The moment Tsukihiko's words fell, the air behind him warped. Countless shadowy tentacles, slick and eerie, erupted from nothingness. Before Sakonji Urokodaki, Giyu Tomioka, or Obanai Iguro could even process the threat, the appendages shot forward, ensnaring all three of them in an iron grip.
A terrifying, boundless power flooded their bodies, a raw and corrupting energy that felt like it was tearing at their very souls. The world dissolved into a blur of agony. Time itself seemed to break, stretching moments into centuries and compressing hours into fleeting seconds.
"Now, the show can truly begin," Tsukihiko said, slowly rising from his throne. His trench coat billowed around him as if caught in a phantom wind, and a surging, oppressive aura erupted from his form. "Let this storm rage even more fiercely."
Meanwhile, in the capital of Japan, the government cabinet was in session.
A deathly silence had fallen over the grand council hall. The faces of every cabinet member were grim, etched with frustration and fear. The social order, which had been relatively stable, had plunged into absolute chaos in a startlingly short amount of time. It was a situation no one could have predicted, and it was caused by two forces they could no longer ignore: demons and the Demon Slayer Corps.
For centuries, the Demon Slayer Corps had existed in the shadows. The government maintained a superficial, hands-off relationship with them, and after the nationwide ban on carrying swords, the demon slayers had all but vanished from public life. This should have been good news.
Instead, demon incidents began erupting across the country with alarming frequency, causing social unrest and political turmoil. What was far more unacceptable to the Prime Minister and his cabinet, however, was the repeated discovery of Nichirin Blades at the scenes of high-profile assassinations.
While demons were terrifying, they were a known entity that only operated at night. The Demon Slayer Corps was different. They were highly trained samurai who operated as a rogue military force. Previously, under Kagaya Ubuyashiki's discreet leadership, the government had been able to turn a blind eye. But now, they felt as if the Corps was challenging them directly, and that was something they could not tolerate.
"Bang!"
Prime Minister Kametaro, the leader of the Taisho era cabinet, slammed his briefcase down on the conference table. His face was twisted with fury.
"This is too much! It is truly too much!" he roared. "The demons are one thing, but I never expected Ubuyashiki to be so reckless! Last night, the Imperial Family itself was targeted in an assassination attempt, and a Nichirin Blade was left behind at the scene."
As the signature weapon of the Demon Slayer Corps and the only blade known to harm demons, the Nichirin Sword was unmistakable. The government was well aware of its existence. While the location of the Swordsmith Village remained a secret, its people still needed to eat, trade, and live. They were not entirely ghosts.
In the eyes of the government, the Demon Slayer Corps was supposed to function like the immune system of the nation—a necessary force to eliminate the disease of demons. And while they posed a certain threat as an independent armed group, they were ultimately outmatched in the modern era of firearms and cannons.
What the government truly feared was not the Corps itself, but the possibility that Ubuyashiki and his slayers would cooperate with the demons. That was the nightmare scenario that kept them awake at night. And now, all the evidence suggested that their worst fear was becoming a reality.
"Since Ubuyashiki has shown his fangs, we must act," the Prime Minister declared, his eyes burning with cold resolve. "We must find a way to eliminate them. They have caused significant damage to the stability of Japan."
After he spoke, the hall fell into a brief, heavy silence. Then, a single voice broke it.
"Seconded."
It was followed by a chorus of unanimous agreement.
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
One day later, at the Ubuyashiki ancestral home, the situation was dire.
The priestess Amane helped a weary Kagaya Ubuyashiki to his feet. The master of the Demon Slayer Corps seemed dazed, the weight of recent events and his worsening illness pressing down on him. Just then, a report came through their intelligence network.
"What? You have news about the Water Hashira and the others?"
Though Kagaya was a master of concealing his emotions, a flicker of hopeful surprise crossed his face. Since Tsukihiko's devastating attack, the Demon Slayer Corps had been crippled and forced onto the defensive. To make matters worse, the Japanese government was now actively targeting them, seizing their visible assets and crippling their operations. At a time like this, any news that wasn't bad news was a blessing.
"Immediately summon the Hashira," Kagaya ordered, his voice regaining its quiet strength. "It is time for us to act. However, you must remember to prioritize your own safety above all else."
He then turned to his wife. "And Amane, that person from the Shrine Maiden clan… it is time to call on them as well."
"Yes," Amane replied, a determined light returning to her purple eyes.
Soon, the Demon Slayer Corps was in motion once more. This operation was not just a rescue mission; it was a matter of survival and honor. The humiliation they had suffered at Tsukihiko's hands was perhaps the greatest in their centuries-long history. They knew the assassination attempts and the Nichirin Blades left at the scenes were all part of a frame-up, but without evidence, they could not convince the government of their innocence.
Their only path forward was to completely annihilate Muzan Kibutsuji and the demons under his command. Only then could they clear their name and bring true light back to the world. And now, the moment to strike back had finally arrived.
At the same time, in the Butterfly Mansion's medical ward, Tanjiro was making his own stand.
"I have to be a part of this mission," he said, pulling the bandages from his arm. His determined gaze fell on the beautiful woman standing before him, the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho. "If I can't go, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
His eyes hardened, a deep killing intent simmering within them. "Miss Kocho, Nezuko is my sister. Sakonji Urokodaki is my teacher, and Giyu Tomioka is my senior. My entire family was killed by Muzan Kibutsuji. This is a debt that must be paid."
Shinobu looked at him, her purple eyes taking in the unwavering fire in his. She didn't try to argue.
"If that's how you feel, then there's nothing more I can say to persuade you," she said, her voice soft. She held out his Nichirin Sword. "Take this, Tanjiro. But you must remember to survive."
She turned, her expression unreadable. "Only those who live are qualified to speak of hatred. If you die at the hands of a demon, then your sister, your teacher, and your senior… everything you're fighting for will be lost forever."
As her last word echoed in the room, her figure vanished from Tanjiro's sight.
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