The Second Ability of the "Transparent World"!
However!
An unexpected change has occurred!
"Buzz--!"
In that instant, a dazzling, iridescent light appeared Giyu Yi Yong's deep blue eyes, which had been as calm as an abyss!
The bright martial arts arena, the falling Wisteria, and the figure of Kanae wielding her sword opposite her all vanished and blurred like a mirror image!
Instead, a fragmented scene unfolds:
[A bustling, vibrant metropolis street illuminated by colorful neon lights!]
[Tanjiro Kamado, dressed in a black and green haori, rushed out of the crowd and grabbed the shoulder of a tall man in an expensive black suit and a white top hat!]
[And the instant Tanjiro turned the other person's shoulder!]
The man in the suit holding the human child turned around, and on his pale, handsome face, a pair of narrow, cold, scarlet, vertical pupils met Tanjiro's gaze across endless time and space!
[ --Kibutsuji · Muzan!!]
"Snap!"
In just half a second, the image in my mind shattered like a bubble!
On the training ground,
Giyu Tomioka stood frozen in place!
"Mr. Giyu...?"
Kanae Kocho had already braced herself for a beating, was taken aback by what she saw. She quickly stopped her sword strike and blinked in confusion.
As for Giyu Tomioka, who was standing still, the luster in his eyes faded, but a great wave of emotion surged in his heart!
This is the second stage of his new ability— the Transparent World —that he has gradually awakened over the past two weeks after breaking through his original mental barriers.
Fragmented Future Perception!
To be fair, this newly developed capability is so overpowered that it's completely unreasonable!
It completely breaks the original limitation that one must see the opponent to predict the future three minutes in advance; even if they are hundreds of miles apart, it can directly capture a slice of the future!
However, the only drawback of this ability is that it is triggered purely passively!
Normally, if Giyu wanted to activate it on his own, he simply couldn't.
It can only be triggered when he himself, or someone closely connected to him by cause and effect, is about to face a crisis!
Although the scene flashed by for only a moment, the iconic neon lights in the background and the towering Lingyun Tower in the distance instantly allowed the well-traveled Giyu to pinpoint the exact coordinates.
Tokyo Ward, Asakusa Prefecture!
That brat Tanjiro actually stumbled upon Muzan Kibutsuji, who was disguised as a human and strolling around the bustling streets of Asakusa!
In an instant, Giyu Tomioka's blood boiled!
You have to understand, in this world, the probability of catching Muzan Kibutsuji, that old bastard who's been hiding for a thousand years, is a million times lower than being struck by lightning in broad daylight!
Including today's encounter, Giyu has only met Muzan three times in his entire life!
The first time was a few years ago at Mount Sagiri.
At that time, Giyu was exceptionally talented, having already defeated Upper Rank One, Kokushibo, shortly after his debut. However, he was still Muzan for Muzan at full strength. In the end, he could only rely on the Sun Breathing to intimidate the cowardly and Muzan, who fled in the middle of the night.
The second time was at the Kamado's house a year ago.
At that time, Giyu's strength was actually on Muzan with Muzan's. However, because Tanjiro had just been injected with demon blood and went berserk, Giyu had no choice but to watch Muzan in order to save Tanjiro's life!
And today is the third time!!
Although we haven't crossed that final threshold yet and aren't confident we can kill Muzan, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is fleeting!
Once we miss this opportunity, who knows when we'll be able to catch this Trash Boss!
"Clang--!"
In the blink of an eye, Giyu Tomioka didn't hesitate for a moment!
The Nichirin Blade in his hand emitted a crisp hum as it instantly returned to its scabbard at his waist!
Immediately afterward, without turning his head, Giyu uttered a short sentence:
"Kanae, Shinobu, that concludes today's training!"
The next second!
"Smack!"
A ring of sonic boom clouds, visible to the naked eye, exploded directly around Giyu Tomioka!
At that moment, Giyu transformed into a blue-red lightning bolt that tore through the atmosphere, leaving a blazing trail of flame as he sped toward Asakusa Tokyo, skimming the horizon at an astonishing speed!
"Whoosh--!"
The violent shockwave generated by the sonic boom swept across the entire arena!
Above the treetops,
Kanzaburo, who was just bragging to Xiao Cui, was spinning and tumbling more than a dozen times in mid-air!
"Gah-ah--! Giyu! Wait for me!!"
"Speeding! Seriously speeding!"
"Slow down! Please, just step on the brakes and give this old man a moment's peace!"
However,
The only response to Kanzaburo was a single echo that drifted back from over ten miles away:
"If you can't keep up, go buy a ticket and take the tram! There's no way we're going to slow down, so stop nagging!"
Kanzaburo: "Caw--?! Taking the tram?! I'm a crow! What tram conductor would buy a ticket for a crow, you bastard?!"
Inside the Butterfly Mansion, in the martial arts arena.
The violent sonic boom hurricane gradually subsided.
Kanae Kocho remained in a defensive stance, holding her swords up with both hands.
Her long, black hair was blown into a mess.
Under the parasol,
The glass of chilled plum juice in Shinobu Kocho's hand had already been spilled all over her by the shockwave.
The two sisters stared at each other, bewildered.
A long time.
Kanae Kocho blinked her gentle, innocent pinkish-purple eyes twice, turned her head to look at her equally bewildered younger sister, and asked softly in an uncertain tone:
"... Um, Shinobu."
"He left in such a hurry, without even leaving a definite answer... So, is he coming back for dinner tonight, or not?"
On the main road leading to the Asakusa district on the outskirts of Tokyo Prefecture.
Having just finished his first mission, Tanjiro Kamado was carrying a wooden box containing a Demon Suppressant (Tamayo's version) as he walked step by step into the night.
Only,
Compared to his spirited state during the Mount Fujikasane selection, Tanjiro's face was now filled with frustration.
The reason is simple--
In the case of the missing girl in that small northwestern town two days ago,
Tanjiro displayed overwhelming dominance, defeating the Swamp Demon, which possessed clones and could even burrow into the muddy space, in just three minutes, leaving it questioning its very existence.
But!
When Tanjiro tried to extract information about Muzan Kibutsuji from him, he ran into an insurmountable obstacle!
Whether Tanjiro tries to persuade him gently or threatens him with his sword, as soon as he mentions the name Muzan Kibutsuji, the Swamp Demon is as if a switch etched into its DNA has been pressed, and every cell in its body is dominated by fear!
In the end, the Swamp Demon chose to crash into Tanjiro's Nichirin Blade and end its own life rather than utter a single clue!
"Ah... Mr. Giyu was right after all."
Tanjiro touched the hilt of his Nichirin Blade at his waist and sighed inwardly:
"Muzan's control over lower-level demons is too tyrannical. That curse etched into their blood makes ordinary demons not even dare to utter his name!"
"It seems there's Muzan way we can get Muzan's whereabouts out of the demons."