PLOT ADVANCES Location the Demon Slayer-verse, Japan-Tokyo; Western Outer Edge of the Capital, Bael Residence, Krichevskoy Mansion
It's been a couple days. Laharl, Gyutaro, and Ranma are waiting for the arc to begin. During this time, Gyutaro's queen, Aya. She has made herself part of the group. Forming bounds with her fellow queen pieces, Albedo, Akeno, and Tsubaki. They taught the spider-devil, all her responsibility as a queen. Also Nero managed to paint a portrait of her, playing the zither. Not only Aya, but Gyutaro liked it. The Red Saber, gave a trademark "umu", gifting the portrait to her and Gyutaro. Rias was having the time of her life. Not only because her itch for everything Japanese was being satisficed, but she can also teasing Gyutaro and Aya. Issei he surprisingly adapted to this timeline of Japan. Having fun in Tokyo. Along with getting closer to Aika, even showing her some of the hentai that he...acquired...from special means. Setsuna, Akeno, Tsubaki, and Daki bought a lot of silk and other manners of clothing. Allowing Daki to create more, era correct clothing, plus a lot more appealing and comfortable for the girls. Another duo that enjoyed themselves greatly. Are Koneko and Mizore. As they bought and ate, a huge number of classical Japanese treats and candy. Right now, everyone is enjoying themselves. Heck Caulifla, Rumi, Morrigan, Yang, Ruby, and Tsubasa were out, out-drinking everyone in the capital. Being devils, they can only get drunk, if they wished to. Because of this they were becoming, quite famous on the city. No drunk, can challenge them or dares disrespect them in any way. As some days ago, someone tried to get handsy with Weiss. And it wasn't Laharl who destroyed that perv. It was the girls, Rumi, Caulifla, Akeno, and many more, gained the name of she-demons. When the local guards came, they were also crushed. With a little...persuasion from Sona. It became a unspoken, but known rule. The exotic women, that frequently venture Tokyo, are off limits. And no one is gonna save you, if they mess with them. Laharl, Ranma, and Kiba were soo proud of their girls. Ranma even commented to Gyutaro, that soon his girls are gonna do something like this, and make him proud. Gyutaro burst in a bright red blush, clearly he was nervous, and incoherent. Shouting curses and insults at Ranma. In a futile attempt to hide his embarrassment. Which only cause Ranma, Laharl, and others to laugh at the display, which in turn made Gyutaro even more flustered. Another thing that happened in these couple of weeks, Pyrrah, she's getting less awkward with everyone. She's been helping with the cooking, talking to Gasper. Helping each other as social introverts, get more at ease with other people. Gasper even took to calling her, Pyrrah-nee. Which made Pyrrah very happy, cause she now has a little brother of her own. Again this only cemented Laharl's opinion, that Pyrrah's unnecessary demise it was all Jaune's fault. Once again he was glad, he'd crippled that wannabe hero. But enough of that. Aside growing closer with various devils, Pyrrah has been training with Gwen and Yang in hand-to-hand combat, while Setsuna and Zombina helped her improve on her weapon skills. Rias did complain a bit, that Sona gain such a strong and capable piece. But she soon got over it, when she saw more of the Demon Slayer manga and anime. Discovering two girls, that instantly won her heart. Those being Mitsuri...surprising no one, and Nezuko. When she mentioned Nezuko, everyone made it clear that Nezuko is off limits. Without her, and her growth the whole plotline of Demon Slayer, will derail on such a level. That finding Muzan, stopping Regoku's death, and other events will be impossible to track and follow.
While sad, Rias promised to not mess with Nezuko. They'll allow possible recruitment, after the plot reaches the finale. Then she can try to persuade Nezuko. As for Mitsuri, she's free game. That satisficed Rias for now. At that moment, some prinnies came towards Laharl and the guys. Raven cast a spell on the prinnies. So they are completely unnoticeable by anyone outside the devils. With that prinnies, were ordered by Laharl to keep watch over the demon slayers. Especially the protagonist group. With them now standing before Laharl, and the others. It must mean that finally the plot was progressing again. As a prinny stood forward, he and his fellow prinnies saluted at their master. The prinny informed him, that Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Nezuko, and Inosuke were back in full-health. Plus on their way to the Mugen train station. So the arc is on it's way. The first time that Tanjiro and his friends, bound with one of the coolest hashira. Rengoku. As well as fighting the empowered Lower Moon One, Enmu the Dream Demon. Then at the arc's finale, the epic clash between Rengoku and Akaza. Meaning it was time to move. Laharl, Gyutaro, and Ranma were going. When Rias, and Issei expressed they want to go as well. Wanting to see the fight between Akaza and Rengoku in person, in all honestly they understood. As that fight it's still one of the most epic modern anime fights, right next to Goku, Vegeta, and Frieza vs. Guren, Baki vs. Yujiro, and others fights as well. Laharl paid some gold coins to the prinnies, thanking them for the good work. As it time for them to leave. Laharl gave a kiss and a "see ya later" to all his girls. With Ranma doing the same, and they'd watched as Aya gave Gyutaro good tidings on his journey. Making the recent peerage king flustered, as he scratched his head and fidget a bit, as he thanked Aya. Deciding not to tease Gyutaro...this time...the small group of devils, left the Krichevskoy Mansion.
MUGEN TRAIN Location the Mugen Train Station Tanjiro and his friends have arrived to a train station. The exact one, that he and the others were sent to investigate. As several disappearances, ones that can be considered the work of a demon. Upon arriving at this train station. Both Inosuke and Tanjiro were mesmerized. Only natural for a country boy, and a wild boy. Zenitsu had to step in, and stop them from causing any chaos in the station. Getting them on the train. Unbeknownst to them, some blue, winged, peg-legged penguins. Prinnies. Were watching, waiting for their master and the other devils to arrive. No soon that the train, started to move. Ranma in his red Chinese shirt, black kung-fu pants, and with a longer pigtail emerged from the crowd. With a smile on his face, he looked over at the dark wilderness. Seeing Gyutaro, standing next to the red hoodie, wearing Laharl. Beside them are Issei in his usual clothes, which is basically his school clothes, without the jacket or dress shirt. And the red haired, Rias in "casual" clothes. Which composed of a pink and red yukata...yeah she's enjoying this world a lot. This made Ranma, shake his head and laugh out loud. Walking passed the people at the station, that watched the young martial artist, with intrigue. As he made it to the edge of the station. With a burst of speed, he leaped into the night covered wilderness. Appearing like he banished in thin air, in the eyes of the public. Who were all shocked by this sight. Regardless the Mugen Train arc, has official began. Now the devils, just have to chase after the train, until Tanjiro and Inosuke take down Enmu...
Location on top of the Mugen Train After a couple hours. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Rengoku fell victim to a dream based blood demon art. Done to them by civilians, suffering from disease or grief. Only by going to sleep, and dream they can stop suffering. And that's how Enmu manipulate them to obey his orders. Not knowing their victims of the sadistic dream demon. Thanks to Nezuko's blood demon art, that burns demons. Did Tanjiro wake up. Then one by one the other awoke as well. Discovering that the train, has become apart of the demon. Planning to devour all the passengers. At first Tanjiro was focused on protecting the people with Nezuko, but then Rengoku came. Turning the tide, he alone focus on protecting the people. Tasking Tanjiro to find and kill the demon, responsible of controlling the train. After telling Nezuko to find, and wake up Inosuke. Tanjiro followed his nose, and went outside the train. Walking on top of the moving train, heading to the source of the scent. Now he was face to face with Lower Moon One, Enmu. A black, pink and blue tipped haired demon, in a suit. Enmu raised his hand, and revealed a mouth on the back of said hand. This started a battle. With Enmu using his blood demon art or spell, blasting a wave from his hand-mouth, placing Tanjiro sleep. Only for Tanjiro to wake himself up, by killing himself in his dream. Surprising the dream demon, because of the slayer's resolve. Then as Tanjiro fought Enmu, Inosuke now awake and ready joined in. Together they beheaded Enmu. But then Enmu revealed that they didn't cut off his head. As his body already has become one. Making thing much more dangerous, and complicated for Tanjiro and the slayers, literally in the belly of the beast. All the while, Laharl, Issei, Gyutaro, Rias, and Ranma are flying after the train. Watching the fight unfolding. As they'd watched Tanjiro, realized where the demon's head or neck would be in the train. And realizing it would be the engine cart is the head, then the coupling has to be the neck. Figuring that out, he and Inosuke rushed to the head of the train. As Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Rengoku are still fighting to protect the sleeping passengers inside the train. So the next part of the battle against Enmu its about to begin. Which involves Enmu manipulating his flesh, making massive growths of flesh. Covered with huge eyeballs that can cast his sleep spell, on Tanjiro through direct eye-sight contact. Everytime that Tanjiro wakes himself up, he opens his eyes and get put to sleep again. This happened several times, until he was close to actually killing himself in the real world. If not for Inosuke, wearing his boar-head mask, and having heighten senses against danger and killing intent, he'd fallen asleep as well. So Inosuke guided Tanjiro in this fight, even using his technique "Beast Breathing; Fourth Fang: Slice n Dice" as Inosuke, delivers multiple diagonal double slashes with both his swords. Not only exposing the Dream Demon's real neck. But opening the path to victory. Once Enmu's neck bone was exposed. Tanjiro delivered the final blow. Taking a breathe, manifesting crimson flames from his mouth and sword. Diving straight at Enmu's neck bone, swinging his blade in a full powered, horizontal, sun slash. Unleashing his technique, Hinogami Kagura: Clear Blue Sky. The burst of crimson fire, actually clear the sky around the train. Along with finally beheading, and defeating Enmu at last. But...without Enmu, the train lost control and derailed. Knowing that aside from Tanjiro, getting stabbed by the conductor. No one is gonna die or get seriously hurt in the train crash, the devils didn't intervene yet. They watched as Rengoku appeared, standing over Tanjiro. Guiding him on how to use total concentration breathing, so he can heal his wounds. Thus Tanjiro sealed his cut artery, and stop the bleeding. Rengoku congratulated him, and his comrades. They defeated the demon, while saving everyone on the train. Just like a demon slayer should. But before any celebrations can happen, Rengoku's face turned serious. As he sensed something powerful was coming. Appearing from the nearby forest, was a short pink haired demon. With prisoner tattoo marks on his body, but what's more striking was his eyes. Demonstrating the kanjis for Upper in one eye, and Three in the other. They were face to face, with an Upper Rank. This demon is Akaza, immediately upon noticing the downed Tanjiro. In a blur, Akaza vanished from his original spot, and was already in mid-swing of a punch to Tanjiro's head. Only for Rengoku to react, blocking Akaza's attack and forcing back the Upper Rank. Akaza was pleased. This hashira is strong, and one thing that Akaza enjoys is facing against strong opponents. As he and Rengoku shared a few words, it was clear that one of the most epic fights in Demon Slayer history is about to begin. Just on top of the knocked over train cart, Issei, Gyutaro, Rias, Ranma, and Laharl took a seat. As Laharl made a magical communication spell, on his right hand. The purple colored glyph, he brought to his ear, as he's gonna call Sona to make a teleportation circle, and bring Asia. Since at the end of this fight, Rengoku, isn't dying like canon.