Traitor Executed! The Unchanging Bargain!

As the demon blood slid down his throat, Kaigaku curled up on the ground, convulsing violently.

His skin turned deathly pale in an instant, his pupils blackened, and sharp fangs and claws tore through his flesh.

After only a moment, the power of the demon blood settled within him.

Kaigaku scrambled to his feet, his face filled with irrepressible ecstasy and the relief of having survived a brush with death.

He had succeeded!

From the moment the Demon Slayer Corps declared their intent to fight the Demon King to the death, he had been planning day and night. Today, he had finally achieved his wish!

Kaigaku truly could not fathom what those idiots in the Demon Slayer Corps were thinking.

They could barely clear out the common demons causing trouble everywhere, yet they actually dared to challenge the Demon King?

He would never do something as foolish as a moth flying into a flame!

Staying alive was more important than anything else!

Even if he had to become a demon, as long as he drew breath, it was his victory!

Just as Kaigaku was lost in wild fantasies about the future, a sharp sword light suddenly tore through the night.

Kashu sliced Kaigaku in two at the waist with a single stroke, his blade not pausing for an instant as it turned toward another demonic shadow.

Crack!

The crisp sound of shattering was jarring. Kashu looked down to see a porcelain pot at his feet reduced to shards.

He raised an eyebrow. "A pot?"

Blood Demon Art: Water Prison Pot!

In an instant, viscous, foul-smelling liquid splashed down from above, covering a massive area, intending to swallow and envelop Kashu entirely.

Wind Breathing: Roar!

A tornado rose from the ground, spiraling upward and instantly blasting away the viscous liquid!

Kashu rode the wind, soaring high to lock onto the strangely shaped Upper Rank Five, Gyokko.

Blood Demon Art: Octopus Pot Hell!

With a sinister laugh, Gyokko pulled out another dark porcelain pot and aimed it at Kashu. Several massive, slimy octopus tentacles erupted from the mouth of the pot, their suckers dancing as they sought to entangle and crush Kashu!

"If it isn't slime, it's tentacles. You really have a twisted sense of taste!"

Stone Breathing: Wild Tail!

Kashu's strength was far beyond what those tentacles could handle. A ribbon-like flash of Sword Qi not only shredded all the octopus limbs in an instant but also shattered the vessel Gyokko was hiding behind!

This time, Kashu didn't even glance at the broken pot. His figure turned into a blur as he charged straight into the depths of the forest.

As dawn broke, a thunderous strike followed.

Gyokko's true form, covered in fish scales and dragging a fish tail, spat blood as he flew backward in a sorry state, a sword shimmering with platinum luster embedded deep in his chest!

"Impossible! My scales are harder than diamond; how could a human break through them!"

Gyokko's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Kashu stepped out of the forest, glancing coldly at the struggling Gyokko. He tapped his fingertips, and two techniques unfolded in an instant.

Gyokko, who had been roaring just moments ago, felt as if crushed by immense pressure, pinned flat to the ground and unable to move.

Beside him, Kaigaku, who had just regenerated his lower body, lost all power to resist once more, collapsing like mud.

Kashu looked down at the two pathetic demons, his eyes cold, and kicked Kaigaku without a shred of courtesy.

"To defect to demons as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, and to lead them to our headquarters—you really deserve to die!"

"Mmph! Mmph!"

Kaigaku's head pushed uselessly against the dirt, his throat emitting garbled sounds as if he wanted to argue or beg for mercy.

Perhaps it was a plea, or perhaps a final curse, but Kashu had no interest in listening.

He paced over to Gyokko, crouched down, and locked his sharp gaze onto the clear characters etched into the demon's eyes.

"Upper Rank Five, huh? No wonder you're so slippery."

Gyokko, pinned to the ground, twisted his neck at a bone-chilling angle, staring fixedly at Kashu with a cold, piercing voice.

"Hand over the Blue Spider Lily, or not a single soul in the Demon Slayer Corps will be left alive!"

Kashu curled his lips into a cold, sharp arc and sneered.

"That's a big talk. Is that Muzan Kibutsuji speaking now?"

"It seems your control is stronger this time than the last. Don't tell me the main body is on its way here?"

On Gyokko's face, twisted by pain, a sinister grin belonging to Muzan Kibutsuji was forced into existence.

"Since you've already guessed, accept your fate and surrender!"

"Hand over the Blue Spider Lily! Perhaps I will show mercy and spare your pathetic lives!"

"You're the one who should accept your fate!"

Kashu's eyes flashed with cold light as he stared at Gyokko with a mocking smile, as if looking through the demon's shell to lock onto the Demon King who always hid in the shadows.

"The Blue Spider Lily only blooms during the day and has a very short flowering period. Aside from the one I have in my possession, you will never find a second one."

"Also, do you think you can kill people faster than I can crush the Blue Spider Lily?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the sinister grin on Gyokko's face froze instantly.

Through this remnant body, Muzan Kibutsuji's limited brain circuits overloaded, falling into a true dilemma for the first time.

Should he risk going to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters in person?

Or should he settle for second best and use the countless lives in the Entertainment District as a bargaining chip?

"Stay put. In two weeks, I will bring the Blue Spider Lily and 'visit' you at Mount Natagumo."

Hearing Kashu reiterate the old promise, Muzan Kibutsuji roared through Gyokko's mouth.

"How do I know you'll actually keep your word? If you..."

"Don't lump me in with trash like yourself."

Kashu's tone was flat, yet it stated the most cruel truth to Muzan Kibutsuji.

"Besides, you have no choice."

Repeatedly thwarted, Muzan Kibutsuji burned with rage, etching Kashu deep into his memory through Gyokko's vision.

"Don't think you've already won. We shall see."

Before the words could fade, the abdomens of Gyokko and Kaigaku suddenly swelled like flesh-and-blood balloons about to burst.

Kashu's eyes sharpened; he tapped the ground and retreated at high speed.

BOOM—!

Amidst a deafening roar, flesh and blood flew everywhere, and mud and stone splattered.

The shockwave rolled straight into the forest, startling countless circling Kasugai Crows.

Not until the two demonic auras had completely dissipated did Tamayo, who had been hiding in the shadows, step out from behind a tree.

"Are you alright, Mr. Kashu? What should we do next?"

Kashu walked calmly to the edge of the crater formed by the explosion, skillfully collected blood samples from Gyokko and Kaigaku, sealed them, and tossed them to Tamayo.

"Apologies, Miss Tamayo, it seems you will have to return to the laboratory alone tonight."

"The possibility of Muzan Kibutsuji making a desperate all-out attack on headquarters is small, but I must return and have Kagaya Ubuyashiki and the Hashira prepare."

Tamayo nodded slightly, carefully tucking away the two vials of blood.

"Understood. If there is any unusual activity, please send a crow to notify me immediately."

She did not delay, turning and running toward the laboratory, her figure soon disappearing into the night.

Kashu watched her leave, then turned back to look at the headquarters, where the lights were gradually brightening, and shook his head with a sigh.

"Why did I agree to help Kagaya Ubuyashiki? Isn't this the perfect opportunity to finish the mission?"

The night deepened, the moon high in the sky.

At the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, the lights were blazing. The Hashira and their leader, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, had all gathered.

After hearing Kashu's explanation, Obanai Iguro's heterochromatic snake-like eyes narrowed, and his frigid killing intent almost materialized.

"What is the name of that traitor who abandoned the Demon Slayer Corps and defected to the demons!"

Obanai's voice was hoarse and cold, making no effort to hide his disgust.

"Perhaps he has accomplices! We cannot be careless!"

Kashu shook his head. "I don't know. I didn't have time to interrogate him. Short black hair, thick eyebrows, and he wore a magatama pendant—that's all I have."

The Hashira fell into deep thought, searching their minds for any member who fit those features, but they were all at a loss.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gentle voice broke the silence as he raised a hand.

"We are at a critical moment in our special training. This matter should not be handled with too much fanfare, lest we alert the enemy. I will handle the investigation personally."

The Hashira had no objections to this. Kashu glanced at Kagaya Ubuyashiki and nodded in agreement.

"I can feel that Muzan Kibutsuji's final threat wasn't just bluster. Has there been any activity at Mount Natagumo recently?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's tone was firm. "Everything is as usual. Members of the Kakushi have been monitoring the area for some time and have found no signs of demonic activity."

Kashu tapped his chin with his index finger, whispering to himself.

"No signs of any demons..."

"Even if Muzan Kibutsuji is cowardly and incompetent, he would at least send subordinates to scout for information."

"The fact that there are no signs at all might not be a good thing."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gaze tightened, clearly understanding the implication, and he nodded.

"I will send more men to expand the search range and keep an eye out for any suspicious rumors everywhere."

"The night is late, and everyone has been working hard with the special training. You should all go back and rest."