The moment Kibutsuji Muzan arrived, he wasted no time.
Without warning, one of his arms morphed into a whip covered in razor-sharp spikes. Moving at a speed beyond comprehension, the whip lashed out at Akaza, the Upper Moon Three.
Even Kokushibo, who had awakened the Transparent World, failed to react in time.
With a thunderous impact, Akaza was slammed into a wall.
Blood splattered. Dust settled.
The room fell into an even deeper silence, the gathered demons lowering their heads in fear.
Muzan's voice was like ice.
"I imagine you're all wondering why I summoned you here."
His crimson eyes swept over them, and then he spoke again—each word colder than the last.
"Not long ago, Akaza, Upper Moon Three, was held off until sunrise—by a mere Demon Slayer and a human who isn't even part of the Corps."
"And in the end, he didn't kill a single one of them."
"Instead—he ran."
Muzan's voice dropped lower, yet somehow grew more terrifying.
"Tell me—have I been too kind to you?"
"Or has the title of Upper Moon given you some sort of delusion?"
Muzan's fury was boundless.
He couldn't understand—since when did his elite demons become weak enough to be stopped by two people?
Not long ago, a Lower Moon Three had been slain by a mere human—a disgrace that had already filled him with rage. That was why he had sent Akaza to hunt down the one responsible.
His message was supposed to be clear:
Anyone who dares defy my will shall be utterly annihilated.
Yet what did Akaza bring him in return?
Nothing.Not even a single corpse.
Instead, he had retreated—because of the sunrise.
Muzan's fists clenched. His rage intensified.
Useless. Absolutely useless.
He turned his gaze toward the bloodied figure kneeling before him—Akaza, still silent, his head bowed.
Muzan's voice grew colder.
"If this is how things are, I question whether the Upper Moons even have a reason to exist anymore."
A chilling wave of fear spread through the gathered demons.
Muzan was doubting their worth.
For them, this was the worst possible omen.
The silence was suffocating.
Then—
"Lord Muzan, please… grant Akaza another chance."
It was Kokushibo who spoke.
The Upper Moon One, a demon who rarely voiced his opinions, now chose to step forward on Akaza's behalf.
Though he too was furious at Akaza's failure, he still recognized Akaza's worth as a warrior.
Moreover—if this situation escalated, it could lead to disastrous consequences for all of them.
Muzan narrowed his eyes.
For Kokushibo—of all demons—to plead for mercy on someone else's behalf…
A moment of silence passed.
Then—
"Hmph."
Muzan's expression darkened, but he relented—this time.
"I will leave the aftermath of this failure in your hands."
"But—there will be no next time."
With that, Muzan turned, striding toward the depths of the Infinity Castle.
Of course, Akaza's failure wasn't the only reason he had summoned the Upper Moons.
No—this gathering was also meant to remind them of their fear.
Because only eternal fear ensured their absolute loyalty.
And Muzan would rule through fear alone.
As his presence faded, the suffocating tension in the air gradually loosened.
Then—
"Ah, so it really was you, Akaza!"
The mocking voice rang out.
Upper Moon Two—Doma—grinned, twirling his golden fan.
"What a tragedy. If Lord Muzan had executed you, I would've been heartbroken!"
His tone was playful, but everyone knew—he was enjoying this far too much.
Akaza ignored him.
Without a single word, he turned and walked away.
Kokushibo watched Akaza's retreating back, then turned and left as well.
"… I am returning."
"Ah, I suppose it's time for me to resume my artistic endeavors as well," Upper Moon Five—Gyokko—chimed in.
"Then, Lord Doma, I shall return to the Red-Light District," added Upper Moon Six—Daki—with a bow.
One by one, the demons vanished, leaving the Infinity Castle silent once more.
…
The morning sun cast golden hues over the land.Yohan walked with Mitsuri, seeking out Rengoku Kyojuro and Kanae.
Today, he had a specific purpose.
Though he had already taught Mitsuri the fundamentals of Tekkai (Iron Body) and Grappling Techniques, he still lacked a true weapon against demons.
And Yohan had asked his system about this.
The answer?
"Everything will come in time as you complete more missions."
But for now—Yohan believed the first step should be for Mitsuri to learn the Breathing Techniques of the Demon Slayer Corps.
He also needed to ask for their help in forging a weapon similar to a Nichirin Blade.
When he explained his request, both Rengoku and Kanae were immediately on board.
After all, they owed Yohan a great deal already.
Kanae smiled warmly.
"Yohan, we can only teach you the Breathing Techniques we personally use."
"As for other styles, we've never studied them ourselves. If you want to learn more, you'll have to visit the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. Lord Ubuyashiki has a collection of breathing techniques there."
"And regarding your request for a Nichirin-like weapon, just tell me your specific needs. I'll write a letter to Lord Ubuyashiki, and I'm sure he'll agree to help you."
She was enthusiastic, genuinely happy to help Yohan in any way she could.
But—
"Wait. No need to send the letter just yet."
Yohan wasn't the type to take favors for free.
Even though he was fairly certain Ubuyashiki would grant his request, he preferred to offer something of value in return.
"Before that," he said, "come here. I'll teach you the secrets of Tekkai."
Among the techniques he knew, Tekkai was the most useful for the Demon Slayer Corps.
Breathing Techniques were the heart of the Corps' strength—they were the key to slaying demons.
And while grappling techniques wouldn't be very practical in combat against demons, Tekkai was different.
Many Demon Slayers didn't die because they were too weak—they died because they were caught off guard, overwhelmed by a demon's sudden attack.
If they could harden their bodies like iron, their chances of survival would increase drastically.
Kanae's eyes widened.
"Tekkai…?"
"Yohan, are you saying this is the technique that makes your skin as hard as steel?"
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