A terrifying wave of demonic power erupted from the bodies of Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Amane. One moment, they were dead, their human lives extinguished. The next, a dark transformation was reshaping their very existence. The blood Muzan had given them was not the same kind he used to create the Twelve Kizuki. This was something new, a potent blend he had perfected, fusing the power of humans, demons, and something more ancient—the divine bloodline he had consumed.
His choice of Kagaya and Amane was no mere whim. From the moment the Infinity Castle had reappeared, Muzan had been observing every battle, every detail, pulling the strings of this war. Yet, even he had been surprised. He never expected the so-called Priest Clan to have preserved the corpse of Yoriichi Tsugikuni. And it was clear they had done more than simply preserve it; Yoriichi had been well and truly dead, his consciousness gone.
Muzan knew the Priest Clan possessed strange and powerful methods. They had, after all, saved the original Kibutsuji Muzan—a sickly, stillborn child who should have died countless times after birth. While their methods were likely tied to manipulating fate, their ability was undeniable. If they could do that, resurrecting Yoriichi in a new form was not entirely impossible.
By devouring the High Priest, Muzan had healed the ancient wounds Yoriichi had inflicted upon his body a millennium ago. But the scars on his soul were another matter. He had inherited the original Muzan's body, his power, and all of his memories—including the bone-deep terror associated with Yoriichi Tsugikuni. That was a nightmare not so easily erased. The reappearance of Yoriichi, however, presented an opportunity. It was a chance to face that fear head-on and crush it forever.
Still, if the Priest Clan had a trump card like Yoriichi, they likely had others. To ensure his final victory, Muzan needed to reach his own peak form. Two steps remained. First, he needed the latest medicine developed by the demon doctor, Tamayo. Second, he required the three sacred treasures of the Japanese Imperial Family. These artifacts were not just symbols; they held a mysterious divine power capable of suppressing any unforeseen variables. The Showa Emperor, now his puppet, had already crushed the rebellions within the palace and purged the interfering onmyoji. He was just one step away from securing the treasures.
"Who... who are we?" a confused voice mumbled. "Where... where is this place?"
"Why am I here?" another voice asked, filled with the same empty confusion.
As Muzan finished his thoughts, he saw that Kagaya and Amane had completed their transformation. But it was more than a simple change. Their human memories were gone, wiped clean, much like his loyal Upper Rank Three, Akaza. Now, as their new eyes opened, they knew only one thing: the man standing before them was a being to be feared above all else.
"My name is Tsukihiko," he announced, his voice smooth and commanding. His crimson eyes locked onto Kagaya and Amane.
Thump. Thump.
Without a moment's hesitation, they both dropped heavily to their knees. The instinct was overwhelming. They could feel the terrifying power radiating from Tsukihiko, and they knew with absolute certainty that if they had delayed even for a second, they would have been annihilated. The presence of this man was so immense that they wouldn't last a single second against him in a fight.
"You have no need to remember your past lives," Tsukihiko said, a vibrant, cruel smile spreading across his face. In their previous lives, Kagaya Ubuyashiki and his wife would have rather died a thousand deaths than kneel before the King of Demons. Now, their fate was entirely in his hands. A single thought from him would be enough to end them.
He had enjoyed breaking them, shattering their wills, and then, at the very last moment, granting them a new existence as demons. His purpose was simple: he would use these powerful new tools to test the might of the Priest Clan. His strongest subordinate, Kokushibo, was powerful, but he was still being pushed back by the resurrected Yoriichi. Who knew what other tricks the Priest Clan's leader had up his sleeve? Sending in these two new pawns was the perfect way to find out.
"Your new purpose is very simple," Tsukihiko's voice echoed in the quiet room. "You will go and slay the Priest Clan."
"Yes, my lord," Kagaya replied, his voice devoid of its former warmth.
"As you command," Amane echoed, her tone just as hollow.
The next moment, their forms blurred, transforming into two streaks of dark light that shot out into the night.
...
Meanwhile, deep within the twisting corridors of the Infinity Castle, a sigh of relief was heard.
"It's done," Tamayo whispered, her face pale with exhaustion but her eyes bright with excitement. "Finally... it's finally done." In her hands, she held a vial of newly completed medicine.
"Lady Tamayo, you... you did it!" Yushiro exclaimed, his face beaming with pride and joy. Beside him, Nezuko smiled happily, her own relief evident. They were completely unaware of the horrific events unfolding in the outside world. Being trapped in the Infinity Castle had made them Muzan's prisoners, but it had also shielded them from the chaos.
If Yushiro knew that the Ubuyashiki family and nearly the entire Demon Slayer Corps had been wiped out, he would not be smiling. If Nezuko knew that her brother, Tanjiro, was fighting for his very life at that exact moment, her joyful expression would vanish.
But in their moment of blissful ignorance, a sudden flash of light appeared in the room. In an instant, the smiles on all their faces disappeared.
"Well done, Tamayo," a familiar, chilling voice said. "As expected of the woman I hold in such high regard."
As if their happiness had been stolen from them, it reappeared on the face of Tsukihiko. He stood before them, his smile wider and more vibrant than ever, looking extremely pleased.
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