Chapter Summaries

Tetsu no Sosuke learned from an old woman that a powerful family had returned to control the town while residents kept disappearing. He and his companions concluded the family had guided their investigation and prepared to visit the place linked to the disappearances.

• An old woman told Tetsu no Sosuke that a once-fallen family had regained control of the town and that people had been disappearing.
• Tetsu no Sosuke left the old woman’s home with Sato Ami and refused to leave anyone behind to guard her.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Sato Ami reasoned that the family already knew about their investigation and had allowed them to find the old woman.
• Tetsu no Sosuke told Kotani Tetsuya and Kashima Taro what they had learned, and the group decided to head to the suspected location during the day.

Tetsu no Sosuke and the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen decided to enter the village before dawn, despite suspecting the enemy had set a trap. After sending a letter with their target’s location, Sosuke rested and later joined Kashima Taro on watch as they waited for the mission to begin.

• Tetsu no Sosuke chose to enter the village at three in the morning, arguing that further delay could lead to more disappearances.
• Sato Ami asked whether the plan might be a trap, but Sosuke said the enemy had already forced them to act.
• Tetsu no Sosuke sent a letter with the Kasugai Crow so others would know where to find the target if the group died.
• Kashima Taro took the first watch while Tetsu no Sosuke and the others rested.
• Tetsu no Sosuke woke under the starry sky and reassured Kashima Taro, who felt watched in the darkness.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kashima Taro rested before their dangerous mission, and Tetsu no Sosuke reflected on the fear swordsmen felt. At three in the morning, Tetsu no Sosuke gathered the others and led the group out toward their mission.

• Kashima Taro admitted he feared falling asleep and not waking, but said he believed in Tetsu no Sosuke and the others.
• Big Hammer left Kashima Taro and settled beside Tetsu no Sosuke, who stayed awake through the night.
• Tetsu no Sosuke watched Kashima Taro fall asleep and reflected that swordsmen were human too.
• At three in the morning, Tetsu no Sosuke woke the other three men and gave them one minute to prepare.
• The group drank water, skipped food, and set out with Tetsu no Sosuke riding Big Hammer.

Tetsu no Sosuke and the others reached the Hayakawa Estate, where a man unexpectedly asked them to save the family head. They entered the Mansion cautiously and followed him through the house to the far end of its Courtyard.

• Tetsu no Sosuke and the others headed east through town toward the Hayakawa Estate.
• The Mansion's gate creaked open, and a man recognized the group as members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
• The man knelt and begged them to save the family head.
• Tetsu no Sosuke asked what was happening, and the man invited them inside.
• The group entered the Mansion and followed the man cautiously to the far end of its Courtyard.

A servant’s son told Sato Ami and the others how Hayakawa Yugo’s fortunes changed after a mysterious night when he was found bloodied but uninjured. He connected Yugo’s late-night outings to people disappearing from town.

• The man revealed that he was the son of the servant who had stayed with the Hayakawa family, and that he had grown up alongside Hayakawa Yugo.
• He recounted finding Hayakawa Yugo on the floor with blood on his chest and red eyes, though he could find no wound and Yugo refused to explain what had happened.
• The man said money began flowing into the household, and Hayakawa Yugo decided to return to town and reclaim the family’s former property and assets.
• He noticed that Hayakawa Yugo began going out late at night and realized that people disappeared whenever Yugo did so.

The servant explained that Hayakawa Yugo had made a bargain with a demon that killed people at night, and that Yugo needed the Demon Slayer Corps to stop it before it took over his body. Tetsu no Sosuke agreed to hear Yugo out and began questioning the servant about how they had brought the Corps to town.

• The servant revealed that a demon lived inside Hayakawa Yugo, controlled him at night, and ate the people reported missing.
• The servant said Yugo had gained information and wealth from the demon but was increasingly unable to control it.
• The servant explained that Yugo had asked him to calm the victims’ families and find a way to draw the Demon Slayer Corps to town.
• The servant reported that earlier Corps members had arrived unprepared and died, and begged Tetsu no Sosuke and the others to save Yugo before the demon took full control.
• Tetsu no Sosuke confirmed that Yugo was waiting in the main house and asked why the servant had tried both to suppress rumors and use them to attract the Corps.

Tetsu no Sosuke and the others exposed the servant as a demon and attacked him, but he quickly wounded Kotani Tetsuya and Sato Ami. As the servant confronted them about their suspicions, Tetsu no Sosuke launched another attack.

• Tetsu no Sosuke questioned the servant about bringing previous Demon Slayer Corps members to the Main House, then led the group onward.
• Tetsu no Sosuke turned and struck at the servant, who revealed serrated black appendages and counterattacked.
• The servant pierced Kotani Tetsuya’s shoulder and sent Sato Ami crashing into a courtyard wall.
• Tetsu no Sosuke explained that the servant’s story and Big Hammer’s reaction had made him suspicious.
• Sato Ami identified the servant as a demon hiding beneath human skin, and Tetsu no Sosuke leaped at him with the Iron Hammer.

Tetsu no Sosuke narrowly avoided the servant’s sawblade when Sato Ami intervened, but the servant counterattacked and severed both of her legs. Sato Ami was thrown aside as she lay badly wounded.

• Tetsu no Sosuke realized the servant’s sawblade was about to pierce his left shoulder and shifted just enough for it to miss.
• Sato Ami rushed in and attacked the servant with a flurry of blows.
• Tetsu no Sosuke warned Sato Ami to get back when two sawblades emerged behind the servant.
• The sawblades severed both of Sato Ami’s legs above the knees, and the servant hurled her away.

Tetsu no Sosuke confronted the Demon after it maimed a Demon Slayer Corps member and mocked him with her severed leg. He struck so quickly that he cut through one of the Demon’s serrated limbs, but the Demon remained standing and confused.

• The Demon revealed its six serrated limbs and described the injured Demon Slayer as food.
• The Demon taunted Tetsu no Sosuke by dangling the severed leg from one of its limbs.
• Tetsu no Sosuke demanded that the Demon give the leg back and let his anger surge.
• Tetsu no Sosuke vanished from sight, reappeared before the Demon, and cut off half of a serrated limb.
• The severed limb and leg fell to the ground as the bewildered Demon asked what had happened.

Tetsu no Sosuke used an intensified Fourth Form to sever the Demon’s blades and limbs, then beheaded it. A black beam attacked him from the direction of the Main House, and he deflected it through a nearby wall.

• Tetsu no Sosuke unleashed Breath of the Sun’s Fourth Form and cut apart the Demon’s saw blades, limbs, and body.
• The wounded Demon screamed for help, and Tetsu no Sosuke beheaded it without hesitation.
• A tremendous crash came from the Main House, and a black beam shot toward Tetsu no Sosuke.
• Tetsu no Sosuke blocked the beam with his Nichirin Blade and angled it into the wall beside him.

Tetsu no Sosuke confronted Hayakawa Yugo, the human master of the Mansion, whose living shadows attacked with a Blood Demon Art. He sent Kashima Taro and Kotani Tetsuya away with the wounded Sato Ami to search for survivors and preserve her severed legs, then faced Yugo as he declared that no one would escape.

• Tetsu no Sosuke realized the black rays were Hayakawa Yugo's spear-like shadows and discovered that a shadow behind Yugo could speak.
• Tetsu no Sosuke ordered Kashima Taro and Kotani Tetsuya to evacuate Mansion residents and find ice to preserve Sato Ami's severed legs.
• Kotani Tetsuya carried Sato Ami while Kashima Taro carried her legs, and they cautiously left the courtyard.
• Hayakawa Yugo let them leave, then declared that no one would escape and used Blood Demon Art: Cage.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Big Hammer attacked Hayakawa Yugo, forcing him to defend against the swordsman's flaming blade and the wolf's ambush. The fight remained unresolved as a black head emerged from Hayakawa Yugo's shadow to stop Big Hammer.

• Hayakawa Yugo trapped Tetsu no Sosuke in a Cage of shadows.
• Big Hammer attacked Hayakawa Yugo with a massive hammer, but dodged the shadows sent at him and landed nearby.
• Tetsu no Sosuke escaped the Cage and struck Hayakawa Yugo with Breath of the Sun—Form One: Gale Sun.
• Hayakawa Yugo sent hundreds of shadows at Tetsu no Sosuke, who met them with his Nichirin Blade.
• Big Hammer crept behind Hayakawa Yugo and pounced, but a black head emerged from Hayakawa Yugo's shadow to confront him.

The shadow devoured Hayakawa Yugo and took on a new form: a wounded, three-eyed youth whose eye bore the words “Lower Two.” He then attacked Tetsu no Sosuke by diving toward his shadow, leaving Tetsu no Sosuke alarmed by the threat.

• Big Hammer dodged the shadow’s attack and fled, leaving Hayakawa Yugo exposed to Iron Hammer’s strike.
• The shadow cursed Hayakawa Yugo, then enveloped and devoured him.
• The shadow emerged as a gray-white, three-eyed youth and revealed “Lower Two” in his third eye.
• Lower Two declared that he liked Tetsu no Sosuke and transformed into a shadow to attack him.
• Tetsu no Sosuke jumped to evade the attack, but Lower Two rushed toward his shadow instead.

Tetsu no Sosuke escaped Lower Two’s attempt to control him through Big Hammer, then questioned the demon about its powers and its deal with Hayakawa Yugo. Lower Two confirmed Hayakawa had willingly approached him, as dawn drew near.

• A snow-white figure tore apart the shadow attacking Tetsu no Sosuke, but its fragments possessed Big Hammer.
• Lower Two ordered Big Hammer to bite Tetsu no Sosuke, but Big Hammer pinned him down and licked him instead.
• Tetsu no Sosuke stabbed Big Hammer’s shadow with his Nichirin Blade, forcing Lower Two out of it.
• Tetsu no Sosuke deduced that Lower Two controlled actions but not thoughts, and Lower Two confirmed Hayakawa Yugo had chosen to work with him.
• Tetsu no Sosuke asked about Hayakawa’s deal while waiting for dawn to approach.

Lower Two explained how he made a pact with Hayakawa Yugo, who helped him prey on people and later lured Demon Slayer Corps members to the town. He also revealed that another Demon had possessed a servant as its first sacrifice and survived briefly in sunlight by hiding inside a human body.

• Lower Two recounted how Hayakawa Yugo had shown admiration rather than fear when they met.
• Lower Two said he agreed to help Hayakawa Yugo reclaim his former position in exchange for being allowed to live in his shadow and eat people.
• Hayakawa Yugo’s powerful family initially helped Lower Two prey on townspeople without attracting notice.
• Lower Two grew dissatisfied with ordinary victims, so the Hayakawa Estate spread rumors that drew Demon Slayer Corps members to town, where Lower Two ate them.
• Lower Two revealed that a second Demon had possessed a servant, consumed him from within, and used his remaining skin to pass as human and endure brief exposure to sunlight.

Tetsu no Sosuke fought Lower Two, whose shadow-based attacks failed to overcome Sosuke’s speed and tactics. Sosuke retrieved the Sword Scabbard, assembled the Hammer Sword, and charged at his opponent.

• Tetsu no Sosuke pierced Lower Two’s skull with Breath of the Sun—Fourth Form: Lightning Flash.
• Lower Two turned into a shadow and lunged at Tetsu no Sosuke’s shadow, but Sosuke sheltered beneath the Main House’s shadow and forced him back into human form.
• Tetsu no Sosuke ignored Lower Two’s question and retrieved the Sword Scabbard.
• Tetsu no Sosuke fitted the Sword Scabbard to the Hammer Sword and attacked Lower Two with Breath of the Sun—First Form: Gale Sun.

Tetsu no Sosuke exploited Lower Two’s limitations to trap him in the courtyard and keep up a fierce assault. Big Hammer bit off and swallowed Lower Two’s arm, and Tetsu no Sosuke sent the demon flying before demanding that the wolf spit the arm out.

• Tetsu no Sosuke realized Lower Two could not heal his wounds while human or travel through the shadows of inanimate objects.
• Tetsu no Sosuke attacked Lower Two with Gale Sun, forcing him to block with shadow.
• Big Hammer tore off Lower Two’s arm and swallowed it, enraging and distracting the demon.
• Tetsu no Sosuke changed breathing forms and struck Lower Two flying with his hammer.
• Tetsu no Sosuke yelled at Big Hammer to spit out the demon’s arm.

Lower Two unleashed his Blood Demon Art, Yan Futu, and battered Tetsu no Sosuke across the roof. After Tetsu no Sosuke returned bloodied, he identified the attack’s weakness and began smashing through the shadow figures.

• Tetsu no Sosuke charged at Lower Two while Big Hammer stared at him in confusion.
• Lower Two summoned human-shaped shadows with Yan Futu, and they overwhelmed Tetsu no Sosuke and destroyed half the roof.
• Yan Futu turned on Big Hammer, who acted submissive before suddenly baring his teeth at Lower Two.
• Tetsu no Sosuke burst back through the roof, lamented his ruined Haori, and said he had spotted the attack’s weakness.
• Tetsu no Sosuke spun through the air with his hammer, shattering the shadow figures as he advanced.

Tetsu no Sosuke defeated Lower Two with the Iron Hammer and beheaded him before the demon could recover. As the severed head repeated “unforgivable,” Tetsu no Sosuke wondered who the words were meant for and struggled with his blood loss and injuries.

• Tetsu no Sosuke crushed Lower Two’s body with the Iron Hammer, leaving him unable to move.
• Tetsu no Sosuke slashed off Lower Two’s head to prevent the demon from healing.
• Lower Two’s severed head kept muttering “unforgivable” as it flew away.
• Tetsu no Sosuke wondered whether Lower Two’s words were meant for someone else and realized he was weakened by his wounds and blood loss.

After defeating the demon at the Hayakawa Estate, Tetsu no Sosuke and his companions escaped and regrouped at an abandoned courtyard. As the injured waited for help from the Hidden, an unexpected visitor knocked at the gate.

• Kashima Taro reported that the other two were safe and that the estate's drugged occupants had been dumped in the street.
• Tetsu no Sosuke left the Hayakawa Estate with Kashima Taro and Big Hammer, avoiding the people who were beginning to wake.
• Tetsu no Sosuke, Kashima Taro, Sato Ami, Kotani Tetsuya, and Big Hammer returned to the abandoned courtyard.
• Tetsu no Sosuke sent a Kasugai Crow to tell nearby Hidden operatives what had happened and ask for help taking the wounded to the Butterfly Estate.
• Someone knocked at the gate, and Tetsu no Sosuke warned Kashima Taro to check who it was cautiously.