The Ordinary Decisive Battle (Part 1)

When Kokushibo arrived at the center of the canyon with a retinue of Martial Demon, he smiled at the three hundred Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen who had long been standing in formation opposite him.

"Do you really think you can stop me with just this?"

"Hand over the Blue Spider Lily!"

"I might consider not slaughtering every last one of you."

Never before had Kokushibo felt so merciful.

Yet, these human swordsmen did not seem to share that sentiment.

Watching these silent, indifferent swordsmen, Kokushibo gradually lost his patience. His right hand rested on the hilt of Hollow Cry Divine Departure, and just as he was about to strike!

At that very moment, Kokushibo's gaze inadvertently fell upon Tanjuro, who stood in the front ranks of the swordsmen...

No, to be precise!

He noticed the pair of hanafuda earrings Tanjuro was wearing.

So that is how it is!

Is this the trump card of your Demon Slayer Corps?

Kokushibo looked at Tanjuro and asked, "You man with the scar on your forehead, are you a descendant of Yoriichi?"

Tanjuro shook his head, offering no explanation.

Kokushibo felt a sudden sense of boredom. Even if he were, so what? Did they really think that by finding just any descendant of Yoriichi, they could create a second Yoriichi!

At this moment, Kokushibo thought of Kujo Tachibana...

That human swordsman who had nearly killed him!

But surely, that human swordsman must be dead by now?

Having suffered such grievous wounds, how could a human with such a frail body possibly survive?

Moreover, Kokushibo remembered clearly that he had used his grotesque blade, Hollow Cry Divine Departure, to pierce through that human swordsman's lungs!

Even if he had miraculously survived, it would be impossible for him to ever use Breathing Styles again...

Kokushibo shook his head, dispelling the distracting thoughts, and drew the long blade at his waist, charging toward Tanjuro.

"Descendant of the Tsugikuni Clan!"

"Let me test your mettle!"

"Moon Breathing - First Form - Dark Moon - Evening Palace!"

The grotesque blade, Hollow Cry Divine Departure, slashed down directly at Tanjuro!

Facing this lightning-fast strike, an ordinary person might have failed to react in time, but for Tanjuro, who had mastered the Transparent World, the reaction time was more than sufficient.

The moment Kokushibo initiated his move, Tanjuro sensed it; naturally, the same was true for Kokushibo regarding Tanjuro.

Tanjuro swiftly drew the sharp axe from his waist, his body dancing as he utilized the force of his rotation to strike the blade of Hollow Cry Divine Departure perfectly!

"Sun Breathing - First Form - Waltz!"

Seeing the axe that had parried his long blade, Kokushibo's brows furrowed deeply.

Using a sword form of Sun Breathing with an axe??

Have the descendants of the Tsugikuni Clan forgotten how to use swords...

To actually use an inferior tool like an axe as a weapon!

Is this a weapon? It is a farming tool!

Kokushibo was instantly enraged!

He would hack this descendant who brought him such shame into mincemeat!

On this point, Kokushibo's view was unexpectedly in agreement with Kujo Tachibana.

A swordsman who uses an axe is truly uncouth.

Following Kokushibo's lead, the Martial Demon under his command surged into the ranks of the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen.

As the second heretic of the Demon Slayer Corps in the eyes of Kujo Tachibana, Himejima Gyomei swung the sharp axe and heavy flail connected by an iron chain in his hands, blocking Akaza's path.

"Your opponent is me."

"Amitabha!"

Inside the wooden hut of the temporary command post set up in the canyon.

Kujo Tachibana appeared somewhat nervous at this moment, looking at the Blue Spider Lily on the table as he asked softly:

"Ubuyashiki Kagaya, do you think Kibutsuji Muzan will come?"

The reason for his nervousness was not a fear of losing; Kujo Tachibana, fully aware of his own power, knew that was impossible. Even if two Yoriichi showed up today, he would still cut them down all the same!

That was just how confident he was!

What made Kujo Tachibana nervous was the possibility that Kibutsuji Muzan might not show up at all...

Although the Blue Spider Lily was a lure, that guy was truly terrified of death!

This was also the reason why Kujo Tachibana could not act rashly; if his strength were exposed to Kibutsuji Muzan prematurely...

He feared the guy would hide for another hundred years!

Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled and said calmly:

"Kujo Tachibana, you must trust your own judgment."

"Do your best and leave the rest to fate."

"If Kibutsuji Muzan does not come today, it simply means his time has not yet come."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya's mouth seemed to have been blessed!

No sooner had his voice fallen than Kibutsuji Muzan, accompanied by his Twelve Kizuki, appeared abruptly in the center of the canyon.

Seeing that Kokushibo was still entangled with a human swordsman, Kibutsuji Muzan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The forces on both sides of the battle came to an immediate halt.

Kokushibo would not let Kibutsuji Muzan take advantage of the situation, and the Demon Slayer Corps felt the same; their mission for the day was actually nearing completion, and all that remained was to wait for the order to retreat.

Although many lower-ranked swordsmen did not know the inside story and could not understand Ubuyashiki Kagaya's orders, fortunately, they were all veterans of the Demon Slayer Corps. Even if they didn't understand, they would execute the orders one hundred percent!

As for troublemakers like Shinazugawa Sanemi, he hadn't been brought along to play this time at all.

The three parties stood clearly divided.

Kokushibo and Kibutsuji Muzan both stared fixedly at each other, ignoring the human swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps entirely!

In the eyes of those two, all other humans and demons were nothing more than ants.

No matter how many there were, they could hardly pose a threat to them.

The outcome between the two of them today would determine the ownership of the Blue Spider Lily.

Just as the two were locked in a standoff, Kujo Tachibana turned into a schemer, suppressing his aura completely and keeping his senses locked tightly onto the female demon beside Kibutsuji Muzan—the Upper Moon Three, Nakime!

He began to move slowly toward her, staying within her blind spot...

Kibutsuji Muzan glanced casually at the group of human swordsmen.

He said expressionlessly:

"Where is the Blue Spider Lily?"

"Hand it over."

Seeing that the human swordsmen made no response, Kibutsuji Muzan let out a cold, mocking laugh. Having fought the Demon Slayer Corps for over a thousand years, how could he not know the weaknesses hidden in the hearts of these hypocritical human swordsmen?

"If I cannot obtain the Blue Spider Lily tonight!"

"You will all die, and not just you!"

"I will slaughter every human in Tokyo!!!"

As he spoke these words, Kibutsuji Muzan's face became incomparably hideous.

The swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps changed color instantly!

They did not doubt for a second that this inhuman, oppressive Demon King would actually do it!

Just then! A strange wind swept through, and the air in the void seemed to be sucked away by something; the human swordsmen and demons in the canyon all choked for a brief moment!

Kokushibo and the many Breathing Style swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps felt it even more acutely, though it was only for an instant before the air density returned to normal levels.

"BOOM!!"

At that very moment, an extraordinary thunderclap suddenly erupted.

Kokushibo's expression changed instantly!

This familiar sound of thunder—could it be...