The Darkest Night Means Dawn Is Near!

Time flew like an arrow, and ten days passed in the blink of an eye. The Demon Slayer Corps had immersed themselves in relentless training.

After Gyomei Himejima, three more Hashira successfully grasped the mysteries of the Transparent World.

They were the Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro; the Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito; and the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, who achieved another breakthrough through his unique score technique.

With little time left for special training, the Hashira who had failed to break through could not hide the disappointment between their brows.

At the edge of the grounds, Kashu watched the Hashira continue their grueling training and shook his head helplessly.

He had taught them everything he could. The threshold to the Transparent World ultimately came down to talent, something no outside force could change.

Kashu knew full well that this was already the Hashira's limit. Unless—

The ancient records of the Ubuyashiki clan mentioned that when swordsmen trained their Breathing Styles to the utmost limit, an overwhelming power would surge forth from within their bodies: the Demon Slayer Mark.

Once the Demon Slayer Mark was awakened, one's physical abilities would receive a terrifying boost. Both strength and speed could rival those of an Upper Rank demon.

But awakening the Demon Slayer Mark meant burning away all of one's remaining potential. Once activated, it could never be turned off.

Among the first generation of Breathing Style swordsmen, not a single person who awakened the Demon Slayer Mark had lived past the age of twenty-five.

At that thought, Kashu silently shook his head and buried this heavy information deep within his heart.

The current situation was already the best possible outcome.

Even if some had failed to awaken the Transparent World, more than a month of grueling training had still greatly improved their strength.

Besides, slaying Muzan Kibutsuji was his task to begin with. There was no need for anyone else to sacrifice their future.

"Caw—! Orders! Orders!"

"Emergency! Commander, Hashira-class swordsmen, return to headquarters at once!"

The Kasugai Crow's urgent message brought the Hashira's training to a halt. Their expressions varied as they looked toward the sky.

An emergency?

Hadn't the special training period simply come to an end?

Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.

The moment Kashu and the Hashira arrived, they saw Kagaya Ubuyashiki seated solemnly in the courtyard, his expression grave.

Sensing their presence, his pale gray eyes slowly turned toward them, his voice carrying a trace of hoarseness.

"The Kakushi have sent an urgent report. Muzan Kibutsuji has appeared in the Entertainment District and taken control of it, and..."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki revealed a bitter expression, his words coming with difficulty.

"Numerous demons have completely seized the area around the Entertainment District. They have taken hostages and demanded the Blue Spider Lily in exchange."

"If this matter is not resolved quickly, it may alert those above."

Kashu frowned deeply. "Such a large-scale operation... has that guy been driven mad by this so-called immortality?"

He could not understand Muzan Kibutsuji's all-or-nothing madness.

After lying low for a thousand years, had the mere glimpse of eternal life made him completely lose his mind?

Even if he obtained the Blue Spider Lily through such means, what then?

Demons did possess formidable vitality, and after overcoming sunlight, they could roam freely day and night.

But their flesh was not even stronger than refined steel, let alone capable of withstanding the battlefield weapons that could turn the tide of war.

Once the higher authorities were alerted, this ultimate life-form, currently so smug and self-satisfied, would become nothing more than a lab rat in a cold laboratory.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki shook his head with a soft sigh. "Our top priority is to deal with Muzan Kibutsuji and rescue the innocent citizens of the Entertainment District."

Hearing this, Kyojuro Rengoku turned toward the Sound Hashira on his left and asked gravely.

"Uzui, I recall you saying that you had arranged for your wives to infiltrate the Entertainment District and investigate the demons' movements?"

Tengen Uzui crossed his arms and nodded with a grim expression.

"There is no need to worry about us. As ninjas, we were prepared for this long ago."

"However, I would very much like to twist Muzan Kibutsuji's head off with my own hands now!"

Obanai Iguro spoke calmly from the side, laying out an even harsher reality.

"Our original deployment was at Mount Natagumo. Changing locations so hastily puts us at a severe disadvantage."

The Hashira grew worried at his words, while Kashu and Kagaya Ubuyashiki exchanged a glance in secret.

Kashu then stepped into the center of the courtyard, his voice steady and powerful.

"The final battle with Muzan Kibutsuji has come early."

"Next, I will explain the final battle plan. Everyone, listen carefully!"

Two days later, as night fell, Kashu led the Demon Slayer Corps' main force quietly to the outskirts of the Entertainment District.

As far as the eye could see, the once bustling Entertainment District had been swallowed by dead silence and darkness, without a trace of its former clamor.

The night wind brushed across their faces, and the air was thick with a suffocating killing intent.

Shinobu Kocho took out her pocket watch. The hour hand pointed to 10:42.

"The situation inside the Entertainment District is still unclear. Rushing in recklessly in the dead of night is too dangerous. I suggest we act at dawn tomorrow."

The Hashira nodded, agreeing with Shinobu Kocho's caution.

Night battles were inherently unfavorable to humans. Moreover, the Demon King would not die even if beheaded. Charging in blindly truly meant courting death.

Kashu shook his head and raised a finger. Scarlet demonic bullets shot through the air toward a large tree some distance away.

Before the bullets could arrive, a demon darted down from the treetop. After steadying itself, it fixed its cold gaze on Kashu.

"I told you, don't think you've already won."

The demon's aura was weak, but its voice belonged to Muzan Kibutsuji.

The Demon Slayer Corps members instantly drew their swords, their killing intent blazing.

Hearing the arrogance and self-assurance in Muzan Kibutsuji's voice, Kashu could not help laughing.

"You were the one who made a foolish move. You're clearly about to run out of options, yet you can still be this confident?"

The demon sneered. "Stop running your mouth! Hand over the Blue Spider Lily! Otherwise..."

"Otherwise, what can you do?"

Kashu pulled out the faintly blue Spider Lily from his robes and gently swayed it between his fingers, a teasing smile curling his lips.

"Muzan Kibutsuji, let me kindly give you one final reminder."

"The one who needs this thing to cling desperately to life and dreams of immortality is you, not me."

"Do you really think grabbing a few hostages is enough to threaten me?"

"How about this? I'll destroy this flower right now, and you can make your move too! Slaughter all those hostages! Let's see who cares more!"

Demon: (○o○)?

While Muzan Kibutsuji's mind reeled in shock and his brain froze, Kashu released the specially made pouch holding the Spider Lily and raised his foot as though to stomp on it!

"Stop! Don't you dare!"

The demon let out a shrill scream, its voice cracking.

"Calm down! Move your foot away!"

It wanted to rush forward and stop him, but it feared being instantly cut down by the watchful Hashira surrounding it, which would completely end any chance of negotiation. It spun around in panic.

"I understand! We can each take a step back!"

"I'll release all the hostages right now! But you must come in and see me personally! And you must guarantee that you will not damage the Blue Spider Lily!"

Seeing Muzan Kibutsuji yield again and again, the smile on Kashu's face became even more mocking.

"If you knew it would come to this, why did you do it in the first place?"

"You went through all this trouble just to pick yourself a gravesite with better feng shui?"

"Then let's see whose grave it will be!"

The demon's abdomen suddenly swelled, its venomous gaze drilling into Kashu.

"Treasure what little time you have left, demon slayers! Next, I will bury the Demon Slayer Corps for good!"

Boom—!

A deafening explosion tore through the night sky, booming beside every swordsman's ear like the horn of the final battle, proclaiming—

Dawn was near!