Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Muzan's Wrath
"This...!" Shinjurō stared in stunned disbelief at the surreal sight, his despair momentarily replaced by a spark of hope.
"Maybe… he really can!"
--
"Signature…Move Tsubame Gaeshi?" Shinjurō kept repeating the name of the move.
With his skill, he could only perceive Zhou Yi's single slash.
Yet in the endless darkness that surrounded his heart, it felt as though three sword arcs had torn apart the shroud of despair, allowing a glimmer of light to shine through.
"With just three strikes, he cut down a bird in mid-flight!"
The fire in Shinjurō's heart, long extinguished, ignited once more.
"If it lives, even a god will fall before my blade," Zhou Yi declared.
These words, like the final slash piercing through darkness, banished the shadows in Shinjurō's soul.
"Besides, I'm not fighting alone. There's the Demon Slayer Corps—and you, too."
"Shinjurō-san, I hope you'll understand."
With that, Zhou Yi turned and left.
Only Rengoku Shinjurō remained, standing alone in the training ground, tears streaming down his face.
"Yes… we are not alone in this battle…"
After enjoying lunch with Makomo, Zhou Yi prepared to leave on a solo mission.
Now that both of them were Hashiras, it was natural for their paths to diverge when carrying out their duties.
"I heard you made Shinjurō-san cry?"
Before he departed, Makomo couldn't help but ask the curious question, clearly amused.
She trusted her junior completely to return safely.
Zhou Yi scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. Only in front of Makomo would he let down his guard and act like a child.
"Well, it's not that I made him cry… Maybe he was just moved to tears?" Zhou Yi replied uncertainly.
Makomo rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Rengoku Shinjurō is your senior! Can't you tone it down just a little?"
Zhou Yi gave a sheepish smile and promised to be more mindful.
"Still, I doubt there will be a next time. It seems like Shinjurō-san has finally found his way."
Makomo recalled Shinjurō's demeanor during the recent Hashira meeting and nodded thoughtfully.
"Alright then, take care and come back soon!"
"After you leave, I'll also head out to complete my mission. Let's meet at Mount Sagiri afterward."
Zhou Yi's brow twitched involuntarily, feeling a pang of sympathy for his master.
So Makomo hasn't let that go yet! Master, you'd better pray for yourself!
...
The Infinity Castle
A peculiar space stretched endlessly, filled with countless shoji doors and infinite rooms layered upon each other.
"Useless! You're all utterly useless!"
At the very center of the Infinity Castle, a lavishly dressed woman with a cold and stern expression was fuming with rage.
This woman was none other than Kibutsuji Muzan.
For Muzan, gender was inconsequential. He could freely shift between male and female forms and even disguise himself as a child.
"In just a few days, we've lost two Lower Moons! Lower Moons… truly worthless…"
Muzan paused, a thought crossing his mind.
"Nakime! Summon Dōma for me!"
Behind Muzan, a woman played a biwa. Her bangs were long, completely covering her eyes.
This was Nakime, neither a Lower Moon nor an Upper Moon, but an irreplaceable companion to Muzan.
Nakime's unique Blood Demon Art allowed her to control the Infinity Castle, maintaining its operation and enabling teleportation at Muzan's will—a perfect tool in Muzan's eyes.
Without hesitation, Nakime plucked the strings of her biwa, causing the space around them to shift dramatically.
----
Asakusa District
Dōma, the Upper Moon Two, was resting with his eyes closed when a shoji door suddenly appeared at his feet.
Initially startled, he soon smiled eerily and stepped through the door.
"It's rare for Lord Muzan to summon me personally."
After a twisting, tearing sensation and a brief moment of weightlessness, Dōma felt solid ground beneath him once again.
He passed through several opulent rooms before arriving at Muzan's presence.
"Lord Muzan, you're as magnificent as ever!"
Dōma gazed at Muzan with unrestrained adoration, his eyes filled with infatuation.
Muzan, unbothered by Dōma's impropriety, spoke in his familiar icy tone.
"Dōma, have you found it yet?"
"My subordinates have reported some leads," Dōma replied, his voice tinged with delight as if Muzan's coldness brought him pleasure.
Muzan was pleased with this answer.
"Good. Continue the search. But for now, I have a task for you."
A New Mission
"A task? Your orders, my lord."
"Find and kill a demon slayer from the Demon Slayer Corps. He uses a longsword, stands about 170 centimeters tall, and carries the sword on his back. That's all the information I have."
Dōma's smile widened. Killing was as simple to him as drinking water.
No matter who his target was, even a Hashira wouldn't escape him. After all, he hadn't climbed from Upper Moon Six to Upper Moon Two by sheer luck—it was a testament to his overwhelming strength.
"Rest assured, my lord. I will track him down and eliminate him."
"Very well. Go."
Muzan waved dismissively, signaling Dōma to leave.
But just as Dōma turned, Muzan called out again.
"Wait."
"This is your reward."
Before Dōma could react, a massive tentacle pierced through his abdomen.
Instead of pain, Dōma's face lit up with sheer ecstasy.
Muzan was injecting his blood into Dōma.
As the progenitor of all demons, Muzan's blood was the source of their power. The more blood a demon received, the stronger they became. However, there was a catch—not every demon could withstand the violent energy contained within Muzan's blood.
Weaker demons could barely handle even a single drop. But for a powerhouse like Dōma, his capacity was much greater. Even now, Muzan's infusion hadn't reached Dōma's limits.
"It's done. You may leave."
With a flick of his wrist, Muzan tossed Dōma down the steps.
Nakime plucked her biwa, opening a series of shoji doors that transported Dōma back to the streets of Asakusa.
----
Asakusa
The night was silent, and the streets were empty.
Dōma landed face-first, the impact creating a small crater in the thick stone pavement.
"Hehe… Lord Muzan's blood is as exquisite as ever! Even more delightful than a 16-year-old maiden!"
"Hahaha!"
Dōma's wild laughter echoed through the empty streets of Asakusa, drawing the attention of a lavishly dressed young woman.
Keiko, a genuine daughter of privilege, had snuck out of her home, lured by rumors of Asakusa's beauty at midnight.
Her gaze was immediately drawn to the man lying on the ground. Compelled by some strange impulse, she stepped forward to check on him.
"Are you alright?"
A faint, intoxicating fragrance wafted into Dōma's nose as he slowly raised his head, his face breaking into a smile.
"Miss, I fear it's you who should be asking yourself that question."