Chapter 15: The Butterfly Sisters Gain Their Visions
"Now, now, little Demon Slayer girl, just tell me what you know about the god on that mountain, and I'll let your sister go," Doma said with a gentle smile, as though he weren't gripping a young woman by the neck, her shoulder pierced by her own Nichirin Blade.
"You wouldn't want your sister to die because of you, now would you?"
Shinobu snapped out of her shock, clutching her Nichirin Blade tightly in both hands. Her voice trembled with fury, her words forced through clenched teeth.
"Stop lying. Even if I told you everything, you'd never let us go. I'm not naive like my sister, falling for a demon's lies."
Her eyes burned with defiance. "My sister and I made a promise—if we must die slaying demons, we do so with the resolve to protect the happiness of others."
"Besides," she continued, her voice unyielding, "if my sister couldn't defeat you, what makes you think I could escape? No. Today, I'll die here alongside her."
"Cough… cough… She's right," Kanae said weakly, her face pale as blood dripped from her lips. Despite the pain, she gripped the blade impaling her shoulder, attempting to snap it, though the effort caused her hand to bleed profusely.
"We made our choice long ago… nothing you do will make us reveal anything about the god."
Doma's previously gentle demeanor twisted into something colder, his patience waning. He sighed, feigning disappointment.
"What a shame. I suppose I'll have to look for another Pillar, then. Don't worry, though—unlike the other women, I'll make sure to devour every last bit of you two. No leftovers."
As he spoke, an oppressive chill filled the air, and his smile grew sinister. His grip tightened around Kanae's neck, his other hand poised to snap it—
But before he could, a warm, radiant light burst forth from Kanae's body.
"Ahh!" Doma recoiled instinctively, his hand burning as though plunged into boiling oil. He released Kanae immediately and leapt backward.
"This light…!"
Doma's gentle smile gave way to a contorted expression of rage and fear. He recognized this light—the same light that had nearly killed him the night before.
Kanae and Shinobu, too, were frozen in shock.
Not only was Kanae bathed in the divine glow, but a similar light now emanated from Shinobu as well.
The warmth of the radiance seemed to dull their pain, filling them with a sense of peace and hope.
Before their astonished eyes, the light began to coalesce, forming two Visions.
Encased in golden frames, the crystalline spheres glowed with a deep blue hue. Inside one, a butterfly motif shimmered; in the other, a delicate pattern resembling a peony.
The Visions descended gently, floating before the sisters.
Their hands trembling, they instinctively reached out.
As their fingers closed around the Visions, a voice resonated within their hearts—soft, kind, and infinitely comforting:
"You've resolved to sacrifice yourselves for the happiness of others? I acknowledge your beautiful wish. Take my blessing and live more freely."
Tears welled up in both their eyes as the words filled their souls. The grief they had bottled up since the day their parents were killed by demons poured out in uncontrollable sobs.
"God… God has acknowledged our wish, Sister," Shinobu said, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I never thought we'd be worthy of divine recognition…"
She clutched the Vision tightly, her emotions a chaotic mix of gratitude and relief. She had resigned herself to being devoured, only to be saved and validated in a way she could never have imagined.
"Amazing… what incredible power!" Kanae gasped, marveling at the warmth coursing through her body. The injuries she had sustained, once debilitating, were now gone without a trace. Even her scars had vanished.
The divine energy flowed through her like a gentle river, washing away her pain and fatigue.
The severity of Kanae's injuries struck Shinobu like a blow. Even if she survives this, she won't be able to slay demons anymore… and with her lungs frostbitten, how much time would she have left to live?
"Don't let the demon escape!" Shinobu snapped back to reality, her sharp gaze locking onto the direction in which Doma had fled.
The moment she grasped her Vision, she felt the rush of newfound power coursing through her.
She could sense it: the ability to wield the energy of insects, blending seamlessly with her Insect Breathing techniques.
Her signature move, Butterfly Dance: Caprice, now allowed her to glide through the air like a butterfly, while her other techniques carried enhancements akin to a demon's Blood Demon Art.
Her swordsmanship, too, had been elevated beyond recognition—tenfold at least.
"Sister, it's too late. That demon is too fast…" Kanae began, her voice hoarse with fatigue.
Before she could finish, a thunderous crash reverberated through the forest.
Boom!
Dirt erupted into the air, scattering clumps of earth as a deep crater formed before them.
"Agh! This is ridiculous!"
From the crater emerged none other than Doma, his ornate, high-priest garb now in tatters. His face twisted in rage, veins bulging ominously. The twin fans he had wielded earlier lay shattered in his trembling hands.
"How is this possible? That mountain is so far away! How could the god still be watching here? And who the hell are you two?"
Kanae and Shinobu instinctively fell into fighting stances. The sight of the battered Upper Moon 2 filled them with confusion—what could have reduced him to such a state?
Their questions were quickly answered as two familiar figures emerged from the shadows of the trees.
"The Guuji-sama sensed a battle and sent us here to assist."
Kamisato Ayato stepped into view, his voice calm and measured, like a refreshing breeze. His gaze fell on the sisters, lingering briefly on the glowing Visions they now held.
"It seems the god has chosen to bless you two during your ordeal. Congratulations."
He smiled faintly, though his words carried gravity. Ayato himself had received his Vision the day his parents passed, taking on the responsibilities of the Yashiro Commission. He understood the weight of such a gift.
Kamisato Ayaka appeared next, her Amenoma Kageuchi sword glinting faintly in her hand. Her icy gaze fixed on Doma.
"Brother, this isn't the time for pleasantries."
"You're right." Ayato nodded, turning to the sisters. "Demon Slayers, you've only just received your Visions and may not yet know how to use them. Watch closely as we show you."
With that, the Kamisato siblings charged toward Doma.
"Ha! Do you really think you can kill me without those Demon Slayer swords? Even if you're stronger than me, it won't matter!"
Doma's face contorted with fury and desperation. He had tried to escape but had been intercepted by these two mortals.
In the brief skirmish earlier, he quickly realized that their speed and strength far exceeded his own—and like the sisters, they too carried glowing Visions bestowed by the god.
Even worse, the white-haired woman wielded ice-based abilities far superior to his own Blood Demon Art.
Still, he clung to one sliver of hope:
Without a Nichirin Blade, they couldn't kill him. No matter how many times they dismembered him, he would regenerate. All he had to do was outlast them.
"You fools," Doma sneered, his confidence returning. "Cut me up as much as you like—I'll keep coming back. I'll wear you down until you have nothing left!"
"That's where you're wrong."
Ayaka's voice was cold, yet resolute. Her Vision, hanging at her waist, began to emit a piercing blue glow. A chilling light enveloped her body, infusing her blade.
"If a demon is reduced to particles finer than grains of sand, can it still regenerate?"
Her Amenoma Kageuchi transformed, the blade shimmering like ice as her power surged.
"Kamisato Art: Soumetsu—"
The Hydro Vision on Ayato's waist glowed softly, its pale blue light spreading across his blade. Instantly, the surrounding air thickened, becoming dense as if they had descended into the depths of water.
The elemental energy altered the natural environment of this small area.
The dense, water-like air froze rapidly under Ayaka's Cryo Vision, turning into ice and trapping Doma mid-attack. In an instant, he was frozen into a grotesque statue, his malevolent expression preserved in solid ice.
Zzzzt—
The air shimmered with countless ice-blue sword slashes materializing from thin air. These blades formed a sphere around the frozen Doma, shaving the ice sculpture into countless shards as if grating an enormous block of ice.
In less than a single breath, the Upper Moon 2, who had killed 47 Demon Slayer Hashira, was utterly obliterated.
Shinobu and Kanae watched in silence, their eyes wide. They were not shocked but relieved—after all, these two were divine envoys from the High Heavens, just like Yae Miko. Defeating a mere Upper Moon demon was hardly surprising.
Doma was gone, reduced to nothing. Where demons usually dissipated into ashes upon death, the chilling air and frosted ground served as the only proof of the battle that had taken place.
"That was incredible…" Shinobu couldn't help but whisper in awe.
"When you grow accustomed to wielding your Visions, you'll be just as strong as us," Ayaka said softly, sheathing her sword. In the moonlight, she appeared as ethereal as a snow spirit.
"Let's not waste time. Now that you've received your Visions, follow us to the shrine. The Guuji-sama has something to give you," Ayato instructed, his tone calm but authoritative.
"Understood," the sisters responded, nodding firmly.
Kyoto, Infinity Castle
"Dead… Upper Moon 2… killed! And so easily!"
The moment Doma died, Muzan Kibutsuji inherited his memories.
Already unnerved by the so-called "divine miracle," Muzan's crimson eyes contracted into pinpricks. A deep, primal fear seized his soul.
"What was that? A glass orb that appeared out of nowhere, granting humans powers akin to Blood Demon Arts! Humans carrying those glowing orbs could kill an Upper Moon demon as if it were nothing!"
Large beads of sweat dripped onto the ground as Muzan trembled uncontrollably. The vast, empty space around him was eerily silent except for the soft splashes of his sweat.
Gods! True gods exist!
There was no other explanation for the glass orbs that could bestow such power.
It all made sense now. If a mere doctor's medicine could turn him into a demon, why couldn't gods exist?
The gods had clearly chosen to favor the Demon Slayers!
Those humans, granted Visions, were even more terrifying than the red-haired, marked swordsman from 500 years ago.
"Muzan-sama?"
The quiet, lilting voice of Nakime, who held her biwa close, broke the silence.
Muzan turned toward her, his face distorted with bulging veins and his voice chilling. "Nakime, seal all the entrances to Infinity Castle. Do not open them without my direct order."
"Yes, Muzan-sama," Nakime replied without hesitation.
"Let there be gods! Let them be stronger than the red-haired man! As long as they can't find me, they can't touch me. Humans live such short lives—if a hundred years isn't enough, I'll wait two hundred. If two hundred isn't enough, I'll wait a thousand! Even gods will lose interest if they can't locate me!"
Regaining his composure, Muzan returned to his experiments, his hands trembling slightly as he continued manipulating his blood samples.
As long as he persisted, he believed, even without the Blue Spider Lily, he could eventually discover a way to conquer the sun.
And once he became the perfect being, even gods would be powerless against him.
Mount Raiden, Takemikazuchi Shrine
Thanks to the combined efforts of the shogunate and local nobility, the shrine—a version of the Narukami Shrine built in the world of Demon Slayer—had been fully reconstructed in just one day.
"I didn't expect it either—less than a day, and you've already obtained a Vision."
Yae Miko elegantly savored her fried tofu, gazing at the two sisters bowing deeply before her.
"Now that you've received a Vision, you should also hear the divine message given to you by the gods: eradicate all demons and cleanse the mortal world of its impurities."
With those words, Yae Miko extended her fingers and gently touched Shinobu and Kanae's foreheads. An overwhelming influx of information surged into their minds.
This marked the second phase of the World Assimilation Plan for the Demon Slayer world.
The "cowardly king" of demons, Muzan Kibutsuji, would undoubtedly retreat into deep hiding once the existence of gods was confirmed. He would likely remain in seclusion for eternity.
During this time, Muzan would refrain from creating new demons to avoid exposing his location.
Thus, the task fell to the Vision-wielding locals of this world to eliminate all remaining demons and expand the influence of the Vision System to its fullest extent across this world.
Shinobu and Kanae were stunned by the influx of information.
The locations of Muzan Kibutsuji and the Twelve Kizuki, their abilities, weaknesses, and even details of their lives before becoming demons were laid out with perfect clarity.
The Demon Slayer Corps had always had limited knowledge of the Twelve Kizuki's abilities.
Now, with this information, the Demon Slayer Corps could confidently wipe out the Twelve Kizuki within half a month.
"And, of course, take this as well."
Yae Miko waved her hand lightly, and a pile of origami cranes appeared on the stone table.
"What are these, Guuji-sama?" Kanae blinked curiously, wondering if they were the legendary ceremonial cranes crafted by divine beings.
"These are Seeker Cranes. Originally, they were meant to help find unfortunate souls lost in the mountains. I've modified them slightly—they can now detect the aura of demons within a kilometer radius. No matter how well they hide, they won't escape. There are fifty of them in total."
After handing over the cranes, Yae Miko stood up, stretching lazily as she waved dismissively.
"You've received everything the gods have to offer. The rest is up to you. The Kamisato siblings won't intervene further."
"Of course, if you have questions, feel free to ask them. Now, off you go—I'm not inviting you to stay for dinner."
Yae Miko showed no interest in the weak, human-eating demons. Compared to the threats posed by some of the creatures in Inazuma, these demons were laughable. What truly intrigued her was the upcoming local festival in the nearby town, where she intended to indulge in the world's traditional delicacies.
"If you ever need guidance, don't hesitate to ask me." Ayaka smiled warmly. "And if you'd like, you can even consider me a friend."
In Inazuma, Ayaka had no true friends. Even Thoma regarded her more as a lady to be served than a companion.
To her, being in this world without the constraints of Inazuma's formalities was far more fulfilling than playing the role of a divine envoy.
"Really?" Shinobu asked in surprise.
"Of course. After all, you've been granted Visions—just like us. We're the same now." Ayaka gestured toward the Visions hanging at their waists.
"T-Then, please take care of us from now on," Shinobu stammered, patting her chest for courage.
After bidding farewell to the shrine, Shinobu and Kanae hurried back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to relay this critical information to all their comrades.
Meanwhile, in Teyvat
Celestia
Half an Hour Earlier
"What?! How is this even possible? The Demon Slayer world actually accepted the Vision System entirely? That's like directly handing over half the world's authority!"
Noah sat cross-legged on the Heavenly Throne, dumbfounded.
After granting the two sisters their Visions, the Demon Slayer world had completely embraced the Vision System, surrendering its native cultivation framework without resistance.
This was equivalent to a modern nation giving up its sovereignty over currency issuance.