Blood entered his throat, and Kaigaku curled up on the ground, convulsing violently.
His skin turned deathly pale in an instant, his pupils darkened completely, and fangs and claws burst through his flesh.
A moment later, the power of the demon blood settled within him.
Kaigaku staggered to his feet, his face alight with barely contained elation and relief at having survived.
He had succeeded!
From the moment the Demon Slayer Corps declared it would fight the Demon King to the death, he had schemed day and night. At last, today, he had gotten what he wanted!
Kaigaku simply couldn't understand what those fools in the Demon Slayer Corps were thinking!
They couldn't even wipe out the ordinary demons wreaking havoc everywhere, yet they actually thought they could challenge the Demon King?
He would never do something as foolish as flying into a flame!
Staying alive mattered more than anything!
Even if he became a demon, as long as he drew breath, he would be the victor!
Just as Kaigaku lost himself in boundless fantasies of the future, a sharp flash of swordlight suddenly tore through the night.
Kashu cut Kaigaku in half at the waist with a single stroke, then immediately turned his blade toward another demonic figure.
Crack!
The crisp sound of shattering was jarringly out of place. Kashu looked down and saw a porcelain pot smashed to pieces by his feet.
His brows lifted. "A pot?"
Blood Demon Art: Water Prison Pot!
In an instant, a sticky, foul-smelling liquid poured down from above, spreading over a vast area and threatening to engulf Kashu completely.
Wind Breathing: Roar!
A whirlwind surged from the ground and swept into the sky, blasting the viscous liquid apart in an instant!
Kashu rode the wind upward and spotted the bizarre Upper Rank Five, Gyokko, high above.
Blood Demon Art: Octopus Pot Hell!
With a malicious grin, Gyokko produced another dark-colored porcelain pot and aimed it at Kashu. Several enormous, slimy octopus tentacles shot from its mouth, suckers writhing as they tried to bind and crush him!
"First slime, now tentacles. You've got a seriously twisted sense of fun!"
Stone Breathing: Wild Tail!
Kashu's strength far surpassed that of the tentacles. A flash of sword energy sliced through every octopus leg and blasted apart the pot containing Gyokko behind them!
This time, Kashu didn't even glance at the newly shattered pot. His body turned into a blur as he charged straight into the depths of the forest.
The heavens flashed, and a thunderous slash followed close behind.
Gyokko's true body, covered in fish scales and dragging a fish tail, spat blood and was sent flying in a sorry state. A long sword gleaming with a platinum sheen was embedded in his chest!
"Impossible! My scales are harder than diamond! How could a human pierce them?"
Gyokko's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Kashu emerged from the forest and gave the helplessly struggling Gyokko a cold glance. With a light tap of his finger, two spells unfolded in an instant.
Gyokko, who had been roaring moments ago, was crushed beneath an immense weight, pinned to the ground and unable to move.
Kaigaku, whose lower body had just regenerated nearby, also lost all power to resist and collapsed limply.
Kashu looked down at the two wretched demons, his expression cold. Then he kicked Kaigaku without hesitation.
"You were a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, yet you sided with demons and even led one to Headquarters. You really deserve to die!"
"Mm! Mm!"
Kaigaku's head pushed uselessly against the dirt, muffled sounds rising from his throat as if he were trying to explain himself or beg for mercy.
Perhaps he was pleading. Perhaps he was cursing them with his final breath. Either way, Kashu had no interest in listening.
He walked over to Gyokko and crouched beside him, his sharp gaze fixed on the clearly inscribed characters in Gyokko's eyes.
"Upper Rank Five, huh? No wonder you're so slippery."
Gyokko twisted his neck at a horrifying angle to glare at Kashu. His voice was cold as ice.
"Hand over the Blue Spider Lily, or I'll slaughter everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Kashu curled his lips into a cold smile and scoffed.
"Big words. Sounds like Muzan Kibutsuji is the one speaking now, doesn't it?"
"Looks like your control is stronger than last time. Could your real body be on its way here?"
Pain twisted Gyokko's face, but he managed to force it into a sinister grin that belonged to Muzan Kibutsuji.
"Since you've already figured it out, accept your fate and surrender!"
"Hand over the Blue Spider Lily! Perhaps I'll be merciful and spare your worthless lives!"
"You're the one who should accept your fate!"
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A cold glint flashed in Kashu's eyes as he gazed at Gyokko with an almost amused smile, as if he could see through the demon's body and lock onto the Demon King who had always hidden in the shadows.
"The Blue Spider Lily only blooms during the day, and its flowering period is extremely short. Aside from the one I have, you'll never find another."
"And tell me, who's faster at killing people—you, or me at crushing the Blue Spider Lily?"
Gyokko's sinister grin froze instantly.
Through this battered body, Muzan Kibutsuji's feeble mind overloaded. For the first time, he faced a genuine dilemma.
Should he risk going to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters in person?
Or settle for using the countless lives in the Entertainment District as bargaining chips?
"Stay put. In two weeks, I'll bring the Blue Spider Lily and 'pay you a visit' at Mount Natagumo."
Hearing Kashu renew their earlier agreement, Muzan Kibutsuji roared through Gyokko's mouth.
"How do I know you'll actually keep your promise? What if you—"
"Don't lump me in with scum like you."
Kashu's tone was mild, but he stated the cruelest truth Muzan Kibutsuji could hear.
"Besides, you have no choice."
After being rebuffed again and again, Muzan Kibutsuji burned with rage. Through Gyokko's eyes, he etched Kashu's image deep into his memory.
"Don't think you've already won. We'll see about that."
Before the words had even faded, Gyokko and Kaigaku's abdomens suddenly swelled, like fleshy sacs about to burst.
Kashu's gaze sharpened. He lightly tapped the ground and shot backward at tremendous speed.
Boom!
Amid a deafening crash, flesh flew and rocks scattered.
The shock wave swept straight into the forest, startling countless circling Kasugai Crows.
Only after the two demons' presences had completely vanished did Tamayo, who had been hiding nearby, hurry out from behind a tree.
"Are you all right, Mr. Kashu? What should we do now?"
Kashu calmly walked to the edge of the crater left by the explosion, collected blood samples from Gyokko and Kaigaku with practiced ease, sealed them, and tossed them to Tamayo.
"Sorry, Miss Tamayo. It looks like you'll have to return to the laboratory alone tonight."
"Though the odds of Muzan Kibutsuji launching an all-out assault on Headquarters are low, I have to go back and make sure Ubuyashiki and the Hashira are prepared."
Tamayo nodded gently and carefully put away the two blood samples.
"Understood. If anything happens, please send a crow to notify me at once."
She didn't linger. Turning, she ran toward the laboratory and soon vanished into the night.
Kashu watched her leave, then turned back toward Headquarters, where the lights were growing brighter, and sighed.
"Why did I agree to Ubuyashiki's request in the first place? This would've been the perfect chance to finish the mission."
Night deepened, and the moon climbed to the center of the sky.
At the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, the halls blazed with light. All the Hashira had gathered, along with their master, Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
After hearing Kashu's explanation, Obanai Iguro's mismatched snake eyes narrowed, and his murderous aura nearly took tangible form.
"What was the name of that scum who betrayed the Demon Slayer Corps and sided with demons?!"
Obanai's voice was hoarse and icy, his disgust unmistakable.
"He might have accomplices! We can't let our guard down!"
Kashu shook his head. "I don't know. I didn't have time to interrogate him. Short black hair, thick eyebrows, and a magatama pendant. Those are the only details I have."
At his words, the Hashira all lowered their heads in thought, searching their memories for a Corps member who fit the description, but none came to mind.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gentle voice broke the silence. He raised a hand to signal them.
"Everyone is at a critical stage in their training. We shouldn't make a great commotion over this and risk alerting the enemy. I'll handle the investigation personally."
The Hashira had no objections. Kashu glanced at Kagaya Ubuyashiki, then nodded as well.
"I could tell Muzan Kibutsuji wasn't bluffing when he made his final threat. Has anything happened around Mount Natagumo lately?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki answered with certainty. "Everything is as usual. The Kakushi have been monitoring the area for some time, and haven't found any signs of demon activity."
Kashu tapped his chin with his index finger and murmured.
"No signs of demons..."
"Even if Muzan Kibutsuji is as cowardly and incompetent as they come, he'd still send subordinates to scout for information."
"The fact that there are no signs at all doesn't necessarily mean it's good news."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gaze sharpened. Clearly understanding Kashu's implication, he nodded.
"I'll send more people and have the Kakushi expand their search, keeping an eye out for any suspicious rumors across the country."
"It's late, and you've all been working hard through days of intensive training. Go get some rest."
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