As the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, Lucas turned to Akaza and said calmly, "Look, the sun is rising. As a demon, you should know what that means."There was no mockery in his voice—just a simple statement of fact.Akaza's emotions twisted in turmoil. He refused to believe he had been toyed with—no, defeated—by a mere teenager. Rage and disbelief burned within him like wildfire, twisting his face into a mask of fury.He glared at Lucas, hatred boiling in his eyes. "Brat, remember this humiliation. I'll return it tenfold. The next time we meet, I'll take your life!"With those parting words, Akaza turned and sprinted toward the dense forest, searching for shelter from the encroaching sunlight. The higher the sun rose, the more desperate and frantic his steps became.Lucas watched Akaza's retreating figure, making no move to pursue. His body was completely drained. The strain from using the Transparent World had taken its toll, leaving him weak and breathless. Every breath hurt.Letting out a shaky sigh, Lucas slowly sat down on the cold ground. His body finally relaxed, the tension in his muscles unraveling. The warm rays of dawn bathed him in a golden light, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he felt truly at peace.Nearby, Kyojuro Rengoku limped toward him. Though still injured, he pushed himself forward and sat down beside Lucas. His bloodied face was illuminated by the rising sun, and he gazed at Lucas with a mix of awe and contemplation.The battlefield, though still littered with scars from the fierce combat, now shimmered under the soft embrace of morning. A sense of calm spread across the landscape.Kyojuro had witnessed everything—the entire battle. He had faced Akaza himself and knew all too well the terrifying strength of Upper Moon Three. He had struggled just to stay alive. And yet, Lucas hadn't just survived. He had fought toe-to-toe with Akaza, even forcing the demon into retreat using the sunlight.Though the sun had ultimately driven Akaza away, Lucas's strength was undeniable.Kyojuro spoke, his voice tinged with fatigue but filled with admiration. "I had originally planned to take you on as my successor... but now, I see it's unnecessary. Soon enough, you'll surpass me."Just weeks ago, Lucas had struggled in a match against Sanemi Shinazugawa. And now? He had gone toe-to-toe with one of the most powerful demons in existence. The growth was terrifying.Lucas gave a tired smile. "You flatter me, Kyojuro. I'm just glad you're okay."His eyes rested on Kyojuro's blood-caked face. In the original Demon Slayer story, Kyojuro had died at the hands of Akaza. That death had always left a lingering regret in Lucas's heart. But now, he had changed that fate. He had saved Kyojuro.And for that, everything he had done was worth it.---[Ding!][Kyojuro Rengoku's friendship level has increased to: Close Friend][You've received two random rewards!][Acquired Aptitude: Superior Talent][Acquired Skill: Flame Breathing, Fourth Form – Blooming Flame Undulation][Do you wish to merge "Superior Talent" now?][No]Excellent.The events aboard the Infinity Train had pushed Kyojuro's friendship level to the maximum. Fighting together and saving his life had skyrocketed their bond.And the reward?Exactly what Lucas had been hoping for.This was the fifth "Superior Talent" he had acquired. Once combined, it would unlock a new level of growth, accelerating his cultivation speed to an unprecedented rate.But that wasn't all.Lucas had also noticed another boost in intimacy—with Inosuke. He had somehow reached the "Close Friend" level with him as well.Reward: Superior Talent – ComprehensionWas it because of the strength Lucas displayed during the battle? Or something else?He wasn't entirely sure why Inosuke's friendship level had risen, but it was still a welcome development.Now, with all five Superior Talents in hand, Lucas was close to a breakthrough. When he finally fused them, not only would his training accelerate, but reaching Pillar-level strength would no longer be a distant dream.---Meanwhile, at the Wind Pillar's training grounds…The morning sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a mosaic of gold and green on the ground below. Dewdrops sparkled like gems in the soft light.The area was surrounded by tall trees, cutting off the outside world. Peace reigned here—broken only by birdsong and the wind rustling the leaves.In the center of the training ground stood rows of wooden stakes. Or at least, what remained of them. They had been reduced to splinters, shattered into clean pieces.Each stake had been split as smoothly as if it had been cut by a master swordsman's blade—no rough edges, no splinters.Sanemi Shinazugawa stood amidst the wreckage, his white hair fluttering in the wind. His sword danced, each swing filled with raw power and terrifying precision. Thick stakes, as wide as water barrels, split cleanly in half with every slash.The air seemed to tremble with each attack.Suddenly, a shadow passed overhead.A Kasugai Crow descended, its black feathers shimmering in the light. It landed on one of the broken stakes, cawing softly.Sanemi halted, eyes narrowing. He turned slowly, fixing his gaze on the crow.Its appearance could mean only one thing: news from the Demon Slayer Corps. And such news was rarely trivial.His expression remained stern, but a flicker of curiosity lit his eyes. "What is it?" he asked in a low, gruff tone.The crow responded crisply, "Flame Pillar and Lucas encountered Upper Moon Three, Akaza, on the Infinity Train…"The moment those words left the crow's beak, Sanemi's eyes narrowed further.Upper Moon Three?So Kyojuro and that brat Lucas had encountered an Upper Moon demon?Sanemi's breath caught in his throat. He had never personally fought an Upper Moon, but the stories—the horrors—were well-known. For hundreds of years, Upper Moon demons had roamed the land, and in all that time, no Pillar had ever succeeded in killing one. They were monsters of legend, unmatched in power.Back when he had fought the Lower Moon One alongside his late comrade Kwanae, it had taken everything they had. Kwanae had died in that battle. And yet… Akaza was ranked even higher.Could Kyojuro possibly survive such an encounter?And what about Lucas? That reckless brat—was he already dead?Sanemi didn't know why, but the thought irritated him more than he expected.He clenched his fists as he waited for the crow to continue."Flame Pillar and Lucas fought together against Akaza," the crow reported. "But even together, they were outmatched. Akaza held the upper hand for most of the fight."Sanemi's eyes burned with intensity. He wanted the crow to finish the report faster, but at the same time, he dreaded what he might hear next.Was this it?Had they fallen?Had Akaza claimed another Pillar's life?---To be continued…
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