The Infinity Castle fell deathly silent.
Muzan closed his eyes and settled back into his rocking chair. His displeased snort struck the demons' hearts like a heavy hammer.
Akaza and Doma both lowered their heads, while Upper Rank Four, Hantengu, fared even worse. He curled into a trembling ball.
The rocking chair began to sway with a soft creak, and Muzan resumed rubbing his temples.
After a long while, he spoke. "Stop letting yourselves become stepping stones for the Demon Slayer Corps to grow stronger. This is my final warning.
"A position among the Upper Ranks has fallen vacant. Nothing like this has happened in a hundred years. I despise change above all else. Change usually signifies decline.
"The loss of an Upper Rank means that the ranks I spent centuries cultivating have grown weaker."
"Among the Lower Ranks... a demon to promote..."
"Exactly!" Doma raised his head with a radiant smile. "Haven't the new Lower Rank demons already taken their places? That new Lower Rank One..."
"He is still nowhere near strong enough," Muzan said flatly.
Doma's eyes rolled thoughtfully. "Then... what about that little spider? Such an adorable child..." He covered his lips, as though offering sincere praise. "Oh my, he still can't forget the bonds he formed as a human. How innocent and pure~"
At that, Muzan's gaze flickered, and he actually offered no objection.
Rui...
That sickly child, foretold from birth to have little time to live, truly did remind Muzan... of an age long past.
But he merely shifted his red plum eyes toward the smiling Doma.
"I will have them take part in a rank replacement blood battle. Only the strongest among them can become an Upper Rank demon."
Doma froze for a moment.
Seeing that the meeting was about to end, Akaza hurriedly