The Second Ghost King

"Could you pour me a glass of water?" Kujo Tachibana asked, his voice raspy as he looked toward the people in the room.

Night, Kanagawa Prefecture, inside an anonymous noble's estate.

Akaza, who had changed his hair color to blonde at some unknown point, gazed fanatically at the silhouette in the darkness.

He knelt on one knee and said respectfully:

"Lord Kokushibo, I have brought the successors of the top martial arts schools in Japan that you asked me to find."

"They include the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, Tennen Rishin-ryu, Shinto Munen-ryu, Shinto Isshin-ryu, Enmei-ryu, Niten Ichi-ryu, and Tamiya Shinken-ryu."

"In addition, there are practitioners of Iaido, Judo, and Karate—seventy-two people in total!"

The figure in the darkness rose abruptly and turned to face Akaza.

It was none other than the former head of the Twelve Kizuki, Upper Moon One, Kokushibo!

However, Kokushibo's appearance had undergone some slight changes.

His once-long red hair had turned purple, and even his six monster-like eyes had reverted to the two eyes he possessed when he was human.

From the outside, he looked no different from an ordinary person.

Facing Kokushibo now, Akaza felt a pressure in his bloodline, just as he had when facing his former boss, Muzan, pinning him firmly in place.

This was one of the reasons why Akaza had been willing to accept Kokushibo's blood, replacing the blood of his former boss, Muzan.

It was one of the reasons he followed the new Demon King, Kokushibo.

Of course, that was not the most important reason.

Akaza considered himself a demon of principle; although his former boss, Muzan, hadn't treated him well, he wasn't the type of demon to betray someone on a whim.

There were many reasons for his betrayal, primarily the following points.

Being forced to spend every day searching for some broken flower that could never be found was one thing!!

But he was never given any respect! Did he really think the Upper Moon Three of the Twelve Kizuki was just some cabbage?

Akaza was, at the very least, a capable subordinate under Muzan, yet he had never received the respect he deserved!

Beyond that, more importantly, Lord Kokushibo possessed the very thing Akaza dreamed of.

If he could receive guidance from a powerhouse like Lord Kokushibo, Akaza believed that one day he would finally step into that supreme realm he had spent hundreds of years striving for, yet never reached!

Furthermore, Lord Kokushibo had promised him that they would create an entirely new organization!

An organization formed solely by powerhouses who pursued the limits of martial arts!

For a pure martial artist like Akaza, that alone was more than enough to move him.

He had already brought these people here, and once Lord Kokushibo turned them all into demons, Akaza had already decided: he would fight them all in turns, and no one was allowed to leave until the fights were finished!

Of course, there was one more—the most, most, most, most... important reason why Akaza betrayed Muzan!

And that was...

Doma isn't here!!

That piece of trash who is rotten to the core!!

Kokushibo, who seemed to have returned to being human, looked down at Akaza and said in a gentle tone:

"Seventy-two people? I wonder how many will be able to withstand my blood..."

"Akaza, you have worked hard."

"Take me to see them."

This is the attitude one should have toward a capable subordinate like me! Akaza thought with a touch of pride.

He then rose and led Kokushibo toward the outside of the room.

A month later, Kujo Tachibana's external injuries had basically healed.

As for his internal injuries, there was nothing to be done.

Kujo Tachibana could sense for himself just how terrible his current body was...

His lungs and organs had been pierced through by Kokushibo's blade; surviving at all was a miracle.

Using Breathing Styles was now impossible.

Then there was the price of manifesting the Demon Slayer Mark and burning his spirit to break his limits.

Tamayo's diagnosis was that he would struggle to live past twenty, and due to the damage to his lungs, he could no longer engage in any strenuous exercise.

He would be out of breath after running just a few steps—he was incredibly frail!

The current state of Kujo Tachibana's body was comparable to when he suffered from cancer in his past life.

Feeling his wretched physical condition, Kujo Tachibana let out a helpless, bitter laugh.

It was supposed to be different; he had promised himself he would be healthy in this world...

However, Kujo Tachibana did not regret it.

Because he remembered that when the sun rose, he had severed Kokushibo's neck!

He could at least say he had changed some things for this world; it hadn't been a wasted trip.

At the very least, in the final battle of the future, the Demon Slayer Corps would no longer have to face this terrifying enemy.

After landing that final blow, Kujo Tachibana had lost consciousness; he did not know that after Kokushibo was decapitated, he did not die immediately.

Even his head had been taken away by Akaza.

The series of changes that followed were enough to shake even Ubuyashiki Kagaya, making it impossible for him to face them with a calm heart!

Regarding these matters concerning Kokushibo, Ubuyashiki Kagaya had not told Kujo Tachibana the aftermath.

After all, this result might be somewhat cruel to Kujo Tachibana, who had given his all to slay the demon...

At this moment, Ubuyashiki Kagaya was fretting over this very issue.

The commotion caused by the "Martial Demon King" Kokushibo was not small, and he had no intention of deliberately hiding it.

Kokushibo believed only in the power within his own hands and the long blade he wielded, "Hollow Cry Divine Departure"!

For Kokushibo, who was now a Demon King in his own right and had broken free from Muzan's control, there was no power in this world that could threaten him!

Except for sunlight...

Even his former boss Muzan was no exception; in fact, in Kokushibo's eyes, he looked down on Muzan somewhat.

To possess the power to change this world, yet hide among humans all day, with a character that was utterly cowardly!

How could such a person lead him, Kokushibo!

(Kokushibo: A man born between heaven and earth, how can he dwell under another for long?)

As for the Demon Slayer Corps, the organization of demon hunters that had circulated in Japan for a thousand years, they could naturally see the recent changes among the demons.

The rapidly increasing number of demons, and their unique perception of their own identity as "Martial Demons."

They regarded Kokushibo as their leader, not the Demon King Muzan.

Everything, every single thing, told Ubuyashiki Kagaya a fact that was difficult to accept!

That was, after Kokushibo's neck was severed, he not only did not die!

Instead, he broke through his own limits and became a new generation of Demon King!

And this group of "Martial Demons," though not large in number.

Each one was extremely troublesome; not only did they possess rich combat experience, but their attainments in martial arts and swordsmanship were also extremely profound!

It could be said that among the Martial Demons already confirmed by intelligence, not a single one was weaker than the Lower Rank Demon of Muzan's Twelve Kizuki!

Fortunately, this group of "Martial Demons" was not particularly enthusiastic about eating humans.

On most days, they mostly holed up in some deep mountain forest, delving into martial arts.

Except for going out to "feed" once a week, they were basically "homebody demons" the rest of the time.

Rubbing his temples with both hands, every time he thought of this, Ubuyashiki Kagaya felt a splitting headache.

The battle between humans and demons was truly too difficult.

Kujo Tachibana, the strongest swordsman of the current Demon Slayer Corps, had given his all and nearly died, yet the result was not only failing to slay the demon, but actually helping it break through once more?

What an absurd and cruel thing this was!

Even now, Ubuyashiki Kagaya dared not tell Kujo Tachibana about this matter.

"Two Demon Kings... two Demon Kings..."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya's eyes brightened; he seemed to have thought of something.