood.
Muzan had not even needed to kill him himself.
A hundred years later, Yoriichi had naturally turned to dust beneath the flow of ti, no longer capable of threatening him.
But Muzan Kibutsuji would continue to exist forever.
That was why Muzan had never cared much about temporary gains or losses.
All he needed was patience.
Humans were weak creatures. In the end, none of them could resist the passing of ti.
And yet, the Demon Slayer Corps…
Even after all these centuries, it still endured.
Though it occasionally weakened, before long it would rise again, like weeds that could never truly be burned away.
No matter how many tis they were cut down, they would grow back again.
And now, Muzan once again felt threatened.
The threat ca from his destined enemy—
the Ubuyashiki family.
Their existence clung to him endlessly like a curse.
Several hundred years ago, he had once launched an attack against the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters and nearly wiped the organization out entirely. At the ti, he believed the Corps would never recover.
And for a while, things had indeed gone as he expected.
After losing many of their traditions and techniques, the Demon Slayer Corps was no longer a true threat. They still possessed enough strength to kill weaker demons, but they could no longer challenge the Upper Ranks.
For centuries, not a single Upper Rank demon had fallen to the Demon Slayer Corps.
Instead, countless Hashira had died at the hands of the Twelve Kizuki.
But now, things had changed again.
And this ti, even Muzan himself could feel a sense of danger creeping closer.
"Damn it… damn it all. Why do they keep haunting like restless spirits?"
Muzan clenched his fists tightly and slowly raised his head.
Under the flickering lamplight, his pale face beca visible, along with the bulging veins spreading across his forehead like twisted serpents.
Bang!
His fist smashed down onto the table before him, shattering it instantly into pieces.
Grinding his teeth, he coldly asked:
"Have all the Twelve Kizuki gathered?"
"Yes, my lord. The Twelve Kizuki have all been summoned."
"Good."
Muzan nodded.
In the next instant, under the effect of Naki's Blood Demon Art, his figure vanished from where he stood.
...
anwhile, inside the Eternal Paradise Faith temple, Doma gently wiped the blood from his lips after "saving" one of his followers by allowing her to beco one with him and ascend to an eternal paradise free from death.
Then he lowered his head slightly.
A ripple from a Blood Demon Art spread through the air.
The floor beneath him suddenly disappeared.
His body instantly began falling downward.
He continued descending endlessly while towering buildings and structures flashed past around him.
With a casual motion, Doma summoned his folding fans and waved one lightly. A powerful gust of wind burst forth, slowing his descent before he landed gracefully upon one of the platforms.
His face showed no emotion.
Even his rainbow-colored eyes lacked any feeling as he quietly observed his surroundings.
"Infinity Castle…"
Doma was already familiar with this place.
It was the Blood Demon Art of Naki, one of Muzan's closest attendants.
Whoosh—
A figure moved rapidly through the towering structures, ribbons dancing elegantly through the air as she displayed a graceful and beautiful form.
The mont she saw Doma, she imdiately descended and bowed respectfully.
"My respects to Lord Doma."
"Ah, Daki!"
Doma lightly nodded before asking calmly, "Where's your brother?"
"Greetings, Lord Doma."
An ugly head suddenly erged from behind the woman's back, his face filled with reverence.
Back when the siblings had been pushed to the brink of death, no one had reached out to save them.
Just like the miserable lives they had always lived, nobody had ever helped them.
And then they t Doma.
It was he who had shared his blood with them and turned them into demons.
The two of them had willingly beco demons.
Now, after all these years, they had risen to beco Upper Rank Six of the Twelve Kizuki. Over the centuries since then, the siblings had killed a total of twenty-two Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.
As Gyutaro and Daki appeared, more figures soon arrived one after another.
Upper Rank Four — Hantengu.
Upper Rank Five — Gyokko.
Lower Rank Two — Rokuro.
Lower Rank Three — Wakuraba.
Lower Rank Four — Mukago.
Lower Rank Five — Rui.
Lower Rank Six — Kamanue.
Every mber of the Twelve Kizuki who arrived lowered their heads respectfully upon seeing Doma, regardless of what they truly thought inside.
None of this surprised Doma.
After all, Kokushibo hated rude demons more than anything.
Doma's rainbow-colored eyes swept calmly across the gathered demons, but he did not see the one demon who always seed to dislike him—
Akaza.
"Oh right… Akaza's already dead."
As though he had only just rembered, Doma gently waved the fan in his hand and shook his head lightly.
"What a pity."
When the other Kizuki heard that Upper Rank Three had died, their hearts tightened. This was the first ti in centuries that an Upper Rank demon had fallen.
Tap… tap… tap…
Footsteps echoed through the Infinity Castle.
A woman with pale gray skin and long black hair slowly approached. Her bangs hung down over both sides of her face, covering her eyes completely.
It was Naki, one of Muzan's personal attendants.
Long ago, there had once been another attendant by Muzan's side nad Tamayo, but she had escaped long ago and had been hunted ever since.
"Everyone, please co inside."
With Doma leading the way, the remaining mbers of the Twelve Kizuki entered one after another according to rank.
Inside the dimly lit room, the first thing they saw was a majestic man seated to one side.
Upper Rank One—
Kokushibo.
Kokushibo's six crimson eyes stared down at the gathered demons. His aura was deep and oppressive, causing every demon present to unconsciously hold their breath.
Once everyone had taken their seats, soft footsteps echoed again.
Even Kokushibo, seated at the highest position, lowered his head slightly at that mont.
Tap… tap… tap…
As the footsteps drew closer, every demon felt their heartbeat quicken.
The pressure flowing from deep within their bloodlines caused most of their faces to turn pale.
Then, Muzan Kibutsuji slowly walked into the room.
The thoughts of every demon present seed to ring clearly in his ears. Violence and fury flickered within his plum-blossom-shaped eyes.
As all the demons bowed their heads, Muzan calmly walked to the main seat and sat down.
For a mont, he remained silent.
His gaze slowly swept across every demon in the room one by one.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
His voice was not loud, but every word carried unquestionable authority, as though squeezed out from between clenched teeth.
"I gave you more of my blood to make you stronger. I forged you into the twelve most powerful demons."
He paused slightly.
Those plum-colored eyes narrowed faintly, dangerous light flickering deep within them.
"And yet now… you disappoint more and more."
The mont his words fell, the entire room sank into dead silence.
Even the lantern flas seed to shrink in fear.
Shadows flickered across every demon's face, revealing different expressions.
So lowered their heads silently.
So turned pale.
So did not even dare breathe too loudly.
At that mont, every demon could feel invisible chains tightening around their throats.
The blood Muzan had granted them had indeed made them stronger.
But because that power ca from him—
he could also take it back at any mont.
Even their lives.
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