Chapter 24: The night is at its peak? It means the dawn is coming!
Time flew by like an arrow, ten days passed in a flash, and the Demon Slayer Corps members were immersed in their training.
Following Gyomei Himejima, three more Hashira successfully comprehended the mysteries of the Transparent World.
They were Iguro Obanai, the Serpent Hashira, Tokito Muichiro, the Mist Hashira, and Uzui Tengen, the Sound Hashira, who made another breakthrough with his unique musical score technique.
With not much time left for special training, the Hashira who hadn't broken through couldn't hide their disappointment.
On the edge of the training ground, Arthur observed the Hashira who were still engaged in high-intensity training, shaking his head helplessly.
He had taught them everything he knew; the threshold of the Transparent World ultimately came down to talent, something not to be influenced by external forces.
Arthur knew very well that this was the limit for the Hashira, unless—
The ancient texts of the Ubuyashiki Clan mentioned that when a swordsman cultivated their Breathing Technique to its extreme, a powerful, uncontrollable force would surge within their body, known as the Mark.
Once the Mark was activated, physical functions would receive a terrifying boost, and both strength and speed could rival an Upper Rank Demon.
However, activating the Mark was equivalent to burning all remaining potential; once activated, it could not be deactivated.
Among the first generation Breathing Technique swordsmen, none who activated the Mark lived past twenty-five.
With this thought, Arthur secretly shook his head, burying this heavy information deep in his heart.
This was already the best possible situation.
Even if some failed to activate the Transparent World, the month-long arduous training had significantly improved their strength.
Besides, slaying Muzan Kibutsuji was his mission; there was no need for others to sacrifice their future.
"Caw—! Urgent message! Urgent message!"
"Emergency! Commander, Hashira-level swordsmen, return to headquarters immediately!"
The urgent message from the Kasugai Crow made the Hashira stop their training, looking towards the sky with various expressions.
Emergency?
Wasn't it just that the special training period had ended?
…
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
As Arthur and the Hashira arrived, they saw Kagaya Ubuyashiki sitting solemnly in the courtyard.
Sensing their presence, his greyish-white eyes slowly turned, his voice a little hoarse.
"A hurried report from the Kakushi states that Muzan Kibutsuji has appeared in the Red-Light District, is entrenched there, and…"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's face showed bitterness, his words difficult.
"Numerous demons have completely taken control of the area around the Red-Light District, holding hostages, demanding we exchange them for the blue spider lily."
"If this matter is not resolved quickly, it may alarm those above."
Arthur frowned: "Such a large-scale operation, has that guy been blinded by the so-called eternal life?"
He couldn't understand Muzan Kibutsuji's desperate madness.
After lurking for a thousand years, seeing the dawn of eternal life, has he completely lost his mind?
Even if he obtained the blue spider lily through such means, what then?
Demons indeed possessed tenacious vitality, and after overcoming the sun, they could roam day and night.
But their physical strength couldn't even compare to refined steel, let alone the battlefield killing machines capable of turning the tide of war.
Once the upper echelons were alerted, the ultimate creature, now smug and triumphant, would instantly become a guinea pig in a cold laboratory.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki sighed, shaking his head: "The most pressing task is to first deal with Muzan Kibutsuji and rescue the innocent people in the Red-Light District."
Hearing this, Kyojuro Rengoku looked towards the Sound Hashira on his left, asking in a deep voice.
"Uzui, I remember you mentioned before that you had arranged for your wives to infiltrate the Red-Light District to investigate demon activity?"
Uzui Tengen crossed his arms, nodding with a grim expression.
"There's no need to worry; as ninjas, we were already prepared for this."
"However, right now, I really want to personally twist off Muzan Kibutsuji's head!"
Iguro Obanai, beside him, spoke calmly, stating an even more severe reality.
"Our original deployment was at Mt. Natagumo; a hasty change of location now is extremely disadvantageous for us."
The Hashira looked worried upon hearing this, and Arthur and Kagaya Ubuyashiki exchanged a look in secret.
Arthur then stepped to the center of the courtyard, his voice steady and powerful.
"The decisive battle with Muzan Kibutsuji has been brought forward."
"Next, I will explain the final battle plan; everyone, listen carefully!"
…Crimson Lotus exclusive dividing line…
Two days later, as night fell, Arthur led the main force of the Demon Slayer Corps to the outskirts of the Red-Light District.
Looking out, the once brightly lit Red-Light District was now swallowed by deathly darkness, devoid of any clamor.
The night wind brushed across their faces, and the air was filled with a suffocating, murderous aura.
Kocho Shinobu took out her pocket watch; the hour hand pointed to ten forty-two.
"The situation inside the Red-Light District is unclear; venturing in rashly at night is too dangerous. I suggest we wait until tomorrow morning to act."
The Hashira nodded, agreeing with Kocho Shinobu's caution.
Night battles were inherently disadvantageous for humans, and the Demon King, even if beheaded, wouldn't die. Rushing in would indeed be a near-certain death.
Arthur shook his head, lightly raising his fingertip, and a crimson magic bullet shot through the air towards a large tree not far away.
Before the magic bullet arrived, a demon quickly darted out from the treetop, and after steadying itself, its cold gaze locked onto Arthur.
"I told you, don't think you already have a sure victory."
The demon's aura was weak, but its voice was Muzan Kibutsuji's.
The Demon Slayer Corps members instantly drew their swords, their killing intent palpable.
Arthur heard the arrogance and self-importance in Muzan Kibutsuji's tone and couldn't help but laugh dryly.
"You're the one who made a foolish move, now you're at your wit's end, and you can still be so confident?"
The demon sneered: "Stop your empty talk! Hand over the blue spider lily! Otherwise…"
"Otherwise, what can you do?"
Arthur pulled out the ethereal blue spider lily from his embrace, gently shaking it between his fingers, a playful smirk on his lips.
"Muzan Kibutsuji, I'll give you one last kind reminder."
"The one who needs it to prolong his miserable existence, dreaming of eternal life, is you, not me."
"Do you really think casually taking a few hostages can threaten me?"
"How about this: I'll destroy this flower right now, and you make your move! Slaughter all those hostages! Let's see who cares more?"
Demon shadow: (○o○)?
While Muzan Kibutsuji's mind was reeling and his brain was crashing, Arthur loosened the specially made bag holding the blue spider lily, making a gesture as if to stomp on it!
"Yameru! Stop it!"
The demon let out a piercing shriek, its voice even changing pitch.
"Calm down! Take your foot away!"
It wanted to rush forward to stop him but was afraid of being instantly cut down by the Hashira glaring around, completely cutting off any possibility of negotiation, so it paced anxiously.
"I understand! Let's both take a step back!"
"I will release all the hostages right now! But you must personally come in and see me! And promise, absolutely do not damage the blue spider lily!"
Seeing Muzan Kibutsuji repeatedly concede, the smile on Arthur's face grew more mocking.
"If you had known this, why did you do it in the first place?"
"Going through all this trouble, just to pick a better burial ground for yourself?"
"Then let's see whose burial ground it will be!"
The demon's abdomen suddenly swelled, its venomous gaze fixed on Arthur.
"Cherish your remaining time, Demon Slayers! Next, I will completely bury the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Boom—!
A deafening explosion tore through the night sky, roaring in the ears of every swordsman, like the trumpet of the final battle, declaring—
Dawn was coming!