The Eve of the Final Battle

Morning light streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled patterns of light on the tatami mats in the Butterfly Mansion.

"Moyu... brother..."

A soft, slightly awkward voice rang out. Nezuko stood barefoot by the door, unconsciously biting the cuff of her pink kimono, her big eyes blinking as she looked at Moyu was sitting cross-legged on the veranda, meditating.

Moyu tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on Nezuko beneath the black cloth. He could see the steady flow of energy within her body, and the gradually recovering human vitality. Since Tamayo confirmed the effectiveness of the Demon Transformation Medicine, Nezuko had started speaking more often, though still intermittently, like a child who had just learned to speak. But each time she opened her mouth, it brightened the atmosphere in the Butterfly Mansion.

"Awake?" Moyu's voice was calm, but his tone was slightly gentler than usual.

Nezuko nodded, trotted over to Moyu and sat down beside him, naturally leaning against his arm. The morning breeze blew, lifting the strands of hair at her temples and also stirring the black blindfold covering Moyu's eyes.

"Are you hungry...?" Nezuko asked, tilting her little face up.

"I'm not hungry," Moyu replied, then paused, "What about you?"

Nezuko shook her head, stretched out her small hand, and in her palm lay a Wisteria, perfectly shaped, which she had picked up from somewhere. She carefully placed the flower on Moyu's lap, then looked at him expectantly.

Moyu reached out and gently touched the petals with her fingertips.

"It looks good," he said.

Nezuko smiled happily, her eyes curving into crescents. She then took out a few more flower petals from her bosom and arranged them in a small circle on the tatami mat in front of Moyu. She then rested her chin on her hand and stared intently at them, as if they were some kind of remarkable work of art.

Such mornings have become a daily occurrence at the Butterfly Mansion. Nezuko wakes up early and always comes to find Moyu or Shinobu first. Sometimes she just sits quietly beside him, and sometimes she brings some "treasures" to share, which may be a complete flower petal or a crooked little ring that she made herself out of grass stems.

Moyu mostly just sits in meditation, but Nezuko doesn't seem to find it boring. She can feel the calm yet powerful aura emanating from Moyu, which makes her feel at ease.

"Oh dear, Nezuko woke up so early today."

Shinobu Kocho's voice came from the other end of the corridor. She carried a tray with three cups of warm herbal tea on it, her purple eyes filled with a gentle smile.

Nezuko turned her head and sweetly called out, "Shinobu... onee-neechan!"

"Good boy." Ren put down the tray, sat down on the other side of Moyu, and pushed a cup of tea in front of him. "Moyu- kun, this is for you."

Moyu accepted it and thanked him.

The three of them sat on the veranda in the morning light, drinking tea and watching the light gradually brighten in the courtyard. Nezuko fiddled with her petals, Shinobu softly told her about the day's plans, Moyu occasionally responded. The atmosphere was so tranquil that it was as if one could hear the sound of time flowing by.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly.

"Shinobu-san! Nezuko- chan!"

A cheerful voice approached from afar, accompanied by light footsteps. Mitsuri Kanroji jogged through the courtyard of the Butterfly Mansion, her two long pinkish-green braids bouncing behind her, and as always, she carried a small bamboo basket in her hand.

"Mitsuri... Sister!" Nezuko peeked out from the pharmacy, her eyes lighting up, and ran to greet her.

Mitsuri bent down and gave Nezuko a big hug, then rubbed her cheek against Nezuko's soft face. "Nezuko- chan, did you miss me?"

"Yes!" Nezuko vigorously, her little hands clutching Mitsuri's clothes.

Shinobu Kocho emerged from the pharmacy, her hands still dusted with herbal powder, and shook her head with a smile, "Oh, Mitsuri, what delicious treats did you bring today?"

"It's sakura mochi! But this time I tried a new recipe and added some mint!" Mitsuri opened the basket like a treasure, revealing several pale green sakura mochi neatly arranged inside, emitting a cool aroma.

As soon as Moyu stepped into the courtyard, Mitsuri waved excitedly at him, "Mr. Moyu! Come and have a taste!"

He walked over and sat down on the veranda. Mitsuri immediately handed him a cherry blossom mochi, her eyes sparkling as she waited for his opinion.

Moyu took a bite. The slightly sweet red bean paste was mixed with a hint of cool mint, creating a unique taste. After swallowing, he nodded. "Not bad, refreshing."

"Great!" Mitsuri clapped her hands happily, then picked up another one and handed it to Shinobu Kocho, "Shinobu-san, have a taste too!"

Shinobu Kocho took the dish, savored it carefully, and then her purple eyes curved into a smile, "The amount of mint is just right; it doesn't overpower the aroma of the cherry blossom leaves. Mitsuri really has a talent for cooking."

"Hehe, because I wanted to give everyone a different taste." Mitsuri scratched her head sheepishly, sat down next to Nezuko, and pulled a small bunny made of colorful threads from her bosom. "Look, Nezuko- chan, this is for you!"

Nezuko carefully took it, cradling it in her hands, her big pink eyes filled with joy. "Rabbit... rabbit!"

"Yes, doesn't it look like you? We're both so cute!" Mitsuri said with a smile.

Nezuko hugged the little bunny tightly, nodded vigorously, then looked at Mitsuri's braids, reached out her little hand, then shyly withdrew it. Seeing this, Mitsuri lowered her head and said, "Want to touch it? Sure."

Nezuko then carefully stroked Mitsuri's smooth braids, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

Shinobu Kocho watched with a gentle smile, her purple eyes gleaming.

Nezuko placed the little rabbit on her lap, then took a sakura mochi from the basket Mitsuri had brought, munching on it in small bites. Every now and then, she would look up at Moyu, then at Shinobu and Mitsuri, her big pink eyes brimming with happiness.

Sunlight streamed into the courtyard, Wisteria swayed in the breeze, and the air was filled with a mixture of herbs, snacks, and floral scents.

This tranquility lasted until evening.

A member of the hidden team hurried to the Butterfly Mansion and respectfully bowed to Moyu: "Lord Eye Hashira, the Oyakata-sama requests your presence at the mansion. Lord Stone Hashira is already there."

Upon hearing the message, Moyu nodded slightly. "Understood."

"Brother... are we going out?" Nezuko asked, tilting her little face up.

"Okay, I'll be back soon." Moyu patted her head and stood up.

Shinobu Kocho emerged from the pharmacy, holding a freshly prepared ointment. A hint of worry flickered in her purple eyes. "Is it something important that I called you and the Stone Hashira together at this time?"

"You'll know when you get there," Moyu said, turning and walking out of the courtyard. His gaze, hidden behind the black cloth, was already fixed on the direction of the Ubuyashiki. He could sense the heavy atmosphere there, and he roughly knew what it was about.

As dusk settled, the Ubuyashiki mansion was enveloped in tranquility. Moyu's figure appeared silently outside the main house. When he pushed open the shoji door, he saw Gyomei Himejima already kneeling inside, his hands clasped together, chanting sutras in a low voice.

"Namo Amitabha... Lord Moyu, you've arrived." Himejima raised his head, his empty eyes looking in Moyu's direction. This Stone Hashira was as tall and strong as a small mountain, wearing a monk's robe, with huge Buddhist beads around his neck, two tear tracks on his face, and his aura as steady as the earth.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki lay half-reclined on the tatami mat, his face still wrapped in bandages, but his complexion was much better than before. His wife, Amane, knelt beside him, her expression calm, but a trace of deep worry lingered in her eyes.

"Please sit down, Moyu," Ubuyashiki said gently.

Moyu sat down beside Himejima, facing Ubuyashiki. He could clearly see the cold, cursed power within his Oyakata-sama's body. Although it was temporarily suppressed, it was still like a malignant tumor, slowly eroding his life. At this moment, Ubuyashiki's aura carried a resolute meaning.

"I called you two here because I have a premonition that Muzan... will be here soon." Ubuyashiki's voice was soft, yet it struck the silent room like a heavy hammer.

The chanting on Himejima paused for a moment.

"As the head of the Ubuyashiki Clan, we have a premonition," Ubuyashiki continued, his tone as calm as if he were talking about someone else's business, "I can sense that his patience has reached its limit, and he will soon personally take action to completely eliminate me, the head of the Demon Slayer Corps."

He paused, then slowly said, "I intend to... use myself as bait."

Himejima's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

"By the time Muzan arrives, a sufficient amount of explosives will have already been planted underground in this mansion." Ubuyashiki's voice remained gentle, but every word carried an undeniable determination. "I will detonate the explosives and severely injure him as much as possible. Muzan's regeneration speed is extremely fast, but regeneration takes time and consumes a lot of energy. During the intervals between his regenerations, Miss Tamayo can inject those four medicines into his body, greatly weakening his power."

He looked at Moyu and Himejima: "Then, it will be up to you two to take action and cut off his head."

The air inside seemed to freeze. The light from the oil lamp cast a flickering shadow on the paper door.

"If... even if Muzan's head is cut off Muzan he still doesn't die..." Ubuyashiki's voice lowered, "I'm afraid only sunlight can truly kill him. That would turn into... a protracted war that drags on until sunrise."

He raised his head, and although his eyes were covered by bandages, Moyu could sense the calm in which he faced death.

"I only called the two of you, not the other Pillars," Ubuyashiki said. "Because... the other children might not agree to my plan to use themselves as bait. They would try everything to protect me, which could disrupt the plan. But you two... Gyomei, Moyu- kun, I hope you can understand that this is the most effective way to end the thousand-year curse."

Himejima fell silent.

The Stone Hashira's breathing became heavy, tears welling in his empty eyes and streaming down his cheeks. He gripped the prayer beads in his hand tightly, his knuckles white, his burly body trembling slightly. After a long while, he took a deep breath, his voice hoarse but firm:

"As long as it's the Oyakata-sama's order... I obey."

Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying immense pain, yet utterly devout.

Ubuyashiki slightly, then "looked" at Moyu: "Moyu- kun, what's your opinion?"

Moyu listened in silence. The six eyes under the black cloth had already taken in the entire structure of the mansion, the distribution of the underground explosives, and even the slightest energy flow in the air. He also saw the boiling, almost life-burning determination within Ubuyashiki's body.

But he shook his head.

"I disagree." Moyu's voice was calm, yet it was like a stone thrown into stagnant water, creating ripples.

Himejima abruptly turned to look at him; though he couldn't see, the shock was palpable. Ubuyashiki was also slightly taken aback.

"This plan seems fine," Moyu continued, his tone completely flat, "But there's a flaw—my six eyes have seen fragments of the future."

"The new Upper Rank Four, Nakime. Her Blood Demon Art can pull people into the 'Infinity Castle,' which is Muzan's lair. There is no sunlight there; it's a completely enclosed alternate dimension."

In my memory, a distorted, endless Japanese castle comes to mind, with countless rooms and corridors pieced together in a way that defies the laws of physics. There is no sky, only endless darkness and doors.

"If Muzan is severely injured in the explosion and then injected with the drug, he will definitely escape back to the Infinity Castle to recover as soon as possible. In that case, our battlefield will still be inside the Infinity Castle." Moyu's voice was as calm as if he were analyzing a math problem. "Moreover, Nakime can manipulate the structure of the Infinity Castle at will and divide the battlefield. I can't guarantee everyone's safety either."

Ubuyashiki silent. His plan was based on dragging things out until dawn, but if the battlefield shifted to the sunless Infinity Castle, that premise would no longer hold true.

"Then... what suggestions do you have, Moyu- kun?" Ubuyashiki asked, his voice still gentle, but with a hint of seriousness.

Moyu lowered his hand, and the Azure image dissipated.

"Once Muzan, I'll act immediately and inject the drug into his body," he said. "With my current strength, he can't dodge it."

"After the potion is injected, Muzan will inevitably escape back to the Infinity Castle to heal. At that time, we don't need to wait passively, but take the initiative to enter the Infinity Castle and wipe him out along with all the Upper Rank Demons when he is at his weakest." Moyu said this, but he had no intention of letting anyone else in. If he told them that he wanted to solo the fight, they would definitely disagree, and there might be other variables.

Himejima frowned. "But the Infinity Castle has no sunlight. If we can't completely kill Muzan..."

"My ability possesses the power of Annihilation." Moyu interrupted him, his gaze from beneath the black cloth shifting to the Stone Hashira. "The attack generated by 'Hollow Style: Zi' can completely pulverize and Annihilation everything it touches from its source, making regeneration impossible. As long as Muzan's entire body Annihilation, he will be utterly dead."

Silence fell in the room once again.

The oil lamp crackled and popped, casting shifting light and shadow on everyone's faces.

Himejima clasped his hands together and chanted Buddhist mantras softly, seemingly weighing the pros and cons of the two options. Amane Ubuyashiki held her husband's hand tightly, her fingertips turning slightly white.

After a long silence, Ubuyashiki slowly spoke, "Moyu- kun's plan... is more proactive, and also more risky. Taking the initiative to enter the Infinity Castle means that we will be fighting on their home turf, and we must finish this quickly, otherwise, if Nakime controls the space, we will be at a great disadvantage."

"But waiting passively is riskier," Moyu said calmly.

"Moreover," he looked at Ubuyashiki, "You, my Oyakata-sama, do not need to die, and the other Pillars do not wish for your death."

Ubuyashiki was stunned.

"The curse on the Ubuyashiki Clan's bloodline originates from Muzan," Moyu continued. "If he dies, the curse might be lifted. If you live, at least you can witness the end."

These words were practical, even somewhat cold, but Ubuyashiki sensed the underlying concern. Moyu was telling him: your sacrifice wasn't necessary; we can win in better ways.

Himejima stopped chanting and raised his head. "Lord Moyu, how confident are you?"

"Seventy percent," Moyu replied, though that was still an understatement.

Seventy percent. In the war against the Thousand-Year- Demon King, this is already an extremely high chance of victory.

Ubuyashiki remained silent for a longer time. His hand unconsciously caressed the edge of the tatami mat, his breathing soft and long. Amane watched him with concern but did not utter a sound to disturb him.

Finally, Ubuyashiki raised her head, a slight smile playing on her lips beneath the bandages, "I understand. Then, let's proceed according to Moyu- kun's plan."

He turned to Himejima: "Gyomei, what do you think?"

Himejima bowed deeply. "Since there is a better way to save my Oyakata-sama's life and also eliminate Muzan... I will follow your instructions."

"Alright." Ubuyashiki nodded, a hint of relief in her voice. "Then, the specific details still need further discussion. We need to determine the method and timing of the drug injection for Ms. Tamayo. The mobilization of the other Pillars and their tactical assignments also need to be finalized as soon as possible."

He paused, then looked at Moyu: "Moyu- kun, after entering the Infinity Castle, the task of attacking Muzan will be entrusted to you. We will do our best to create opportunities for you."

"Mm," Moyu replied.

The discussions continued for some time.

By the time all the details were roughly finalized, it was already late at night.

Moyu and Himejima rose to take their leave. As they walked out of the main house, Himejima suddenly stopped, turned to Moyu, and bowed deeply.

"Lord Moyu, thank you... for proposing a better solution." The Stone Hashira's voice was steady. "Our Oyakata-sama's life is invaluable to all of us."

Moyu was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "I just did what I was supposed to do."

Himejima straightened up, tears still streaming down his face, but a near-smile appeared on his expression, "Namo Amitabha... Well then, I look forward to your guidance during the final battle."

"Each other."

The two parted ways in the courtyard and disappeared into the night.