"Yet again, those annoying pests," Kamanaruto snarled with a grin, raising his twin sickles.
"Blood Demon Art: Flying Blood Sickle!"
Suddenly, torrents of blood surged from Kamanaruto's arms. As if alive, the blood converged onto his bone sickles. "Die!"
In an instant, countless crimson blades shot forward.
Boom!!! Entire buildings crumbled beneath their onslaught. The blood blades covered an enormous area and could alter their flight paths according to Kamanaruto's will.
"Cut both their heads off simultaneously—that's the only way to kill them."
Before anyone could question Xia Shang how he knew this, the sudden attack forced immediate action. Since the blood blades could change direction mid-flight, Yūdai Tengen barely dodged but still got his right arm grazed. Being from a ninja lineage, he was highly sensitive to toxins.
Feeling his right arm weakening rapidly, he warned everyone urgently:
"These blades are laced with deadly poison. Be careful!"
At the same time,
Nearby, Daki picked up one of the severed heads and pressed it against her neck.
"Genya," Xia Shang glanced back at Genya before vanishing. Understanding immediately, Genya swung his blade at Daki while evading the blood attacks.
Almost simultaneously,
Two distinctly different heads flew through the air, liberated from their necks.
The battle ended far quicker than anyone anticipated.
"Huh? Why is my body over there?" Confusion filled Kamanaruto's eyes as he looked at his own corpse.
He couldn't comprehend what had happened until he realized his head had been severed. His consciousness began dissolving, followed by his skull cracking like shattered porcelain.
Was it really over? Except for Genya, who had anticipated this outcome, everyone else wore expressions of stunned disbelief.
It wasn't until after a long pause that they finally grasped the reality—Upper Moon Six had fallen.
"One down, another Upper Moon gone. I imagine Muzan must be furious already. Even if we rush to our next destination at full speed, it'll likely be pointless—a wasted effort.
Unless the surviving Upper Moons have lost their minds, they'll surely recognize these were targeted decapitation strikes."
Xia Shang sheathed his Nichirin Blade calmly.
...
As Xia Shang predicted, events unfolded exactly that way.
Upon sensing the deaths of two Upper Moons in succession, Muzan immediately ordered the remaining Upper Moons to halt all operations and retreat to Infinity Castle at maximum speed.
Inside Infinity Castle, lanterns continued emitting their orange-yellow glow.
As Nakime plucked her delicate strings, figures emerged from spatial rifts into the chamber.
However, this time, two spots remained empty.
"So those bastards actually fought back? How amusing, truly amusing."
Tongmo showed no sorrow over Yuuko and Kamanaruto's deaths. Instead, he mocked, "The Demon Slayer Corps sure impressed me—they've suddenly gotten so strong! Good thing I ran fast, or Master Akaza wouldn't get to see me again."
"Although come to think of it, maybe Master Akaza's heart's pounding faster than mine now."
Akaza ignored Tongmo's sarcastic remarks.
His gaze fixed straight ahead.
Currently, six Upper Moons remained, but now only four stood—Upper Moon One Kokushibou, Upper Moon Two Tongmo, Upper Moon Three Akaza, and Upper Moon Four Nakime.
Compared to before, Muzan's forces had suffered severe losses. After all, the Upper Moon positions weren't something just any demon could fill.
To become an Upper Moon required perfect combination of talent, strength, and mental fortitude.
Throughout centuries, Muzan had created only a handful of Upper Moons, demonstrating their extreme rarity.
"Enough! All of you shut up!" Muzan roared from his high seat, his expression stormy. Truthfully, he hadn't expected the Demon Slayer Corps' counterattack to be this swift—killing two Upper Moons within such a short timeframe. Such a loss hadn't occurred in centuries. If he hadn't personally elevated Nakime to Upper Moon Four, there would only be three left among the Six Demon Moons! Moreover, Nakime technically didn't possess Upper Moon-level strength. Her promotion served mainly to better control Infinity Castle.
"It must be that guy interfering." Muzan narrowed his eyes warily.
"Master, what shall we do next? Shall we continue our operations?"
Akaza stood upright, perpetually poised for battle. Among all demons involved in this campaign, he'd killed the fewest people—even refraining from killing women.
One might say he consistently adhered to his personal code—seeking strong opponents to defeat. He maintained his principles and beliefs.
Tongmo, however, represented the complete opposite. During this operation alone, his storage room overflowed with female victims' heads.
"Halt operations temporarily. I need someone to deliver one final ultimatum to the Demon Slayer Corps—and teach them a lesson."
Mindless slaughter held no meaning for Muzan. He sought only the Blue Spider Lily. For this goal, he'd sacrifice everything—including the Twelve Kizuki.
"I'll go. Plus, I'd like to test that powerful opponent."
Originally, Muzan intended to send Kokushibou on this mission. But reconsidering, since Kokushibou ranked second only to himself in power, losing him would severely impact future operations.
Other candidates mattered less—if one perished, Muzan could endure the loss. Three of the Six Upper Moons had already died; one more wouldn't break him.
Muzan considered sending a Lower Moon instead, but doing so would implicitly admit he lacked capable demons under his command. His last shred of pride forbade this.
"Then it's settled. Don't disappoint me."
"My lord, I shall never fail your expectations."
"Go."
Dang! A melodious pipa note rang out as Nakime transported Akaza away.
As Akaza vanished, Muzan's eye sockets suddenly erupted with countless blue veins. His entire iris transformed into a crimson red. At this moment, he shared Akaza's vision completely.
Emerging into the outside world, Akaza wasted no time, rushing toward Kamanaruto's death location at incredible speed.
Through first-person perspective,
Buildings along the road receded behind him. Soon, intact structures became increasingly scarce, destruction growing more apparent.
Human limbs scattered across the ground. The bloody sight didn't slow Akaza's pace. Since his deployment point already lay near Tokyo Prefecture, he soon reached Kamanaruto's dying traces.
"The Demon Slayer Corps' messenger crows."
Detecting no Demon Slayer presence nearby, Akaza leapt atop an electric pole, scanning the surroundings.
Coincidentally, Torataro's figure appeared in his line of sight.
Meanwhile,
Kyojuro Rengoku and others successfully reunited with Mitsuri and snake pillar Ibutsu Urokodaki.
Hearing news of Upper Moon Six's demise, Mitsuri covered her mouth in shock, displaying obvious disbelief.
"You guys were too fast—it feels like only... five minutes passed."
Mitsuri counted fingers, "One, two... five minutes."
"Mainly thanks to Mr. Xia Shang. His speed was incredible—I didn't even see how his blade fell," Kyojuro laughed heartily.
Initially worried about casualties during this mission, he now realized his concern excessive. So far, only Yūdai Tengen sustained injuries.
"Oh, Mr. Tengen, you're injured? Is it serious?"
Mitsuri anxiously examined Yūdai's bandaged right arm.
"Just some poison—nothing major. Besides, witnessing Mr. Xia Shang's magnificent strike made the injury worthwhile."
Suddenly, Yūdai turned backward, his previously smiling face hardening instantly. "Watch out—an incredibly powerful aura approaches."
"Didn't expect another Upper Moon possessed such foolish courage."
Victories in two consecutive battles granted Genya sufficient confidence, even fostering thoughts that Upper Moons weren't that formidable after all.
But the next moment,
Severe pain shot through his shoulder, quickly teaching Genya the true might of Upper Moon Three.
Unknowingly, Akaza—his face marked with black stripes—had appeared before Genya, piercing through his right shoulder. Had the blade shifted merely two inches rightward, Genya would've become a corpse.
"Upper Moon Three indeed possesses real strength," Xia Shang could've intervened to save Genya, yet deliberately chose not to.
"You're the person the master mentioned. I can sense the tremendous power concealed within you," Akaza slowly withdrew his hand amidst hostile gazes from the Hashira. Actually, his original target hadn't been Genya but Xia Shang. However, noticing Xia Shang's unwavering gaze fixed upon him,
He realized his famed speed held little significance before this opponent.
"You came here because of Muzan, didn't you?"
No explanation needed—Akaza's arrival obviously related to Muzan. Otherwise, how could he possibly teleport here from another region?
Undoubtedly through Infinity Castle's power.
After several seconds of silence, Akaza spoke again. "You're sharp-witted. Indeed, the master sent me. He instructed me to inform you: if you fail to produce the Blue Spider Lily within twenty-four hours, he'll make the entire Tokyo Prefecture perish alongside you."
Simultaneously, Muzan's furious roar echoed inside Akaza's mind: "Why?! Why didn't you kill that guy?! Akaza... What were you thinking!"
Instantly, half Akaza's face cracked apart, blood vessels spreading across his eyes.
"Stop your helpless screaming, Muzan."
Approaching Akaza, Xia Shang seemed to glimpse Muzan's enraged, contorted expression within Akaza's eyes.
What terrible restraint—not living up to his nickname 'Giant Infant.'
"Merely eliminating a few Upper Moons—you're celebrating prematurely?" Akaza's gaze turned chillingly cold. Clearly, Muzan now controlled Akaza's body to confront Xia Shang.
Xia Shang smirked coldly. "Indeed, just a few Upper Moons. I'm certain Lord Muzan doesn't care much about their lives. Since that's the case, why not summon them all here to die together?"
"Fool! You're asking for death!" Enraged beyond measure, Muzan manipulated Akaza's body to punch directly at Xia Shang's chest.
Boom! Following the deafening impact,
Akaza's fist halted abruptly—stopped by Xia Shang's extended right hand.
"Your combat techniques remain pathetically crude. Release your control over Akaza already—I feel embarrassed for you."
Whoosh! Whoosh!! Inside a room within Infinity Castle, Muzan's chest heaved violently. His lungs nearly burst from fury at Xia Shang.
Yet soon, he regained composure.
"Trying to provoke me? Hoping to force me out to meet you? What a ridiculous notion."
Akaza surveyed the surrounding Hashira holding Nichirin Blades with heightened vigilance, sneering, "Consider the lives of Tokyo Prefecture's hundreds of thousands of residents. If I don't see the Blue Spider Lily by tomorrow night, they'll perish due to your inaction. Haha, self-proclaimed righteous Demon Slayer Corps—can you truly accept such consequences?
I offer two choices: either hand me the Blue Spider Lily by tomorrow night, or unite and kill this Mr. Xia Shang yourselves. Otherwise, prepare for Tokyo Prefecture to transform into hell itself—with those vengeful spirits questioning you endlessly why you didn't save them."
So Muzan intends to attack Tokyo Prefecture?! What does he plan to achieve?
Even with his strength, annihilating hundreds of thousands within Tokyo Prefecture seemed impossible.
Kyojuro furrowed his brows fiercely, declaring loudly, "Don't attempt to sow discord among us. The Demon Slayer Corps won't tolerate defilement from someone like you!"
"Don't assume I'm bluffing. Send your messenger crows southward—they'll find surprises awaiting."
"Torataro." Kyojuro directed his attention toward the crow resting on Mitsuri's shoulder.
Before Akaza arrived, Torataro had been romantically recounting to Mitsuri his touching love story with Rei—entirely fabricated though it was. Yet Mitsuri never doubted, her eyes sparkling with emotion.
"Understood." Torataro nodded solemnly before flapping wings toward the southern direction.
While waiting, visible concern clouded the Hashira's faces.
Though disbelieving Muzan's words, his demeanor suggested sincerity.
Please bring good news.
The Hashira silently prayed.
Several minutes later, Torataro's terrified shriek pierced overhead: "A catastrophe has occurred! A massive southern district vanished entirely—as if ripped away. Residents disappeared without trace. I circled repeatedly but found nothing.
Additionally, I questioned a nearby eyewitness. According to him, following an earthquake, everyone residing there, along with their homes, simply vanished."
"As I said—no deception."
The icy chill in Muzan's voice caused every Hashira present to shiver involuntarily, chilled to the bone!
End of Chapter