Several days later, on the outskirts of Tokyo.
"Muzan Kibutsuji, didn't you bring those idiot demons of yours to Tokyo? Then let's have a little meeting. Come on, Nezuko, show him what you've got!"
Lu You held a Lower Rank demon's head in his hand. Blood dripped from it, staining the ground red.
Dawn was breaking, and a ray of sunlight pierced the pitch-black night sky, coloring the heavens.
Inside a house somewhere in Tokyo, Muzan slowly narrowed his eyes.
What exactly was this man trying to do?
Nezuko looked at Lu You in confusion. Was she supposed to do a somersault?
As the golden morning sun shone warmly over the earth and fell upon Nezuko, the little girl basked in its light and broke into a sweet smile.
Meanwhile, the Lower Rank's head in Lu You's hand screamed in agony, as though it had been thrown into a wood-burning stove.
There was even a controlled comparison.
Muzan, who had been watching coldly, suddenly began breathing faster and faster. His hideous face twisted with wild joy, his eyes bloodshot.
"A thousand years! Finally! A demon who has conquered the sun has finally appeared! As long as I devour her, I can become a truly perfect being!"
Lu You knew Muzan was watching through the Lower Rank's eyes, so he continued, "Muzan Kibutsuji, it's time to end this thousand-year feud between humans and demons.
"We'll wait for you there in ten days. Otherwise, you wouldn't want Nezuko to turn back into a human, would you?"
He casually tossed down a map marked with a location. As the Lower Rank demon crumbled completely to ash in the sunlight, Lu You turned and left with Nezuko.
Bang!
Every table and chair around Muzan exploded into pieces. His blood-red eyes were dark and filled with murderous intent.
"Damn it. What exactly are they plotting?"
A trap. A blatant trap. But even knowing it was a trap, he had to go. After all, even if there was only the slightest possibility, Nezuko absolutely could not be allowed to become human again!
If she turned back into a human, would devouring her still work? He could not take that risk at all.
"Nakime, summon all the Twelve Kizuki. No, all the demons. I have assignments for them."
Twang... a biwa note rang out.
A doorway appeared behind Muzan, and he turned and stepped through.
What a joke. How could he possibly wait until that day to look for Nezuko? He was going to intercept and kill Lu You and Nezuko on their return journey right now.
Unfortunately, Lu You had long anticipated that Muzan would never wait until the tenth day, so everything had already been prepared by the time he arrived.
All the Hashira were in position, and all the swordsmen were fully equipped and ready, awaiting only the final moment.
A breeze swept over the mountains. This was a long, narrow valley, with towering heights on either side and dense woods in the low ground between them. The road stretched into the distance, and birds chirped.
The soft soil sank slightly underfoot.
Rock jutted outward from the cliffs on either side.
This place was called the Valley of the End.
Throughout their journey, Lu You and Nezuko had made no attempt to conceal themselves, traveling day and night. Nearly a full day and night had passed since they left Tokyo.
"I'll leave Nezuko in your care from here, Master Urokodaki."
At the base of a towering tree, a masked old man dressed in blue leaned against its trunk, his gaze gentle. He had clearly been waiting for some time.
"I understand. Thank you for all your efforts... You."
Many words rose to Sakonji Urokodaki's throat, but in the end, he could not voice them and could only swallow them back down. He understood that, now things had come this far, anything he said would seem inadequate.
A thousand words became a single expression of thanks.
"It all depends on everyone standing together."
Lu You still wore his plain robes, a white haori over a close-fitting black underlayer, with his familiar Nichirin Blade hanging at his waist. His expression was as still as an ancient well.
Holding Nezuko's hand, Sakonji Urokodaki continued running toward the edge of the valley.
Nezuko glanced back at Lu You, her pink eyes filled with both confusion and reluctance to leave.
"Phew..."
Lu You let out a deep breath and watched the sky gradually darken. The sun was hidden by the towering mountains, and profound darkness painted the world like ink.
He stroked the sword hilt at his waist.
Rustling came from every direction, and a dim light flickered in Lu You's eyes.
Were they here?
Sure enough, the first to appear was a red-haired swordsman dressed in purple. As the moon gradually emerged above the horizon, he swept through the branches of the tall trees.
He landed steadily, dust rising around him.
Upper Rank One, Kokushibo.
Layers of frost spread outward, freezing the surrounding trees. A tall, white-haired young man approached with fans in hand and a smile on his lips.
Upper Rank Two, Doma.
A roaring sonic boom shook the valley. Amid flying splinters of shattered wood, a young man covered in markings raced toward him, his lips curved upward and his eyes golden.
Upper Rank Three, Akaza.
There was also a timid, hunched old man skulking by a tree root not far away: Upper Rank Four, Hantengu.
Although he deliberately concealed his presence, Lu You's current perception made him easy to locate.
"The one who should be here still hasn't arrived."
Lu You looked at them and spoke calmly.
"The Demon Slayer who killed two Upper Ranks. What's your name?"
Akaza locked onto Lu You's presence and asked with a smile.
"Names don't matter, and I'm under no obligation to tell a demon mine.
"But I know you, Akaza. Once a human martial artist, now reduced to a mindless evil demon.
"What a pity."
Akaza's pupils contracted slightly. The man seemed to know something. His thoughts raced, and he opened his mouth to ask, but Kokushibo's indifferent voice sounded beside him.
"There's no need to waste words on him. Kill him and retrieve what that lord needs."
Six golden-red eyes radiated imposing might, and an overwhelming pressure bore down on Lu You. Such was the caliber of the former second-strongest fighter in the Demon Slayer world.
Lu You nodded and chuckled.
"I know you too, Tsugikuni Michikatsu. A man who betrayed his master. You actually hoped to surpass Yoriichi Tsugikuni by becoming a demon? Utterly laughable."
Even the pinnacle of demons, Muzan Kibutsuji, fell far short of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, let alone one of Muzan's underlings.
The ceiling was right there.
Kokushibo's irises widened, his brow twisting fiercely. His hand had already moved to the sword hilt at his waist.
"You bastard..."
"What about me? What about me? Hey, handsome, what's your opinion of me?"
Doma's innocent face was full of anticipation, and even his voice sounded excited.
Lu You glanced at him.
"Who are you?"
Doma's expression instantly stiffened. Huh? Was he really that unpopular? Everyone was far too heartless.
Beside him, Akaza's lips curved upward in unrestrained delight. He had made up his mind. He absolutely had to learn this man's name.
"Demon Slayer, do you think staying behind like this is some moving act of courage? I only find it foolish.
"Your death will merely cost the Ubuyashiki fighting strength for nothing, without bringing them any value."
Pairs of ravenous scarlet eyes lit up in the dark forest. Muzan Kibutsuji slowly emerged, his suit rustling, a mocking smile on his lips.
"Lord Muzan! Allow me to take his head for you!" Akaza dropped to one knee and spoke respectfully.
"Lu You, as long as you lead me to Nezuko, I'm willing to give you the chance to become a demon."
Muzan extended a pale hand and spoke calmly.
Victory was in his grasp. That was inevitable.
To the demons, Lu You was alone now, and death was already his fate.
"Heh. What are you babbling about? Things have come this far. What else is there to say?"
Lu You's eyes grew ever brighter. He brought two fingers of his right hand together and raised them, pointing at the demons before him-or rather, at all the demons.
He said calmly, "Domain Expansion-Samsara Burial!"
This was Blood Manipulation's Domain Expansion!
Almost at the same instant, boundless flames capable of scorching heaven and earth erupted across the surrounding ground and cliffs, and an even deeper, ultimate terror burst forth!
Art was an explosion!
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