Kanae's entire meridian network surged violently.
Her figure grew more curvaceous; her pants tore at the calves as dark-purple butterfly markings emerged, crawling up her thighs—beautiful yet sinister.
Her chest became fuller, her eyelids dusted with natural purple shadow as if heavily made up.
Her long black hair cascaded elegantly down her back, covering the fluttering purple butterfly marks on her shoulders.
Her butterfly hairpin shifted into a dark-purple version, and the gentle warmth in her expression twisted into something frighteningly seductive and ominous.
Watching Kanae's demon transformation, Doma stood at her side—surprised, yet regretful.
"Doma," Ryuya said, licking the corner of his lips as if savoring the taste lingering from the kiss earlier, "wouldn't it be far more interesting to turn a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps into a demon?"
To be honest, Doma didn't think it was interesting at all.
He only wanted to eat Kanae. Ryuya's actions completely ruined his fantasy.
A faint, unfamiliar irritation—anger, even—stirred inside him.
It was his first time experiencing such emotion, but he didn't know why.
Ryuya, receiving no reply, didn't bother guessing Doma's thoughts.
Whether Doma was satisfied or not wasn't important.
Ryuya looked down at Kanae, trembling uncontrollably at his feet.
Clearly, she had yet to accept the reality of becoming a demon.
Her rapid transformation came from his other passive ability:
Bacterial Infection — speeds up infection and strengthens its effects.
"The Demon Slayer Corps should arrive soon," Ryuya said. "Heh. Experience this cruel reality well, Kanae."
Just as he finished—
A wind blade tore through the air toward him.
Ryuya flicked his nichirin blade effortlessly, splitting the wind apart.
Its owner arrived an instant later.
"Three demons, huh? Guess the Flower Hashira's luck finally ran out!"
Sanemi Shinazugawa—the Wind Hashira—laughed loudly.
The scars across his face twisted into something feral. His entire aura resembled a rampaging beast.
"Three? The report mentioned only two demons."
Gyomei Himejima—the Stone Hashira—stood with hands clasped in prayer, tears streaming from his blind eyes as always.
Even without sight, his ability to sense demon auras was unmatched.
"Oh, of course. One of them is your Demon Slayer comrade, hahahaha!"
Doma burst out laughing, thrilled beyond reason for some strange, unknown cause.
"Mr. Himejima…" Kanae trembled violently.
At this moment, she desperately wanted to run—far from Gyomei, far from Sanemi.
She could not bear to see their faces twisted by betrayal.
"I did not expect this…" Gyomei froze in place as if turned to stone, tears pouring even harder.
Sanemi's reaction, however, was explosive.
His hand shook so severely he nearly dropped his blade.
Kanae Kocho—the gentle woman, the Flower Hashira—
Had become a demon?
Could he swing his blade at his own comrade?
Sanemi sucked in a breath. His trembling pupils hardened into resolve.
No. A demon is a demon. No forgiveness.
Even if he himself turned into a demon, he would kill himself without hesitation.
"Wind Breathing, Sixth Form: Black Wind Mountain Mist!"
With sudden resolve, Sanemi swung his nichirin blade.
A black wind blade ripped through the air, aimed straight at Kanae's neck.
"Mr. Shinazugawa…?"
Kanae froze. Her throat tightened—no words came.
Fear surged through her body like lightning, paralyzing her completely.
Mr. Shinazugawa wanted… to kill her…
"Moon Breathing, Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamity!"
Ryuya sneered, instantly appearing in front of Kanae.
Crimson moon blades spiraled outward, laced with tiny golden moon slivers.
Sanemi's wind blade shattered instantly.
Gyomei reacted in time, swinging his massive axe and meteor hammer, the iron chain intercepting most of the moon blades—but Sanemi wasn't so lucky.
Several small cuts opened across his arms and torso.
A freezing numbness spread through his blood, slowing his thoughts.
His eyes went wide.
He hadn't even seen the attack land.
"Moon Breathing…? Sir Demon, were you once a member of the Demon Slayer Corps?" Gyomei frowned deeply.
He had never heard of a demon using demon slayers' breathing techniques—
Much less a breathing style he didn't even recognize.
"Interesting. Very interesting," Sanemi grinned savagely.
"A demon with a breathing style—that's a demon worth killing!"
Gyomei's heart grew heavier.
Sweat dripped from the hand gripping his prayer beads.
The situation had spiraled far beyond expectations.
Kanae Kocho, a fellow Hashira, had become a demon—
And now they faced Doma, an Upper Rank Demon—
plus a mysterious moon-breathing demon whose strength was unfathomable.
"Sanemi Shinazugawa! Do not act recklessly!"
But neither Gyomei's calm nor Sanemi's fury affected Ryuya.
He glanced to the sky.
The horizon was fading into pale white.
The moon's glow was weakening.
Dawn was approaching.
If not for that, he and Doma could have slaughtered both Hashira easily.
"Sister!! Sister!"
A small figure rushed in—
Shinobu Kocho, in her Demon Slayer uniform, with short black hair tipped purple and a purple butterfly hairpin.
She darted past the Hashira and straight into Kanae's arms.
"Sister—are you hurt? Why won't you talk? Sister, what's wrong? Sister?!"
Shinobu froze.
Kanae looked the same—yet she didn't.
Her soft, gentle aura had twisted into something subtly malicious.
"Shinobu Kocho," Gyomei warned, reaching toward her, "Kanae has already become a demon. Step back—she may harm you."
Unexpectedly, Shinobu reacted with fierce defiance.
"No! This is my sister. My sister would never hurt me!"
She hugged Kanae tighter.
Kanae's eyes filled with tears.
She gently stroked Shinobu's head.
Her eyesight—damaged and nearly lost due to Higan Shugan—
Had fully recovered after becoming a demon.
But the scent from Shinobu's body triggered her hunger.
Her instincts clawed at her—
Yet Kanae's iron self-control held fast.
She would not harm her sister.
Both Hashira were stunned by the emotional scene.
Regret crawled into their hearts.
"Sister… who did this to you? Who turned you into a demon? Who?!"
Shinobu's voice cracked as her grief turned to pure killing intent.
"It was me, little girl."
Ryuya answered coldly, looking down at her.
Shinobu, still a straightforward, passionate child, showed her emotions openly—
Love, hatred, everything.
"Demon… how dare you hurt my sister? Go to hell!"
She ripped herself out of Kanae's arms, drawing her nichirin blade.
Fury propelled her forward as she slashed straight toward Ryuya's neck.
"Don't hurt my sister, Mr. Demon—please!"
Kanae screamed, choking on panic.
She couldn't stop Shinobu in time.
And Shinobu's strength was nothing before Ryuya—
Charging at him was like throwing an egg against a boulder.
Kanae could already see her sister—
Slaughtered in front of her.