Buzz!
Throughout the disorienting, endless corridors of the Infinity Castle, figures were violently ejected from portals, crashing into different spaces.
"What is this place? Why are we here? Is this another one of Muzan's schemes?!"
"Damn it! Oyakata-sama was in danger, and we couldn't do a thing to help…"
The last three active Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps—Shinobu Kocho, Mitsuri Kanroji, and the strongest among them, the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima—appeared at the same time. The expressions on their faces were incredibly grim.
Just moments before Tsukihiko had dragged them into this dimension, Kagaya Ubuyashiki and his wife, Amane, had been in the worst possible situation. Kagaya, the leader they held so dearly in their hearts, had just suffered the most devastating blow of his life. Who could have imagined that the Priest Clan, the saviors they had looked up to, were the true masterminds behind a centuries-long tragedy?
But no matter the truth, Muzan Kibutsuji was far from blameless. As the Demon King, the massacres he had personally committed over the years were countless.
"We have to get out of here as soon as possible!" Shinobu urged, anxiety flashing in her purple eyes. "Oyakata-sama's situation must be even more dangerous than ours right now!"
"That's true…" Mitsuri Kanroji whispered, her face pale with worry. "But the problem is… this place feels like it cuts off all our senses. I don't think our Breathing Styles can even be used to track demons here!"
The Stone Hashira's face was a mask of solemn duty. Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the man who was the very heart of the Corps, was in critical danger, and they were trapped, completely unable to help him.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Before the three of them could formulate a plan, dozens of phantoms materialized from the warped space around them. A set of footsteps echoed softly, and then Doma, the smiling leader of the Eternal Paradise Cult, stepped into view. Flanking him were the remaining Upper Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki: Gyokko, Hantengu, and the sibling pair, Gyutaro and Daki.
"Well now, the last of the Demon Slayers," Doma said, an evil, almost cheerful smile spreading across his face. "This is your final chance. You can surrender to our magnificent Demon King… or you can die!"
As he spoke, insidious demonic shadows seemed to creep from every corner, enveloping the area in a suffocating aura. Even though Shinobu and the others were Hashira, their minds and spirits were in turmoil. Exhausted and demoralized, they felt an unnerving sense of dread. At that moment, they knew they wouldn't be able to draw out even a third of their full strength.
They were unprepared, thrown onto a battlefield they didn't understand, and forced into a fight for their lives against impossible odds.
Crash!
At the same time, in another part of the Infinity Castle, Tanjiro and his friends landed heavily on the wooden floor. While not as strong as the Hashira, they each possessed unique skills that allowed them to absorb the impact and quickly get back to their feet.
"Where are we?!"
"Damn it! The Priest Clan, Muzan Kibutsuji… they're both despicable!"
Tanjiro's heart burned with a rage that had reached its absolute peak. If it weren't for the Priest Clan, a monster like Muzan would never have existed in the first place. And if it weren't for Muzan, his own life, and the lives of so many others, would not have been so tragic. But he knew that dwelling on such thoughts was pointless now.
"We have to leave this place immediately," Tanjiro declared.
"Leave it to me!" Inosuke Hashibira shouted, stepping forward. He was confident his self-taught Beast Breathing could be useful here with its special perception technique.
"Heh, you've recovered quickly."
Before Inosuke could make a move, a calm, indifferent voice cut through the air. From the shadows ahead, Akaza, Upper Rank Three of the Twelve Kizuki, strode into view. Even more terrifying, however, were the figures standing behind him: the Six Demon Servants that Tsukihiko had created from the corpses of the six deceased Hashira.
Their appearances, their Nichirin swords, their Breathing Style forms—everything was identical to the heroes they once were. The sight was a devastating psychological blow to Tanjiro and his friends. Their grief for the fallen Hashira was still a fresh, open wound, and now Tsukihiko was sadistically rubbing salt in it. He truly deserved to die ten thousand deaths.
"Now then," Akaza said, raising a hand. "It's time for this farce to end."
Instantly, the Six Demon Servants moved, stepping out from behind him. Six different Breathing Styles erupted with a terrifying power that made the very air tremble.
And at that very same moment, in yet another location within the castle.
"So, this is the so-called Infinity Castle. Kibutsuji Muzan is indeed remarkable. It seems he merged the Ubuyashiki Ancestral Home with this fortress ahead of time."
A figure dressed in magnificent Onmyoji attire stepped forward, a brilliant light radiating from her body. This was Chinami, the current God Lord of the Priest Clan. Even someone as powerful as her had been swallowed by the castle. She knew that simply entering this place was only the first step; Muzan's true schemes were surely far more terrifying than she could imagine.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suddenly, sharp gusts of wind tore through the air around her, carrying a deadly killing intent. In the blink of an eye, she was surrounded on all sides. On every platform, elite demons armed with firearms and cannons appeared, forming a dense, interwoven network of firepower aimed directly at her.
Then, Kokushibo, Upper Rank One of the Twelve Kizuki, slowly stepped out from among them. "You are the God Lord of the Priest Clan," he stated, his six eyes focused on her. "My Lord has ordered me to await you here. Today, I am to send you to your demise."
As he finished speaking, every muzzle was aimed at Chinami. Her face turned incomparably cold. In that instant, she finally understood how Priest Jubei, despite possessing the clan's strongest bloodline and spells specifically designed to counter demons, had been utterly defeated by Muzan. He had used methods beyond their understanding.
"Heh, as expected of Kibutsuji Muzan," Chinami said, her voice suddenly turning cold and sharp. "To think of such a way to break the stalemate… but unfortunately for you…"
She looked directly at the six-eyed demon. "Kokushibo… or should I say, Michikatsu Tsugikuni. Do you truly believe your brother, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, is dead?"
Her simple question fell into the air, plunging the entire space into a deep, profound silence.
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