Muzan Kibutsuji continued to watch the battle between Hantengu and Suzuki Makoto. Akaza's previously rejected suggestion for an ambush was now stirring within his mind.
Yes, why would he think a second person like Yoriichi Tsugikuni could be born into this world?
He's just someone who can use Sun Breathing. Killing one Doma, does that really prove he's enough of a threat to him?
Now, Muzan somewhat regretted treating Hantengu and Gyokko as disposable pawns. If only he had Nakime place a couple of eye demons on them, he could have just opened the Infinity Castle and brought them back—but on second thought, creating an Upper Rank demon was just a matter of giving them a bit more blood. The fact that they could probe Suzuki Makoto's true strength and deal a fatal blow to the Swordsmith Village to strike at the Demon Slayer Corps' power meant these two Upper Ranks had already paid their price.
Muzan had never cared much for these subordinates anyway, so he stopped dwelling on it and instead focused intently on Suzuki Makoto's every move.
Meanwhile, Suzuki Makoto, in the midst of battle, noticed that the feeling of being watched was growing clearer. He was inwardly pleased and began to feel out this presence that transcended space more carefully.
He could now be certain that it was a separate dimension. However, compared to some of the other dimensions his master had led him through in the past, this one seemed much simpler.
And with this more direct perception, Suzuki Makoto was sure that the aura of this separate dimension was closely related to the eye demon he had found after killing Doma. It was highly likely that the demon controlling this dimension used those eye demons as anchors to open gates.
It seemed this was all the intelligence he could gather for now. It would be better to just kill this demon and see if the other one would open a gate to save it, just like last time. That would verify whether an eye demon was needed as an anchor to open the gate.
His mind made up, Suzuki Makoto instantly pursued the two auras that had previously fled.
Zohakuten was startled, and his Crazed Cry of Thunderous Death immediately moved to intercept, but it was too late. Faced with Suzuki Makoto's sudden change of target, Hantengu's main body couldn't react at all.
The two auras were annihilated in an instant. The Crazed Cry of Thunderous Death charging at Suzuki Makoto began to crumble, and the furious Zohakuten dissipated into the wind in a fit of powerless rage.
Just as he thought. Without the presence of an eye demon, the enemy didn't open a gate to try and save this demon.
Suzuki Makoto had gained a lot, and at that moment, in the Infinity Castle, Muzan Kibutsuji also felt he had gained a lot.
Although an Upper Rank Four had died, Muzan's mood had improved considerably, because he believed he had now grasped the extent of Suzuki Makoto's power—while Sun Breathing was intimidating, the guy had neither a Demon Slayer Mark nor a Crimson Red Blade. In terms of killing power, he was no match for Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Perhaps Akaza's plan was indeed better than Kokushibo's suggestion?
The weights on the scales were balanced once more. The risk and reward made Muzan Kibutsuji start to ponder.
Now, perhaps a single small weight would tip the scales and guide fate's steps past this crossroad.
And Suzuki Makoto, still completely unaware of Muzan Kibutsuji's intentions, was hurrying onward with a frown.
Muichiro Tokito's presence had suddenly weakened, and Tanjiro's condition wasn't great either. But logically, there shouldn't be a demon strong enough to defeat the two of them working together.
Could it be another gimmick-based demon like Lower Rank One?
When he arrived, the scene that greeted him was Tanjiro Kamado completely abandoning his defense to slash at Muichiro Tokito, who was trapped in a water bubble.
The wind from the blade swept past, turning all the bone spikes aimed at Tanjiro to dust. And Muichiro Tokito, just freed from his prison, looked at the injured boy before him, a rare hint of confusion flashing through his mind.
As the two boys supported each other, Suzuki Makoto had already lopped off the head of the freak with its mouth and eyes swapped, along with the pot that seemed somewhat asymmetrical.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, just some minor injuries—what about Muichiro?"
"I'm fine."
The Mist Hashira answered curtly. His brain was still foggy from the lack of oxygen, but he needed to understand why Tanjiro had done that.
"Why did you go all out to free me? You saw that even a Hashira like me couldn't break through that water membrane, right? You could have died doing that."
"No, I wouldn't have. I could smell that there was no poison on it, so at worst it would have just been a serious injury. My own wounds haven't fully healed, so I couldn't beat it, but if I could rescue you, you could defeat this guy! So of course I had to save you."
The trust radiating from the boy left Muichiro Tokito a little dazed.
"But I was trapped by the enemy in a single move."
"Because I believe in you, Muichiro-san! I knew you could do it!"
Sealed memories were illuminated by a warm ray of sunlight. In that moment, Muichiro Tokito's once-empty inner world was flooded with light.
"Alright, if you're tired, rest for a bit. There are a lot of injured people here. I'll take them over one by one. Tanjiro, you're in better shape, stay here and look after them."
Suzuki Makoto tossed the half-disintegrated head in his hand at Tanjiro Kamado's feet, gave him a meaningful look, then picked up the few who were still conscious and sped off towards the village.
Tanjiro quickly called out for the cat, managed to draw a bit of blood, and put it in the box for Chachamaru to take away.
The Swordsmith Village itself hadn't suffered much damage. Only the houses of a few swordsmiths on the outskirts had been destroyed, but thanks to the timely warning, there were almost no casualties aside from what happened near the main body of the demon.
When Suzuki Makoto returned for the second time with Tanjiro and the other injured, he saw the Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, who had come to provide support after receiving a report from her Kasugai Crow.
"You're injured? Come over here and get bandaged up!"
By the time Mitsuri Kanroji arrived, all the demons had already dissipated. According to the villagers, the demons had all vanished at almost the same instant. She had suspected it was Suzuki Makoto's doing, and seeing him now confirmed it.
"Suzuki-san! I heard from the villagers that all the demons suddenly vanished in an instant. Was that you?"
"Yes, the main body controlling those demons has been killed. The demon attacking the hot spring inn has also been killed by me—the former was Upper Rank Five, the latter was Upper Rank Four."
"Two more Upper Ranks!"
Mitsuri Kanroji stared at Suzuki Makoto in shock. In the reports after the deaths of Upper Rank Six and Upper Rank Two, the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, had stated that he had little to do with it and that it was entirely Suzuki Makoto's solo performance. Now, he had killed two more Upper Rank demons in a row. Didn't this mean that only two of the six Upper Ranks were left?
"Suzuki-san! It seems the day we defeat the demons is drawing near!"
"Let's work hard together."
"Yeah!"
_____
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