Unexpected Turn of Events

Kagetsuki Chiyo was also a demon created by Muzan on a whim.

Although his illusions could control the flow of time at will, making one second feel like a hundred years, any knowledge or abilities gained within the illusion would be forgotten the moment one left it.

Only some unforgettable emotions would remain, making it similar to dreaming.

Otherwise, Kagetsuki Chiyo's strength wouldn't be so limited. He could have directly entered his illusions, spent hundreds of years inside, and become the strongest in the world.

Out of concern for his safety, Muzan used his ability to bring him over.

This guy was just too playful. What displeased Muzan was that, unlike other demons, he seemed unwilling to learn to read.

He was now one of the few illiterate demons.

Muzan held Chiyo in his hand, and Chiyo gave a slightly fearful smile, "Lord Muzan..."

He had previously called him "Boss" in a casual manner, but now it was "Lord Muzan."

Muzan threw him to the ground and poked a finger into his head.

Chiyo cried out in pain.

Muzan withdrew his finger and glanced at him speechlessly.

But he continued to wail, and finding it truly annoying, Muzan said, "Just howl a few times and stop."

"Oh..."

Then, he grabbed Chiyo again and threw him across the air to Yanagisawa Noriyuki (the physician who had become a demon at the beginning), leaving him with a single instruction:

"Teach him to read."

Yanagisawa Noriyuki, who was enjoying the cool breeze and had made a rocking chair like Muzan, looked displeased as Chiyo suddenly appeared before him.

This was going to be tough!

Kagetsuki Chiyo sat on the ground, giving his future "guardian" an embarrassed smile, "Heh heh..."

Perhaps it was due to Chiyo's illusions taking effect, but Yoriichi could clearly feel the change in Kokushibo, and their brotherly relationship had visibly improved.

With the support of Master Ubuyashiki, whenever Yoriichi had a mission, Kokushibo would be there, and whenever Kokushibo had a mission, Yoriichi would be there.

This mission felt somewhat different.

Compared to previous missions where deeply hidden demons were accidentally discovered, resulting in at most a few deaths, this mission, according to the description, involved an extremely powerful demon that had massacred almost an entire village.

At this moment, the demon was heading towards another village without any attempt to conceal itself.

Upon learning of this, the Demon Slayer Corps dispatched the two most powerful members, Yoriichi and Kokushibo, to the scene.

After the head of the Ubuyashiki Family issued the mission, he felt as though the future had subtly shifted at that moment, as if the Demon King was about to gain a weakness.

Was this mission related to Muzan Kibutsuji?

His father had told him that ever since a hundred years ago, the future had become increasingly unpredictable. The precognitive abilities of the Ubuyashiki family heads had been gradually affected, and sometimes the futures they saw differed greatly.

They couldn't find the reason.

Furthermore, the opportunities to kill the Demon King had become fewer and fewer in the future. Yet, this time, the future indicated something unfavorable to the Demon King?

However, the future he saw did not bring the Ubuyashiki much joy, because he also saw the appearance of something different from the Demon King. What could that be?

Besides demons, would something else appear?

When the two brothers from the Tsugikuni Family arrived at their destination, they found only ruins.

A desolate and ruined village was filled with an unceasing scent of blood. The dried, blackish-red bloodstains on the ground, accompanied by shriveled flesh and remains, were scattered like "food scraps."

Even on a summer afternoon, it felt desolate and cold.

Seeing this scene, which resembled a living hell, the two men's expressions grew somber.

Within the village, there were traces left by a giant demon, not footprints, but drag marks.

The two exchanged glances and quickly followed the marks.

While it was still daylight, the demon couldn't come out to hunt. They had to reach it before nightfall when the demon would resume its rampage!

The scorching sun set, casting its last orange glow. As the night sky rose, the two, accompanied by a gentle breeze, followed the trail. Amidst the lingering smell of blood and the scattered limbs and dismembered bodies along the way, they finally found the demon.

To be precise, there were two of them.

There was no need to waste time on the demon responsible for such carnage. Yoriichi and Kokushibo simultaneously drew their Nichirin Blades.

Clang—

The long swords were unsheathed.

The demons were hiding in a cave. In the darkness of the night, their general appearance could be discerned.

The giant body resembled a tumor, with countless mouths filled with sharp teeth, long tongues writhing in the air, exposed organs and flesh pulsing rhythmically, and a lower body like a shell-less snail, leaving behind disgusting mucus as it slid.

On the giant Half-Demon, standing atop what resembled its head, was a humanoid demon. He was quite small, only a little over a meter tall, and was draped in a black cloth, seemingly to block any potential sunlight. His sharp claws were exposed.

These two bizarre demons exuded a powerful pressure different from ordinary demons. Although Yoriichi could clearly sense that they were no match for Muzan, he had a bad feeling.

"Brother, shall I deal with the larger one?"

The giant demon exerted a stronger pressure.

Kokushibo gripped the hilt of his sword. "No, the giant demon is mine."

While Kokushibo had indeed come to terms with some things, his competitive nature was ingrained!

It was impossible to change!

However, compared to his previous feelings of unwillingness and jealousy, Kokushibo now exuded confidence, making him seem even more reliable.

Seeing this, Tsugikuni Yoriichi nodded. "Alright."

With that, the two divided their tasks clearly and charged towards the two demons that had already attacked.

The sound of their footsteps also alerted the two demons who were already preparing to leave the cave.

Being Upper Rank One, Tsugikuni Kokushibo's strength was naturally at a high level. Both of them were now Hashira.

Even for a giant demon, it would only take a few more slashes from Kokushibo.

"Roar!!!"

The unintelligent demon felt threatened and roared to intimidate Tsugikuni Kokushibo, but its body couldn't help but retreat.

He bent his knees, stomped on the ground, and leaped up. Moon Breathing!

The giant demon, over three meters tall, had its head sliced off in one go. Before it could react, another slash followed closely.

Its massive head crashed to the ground.

At the same time, although the smaller demon was fast, how could it compare to Tsugikuni Yoriichi?

He was a bug-level combatant capable of unleashing thousands of slashes in an instant.

As if it knew this, the smaller demon didn't dodge and charged straight ahead.

Swish—

A single slash to the throat.

Its head separated from its neck.

Yoriichi was about to sheath his sword when, the next moment—

With a dull thud, the demon in front of him exploded. Yoriichi stumbled, and black blood splattered all over him. Whether it was the aftermath of the explosion or some other reason, Yoriichi felt his mind go a bit hazy for a moment.

His vision flashed white for an instant, but it quickly recovered.

It was like standing up too quickly after squatting for a long time.

Tsugikuni Kokushibo didn't sheathe his sword and ran over, asking, "Are you alright?"

Yoriichi shook his head. "I'm fine."

They looked at the remains in the cave and thought of the corpses they had seen along the way.

"Let's bury them."

"Okay."

Meanwhile, Muzan felt a strange sensation, as if something dangerous was about to happen.

But, who could threaten him now?!

Yoriichi was practically his son!

Who else was there!