The bone whip, striking directly at Shinobu, was astonishingly fast. Muzan's lips curved into a pleased smile, for he had already foreseen the woman's demise.
As the bone whip was about to pierce Shinobu's body, the smile on Muzan's pale face froze. Yoizumi flew in, severing three of his bone whips with a single strike, and at the same time, a loud whoosh ripped through the air, instantly crushing his bone whips into a puddle of flesh.
Bones and flesh clung to the wall, seemingly impossible to scrape off.
Muzan, eyes wide with fury, stared at the man who had suddenly appeared. The man wielded a chain, gripping a hand axe at one end, while the meteor hammer at the other end spun rapidly into an invisible blur.
"Namu... Amida Butsu."
"I... didn't arrive too late, did I?"
Yoizumi stood beside Shinobu, and after confirming that Shinobu hadn't been touched by the bone whip, he glanced at the man, whose physique was as robust as a giant bear. He had already sensed that the other party was rapidly approaching their location.
With him here, they could feel a little more at ease.
"Mr. Himejima, you've arrived just in time," Yoizumi said.
Demon Slayer Corps Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, has arrived on the battlefield!
"Mr. Himejima!" Shinobu exclaimed in surprise, looking at Gyomei Himejima, who stood in front of her. He nodded slightly at her, his hollow eyes seeming to possess the ability to see through everything.
"It's good that Kochou is alright."
Gyomei Himejima's deep voice resonated, followed by a solemn expression slowly appearing on his face. Naturally perceptive, even without sight, he could fully grasp Muzan's danger. Gyomei Himejima gripped his chain tightly with both hands, and in the next second, the hand axe and meteor hammer in his hands simultaneously turned a transparent red.
"It's time," Gyomei Himejima sighed softly, his veins bulging all over his body. His robust and towering physique displayed clearly defined muscles, which even Muzan couldn't help but acknowledge.
This was the most peak physical existence he had ever seen among humans!
On Gyomei Himejima's arms, Mark resembling rock patterns appeared on the surface of his skin. Muzan raised an eyebrow, he actually activated his Mark on the spot!
This man!
One after another, it's truly endless!
In Muzan's eyes, these Hashira were like ants, weak and annoying.
Tonight was truly terrible!
First Akaza, then Kokushibou, neither of these two useless beings played their intended role!
Fortunately... Muzan looked at the others present, raised a hand to cover his right eye, and casually brushed his disheveled white hair back, tilting his head slightly, his tone barely concealing his triumph.
"Your comrades, the pink-haired woman and the man with the snake around his neck..."
"The boar head and the blond boy..."
"They are all dead!"
Fortunately... Nakime had done him some good.
[Well done, Nakime!]
[...]
Muzan praised Nakime in his mind. Even though Nakime didn't respond, Muzan, in his good mood, was particularly lenient and forgave her rude behavior.
After so long, he finally heard some good news.
"Huh... Wh-what?" Tanjirou opened his mouth in disbelief, his crimson eyes blurring.
Inosuke, Zenitsu, Miss Kanroji, and Mr. Iguro... Tanjirou's hand, covering his mouth, trembled, clearly indicating that the death of his comrades had dealt him a significant blow.
Tanjirou bit his lip, barely suppressing a cry, but tears kept blurring his vision.
Memories of his past with Inosuke and Zenitsu flashed through his mind. Tanjirou had never imagined that separation would come so quickly.
Miss Kanroji and Mr. Iguro... Miss Kanroji would gently give him delicious sweets, like an older sister.
Although Mr. Iguro was not easy to talk to, and very strict during training, always speaking unforgiving words, Tanjirou understood that Mr. Iguro wished for them to become stronger... The other Hashira present, upon hearing the news of their comrades' sacrifice, were stunned at first, but quickly composed themselves, for as Hashira, they had long been prepared to die.
Everyone had prepared for the fact that people they had smiled with yesterday might never return the next day.
"Don't waver, now is not the time," Gyomei Himejima said in a low voice.
"We understand, Mr. Gyoumei!" Kyoujurou's hand, gripping his nichirin blade, made a 'clack' sound. Kanroji, who had been his Tsuguko, and Iguro, who had grown up with him... Kyoujurou took a deep breath, his eyes, imbued with fierce flames, stared directly at the wantonly smiling Muzan.
Facing this news, Yoizumi frowned slightly. Were the presences of Inosuke, Zenitsu, Kanroji, and Iguro that he had sensed false?
"..."
Yoizumi thought for a moment, a flicker of understanding passing through his sapphire eyes.
It was Yushiro.
He had deceived Muzan and controlled Upper Moon Four.
He had sent Muzan incorrect information.
Then, soon the Infinity Castle would collapse, and Muzan would return to the surface!
"Mr. Himejima!" Yoizumi called out Gyoumei's name, and the other party immediately understood Yoizumi's intention, quickly wielding the chain in his hand. The enormous roar exploded in everyone's ears, like an arrow signaling the start of a war!
Snow Breathing Third Form: Thousand Feathered Crane Snow!
Snow covered most of the area; the extreme cold was impossible to ignore. Muzan unleashed his bone whips, which were severed upon contact with the white feathers!
Whenever that numbing coldness was transmitted through the bone whips, a whistling sound would descend from the sky, and the meteor hammer would instantly arrive, smashing through Muzan's torso!
The intense pain brought by the nichirin blade infuriated Muzan.
Blood Demon Art: Black Blood Thorns!
Drawing out his own blood, black-red, iron-wire-like thorns formed from congealed blood, their range even wider than his prick whip could reach!
Striking the nichirin blade, it was like the clash of metal, sparks flying!
Stone Breathing Third Form: Stone Skin!
Gyomei Himejima, with himself as the center, flexibly manipulated the chain in his hand. A weapon weighing dozens of pounds was nothing in his hands, easily fending off a large number of thorns stabbing towards him.
Flame Breathing Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!
Breath of Insect: Dance of the Dragonfly - Compound Eye Hexagon!
Shinobu and Kyoujurou cooperated, blocking the attacks together. Shinobu's right hand trembled, and Kyoujurou, noticing this, stepped forward to block most of the attacks.
"Kochou, don't force yourself!"
A few drops of cold sweat rolled down her forehead. Shinobu's face was grim, and she nodded.
Hinokami Kagura: Burning Bones, Summer Sun!
Tanjirou angrily severed these black-red thorns, a few tears sliding down his face and hitting the ground.
We will settle all our old and new grudges together, Muzan!
------------------------
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