"F*ck!!!"
Kibutsuji Muzan erupted, flipping the table, a flicker of uncertain dread hidden deep within his furious gaze.
That flash of crimson-gold blade light almost brought his dead memories back to life, but he immediately began to comfort himself.
It was impossible; Yoriichi Tsugikuni was dead, and no one would ever be able to kill him again.
Although that guy from the Demon Slayer Corps was strong, he hadn't activated a Mark, nor could he use Sun Breathing. The only reason he could kill Doma was purely because that arrogant idiot had been poisoned.
From Kibutsuji Muzan's perspective, such an interpretation was not unexpected; it was a matter of fixed concepts.
Or rather, Kael and Ubuyashiki Kagaya were merely creating this illusion to deceive their opponent.
However, this still made Kibutsuji Muzan wary.
He could no longer allow the Demon Slayer Corps to continue existing.
If they could already develop a poison effective against the Twelve Kizuki now, what about in a few more years?
Kibutsuji Muzan had seen the peak of Breathing Styles and knew the limits of individual human strength, but he had yet to realize what kind of light of civilization human collective effort could burst forth with—could it rival the scorching sun in the sky?
But the rapid development and progress of the era had already caused him a faint sense of unease, especially over the last century, as steam boilers began to emit the roar of the times.
But now was not the time to consider such long-term matters.
Just as Kibutsuji Muzan was preparing to summon the remaining Twelve Kizuki to launch his retaliatory action, another memory was transmitted to him through the resonance of demon blood—it came from Gyutaro.
"That trash isn't dead yet?"
Kibutsuji Muzan never hesitated to show his utmost malice toward losers, but after checking this memory, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl into an exaggerated arc.
"Finally... I've found it!!"
...Inside the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
Kael was sitting opposite Ubuyashiki Kagaya with a game board between them. Black and white pieces were battling on the board, and the pressure of the match could be felt from their serious expressions.
"Five in a row, I win!"
Kael placed a divine move, deciding the victory on the board.
"Sigh."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya curled his lip, feeling a bit displeased. He considered himself quite intelligent, so how could he not win even a single game?
"Don't be discouraged. It's only natural to lose to me, the Saint of Go. Actually, you're already quite good. If you work a bit harder, you might have a chance to see my true ultimate winning move in this lifetime."
Kael comforted him with a smile.
"Ultimate winning move?"
Ubuyashiki Kagaya gave Kael a strange look. He had read history books, and the only person on the board who could be called a 'Winning Saint' was probably that Han Dynasty Chess Saint.
At this moment, Ubuyashiki Kagaya finally understood why Kael had made him wear a helmet while fishing; apparently, one had to wear one while playing chess too.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya didn't doubt for a second that Kael would do such a thing; this guy's competitive streak was sometimes a bit too strong.
Kael liked hanging out with Ubuyashiki Kagaya because the kid was smart and had the ability of foresight. Even if he couldn't understand some cross-era memes, he could sometimes get the gist of them.
"Master, Mr. Sakuragi, the Hashira have all assembled."
The Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, who looked like a monk, stood under the eaves and spoke with a bow.
"Let them in. If we are lucky, this should be the final Hashira Meeting."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya put the pieces back one by one, picked up his teacup, and took another sip of the souvenir Kael had brought—a bottle of chilled 'Happy Water.' A comfortable expression appeared on his face.
This 'Happy Water' recently launched by the Sakuragi Group indeed had something to it; that bubbling coldness really made one feel refreshed.
He felt that his formerly favorite tea had become bland and tasteless.
The eight Hashira walked into the room one after another and sat down in order, each carrying a more or less lingering sense of bloodlust.
In these past few days, the Demon Slayer Corps had slain more than just two Upper Ranks; there were also several Lower Ranks and a large number of demons with special abilities.
In this way, Kibutsuji Muzan's forces were significantly reduced in a short period.
Although demons could be mass-produced, it was still a drain on Kibutsuji Muzan, and demons of the Twelve Kizuki level were not born so easily.
This extermination operation could be said to have allowed the various Hashira to kill to their hearts' content.
The reason for such results relied not only on the mole Gyutaro but even more on the intelligence gathering, analysis, and judgment capabilities of the Demon Slayer Corps and the Sakuragi Group in the secular world.
"I have a premonition that within five days, Kibutsuji Muzan will find this place. The final battle is coming."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya spoke in a calm tone, but the pressure of an impending storm came rushing toward them.
The long-cherished wish of the Demon Slayer Corps for a thousand years was finally within reach. It was time for the blood debts owed by Kibutsuji Muzan to be repaid. Everyone was deeply anticipating this moment.
"Master, how can you be sure?"
Gyomei Himejima asked.
"This is called the 'Kagaya Spasm.'"
Just as Ubuyashiki Kagaya was about to reply, Kael interjected.
Hearing such a description, Ubuyashiki Kagaya's mouth twitched, his tone inevitably becoming a bit helpless.
"It can indeed be described that way."
The Hashira were willing to believe in Ubuyashiki Kagaya's intuition because similar judgments had happened many times in the past, and he was right every time.
"The specific combat arrangements will be formulated by Kael and me together. This time, we must slay Kibutsuji Muzan here."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya's voice remained the same, but his conviction to succeed at any cost was deeply transmitted to every Hashira.
"Yes."
The eight Hashira responded in unison.
"The Kakushi will be responsible for setting up the equipment and traps. As for all of you, rest well, recharge your energy, and just wait for nightfall."
Kael didn't have any specific tasks for the Hashira to do. If things developed as he expected, there probably wouldn't be any room for these few to take the stage.
Of course, he couldn't say this explicitly to the Hashira.
Although this explanation was a bit perfunctory, the Hashira didn't have any emotional objections. This was out of trust for their Master and Kael; what they had to do was kill every demon that stood in their way.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya then explained a few more matters, and this final Hashira Meeting ended simply.
"I know your strength is sufficient to slay Kibutsuji Muzan, but you must not let him escape. Otherwise, in the next thousand years, a swordsman like you might not appear again."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya wasn't as confident as he appeared.
The first swordsman of the past had also nearly slain Kibutsuji Muzan, but in the end, he let him escape, leading to a thousand years of calamity.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya did not want such a thing to happen in his generation.
"Relax, go to sleep early. After your body recovers, I'll take you bungee jumping."
Kael stood up and said.
"Bungee jumping?"
Ubuyashiki Kagaya's heart shuddered. His intuition told him that this definitely wasn't any kind of fun game.
Kael returned to his own room, but someone was already there waiting for him.
Shinobu Kocho was kneeling on the tatami mat. It wasn't hard to detect her current nervous state from the way her fingers were gripping tightly.
"Isn't this little Shinobu? Did you walk into the wrong room?"
Kael couldn't help but tease her.
This almost made Shinobu Kocho, who had finally summoned her courage and determination, flee in panic. After taking a deep breath, she barely managed to calm her heart, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke.
"If you say one more word, don't even think about me ever coming in again."
"My mistake."
Kael didn't dare say more and waved his hand to extinguish the candle.
A moment of spring is worth a thousand pieces of gold; one must cherish it... Several days passed in peace and tranquility.
Gyutaro sat beside Kael, trembling all over like a mangy dog thrown into winter snow. No one could feel Kibutsuji Muzan's approach more clearly than him.
Although Kael had used medicine to erase Muzan's consciousness within the demon blood, making it impossible for him to control Gyutaro's body and mind, he was the source of the demons after all, and there was still a faint connection.
After all, he wasn't Tamayo; he had only escaped control for a few days.
"Can you control yourself?"
Kael watched as the table began to shake along with him, feeling somewhat speechless. Was he really that scared?
"You don't understand that lord's terrifying nature."
Gyutaro said, scratching his face forcefully.
If it weren't for Ume, he would never have had the courage to oppose Kibutsuji Muzan. That fear and awe for the Demon King had been deeply implanted into his consciousness the moment he became a demon.
"Is he as scary as me?"
Kael asked back.
Gyutaro looked up at him, remembering his days on the operating table, the cold scalpels, and those various acrid toxins.
Eh!
His mindset suddenly improved a lot.
This was called fighting poison with poison.
In Gyutaro's eyes, Kael's terrifying nature compared to Kibutsuji Muzan's were two completely different types, making it hard to distinguish between them.
If he really had to choose, he felt it would be more pleasant to die at the hands of Kibutsuji Muzan.
"Time for the sauce, Kael."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya reminded him from the side.
Hearing this, Kael picked up a brush, dipped it in his secret sauce, and spread it evenly over the chicken wings on the grill.
Late at night, staying up and waiting here, one had to have something to eat and some beer to drink.
As for the other Hashira, they were not at the Ubuyashiki residence at the moment. Kagaya was worried that a concentration of Hashira would make Kibutsuji Muzan hesitant.
He was still using himself as bait, attempting to lure the opponent to his door.
This was the hatred accumulated by the Ubuyashiki family for a thousand years, playing its role at this moment.
Only this time, it wasn't his wife and daughters by Kagaya's side, but Kael and Gyutaro.
In fact, it wasn't even necessary.
After learning of the existence of the blue spider lily, Kibutsuji Muzan would inevitably come, regardless of how many Hashira were waiting for him here.
Kibutsuji Muzan's personality was extremely twisted.
On one hand, he couldn't escape the fear that Yoriichi Tsugikuni had once brought him.
On the other hand, he held humans in contempt.
Fortunately, only by desperately belittling the existence of humans could he soothe the spiritual fear left behind by Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya picked up a chicken wing, blew on it, carefully took a bite, and after savoring it, let out a heartfelt sigh.
"Kael, with your skills, it's really a pity not to open an Izakaya."
"Eat quickly, that guy has arrived."
Kael could feel that undisguised malice approaching step by step.
Dressed in a suit and looking fashionable, Kibutsuji Muzan stepped out of the moonlight. His gaze immediately fell on Kael, and he subconsciously frowned.
On his way here, he hadn't even detected this human's presence. If he hadn't seen him with his own eyes now, he would have thought the other person didn't exist at all.
But even if it was a bit unexpected, Kibutsuji Muzan didn't take Kael to heart. His perception of strong swordsmen had been fixed long ago.
At least in Kael, Kibutsuji Muzan couldn't see even a shadow of Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
"Gyutaro, you dare betray me too?"
Kibutsuji Muzan shifted his gaze to Gyutaro.
"Lord..."
Gyutaro didn't dare look at the other man, keeping his head lowered tightly. The image of Ume appeared in his mind, giving him immense courage, and he finished his words through gritted teeth.
"...I'm sorry, Lord Muzan, in order to create a better world for Ume..."
"Heh, for the sake of the intelligence you provided, I will give you a quick death."
Kibutsuji Muzan spoke contemptuously.
Finally, he focused his gaze on Ubuyashiki Kagaya, the family that had been entangled with him for a thousand years and caused so much trouble.
To Kibutsuji Muzan's surprise, now that he was finally seeing Ubuyashiki Kagaya in person, there wasn't much hatred in his heart; it was unexpectedly calm.
"Hand over the blue spider lily..."
"Crunch."
A crisp and refreshing sound.
Kael put some vegetable salad into his mouth, watching the other's performance with great interest.
Kibutsuji Muzan looked closely and realized that what Kael was eating included the blue spider lily he had craved but couldn't obtain. His mindset instantly lost balance and exploded.
The pretentious posture could no longer be maintained. The muscles on his arm bulged and deformed, instantly turning into a deformed giant hand several meters in diameter, crushing toward Kael.
He intended to send Kael into his mouth.
However, just then, the originally dark and gloomy sky suddenly lit up.
With a "sizzle."
Fat dripped into the charcoal fire, splashing a few sparks.
"The heat is just right."
Kael looked at his masterpiece, the chicken wings, and then at Kibutsuji Muzan, who was not far away, focused and enveloped by powerful uv lights. He felt his appetite had improved quite a bit.
"Aaaaaah——!!"
Kibutsuji Muzan's body curled into a ball of flesh, from which sharp and ear-piercing screams constantly emanated.
Blood and flesh constantly proliferated to cover his body to block and weaken the uv lights. However, this could not completely offset the damage brought by the uv lights, and the pleasant sizzling sound could still be heard.
Kibutsuji Muzan was like a piece of fresh, tender meat suddenly placed in the center of a grill.