While Yosuke and Tamayo were still at a loss on how to deal with Kibutsuji Muzan's blood, Yosuke's demon crow suddenly flew into the clinic.
"Caw, caw… Tsugikuni Yoriichi has joined the Demon Slayer Corps."
Having delivered its report, the crow flew back out. Yosuke's face immediately lit up with excitement.
Tamayo, puzzled, asked:
"You've been paying close attention to this man, Tsugikuni Yoriichi. What's so special about him?"
Yosuke explained:
"Let me put it this way—every living being has a natural predator. For us demons, Tsugikuni Yoriichi is that predator!"
Tamayo looked doubtful. If demons truly had a natural enemy, then surely demons wouldn't have been able to ravage the human world so freely. The Demon Slayer Corps, as they were now, only hunted demons through sheer numbers—sacrificing lives, piling up corpses, rather than through true strength.
"Perhaps you don't believe me," Yosuke said with conviction. "But Tamayo, just wait and see. The natural enemy of demons has appeared. The war between humans and demons is about to begin!"
Seeing the unshakable faith in Yosuke's eyes, Tamayo chose, for now, to trust him.
"Then what do we do next?"
"We make contact with Yoriichi. Earn his trust, if possible. And then… we plan together for the day we strike Muzan down."
But finding Yoriichi proved difficult. His movements were always elusive, and Yosuke and Tamayo's attempts to track him yielded little.
One time, Yosuke's crow managed to locate Yoriichi—but it strayed too close. Mistaken for one of Muzan's messengers, the crow was struck down by the Demon Slayers.
Yosuke considered approaching the Corps directly, but the blood of the Ubuyashiki clan ran in their veins, and their senses were finely tuned. The moment Yosuke appeared, they recognized the aura of a demon. Without giving him a chance to speak, dozens—hundreds—of Demon Slayers rushed at him, Nichirin blades flashing.
Reluctantly, Yosuke fled, for fear of hurting them.
Frustrated, he returned to Tamayo's clinic, collapsing into a chair and venting:
"It's unbearable! I didn't even get a single word out before they were swinging their blades at me! Tell me, Tamayo—am I the demon here, or are they?"
Tamayo couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh softly at his misery.
"Tamayo, you should be the one to approach the Corps," Yosuke sighed. "The blood of the Ubuyashiki family, coupled with the aura of a Demon King, makes me far too conspicuous."
Tamayo, understanding his position, responded gently:
"I see. I'll go."
Yosuke rose, picked up an empty vial, and cut his palm with his claw, letting his blood fill the container.
When it was full, he handed it to Tamayo:
"These days, most of the Corps have already learned the Breathing Styles. Their combat strength has risen sharply. If they refuse to listen to reason, drink this. Unless it's Yoriichi himself, no one will be able to stop you."
Tamayo carefully tucked the blood-filled vial into her robes.
"For now, we'll act separately," Yosuke said. "When everything is ready—we'll meet again."
Edo Region
A lone samurai walked through the nighttime streets, a straw hat shading his face, a katana hanging at his waist.
It had been a year since Yosuke parted ways with Tamayo. In that time, he had done nothing but hunt demons.
He entered a tavern, ordered a flask of sake, and sat in a corner, drinking quietly.
"Have you heard? Over in East Edo, people have been disappearing every night."
"Yeah, I heard too. They say it's the work of demons."
"Demons? Don't be ridiculous—it's probably bandits or something."
Yosuke drained his cup of sake in silence, replaced his straw hat, and left the tavern.
"The road of atonement… stretches long and heavy."
In a back alley of East Edo, Yosuke found a demon feasting on a corpse.
The demon turned its head, eyeing Yosuke. Feeling no Demon King aura, it assumed he was just a newly-turned demon trespassing on its feeding ground.
"Get lost! This is my hunting ground!"
Yosuke lowered his gaze, saying nothing, and slowly drew the Nichirin blade from his hip.
In the demon's shocked eyes, Yosuke's figure vanished—reappearing behind it.
Its vision spun. It saw its own body, headless, crumpling to the ground.
"Am I… being decapitated?"
As Yosuke sheathed his blade and turned to leave, the severed head suddenly glared at him, eyes wide.
"Heh… I've found you, my foolish little brother!"
That chilling voice, that gaze which looked down upon everything—
Kibutsuji Muzan.
Yosuke flared his senses to their fullest, and sure enough, Muzan's aura was rapidly approaching.
There was no time to waste. If they fought here, the entire street would be drenched in blood.
Yosuke fled to a desolate mountain valley, waiting in silence for Muzan's arrival.
At the cliff's edge, Muzan looked down upon Yosuke with contempt.
"Yosuke, you call yourself a Demon King, yet you're utterly pathetic."
Yosuke sneered in response:
"Would you rather I slaughter innocents and claw for immortality like you? Is that what would make me worthy in your eyes?"
Bathed in moonlight, Muzan spread his arms, voice dripping with scorn:
"As demons, we have transcended the shackles of lowly creatures. Humans are nothing but our food—stepping stones for our strength! And you, my brother, still cling to your humanity like a fool."
Yosuke shot back:
"The meaning of life lies not in its length, but in how fully it is lived. Life is like a rushing river—it is only in surging forward that it becomes beautiful, that it has meaning! Every being only gets one life, and that life is the most precious treasure of all!"
"Hmph! Life? Meaning? What nonsense! Without eternity, everything you gain will crumble to dust—worthless! Ubuyashiki Yosuke, I'll give you one last chance. Join me. With the power of two Demon Kings, none in this world could stand against us!"
Yosuke laughed coldly:
"Muzan, your arrogance truly knows no bounds. The only reason you waste breath on this speech is because you can't do anything to me. We share the same blood—you can't control me, you can't bend me to your will, and above all—you cannot kill me."
Muzan's eyes narrowed, murderous intent spilling forth.
"Then let's put that to the test."
His form twisted—hair turning a ghastly white, his limbs and torso enveloped in flesh, fur, and writhing mouths lined with fangs. The stench of blood thickened the night air.
Facing Muzan's transformation, Yosuke revealed his own Demon King form.
His black hair flared into a vivid blood-red, blood-wings sprouted from his back, and streams of crimson fluid swirled around him.
When their auras collided, the valley quaked. Dust and rubble filled the air.
The battle of the First Demons—
was about to begin.
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