Chapter 852: Prelude to the Final Battle
Chapter 852: Prelude to the Final Battle
The scene with Tamayo froze as she made her way to the Demon Slayer Corps.
Within the Demon Slayer Corps, a 'frenzied cultivation' had begun. All but one of the Hashira had been recalled, temporarily setting aside their external missions to engage in final preparations for the upcoming decisive battle.
This decision had been made by Sakonji Urokodaki, who believed that the time was finally right.
With the addition of Tamayo, the rapidly improving Shinobu Kocho, the steadily progressing Kanae Kocho, the consistently powerful Sanemi Shinazugawa, and Tanjiro Kamado, who was gradually mastering the Sun Breathing technique, Yoriichi Tsukamu believed that their combined strength was now enough to face the demons head-on!
After centuries, this generation could be said to have gathered the strongest Hashira. Moreover, with Kanae as a disciple of a god and Shinobu having received her blessing, it was clear that this was the opportune moment.
With the timing right, Tanjiro Kamado's friend, Zenitsu's acquaintance, or more accurately, Yoriichi's descendant, Yuya, was not mentioned here but a character named Yoya Yoriichi was determined not to let it slip by. He planned to use the next few months to create an 'opening,' luring Muzan Kibutsuji by revealing the headquarters' location.
Then...
They would ambush and surround him!
This was the best opportunity. If they missed this chance, no one knew how many years it would take to gather so many powerful individuals again or to have the gods on their side.
As the Demon Slayer Corps in the scene embarked on their intense training, Sakonji Urokodaki, the master of the corps, arrived at Kanae's small courtyard with his wife's support. They made their way to the log cabin where Maple Night (Fengye) resided.
Yoya Karasuma and his wife bowed reverently in front of the cabin.
The door to the cabin remained closed.
However, Feng Ye's voice came from within.
"Do as you see fit. Don't worry about this place."
Tanjiro Kamado had come to not only express the Demon Slayer Corps' determination before the final battle but also to inform Nezuko of his plan, which might affect the cabin.
He intended to use himself as bait, setting up explosives and poisons to assassinate Muzan Kibutsuji. Though he didn't think his plan would affect Nezuko, he still wanted to pray for her blessing.
"If you succeed, the curse on the Urokodaki clan will be lifted, and your descendants will enjoy long lives," Fengye said, her second statement.
Hearing this, Yuya Yagyu and his wife, still kneeling, performed a complete prayer ritual with reverence: "We thank you for your benevolence."
Subsequently, their expressions softened, and they exchanged a glance before leaving hand in hand.
...
Inside the cabin, Fengye retracted his gaze and turned back to the images in the air, where the Hashira continued their training.
Due to his interference, Tanjiro's strength had increased significantly, and his sword had not been damaged in the previous battle. Additionally, with Mitsuri Kanroji as his wife and not a part of the Demon Slayer Corps, and Sanemi Shinazugawa training at headquarters, Muzan Kibutsuji's previous attempt to gather the Upper Ranks had not been repeated after Gyutaro's death.
As a result, when Gyutaro, one of the Upper Ranks, received information about the Swordsmith Village from Daki, he was not directly transported nearby but had to follow the trail, causing a significant delay. This ultimately led to the Demon Slayer Corps discovering and evacuating the village, foiling his plan.
Despite missing the battle at the Swordsmith Village, none of the Hashira had reached the threshold of the 'Stripes' technique. However, due to their relentless polishing and training in swordsmanship, the benefits they gained were not inferior to those of a typical Striped Swordsman.
Among them, the Stone Hashira Sanemi, the Love Hashira Kanae, and the Insect Hashira Shinobu stood out as the most exceptional.
While Sanemi and Kanae's strengths were apparent, Shinobu's power lurked in the shadows, like a venomous bee with hidden, deadly stingers.
Time passed.
Months flew by in an instant.
After months of foul mood, Doma finally received some good news. One of the new Lower Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki used their ability to locate the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps!
"Demon Slayer Corps, those pesky flies that won't disappear. It's finally time to end this," Muzan Kibutsuji said, a cold glint in his eyes.
He was annoyed by the Demon Slayer Corps, very annoyed.
Even though no one had posed a threat to him since the death of that monstrous man, the fact that the corps persisted through generations was a thorn in his side. He also worried that another Yoriichi Tsugikuni could appear at any time.
Now, although he had not received news of the blue spider lily, discovering the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps after centuries was undoubtedly a good thing. This meant that after this battle, he would no longer have to concern himself with those bothersome flies.
As for other matters...
While the Hashira of this generation were strong and some unpredictable factors had emerged, in Muzan Kibutsuji's opinion, they were at most on par with his Upper Ranks.
This time, to ensure the Demon Slayer Corps' annihilation, he would take action personally!
There would be no suspense!
...
Night fell.
In the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps, within the Urokodaki household...
Yuya Tsukiyomi lay on his bed, the purple scars on his face extending from his forehead to his eyes. He had lost his sight completely and was now coughing, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Although Ubuyashiki Yoya could no longer see, he knew his wife was watching him.
"Cough... cough..."
Ubuyashiki Yoya tried to say something, but he coughed violently twice more, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth.
His illness was worsening, and indeed, he didn't have long left. But before that, there was still something he needed to do.
He turned his head with some difficulty, looking out the window.
Rustle.
The wind blew through the trees in the courtyard, rustling the leaves under the moonlit night sky.
Unbeknownst to them, the wind suddenly ceased.
And the moon hanging in the night sky had turned blood-red, becoming a blood moon.
Under the eerie glow of the blood moon, a figure appeared silently in Ubuyashiki Yoya's bedroom, beside his bed.
The presence of another person by the bedside went unnoticed by neither Ubuyashiki Yoya nor Ubuyashiki Kanoe, but neither of their expressions revealed the slightest bit of tension.
"You have finally come before me..."
"...Kimetsu Corps, the demon-slaying organization that has pursued me for a thousand years."
"Kanoe, what does he look like?" Ubuyashiki Yoya asked with difficulty, propping up the upper half of his body.
Ubuyashiki Kanoe, expressionless, observed Demon King Muzan and replied, "He looks no different from a man between the ages of twenty-five and twenty-nine, but his eyes are a reddish-plum color, and he has cat-like slit pupils."
"Is that so?" Ubuyashiki Yoya coughed violently and turned to Muzan, "You've finally found this place..."
Demon King Muzan regarded Ubuyashiki Yoya calmly and said, "It seems you knew I would come. Have you foreseen your own death and the demise of the Demon Slayer Corps? Though, your time was already limited anyway."
Beneath his calm demeanor, there was a hint of sinister and icy intent, causing the temperature in the room to drop.
He continued, his gaze fixed on Ubuyashiki Yoya, "Your appearance is so ugly. For a thousand years, you have constantly interfered with me, caused me trouble, and tried to defy me. This is why you have become so hideous. It is heaven's punishment for your actions."
Ubuyashiki Yoya coughed violently but remained unfazed. "Indeed, our clan has suffered heaven's punishment and endured a curse. But it is not because we have been hunting you. It is because a monster like you was born into our clan that we have incurred heaven's wrath. I have always wanted to kill you. It is my mission and that of our clan."
Demon King Muzan replied indifferently, "Your nonsense makes me sick. Obviously, there is no causal relationship here. After all, I have never suffered any divine retribution, nor have I ever seen the existence of gods or Buddhas."
"Is that so?" Ubuyashiki Yoya coughed violently again and then suddenly laughed.
Demon King Muzan furrowed his brows. "What are you laughing at?"
Instead of answering, Ubuyashiki Yoya continued to laugh, facing him. He laughed and laughed until he started coughing violently again, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Are you laughing because I walked into your trap?" Demon King Muzan asked coldly, his gaze growing colder.
"Let me guess," Muzan continued, "You've planted explosives in this room? You've prepared demon-restraining poison? All the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps are ambushing me from nearby? I'm afraid none of that matters."
"Tonight, the Demon Slayer Corps will be annihilated." Muzan's eyes grew colder as he spoke. He raised his right hand, aiming it at Ubuyashiki Yoya.
But Ubuyashiki Yoya kept laughing.
Even after hearing Muzan's words, even after realizing that Muzan had seen through the trap, he continued to laugh. His laughter made Demon King Muzan feel uneasy, and he couldn't understand why.
In fact, it sent a shiver down his spine.
"I've heard enough of your laughter," Muzan said, his eyes growing colder by the second.
This feeling bothered Muzan, and his eyes turned icy. Finally, he waved his hand, sending a palm strike toward Ubuyashiki Yoya's head, intending to kill him instantly.
But at that moment...
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion erupted from right beneath Demon King Muzan's feet.
Muzan, however, was prepared. A hint of contempt flashed in his eyes, and he snorted, his body trembling as he released an invisible shockwave that spread out in all directions from his body.
The shockwave and the explosion collided, creating a thunderous roar that shook the earth. The entire house and courtyard collapsed instantly, and the aftershocks rippled outward.
The ground split open.
Houses within the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters crumbled under the impact, trees shattered, and fires raged.
(End of Chapter)
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