The situation in Infinity Castle was just as chaotic as expected. Muzan had been outmaneuvered by Horitake's cunning, leaving him no chance to retaliate. The demon lord was seething with rage, but there was nothing he could do.
And Horitake?
The moment he unleashed his Thunderous Barrage into the black cubic space, watching it vanish into nothingness, Horitake didn't hesitate. Purple arcs of electricity crackled around him as he bolted away at breakneck speed!
To put it bluntly, he was making a swift escape.
What else was he supposed to do? Stand around and wait for Muzan to track him down through Narume's Blood Demon Art?
The black cubic space had already dissipated, and even with his Spirit Vision activated, Horitake couldn't see what was happening inside Infinity Castle. To be safe, he had to flee immediately, prioritizing his own survival.
Fortunately, Tengen Uzui and Muichiro Tokito had already led the Demon Slayers to safety, so Horitake didn't need to worry about them.
His body shimmered with purple lightning as he exploded into motion, tearing away from the abandoned Demon Slayer Corps headquarters and plunging deep into the sprawling mountains.
He ran far—far enough to be certain Muzan couldn't track him down. Only then did Horitake come to a stop.
With a single leap, he perched on a thick tree branch, remaining vigilant.
He scanned his surroundings, even activating Spirit Vision to confirm there were no threats lurking nearby. Only after ensuring his safety did he let out a long breath.
"Phew… looks like I'm in the clear. The plan worked!"
A spark of excitement flickered in Horitake's chest.
His strategy had succeeded! He'd managed to outwit Muzan at the last possible moment!
Sure, it was a shame he hadn't been able to finish off Akaza. But Horitake figured the Upper Rank Three demon would need at least half a year to recover from his injuries. With only a stump of an arm left, regrowing it would take even longer.
For the foreseeable future, Akaza, Upper Rank Three, was effectively out of commission.
Heck, in a fit of rage, Muzan might even decide to execute Akaza himself.
There was another prize, too: Horitake had managed to preserve his stand-in doll.
He pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the doll tucked safely against his skin, and a faint smile curved his lips.
This was no mere trinket—it was a second life. A lifeline.
Saving it this time was a massive win.
Who knew when he'd need it? This stand-in doll could very well be the key to turning the tables in some future crisis.
As for the Demon Slayer Corps, things were probably fine on their end, Horitake mused.
If he'd made it out unscathed, the others were likely even safer. They'd probably all evacuated in an orderly fashion, secure and sound.
Wait a second!
Horitake's heart sank as he realized he'd overlooked a critical detail.
Where the hell was the new Demon Slayer Corps headquarters?
In the chaos of preparing to face Akaza, he'd forgotten to ask Yoyoi. Now, he genuinely had no idea where the headquarters had been relocated.
Talk about embarrassing.
The great Horitake, the Heavenly Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, their strongest fighter, didn't even know where his own headquarters was.
A little dejected, Horitake sighed and leaned back against the tree trunk.
"Forget it. I'll just wait. Once Yoyoi and the others settle in, they'll reach out to me."
After such a grueling battle, he deserved a moment to catch his breath.
With that thought, Horitake began checking his body for injuries.
He hadn't taken much damage—just a few minor scrapes.
He pressed a hand to his chest, feeling a dull ache and some difficulty breathing. The pain was bearable, likely from internal injuries caused by one of Akaza's kicks. He'd even coughed up a bit of blood at the time.
Then there was his eye.
Horitake touched his right eye, now thoroughly blackened like a panda's, wincing at the sharp, sour pain.
That, too, was courtesy of Akaza's kick.
Not bad, Third Brother. Truly a formidable foe. Horitake had taken a few hits.
Confirming he had no other serious injuries, Horitake relaxed.
Just then, he heard the sound of flapping wings.
Turning his head, he saw his Kasugai Crow swooping down, landing on a nearby branch. The bird cocked its head, concern in its voice. "Caw! Lord Horitake, are you alright? Are you alright?"
Horitake nodded. "I'm fine. Just some minor injuries, nothing serious. How's the headquarters evacuation going? No issues, right? Is everyone safe?"
"Caw! The evacuation went perfectly! No issues at all! Everyone's safe!"
"And the Lord? He just broke his curse, and now he's had to travel. Is he holding up okay?"
"Caw! The Lord is perfectly safe!"
"What about Mitsuri and Shinobu?"
"Caw! Lady Kanroji and Lady Kocho are on escort duty. Both are safe."
Horitake nodded, relieved. "Good. Looks like we've weathered this crisis smoothly. Please deliver a message to the Lord. Tell him I defeated Akaza, but unfortunately, Muzan saved him at the last moment. I'm safe and uninjured, so he doesn't need to worry.
"Oh, and ask the Lord to tell me where the new headquarters is. I have no clue.
"That's all. Go."
"Caw!" The crow let out a sharp cry, flapped its wings, and soared off to deliver the message.
After the crow left, Horitake leaned against the tree trunk, settling on the branch to rest and recover his strength.
Unnoticed, the night slipped away. The sun rose, heralding the dawn.
Daylight meant absolute safety. The crisis was truly over.
Horitake's Kasugai Crow flew a great distance, finally catching up to the last convoy of the Demon Slayer Corps' evacuation.
If all went as expected, Yoyoi and his family were likely in this convoy, moving with the headquarters.
From its perch in the sky, the crow looked down at the winding mountain road below. The convoy was a mix of old-fashioned trucks and vintage cars, among which was likely the car carrying Yoyoi's family.
The crow's eyes blinked as it studied the vehicles below.
Instead of descending to report, it beat its wings harder, speeding past the convoy.
It flew on until it reached the second-to-last convoy of the Demon Slayer Corps' evacuation.
This group was less mechanized, composed mostly of horse-drawn carriages laden with bundles of supplies, trundling along the mountain path.
This was the crow's target.
It swooped down, landing on the window ledge of one carriage, and began its report to the occupant inside. "Lord! Caw! Lord!
"The battle is over.
"Lord Uzui and Lord Tokito each defeated a Lower Rank demon.
"Hundreds of demons were annihilated by the Demon Slayers, with only minor injuries and no losses.
"Lord Horitake defeated Upper Rank Three, Akaza, but regrettably, Muzan rescued him at the last moment.
"Lord Horitake is slightly injured but perfectly safe."
------------------------------
Hello everyone!
If you like my work and want to support me on this creative journey, you can support me here:
[patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you for your support!!