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Strength didn't matter anymore—weak or strong, it made no difference.
After witnessing Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku's desperate battle, no one could deny it:
He was a hero.
And yet… that hero had died.
At that moment, the entire multiverse seemed to weep.
Of course, no one felt the grief more deeply than the members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Ughhh… sob…""Rengoku-san!!!""Rengoku-nii!!!""Even someone as powerful as the Flame Hashira lost… what kind of monsters are the Upper Moons?!""Rengoku-san was so strong, and so kind too! He was truly a good man!""And still… even someone like him was killed by demons!"
The ordinary Demon Slayer soldiers couldn't stop their tears from flowing.
"Hey! What are you all moping around for? At least Rengoku-san is still alive right now!"Butterfly Mansion's caretaker, Aoi Kanzaki, snapped at them with uncharacteristic force.
At the Rengoku estate.
"Big Brother!!!"
Senjuro Rengoku's face was soaked with tears."You were amazing! So amazing! You're the best brother ever!"
"Kyōjurō…"
Shinjurō Rengoku, the former Flame Hashira who had drowned himself in grief and alcohol after his wife's death, clenched his fists, his eyes red."You're not like me… you're a true Hashira!"
At Demon Slayer HQ.
"Rengoku-san!!!""Big bro!!!""Big Eyeballs, gurgle gurgle!!!"
Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke all broke down completely, crying uncontrollably.
They had been part of the Mugen Train incident—seen and felt every second of it. For them, it wasn't just a vision; it was real.
Even though it hadn't happened yet, watching it unfold was enough to tear their hearts apart.
"Quit bawling already, brats! Rengoku isn't even dead yet!"
Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui barked at them.
The three froze instantly, shutting their mouths tight.
"I really embarrassed myself. Everyone expected more from me, but I still lost… I let you all down. I'm truly sorry."Rengoku's apology was sincere, his voice steady despite everything.
"No. Don't apologize, Kyōjurō."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki shook his head."You did more than enough. You protected everyone. Just like Tanjiro said—this was your victory."
"Yes, yes! You didn't let a single demon hurt anyone else. That's incredible, Rengoku-san!"
Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji sobbed, words tumbling out between tears.
"This battle has given us valuable insight. We've seen the true strength of the Upper Moons, their abilities, and how we might counter them in future encounters."Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima spoke gravely.
"Even someone as powerful as Rengoku lost… the Upper Ranks are terrifying. I hate to admit it, but the top three can't be defeated by a single Hashira alone."Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro shook his head.
"Then one won't be enough. We'll go in twos or threes! Now that we've seen what's coming, we have the chance to change it. Next time the Mugen Train appears, I'm going too!"Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa's voice boomed with fire.
"No."
The usually silent Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka, finally spoke.
"Hah? Got a problem with me?"Sanemi glared, full of hostility.
From the day they'd met, he'd hated Giyu's aloof, holier-than-thou attitude.
"I'm not targeting you. But the visions we saw—the demons can see them too. They'll prepare for us. Next time, it might not just be Akaza waiting on that train."
Giyu's calm words silenced the room.
"Giyu is right," said Ubuyashiki softly. "We must move with extreme caution. And… there's another matter."
His gaze shifted toward Tanjiro.
In an instant, every eye in the room turned to the young charcoal seller.
The Mugen Train incident, Akaza's sudden appearance—it hadn't been random. Muzan had sent him specifically.
The target… was Tanjiro.
"Eh?"Tanjiro tilted his head, confused, his expression childlike.
"There was once a warrior who wore hanafuda earrings, just like you," Ubuyashiki explained. "He was the origin of all breathing styles—the only man to wield the Breath of the Sun. He was also the only one who ever came close to killing Muzan."
At those words, everyone's eyes widened.
They had seen him too—in the vision.The man who had forced Muzan into exploding himself to escape.
"His name was Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Tanjiro… your Fire God Dance, how is it connected to his Breath of the Sun? And do you share some bond with him?"
"I'm sorry… I don't know at all."Tanjiro bowed his head, apologetic.
In the Infinity Castle.
"I lost… I actually lost! To a brat, no less! How utterly laughable!"Lower Moon One, Enmu, was still drowning in despair over his defeat.
Elsewhere—
"I deeply apologize, Lord Muzan."Upper Moon Three, Akaza, knelt with his head bowed.
"My, my. An Upper Moon, bested so pitifully by a mere human Hashira… and failing to complete the mission our lord entrusted to him. How shameful, Akaza-san."Upper Moon Two, Doma, flicked open his golden fan, his mocking tone dripping with venom.
Akaza said nothing. No matter how much rage burned inside him, in Muzan's presence he dared not act out.
"If it were me and my brother, we would have slaughtered every last one of those Demon Slayers."
From the stairs, a courtesan with a jeweled ornament dangling from her thigh—Daki, the facade of Upper Moon Six—descended gracefully.
Behind her shuffled a hideous demon with tangled green hair.The true Upper Moon Six—Gyutaro.
"It's been ages since we've all gathered like this, hasn't it?"
With a splash, a porcelain vase appeared from nowhere, and from it crawled the grotesque Upper Moon Five, Gyokko.
"My apologies for being late!"
Another staircase creaked as the twisted, nervous form of Upper Moon Four, Hantengu, clung to the railing, trembling.
"All present, then?"
Muzan, in his feminine form, glanced toward Upper Moon One, Kokushibo.
"I've called you all here today for one reason. Our feud with the Demon Slayer Corps has stretched on for a thousand years. It's time… to end it."
...
In the world of Demon Slayer.
Both sides—the Demon Slayers and the Demons—were holding heated councils, preparing for what was to come.
And at the same time, the glowing screen began a new recounting:
The next clash between humans and demons.
The Entertainment District Arc—begins!!!
"..."
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