As Kagaya Ubuyashiki stood against the Upper Ranks, a different scene was unfolding deep within the Yoshiwara district. Calm, deliberate footsteps echoed through the dimly lit streets, creating a strange and unsettling rhythm in the air.
Tsukihiko walked slowly, his gaze falling upon several children huddled together, sleeping fitfully. Their small bodies trembled, a clear sign of the terror they had experienced. It was an expected reaction. Any child who was suddenly kidnapped and forced to ingest a strange drug would be emotionally unstable.
A faint, cold smile touched Tsukihiko's lips. "So, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, you've finally decided to show yourself," he murmured to the empty street. "But it's too late. After my earlier tests, I already know the limits of your newfound power."
Even knowing that Kagaya had been strengthened by the High Priestess of the Shrine Maiden Clan didn't concern him. The man may have reached the peak of human potential for a short time, but to Tsukihiko, it was insignificant. A temporary boost in power meant nothing compared to the grand scope of his own plans. A single man like Kagaya was just a pawn.
Kagaya is like a dying tiger right now, Tsukihiko thought, taking another step. The best way to destroy him isn't with physical force. It's by utterly crushing his spirit.
For generations, the sole purpose of the Ubuyashiki clan and the Demon Slayer Corps had been to eradicate demons. The Corps was built with Ubuyashiki money and dedication. But their motivation wasn't simply a sense of duty to the people. The existence of Muzan Kibutsuji and his powerful demons was a direct threat to their family's survival. They fought because they had no other choice.
But what would happen if the Ubuyashiki clan discovered the truth? What if they learned that the true source of the demon curse—the reason for their short lifespans—wasn't Muzan Kibutsuji at all? What if they found out it was the very Shrine Maiden Clan they worshipped as gods, the same clan they had showered with resources and treated as honored guests for centuries?
At that moment, even a man with a spirit as strong as Kagaya Ubuyashiki would surely break. No one could bear the weight of such a betrayal. To realize your entire existence was a tragic fate manipulated by those you trusted most would shatter anyone's faith.
Even though Kagaya had gained extraordinary power from the High Priestess, it came at a terrible price. In three days, his body and soul would be annihilated, and the Ubuyashiki bloodline would end forever.
But Tsukihiko had no intention of letting the clan fade away so quietly. He would orchestrate one final, brutal conflict. At the very least, Kagaya Ubuyashiki would learn the true cost of opposing him.
"And now," Tsukihiko mused, looking at the children, "it's time for the future Emperor Showa to make his appearance."
With a sudden movement, he plunged his hand into his own chest, squeezing his heart until a few drops of dark blood dripped from his fingertips. Five drops of his blood—the blood of the strongest demon king—fell toward the sleeping children. Whichever of these young imperial heirs could withstand its power would become the next ruler of Japan.
Meanwhile, back on the battlefield, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's magnificent arrival had filled the Hashira with a surge of energy. Gyomei Himejima, Shinobu Kocho, and Mitsuri Kanroji felt their fighting spirit reignite. Tanjiro and the others were equally stunned. In their minds, their Master was a frail man on the verge of death. They never imagined that the head of the Ubuyashiki family, who had been confined to his bed, could not only stand but also possess the terrifying power to confront the Twelve Kizuki.
"You're asking for death!" Douma snarled from mid-air. The Nichirin blade Kagaya had launched had almost contemptuously destroyed every ice clone he had created. As Upper Rank Two, he knew of Kagaya, but only as the cursed, short-lived leader of the Slayers. The power Kagaya now wielded was immense, perhaps even beyond that of Upper Rank One, Kokushibo.
"Fine, then! Let me show you what this cult leader can really do!" Douma roared.
However, before he could make a move, Kokushibo and Akaza acted.
Boom!
With a sound like tearing space, Akaza shot forward like a cannonball, his body radiating an overwhelming fighting spirit. "Good! Yes! This is the intensity a real battle should have!" he yelled, his exhilaration echoing in the air. He reveled in this feeling, treating battle as the very meaning of his existence.
"Destructive Kill!"
With a final roar, the intricate tattoos covering Akaza's body seemed to come alive, glowing as they flowed across his skin.
At the exact same moment, Kokushibo moved. As Upper Rank One and a former Demon Slayer from the Sengoku era, his power was legendary. A torrent of demonic energy erupted from his body, causing his six eyes to glow with a light so intense it was impossible to look at. The air around him filled with the sound of a thousand phantom swords being drawn at once.
"My sword is named Kyokoku Kamusari—the Hollow Crying of the God of Departure!"
His crisp voice cut through the chaos. The six-eyed swordsman moved, leaving countless afterimages in his wake as he seemed to teleport across the sky.
"Over the centuries, I have killed humans, demons, and Onmyoji," Kokushibo stated, his voice cold and ancient. "I have killed the head of the Ubuyashiki clan before."
The next moment, his blade transformed, becoming a grotesque weapon seemingly forged from countless, densely packed eyes. As he swung it, the sky itself seemed to be covered by a swarm of unblinking eyeballs.
"You are the second."
As he spoke, a world-shattering blast of energy erupted from his sword, screaming directly toward Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
The two attacks, one of pure destructive force and the other of terrifying swordsmanship, converged on their target. In an instant, the entire battlefield erupted into blinding light and absolute chaos, the shockwave spreading wildly in all directions.
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