Four Upper Moons and countless other demons glared hungrily at the Demon Slayers amidst the ruins of the red-light district.
Yet, none of the Demon Slayers they targeted showed any sign of panic.
The reason was simple—the four figures standing at the forefront were the strongest Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps!
Kamaro, standing silently at the edge of the Upper Moon ranks, stared at the Hashiras.
Their overwhelming presence even made him feel as though they were the ones surrounded.
Under normal circumstances, faced with such a lineup, Kamaro would have fled without a second thought.
However, today, even without Muzan's orders, Kamaro was determined to fight the Demon Slayer Corps for his own plans, let alone...
Swish!
A dark figure suddenly appeared soundlessly before the Upper Moons, an overwhelming and terrifying pressure instantly enveloping the area.
For a moment, the moon above seemed to be dyed crimson.
Kamaro's lips curled upward as he was the first to bow deeply at a 90-degree angle, speaking with respectful tone.
"Kokushibo-sama!" His posture was one of complete submission to the figure before him.
Clad in a purple serpent-patterned kimono with black patches from the Warring States period, black hakama trousers, and a long-handled blade hanging at his waist, his dark red high ponytail swayed gently in the night breeze—like a warrior straight out of a historical scroll.
At Kamaro's flattering words, the dark red ponytail shifted slightly, and in that instant!
The face that should have been strikingly handsome now bore six crimson eyes arranged in perfect symmetry.
The golden sclera held no emotion, and the central pair of eyes bore the characters "Upper Moon" and "One."
Upper Rank One, Kokushibo!
The strongest demon under Muzan!
The pinnacle of the Upper Moons, the wicked sword demon, the most shameful traitor of the Demon Slayer Corps!
Rustle!
Not just Kamaro, but the other Upper Moons present also paid Kokushibo the respect he was due.
"Kokushibo-dono!" Zohakuten, the Upper Rank Four slightly lowered his proud head, while the dragon beneath him also bowed its neck.
Upper Rank Five, Gyutaro and Daki, the siblings, also bowed in greeting.
"Kokushibo-sama."
Kokushibo's attention, however, was not on them.
His six crimson eyes showed no emotion as he calmly gazed at Kamaro before speaking slowly.
"We are fellow Upper Moons. Aside from Muzan-sama, there is no need for such formalities. Remember the hierarchy."
"Yes, I shall heed your words, Kokushibo-sama!"
With that, Kokushibo turned his head, his cold gaze shifting back to the Demon Slayer Corps ahead.
'That guy... just his gaze alone makes me feel suffocated? He's so strong, his presence is overwhelming!'
Kokushibo's stare was like a blade hanging in his neck, making Tanjiro's grip on his sword tighten.
For a moment, even breathing became slightly difficult.
Tanjiro wasn't the only one who felt this way.
The more perceptive Hashira had long noticed the abnormality.
Beyond Kokushibo's sudden and silent appearance, the mere standoff was already exuding an intense pressure.
"That guy doesn't look easy to deal with... Upper Rank One, huh?" Sanemi muttered while frowning.
But despite his words, his Nichirin Blade remained firmly in hand.
"The battle ahead will be a grueling one," Himejima Gyomei said solemnly, his grip on his Meteor Hammer and axe tightening.
Uzui Tengen remained silent, but his legs were tensed like a drawn arrow, ready to charge at any moment.
Among the Hashiras, the one whose heart was most unsettled was likely Shinichi.
'Red hair, six eyes, a warrior from the Warring States period, and a longsword—Upper Rank One!'
'It's him! That's him!'
'The very demon who left the old man with lifelong psychological scars!'
'That's the one!'
Crack!
At the thought of the old man, Shinichi's gaze grew even fiercer.
Like the others, he could feel the overwhelming pressure emanating from Kokushibo.
But precisely because of that, the flames of rage in his heart burned even brighter.
"Perfect timing! I'll settle the old man's score with you right now!"
Swish!
His Nichirin sword was pulled from the ground, its sharp blade letting out a clear metallic ring as it scraped against the pebbles before its tip pointed straight at Kokushibo.
"That six-eyed bastard is mine!" Shinichi declared without turning back to the other three Hashiras.
His tone wasn't a suggestion—it was an absolute command.
Hearing this, Gyomei frowned and cautioned, "Shinichi, don't be reckless. Upper Rank One's strength is likely extraordinary. Charging in blindly is unwise!"
'Because Upper Rank One might be even more terrifying, that's exactly why I can't let any of you face him!'
'A monster like that... only me suited to be his opponent!' Shinichi thought.
'I might not be able to kill Upper Rank One, but... he might not be able to kill me either!'
Of course, he didn't voice these thoughts.
Without hesitation, he raised his red-and-green Nichirin longsword, its blade instantly bursting with dazzling radiance.
"Then what are we waiting for?! Let's go!" Sanemi sneered, the breeze lifting his white haori to reveal his bare chest—covered not just in solid muscle but also countless scars.
"I've been itching for this! I'll take the first move! Wind Breathing, Second Form: Claws-Purifying Wind!"
Green, claw-like wind blades shot forth, aimed directly at Zohakuten, who stood atop the wooden dragon's head with an arrogant demeanor.
In response, Zohakuten simply raised a hand and struck the small drum on his back.
BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!
The earth trembled violently as massive fissures split open, from which enormous wooden dragon heads emerged, roaring at Sanemi before charging forward simultaneously.
The battle between Sanemi and Zohakuten was like a spark igniting gunpowder—instantly setting the entire battlefield into motion!
"Kill them all!!"
"Devour them!"
"Raaahh!!"
Eerie, spine-chilling howls erupted as countless demons surged madly from all directions toward the Demon Slayer Corps members.
"Haha! The score is already complete! Demons! Revel in the magnificent symphony of the God of Festivals!" Tengen shouted wildly, his face adorned with an exaggerated, confident grin.
His body seemed to vibrate peculiarly before he shot forward like a cannonball.
Slish! Splat! Swish!
Limbs and severed body parts of demons flew everywhere as Tengen carved a bloody path through the horde.
"Namu Amida Butsu!"
The solemn Buddhist chant did not signify mercy for the demons—it heralded a storm of bloodshed to send them to the afterlife!
...
"Upper Rank One!"
A green slash heading straight towards Kokushibo.
Clang!
But!
A flash of bright yellow sword light suddenly appear in front of Shinichi as he was barely had time to blink.
By the time he regained his senses, a deep gash had already appeared across his chest.
Blood flowed freely from his chest, yet those six crimson eyes remained cold and merciless.