Demon Slayer HQ – Morning After
The air was still.
The Hashiras had barely recovered from the "training" with the Slayer. Some bore light bruises; most bore shaken pride.
But then—like a falling mountain—the Slayer stepped into the courtyard, helmet under his arm, cape swaying.
For the first time…His voice echoed across the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Prepare."
Every head turned.
Giyu, Mitsuri, Gyomei, Obanai, Sanemi—they stopped what they were doing.
The Slayer walked to the center of the yard. His green armor shimmered in the sun. The red mark on his chestplate, glowing faintly.
He stood like a colossus, unmoving.
And then… he spoke.
"Take in the civilians. Fortify your villages. Walls. High and thick. Reinforce gates. Clear out surrounding forests."
"Move silently. No panic."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki, wheeled out by his attendants, listened with wide, stunned eyes. "Slayer… What has happened?"
The Slayer looked to the sky. The sun… dimmed.
"Hell.""Hell has followed me here."
A silence deeper than night swallowed the yard.
"They are not like the demons you know. They do not burn in light. They do not die unless crushed.""These are creatures I fought for eons. I tore through their worlds. They were endless, but I endured. I broke their gods."
The Hashiras stood speechless.
Sanemi, who once sneered, now stood quietly. Even he couldn't muster a retort.
"We hold the ground. You hold the towns. I will tear through them. But if I fall… none of you will survive."
"You are strong. Prove it. Not to me—but to them."
The Slayer turned. Helmet clicked back into place.
And with that… he walked toward the horizon, toward the west, where the smell of ash had begun to roll in.
Meanwhile – Somewhere Between Realms
Muzan collapsed into the dirt—sweating, bleeding, humiliated.
The Upper Moons—Kokushibo, Akaza, Doma, Nakime—teleported away with what power they had left.
But they didn't regroup in shadows or castles.
They arrived… at Demon Slayer HQ's edge.
Corps members screamed and drew swords.
But Kagaya, sensing something grave, raised his hand. "Let them speak…"
Muzan, blood dripping from his mouth, fell to his knees.
"He's here…" he rasped. "The king of hell… is on Earth…"
Gyomei stepped forward, eyes burning. "Why would you come here?"
Akaza spat blood. "We ran."
Doma's grin cracked. "We were… dethroned."
Kokushibo, for once, looked not like a warlord, but like a child lost in the dark. "You need us…"
"You need us to survive what's coming."
Everyone turned as a heavy thud echoed.
The Slayer stood behind them all, silent.
He looked down at Muzan.
Even Muzan couldn't meet his eyes.
Slayer turned to Kagaya, then to the Hashiras.
"They ran from what I've already killed."
He stepped forward slowly.
"They're not allies. They're not friends. But for now… they are weapons. Use them wisely."