His pupils suddenly constricted.
An indescribable emotion surged within Akaza.
He had cultivated martial arts for over a hundred years, only to pull Kokushibou from the position of Upper Moon One and prove himself the strongest.
However, he had yet to defeat Douma, and Kokushibou was already suspected to be dead.
Hoo…
It was hard to breathe; an unexplainable pressure enveloped his entire body, making his chest feel heavy. Akaza didn't know what was happening to him.
Just then, Muzan slowly raised his head.
His scarlet, blood-moon-like eyes quietly gazed at the few demons before him.
Then… a tangible aura of coercion emanated from his body.
Thud!
All five demons, including Upper Moon Six, knelt in unison.
Akaza rested a single fist on the ground, his head bowed low, clearly feeling the almost volcanic eruption of rage emanating from Muzan.
—For Lord Muzan to be so angry, it must be…
"That's right."
Akaza's thought had just faded when Muzan's gloomy voice echoed in his ears:
"Kokushibou is dead."
"Akaza, what are your thoughts?"
"..."
Upon hearing this.
Akaza's body trembled slightly.
Finally.
He stammered for a few seconds, then whispered, "Your subordinate…"
"It's hard to believe."
To the side.
Douma took out his copper fan and fanned himself lightly.
His tone mimicked sadness: "How could this be?"
Upper Moon One, in his impression, was a demon who had existed even before the Upper Moons were established.
For hundreds of years since the Twelve Demon Moons were formed, the Lower Moons frequently changed, but the Upper Moon positions rarely did.
Now… the strongest among them.
Upper Moon One is dead…
Except for Douma.
The other Upper Moons all trembled with fear.
Muzan sensed the emotions of the Upper Moons, his expression uncontrollably irritated.
He suppressed the anger in his voice and coldly snorted:
"This is a change!"
"A change for the worse!"
Creak—!
He clenched the armrest of his chair, his teeth gradually grinding together, the oppressive aura emanating from him growing thicker, and the surrounding structures, including the ground, began to crack and shatter one by one.
"I…"
The moment that single word was uttered.
Bang!
Countless wood splinters exploded under his palm.
He coldly swept his gaze over the Upper Moons before him, the rage and even hatred in his eyes almost materialising:
"What I hate the most is change!"
Whoosh!
Muzan, who was sitting on the chair, suddenly vanished.
He appeared in front of Akaza, his expression icy, looking down at him from above.
His palm pressed down slightly.
His pale knuckles suddenly tightened.
The next second.
Chirp!
Gyokko, who was trembling beside him, had his bewildered head suddenly appear in Muzan's hand.
Blood splattered from his neck.
"Eh?"
Gyokko looked at the suddenly inverted world, the few small hands on his head flailing about.
Then…
He felt the touch on his head.
A blush crept up his cheeks, accompanied by a few excited smiles.
—Lord Muzan… is actually caressing my head!!
"..."
Muzan, who had intended to vent his emotions on something, immediately lost interest upon seeing this.
He frowned slightly and tossed Gyokko's head aside like trash.
His gaze was utterly indifferent:
"I… no longer have any expectations for you."
Seemingly oblivious to the oppressive atmosphere permeating the area, Douma waved his copper fan and smiled as he raised his head:
"Why do you always say such things that make people sad~"
"Have I ever failed to meet your expectations~"
"Failed?" Muzan's voice squeezed out from between his teeth, like an interrogation. He looked at Douma: "If so…"
"Why have you still not found the blue spider lily to this day?"
"I truly…"
At the mention of the blue spider lily, veins uncontrollably bulged on Muzan's forehead:
"I'm gradually starting to wonder why you even exist…"
"The Ubuyashiki family still survives to this day…"
"For hundreds of years, your existence has not propelled my plans forward in the slightest…"
"Now… how dare you say you've never failed to meet my expectations?!"
He flashed again, appearing in front of Douma.
Douma's emotionless eyes and the fake smile on his face infuriated Muzan even more.
Without warning, he flicked a finger.
Bang!
Douma's head exploded with a boom.
Scarlet blood splattered like raindrops in all directions, and Muzan stood before him, his voice undisguisedly chilling:
"From now on!"
"No matter what methods you use, you must find the blue spider lily for me in the shortest possible time!"
As he spoke.
Douma's head had already regenerated.
He wasn't angered by Muzan's sudden action; instead, he continued to smile, nodded, and accepted the command:
"Yes~"
Seeing this, the other Upper Moons also assented.
Then.
Pshh!
Several fleshy tentacles grew out of the floor, piercing through their bodies like lightning!
Muzan's blood, accompanied by the wriggling of the tentacles, continuously flowed into their bodies.
Immediately.
"Hoo ah…"
All six demons, including Nakime, let out cries of varying intensity.
Some even lay prostrate on the ground, their veins bulging all over their bodies, their forms twisted, emitting agonising wails!
When the blood injection ended, the aura emanating from the six demons visibly swelled by a noticeable amount.
Nakime became Upper Moon Six.
The beautiful girl, Daki, also transformed from her original half-human form into a pure demon form.
Her pale skin was like that of a corpse, colourful sashes floated behind her, and fine, dense veins twisted and spread like a spiderweb across her limbs.
The kanji in her eyes had changed from [Upper Moon · Six] to [Upper Moon · Five].
Douma observed the kanji [Upper Moon] and [One] in his eyes through the ice he formed with his Blood Demon Art.
The smile on his face became even more pronounced.
This scene made Upper Moon Two, Akaza, grit his teeth in hatred.
He was just about to initiate a Blood Battle for rank.
The next moment.
"Clang!"
Akaza suddenly vanished from his spot.
Close behind him, Douma disappeared, but before leaving, he heard Lord Muzan's message to him:
"Go and expand your Eternal Paradise Faith. Don't worry about the numbers; even tens of thousands of people are fine. I… only want the blue spider lily!"
…
Flame Hashira's Residence.
When the Upper Moon meeting concluded.
The sky gradually brightened.
Several Hashira returned from their respective assigned regions, quickly arriving here.
The former Flame Hashira, Rengoku Shinjuro, leaned against the eaves, his brows lowered.
He watched the people coming and going, holding a gourd full of sake, silent.
He raised his head.
Crystal-clear sake poured from the mouth of the gourd, and he opened his mouth, drinking it all in one gulp.
Immediately after, a mumbling voice echoed in the corridor:
"Meaningless."
"Even if it's him, what then?"
"Four hundred years…",
"Who knows if he's become a being comparable to Kibutsuji Muzan…"
He had never seen a human who could live for four hundred years, never!
Rengoku Shinjuro felt that the Master was confused…
But…
It was not false that Upper Moon One died by his hand.
Even an experienced veteran like him couldn't discern the current situation, so he could only prepare for both possibilities.
Clang!
He touched the smoothly polished Nichirin blade placed beside him…
A resolute mindset fermented in his chest.