Chapter 23: The traitor is executed! The same bargaining chip!
With demon blood in his throat, Kaigaku curled up on the ground, convulsing violently.
His skin instantly turned pale, his pupils became completely black, and sharp fangs and claws burst through his flesh.
However, in a moment, the power of the demon blood subsided within him.
Kaigaku stumbled to his feet, his face filled with unsuppressable ecstasy and the relief of surviving a great catastrophe.
He succeeded!
From the moment the Demon Slayer Corps declared a decisive battle with the Demon King, he had been planning day and night, and today, his wish was finally granted!
Kaigaku truly couldn't understand what those fools in the Demon Slayer Corps were thinking!
They couldn't even clear out ordinary demons causing chaos everywhere, yet they dared to challenge the Demon King?
He would absolutely not do something as foolish as a moth flying into a flame!
Living was more important than anything!
Even if he became a demon, as long as he had one breath left, it was his victory!
Just as Kaigaku was immersed in infinite fantasies about the future, a sharp sword light suddenly tore through the night sky.
Arthur's sword sliced Kaigaku in half at the waist, and the blade didn't stop, turning to another demon shadow.
Crack!
A crisp cracking sound was particularly abrupt. Arthur looked down and saw that a ceramic pot at his feet had shattered into pieces.
He raised an eyebrow: "A pot?"
Blood Demon Art: Water Prison Pot!
In an instant, thick, foul-smelling liquid poured down from above, covering an extremely large area, ready to engulf and encase Arthur entirely.
Wind Form: Roar!
A tornado rose from the ground, swirling upwards, instantly scattering the viscous liquid!
Arthur rode the wind straight up, locking onto the strangely shaped Upper Rank Five, Gyokko, from above.
Blood Demon Art: Octopus Pot Hell!
With a sinister grin, Gyokko took out another dark ceramic pot and aimed it at Arthur. Several huge, slimy octopus tentacles suddenly shot out from the mouth of the pot, waving their suckers, trying to entangle and crush Arthur!
"It's either slime or tentacles, you really have a twisted taste!"
Rock Form: Savage Tail!
Arthur's strength was far beyond what those tentacles could compare to. A streak of sword energy flashed like a bolt of silk, not only instantly severing all the octopus legs but also once again shattering Gyokko's vessel hidden behind the tentacles!
This time, Arthur didn't even look at the shattered ceramic pot again. His figure turned into an afterimage, rushing straight towards the depths of the mountain forest.
As daylight broke, a thunderous strike followed closely.
Gyokko's true body, covered in fish scales and dragging a fish tail, spewed blood from his mouth and flew backward in a sorry state, a long sword shining with platinum light embedded in his chest!
"Impossible! My scales are harder than diamonds, how could a human break through them!"
Gyokko's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Arthur stepped out of the mountain forest, casting a cold glance at the struggling Gyokko. He lightly tapped his fingertips, and two incantations instantly unfolded.
Gyokko, who had been roaring moments ago, was pressed down as if by immense weight, lying prostrate on the ground, unable to move.
Kaigaku, who had just regenerated his lower body, also lost all power to resist again, slumping like mud.
...
Arthur looked down at the two miserable demons on the ground, his eyes cold, then unceremoniously kicked Kaigaku.
"As a Demon Slayer, you actually defected to a demon and even led him to the headquarters. You truly deserve to die!"
"Ugh! Ugh!"
Kaigaku's head futilely wriggled in the dirt, making indistinct sounds from his throat, seemingly trying to explain or beg for mercy.
Perhaps it was a plea for mercy, or perhaps a final curse, but Arthur had no interest in listening.
He walked over to Gyokko, squatted down, and his sharp gaze locked onto the clear inscription in the demon's eyes.
"Upper Rank Five, huh? No wonder he's so slippery."
Gyokko, prostrate on the ground, twisted his neck at a horrifying angle, his eyes fixed on Arthur, his voice icy cold.
"Hand over the blue spider lily, or not a single soul in the Demon Slayer Corps will be spared!"
Arthur's lips curved into a cold, sharp arc, and he sneered.
"Quite a big mouth. Is Muzan Kibutsuji speaking now?"
"It seems your control is stronger this time than last. Is your main body perhaps heading this way?"
On Gyokko's face, contorted in pain, a sinister grin belonging to Muzan Kibutsuji was forced out.
"Since you've already guessed, then obediently accept your fate and surrender!"
"Hand over the blue spider lily! Perhaps I'll be merciful and spare your lowly lives!"
"You're the one who should accept his fate!"
Arthur's eyes gleamed with a cold light, staring at Gyokko with a half-smile, as if seeing through the demon's body before him and locking onto the Demon King who always hid his true self.
"The blue spider lily only blooms during the day and its flowering period is extremely short. Besides the one I'm keeping, you'll never find a second one."
"Also, do you think your speed at killing people is faster, or my speed at crushing the blue spider lily?"
At these words, the sinister grin on Gyokko's face instantly froze.
Through this crippled body, Muzan Kibutsuji's meager brain circuits in the distance overloaded, falling into a true dilemma for the first time.
Should he risk going to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters himself?
Or should he settle for the next best thing, using the countless lives of the Red-Light District as bargaining chips?
"Stay put. In two weeks, I'll bring the blue spider lily and 'visit' you at Mt. Natagumo."
Hearing Arthur bring up the old agreement again, Muzan Kibutsuji, through Gyokko's mouth, roared furiously.
"How do I know you'll actually keep your promise? If you..."
"Don't lump me in with trash like you."
Arthur's tone was calm, yet it stated the cruelest truth to Muzan Kibutsuji.
"Besides, you have no choice."
Repeatedly rebuffed, Muzan Kibutsuji was filled with rage, and through Gyokko's vision, he deeply etched Arthur into his memory.
"Don't think you've already won. We'll see."
Before he finished speaking, Gyokko and Kaigaku's abdomens suddenly swelled, like blood-filled sacs about to burst.
Arthur's gaze sharpened, and he lightly tapped the ground with his foot, rapidly retreating.
Boom—!
Amidst a deafening roar, flesh and blood flew, and mud and stones splattered.
The shockwave rolled directly into the mountain forest, startling countless circling Kasugai Crows.
It wasn't until the two demonic presences completely dissipated that Tamayo, who had been hidden in the shadows, swiftly emerged from behind a tree.
"Are you alright, Arthur-san? What should we do next?"
Arthur calmly walked back to the edge of the crater formed by the explosion, skillfully collected blood samples from Gyokko and Kaigaku, and after sealing them, tossed them to Tamayo.
"I'm sorry, Tamayo-san, it seems you'll have to return to the laboratory alone tonight."
"Although the possibility of Muzan Kibutsuji making a desperate all-out attack on the headquarters is small, I must go back and let Ubuyashiki and the Hashira prepare early."
Tamayo nodded slightly, carefully putting away the two blood samples.
"Understood. If there's any unusual activity, please send a crow to inform me immediately."
She didn't delay further, turning and rushing towards the laboratory, her figure quickly disappearing into the night.
Arthur watched her leave, then turned back to look at the headquarters, where the lights were gradually coming on, and sighed softly.
"So why did I agree to Ubuyashiki? Wasn't this a good opportunity to complete the mission?"
...
The night deepened, and the moon was high in the sky.
At the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, lights blazed, and all the Hashira and the Master, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, had gathered.
After listening to Arthur's explanation, Obanai Iguro's heterochromatic snake eyes suddenly narrowed, and his chilling killing intent almost solidified.
"What is the name of that renegade who betrayed the Demon Slayer Corps and sided with a demon!"
Obanai's voice was hoarse and cold, not hiding his disgust in the slightest.
"Perhaps he has accomplices! We cannot be careless!"
Arthur shook his head: "I don't know. I didn't have time to interrogate him. Short black hair, thick eyebrows, and wearing a magatama pendant. Those are the only features."
Upon hearing this, all the Hashira lowered their heads in thought, searching their minds for members who matched these features, but for a moment, they had no clue.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gentle voice broke the silence. He raised his hand, gesturing.
"Everyone is at a critical moment in their special training. This matter should not be handled with a big fuss, lest we alert the enemy. I will personally handle the investigation."
The Hashira naturally had no objection to this. Arthur glanced at Kagaya Ubuyashiki, then nodded in agreement.
"I can feel that Muzan Kibutsuji's final threat was not a bluff. Is there anything happening at Mt. Natagumo recently?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's tone was certain: "Everything is as usual. Members of the Kakushi have been deployed in that vicinity for a long time and have not found any signs of demon activity."
Arthur lightly tapped his chin with his index finger, muttering softly.
"No signs of any demons..."
"Even if Muzan Kibutsuji is cowardly and incompetent, he would still send subordinates to gather intelligence."
"Having no signs at all right now might not necessarily be a good thing."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gaze slightly narrowed, clearly understanding Arthur's implied meaning, and he nodded.
"I will send more personnel and have the Kakushi expand their search area, paying attention to any suspicious rumors in various places."
"It's late, and everyone has been working hard with the special training for days. You should all go back and rest."