"Who killed him?"
Tomioka Giyuu suddenly spoke, his voice calm but sharp as a blade.
"Lucas… Mr. Lucas."
Murata exhaled as he uttered the name. The moment he said it, a strange calm washed over him.
It was strange, really. When he first met Lucas, Murata had never imagined he would feel such comfort when mentioning him. Back then, Lucas seemed just like any other new swordsman. But now… after watching him single-handedly take down one of the Twelve Kizuki, Murata's view had completely changed.
Referring to someone younger than you as "Mr." spoke volumes about the respect he had earned.
"Lucas?"
Shinobu Kocho furrowed her brows, clearly unfamiliar with the name. She had a vast knowledge of high-ranking Demon Slayers, but this name was new to her.
She glanced at Giyuu for clarification. The Water Pillar shook his head silently—he didn't know the name either.
"Yes, Mr. Lucas. He killed a member of the Twelve Kizuki by himself," Murata explained anxiously, noticing their doubts.
"Alone?" Shinobu repeated, frowning more deeply now. Giyuu, too, looked skeptical.
Did this low-ranking Demon Slayer know what he was talking about? Maybe he mistook an unusually strong demon for one of the Twelve Kizuki?
"Are you absolutely certain that the demon you saw was part of the Twelve Kizuki?" Shinobu asked gently, her tone calm and respectful despite her doubts.
"Yes, it was the Lower Rank Five. I saw the numbers in his eyes," Murata replied, nodding earnestly.
Initially, Murata hadn't been sure if Rui—the demon Lucas fought—was one of the Twelve. But when Lucas turned the tide of battle, he saw the numbers hidden beneath Rui's messy bangs: the unmistakable kanji for "Five" and the label "Lower Rank."
It left no room for doubt.
Among Muzan's creations, only members of the Twelve Kizuki bore numbers and the distinct "Upper" or "Lower" rank kanji in their eyes. No other demon, no matter how strong, would have them.
Now fully convinced, both Shinobu and Giyuu were taken aback. If Lucas had really killed a Lower Moon, then he was not just any ordinary Demon Slayer.
"But then… who is this Lucas?" Shinobu murmured to herself. "Why haven't we heard of him before?"
Someone who could take down one of the Twelve Kizuki on his own should have already gained the attention of the Hashira.
"He... where is Mr. Lucas now?" Shinobu asked Murata again.
"Mr. Lucas went off to slay more demons. I don't know his current location, but Tanjiro and the others are fighting over there."
Murata pointed toward the woods to the west.
"Tanjiro?" Giyuu's eyes widened slightly. "He's here too?"
He remembered Tanjiro Kamado—the boy had only passed Final Selection this year. How did he get caught up in a battle against one of the Twelve Kizuki already?
"Do you know Mr. Tomioka?" Shinobu asked with a smile, noticing Giyuu's change in expression.
She wasn't particularly interested in Tanjiro himself, but if he had come here with Lucas, perhaps she could learn more about this mysterious swordsman.
Without answering, Giyuu turned and dashed toward the direction Murata had indicated. He had to see for himself.
Shinobu followed close behind, her curiosity equally piqued.
---
In the woods to the west...
"Inosuke, are you alright?!"
Tanjiro's voice was filled with concern as he watched his wild friend crash into a tree. The massive Spider Demon—part human, part arachnid—had easily thrown Inosuke aside.
Earlier, they had cooperated in battle, believing they were close to victory. But when the demon unleashed its blood demon art, the tide had swiftly turned. Inosuke's Nichirin Blade had snapped, failing to cut through the demon's neck.
"I'm fine, Kamaboko Gonpachiro! What about you?!"
Inosuke shouted through gritted teeth. Though his ribs were likely dislocated, he stubbornly refused to show weakness.
Tanjiro was in no better shape. His own blade was broken, and the strain from his breathing techniques left his lungs burning with pain.
They needed help. If Lucas were here, things wouldn't be this dangerous.
But he wasn't. And they were on the brink of death.
The Spider Demon advanced, looming over Inosuke's crumpled form. The beast grabbed Inosuke by the head and began squeezing.
"No!!"
Tanjiro's eyes widened with panic. He surged forward, ignoring the pain and clenching the hilt of his shattered sword.
He racked his brain, flipping through every Water Breathing form he knew—but none seemed strong enough.
Then, as if summoned by desperation, a memory surfaced.
His father. The God of Fire Kagura.
Tanjiro adjusted his breathing. His body trembled from fatigue, but his resolve burned hotter than ever.
Scarlet flames burst from the edge of his broken blade.
"Hinokami Kagura: Dance!"
The flame-coated sword slashed in a wide arc, cutting toward the demon's neck like the rising sun against the night.
This time, the demon's neck didn't resist. It melted like ice under the sun, severed cleanly by Tanjiro's blazing attack.
The demon's head rolled away. Its body twitched, then collapsed.
Tanjiro, spent, fell to his knees. His vision blurred as he looked toward Inosuke, who was still unconscious.
He began crawling toward his friend when a calm voice stopped him.
"Don't move. You'll worsen your injuries."
A gentle hand touched his back, followed by a sting. Medicine was being injected into him.
"Mr. Tomioka…?" Tanjiro asked weakly, recognizing the voice.
"You did well."
Another voice spoke up—softer, lighter.
"She is?"
Tanjiro blinked and saw a petite figure walking toward Inosuke.
"That's the Insect Pillar, Kocho Shinobu," Tomioka replied. "She'll take care of the rest."
"There aren't any more demons around, right?" Shinobu asked, scanning the area.
"No, that was the last. The strongest of the Twelve Kizuki was dealt with by Mr. Lucas. Zenitsu handled one himself. Inosuke and I took care of two."
"Lucas again…" Giyuu muttered. "Who is he?"
"Mr. Lucas passed Final Selection with us. He's incredibly strong. The Twelve Kizuki are no match for him," Tanjiro said, his eyes glowing with admiration.
"You passed together?" Giyuu looked stunned. "So he's from this year's batch?"
That made things even more shocking. To achieve such power only months after passing Final Selection... it reminded him of someone.
Another prodigy.
Muichiro Tokito.
Shinobu, who had been listening in quietly, was also taken aback.
Even Kanao, who had trained since childhood, wouldn't be able to kill a Twelve Kizuki member in two months.
Lucas's potential was not just impressive—it was extraordinary.
After finishing her medical treatment, Shinobu turned to Tanjiro.
"At that time, Mr. Lucas…"
Tanjiro nodded and began to recount in detail everything Lucas had done—how he'd saved their lives, defeated Rui, and fought with unmatched grace and power.
And with each word, both Pillars began to realize something:
A new star was rising in the Demon Slayer Corps.
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