Anos Voldigoad in the anime multiverse.

A few days had passed...

Anos was helping his father while recalling the conversation he had with the young man in the forest. Unbeknownst to the boy, Anos had read his memories before allowing him to deliver the letter. He confirmed that the young man had not lied and calmly accepted the situation.

Upon analyzing the young man's memories, Anos found the world he was in to be intriguing. A group of special humans fought against demons in the dark of night—a concept that piqued his interest. This world was unlike anything from his previous life. It seemed he would have to spend some time here. However, in his mind, he was already planning to return to his original world after having his fun in this one, where the two thousand years he had promised the hero Kanon would have already passed.

Concluding his analysis of the young man's memories, Anos realized the human didn't possess much important information. He decided to wait for the appearance of the human "pillar" to integrate himself into their ranks and perhaps find something more entertaining to do.

"Father, I'll leave for now. I'm going to check on Mother," said Anos, carefully putting away the tool he was using.

"Alright, son. Go ahead and tell her I'll be back late," Tetsuya replied as he continued working under the blazing sun.

With that, Anos walked away from his father.

"Gatom" he murmured, vanishing and reappearing a few meters away from his house.

Of course, the true reason for his return was the strong human aura rapidly approaching the village. Anos instantly knew it was the human "pillar," likely coming to investigate or, more probably, to eliminate him. Nevertheless, he remained calm, curious to observe how things would unfold.

As the human drew closer, Anos took the opportunity to enter the house and speak with his human "mother," the figure he had acquired due to the circumstances of his reincarnation.

"Mother, I'm back," said Anos as he crossed the door.

"Welcome home, Ren!" Aiko replied with a warm smile, her expression filled with the same love she once had for the original Ren.

"I came back early. Father asked me to tell you he'll be late today," Anos stated, sharing the message while concealing the real events occurring outside the village.

He chose not to mention anything about the human pillar or the forces moving in this world. For now, maintaining appearances was sufficient.

.

.

.

Hours passed as he chatted with his mother about the happenings in nearby villages. Finally, he felt the human presence approaching the village. Bidding his mother farewell, he stepped out of the house.

This time, he didn't teleport. Instead, he walked, contemplating the changes his presence would bring to this world.

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POV ???

A deep growl echoed through the dark forest as the demon lunged toward her, its grotesque form briefly illuminated by the pale moonlight. The young woman stood firm, her breathing steady, her violet eyes analyzing the creature's every move. The demon, with disproportionate arms and razor-sharp claws, let out a mocking laugh.

"Do you think that little sword will save you, human?" it sneered, baring its sharp fangs. "You're just another weak hunter."

The young woman tilted her head slightly, a serene, almost kind expression on her face. However, her eyes radiated an unyielding determination.

"Weak? Perhaps. But demons who underestimate humans don't tend to last very long," she replied softly, slowly unsheathing her sword.

The demon roared again, launching itself at her with blinding speed. But the young woman had already calculated its trajectory. In an elegant motion, she dodged the attack and spun gracefully, her sword leaving a luminous trail as it cut through the air.

"Breath of the Butterfly: Fleeting Dance," she murmured as her katana traced a perfect arc.

The demon barely had time to react. A piercing scream escaped its mouth as the young woman's blade sank deep into its neck. It collapsed to the ground, its body trembling as it began to disintegrate into ashes. The young woman observed in silence, cleaning her sword with a fluid motion.

"Ah, good. Another demon taken care of," she said with a sigh, finishing off a demon that had long plagued the land.

"So, it was a Lower Moon this time, huh? Demons have been getting pretty bold lately," she thought, her striking appearance catching the faint moonlight.

The girl had very dark gray hair that reached her waist, cascading over her shoulders. Two short strands framed her face, and she had side-swept bangs that arched down to ear level. Her pale violet eyes were slanted and luminous, with several prominent white highlights reflecting the light.

[IMAGE]

This was Kanae Kocho, a young woman who dreamed of a day when demons and humans could coexist without slaughtering one another. Though her vision was idealistic, she knew she had to fight for it, especially after a demon had brutally murdered her parents. From that day forward, a demon slayer had saved her and her sister, and Kanae realized not all demons could coexist with humans. Thus, she swore to eliminate those malevolent demons who refused to accept her vision.

Despite her tragic past, Kanae did not let the flames of vengeance consume her. She understood her parents had died because they were weak, just as she had been back then. However, she resolved to become strong—stronger still—to protect her loved ones. She dedicated herself to fighting for a world where her dream could one day come true.

Shaking herself out of her reverie, Kanae stopped gazing at the demon that had turned to ash. She knew her mission was far from over. Looking up at the sky, where an imposing moon bathed the dark forest in its light, she thought:

"I should return home to see my dear sister before they assign me another mission."

She sheathed her sword, which glowed with an unusual hue, and began running with impressive agility for her petite frame, weaving through the trees with remarkable speed.

On her way back, after running at high intensity for three hours, a black crow began to approach.

"Caw, caw, caaa-aw."

Kanae immediately recognized the Kusagai crows, messengers of the Demon Slayer Corps. She gently extended her hand to catch the letter the bird dropped. Opening it with curiosity, she felt a mix of duty and anticipation as she read:

"To esteemed pillar Kocho-sama..."