The blade rocketed through the air. Whistling as it hurtled towards the flaming cursed spirit.
Then a flaming hand caught it before it could pierce the cursed spirits chest.
It threw my sword back at me, the blade screeched to a stop in my Limitless barrier.
"Huh, not bad." I hummed as I slowly stepped forward.
The flaming spirit narrowed its gaze at me, flames heating the air around it and melting the gravel beneath its feet with every step. I burst forth, claws poised to slash my throat.
Again, it was stopped by the infinite space my cursed technique created. A grin formed on my face, rolling my neck I flexed my hands.
"Good, you're strong. I was beginning to think that I wouldn't get the chance to enjoy a good fight."
It roared, no words but the world exploded into motion.
The spirit lunged, I deflected its claws with Blue. The heat coming from its body distorted the air around it. I twisted on my heel, slamming a foot into its gut sending it stumbling backwards.
It recovered quickly, in a blur of movement it reappeared above me, preparing to crush me with fists coated in sunfire.
The blow landed with a sound like thunder. My barrier held, but the ground around me shattered. Blue sparks flared across my barrier as it tried to push through infinite.
I could still feel the heat despite my barrier, my grin widened.
"More, show me more!" I landed a spinning hook kick to its neck, dropping it to its knees, "dance! Entertain me…"
Behind me the Hashira watched on in awe, besides Mitsuri and Kagaya none of them seemed to be able to actually see the thing I was fighting.
Even so, they could at least make out the distortion in the air as the heat from the cursed spirit bent the light from the lanterns and the moon.
As cursed energy began to saturate the air, the Hashira slowly began to make out the flaming monster I was absolutely dog walking. Sanemi reacted first, gripping his sword tight.
"That thing… what is that?!"
Mitsuri answered him, "Satoru-kun mentioned that spirits used to walk the world, I think that's one of them."
"That is correct child." A familiar voice came from behind everyone.
Several Hashira jumped back in shock as Tamayo emerged from the shadows. Yushiro walking beside her watching everyone warily.
"Demon…" Sanemi hissed, rasing his blade.
Kagaya held up his hand, "Stand down… she is an ally."
A few of the Hashira reluctantly obeyed. Mitsuri waved happily, "Tamayo-san!"
Tamayo gave Mitsuri a small smile, "Yushiro and I watched from the shadows. Muzan has been defeated, but not by the corps."
She went on to explain what Satoru was fighting, how it was a creature born from fear, specifically the fear demons had of the sun.
Kagaya listened intently, the Hashira watching the fight with renewed interest.
It swung, I countered. It healed much faster than the demons. I had a feeling that nothing short of Hollow Purple could destroy it, it was definitely a Special Grade cursed spirit.
I let my cursed energy burst from my body, tattoos flowed onto my skin. Extra eyes emerged on my face, two sets of arms burst from my sides. I laughed heartily, this was the first time I actually had to put in a little more effort with my cursed techniques.
"Be honoured…" I smiled at the cursed spirit, "you'll be the first to witness my improved domain."
It tried to walk forward, countless slashes tore into us body. Purple blood splattered across the ground as its arms and legs were severed and regrown in seconds.
It reached out to me, my arms raised into both hand signs.
"Ryoiki Tenkai… Tsukiyomi."
[Scene Break]
It wasn't a new domain expansion. Even with my hax I was limited to Unlimited Void and Malevolent Shrine. That said, being limited to having two domains wasn't a bad thing. Especially when I had the minds of two of the strongest sorcerers to ever exist augmenting mine.
'Tsukiyomi' was an open domain based on Unlimited Void. The range was tiny, at only fifty meters around me people could easily escape.
Unfortunately for them, the second they were caught in it, I controlled all their senses. A tweak of the infinite information Unlimited Void usually dumped into their brains.
There was a reason I named it 'Tsukiyomi'. I had stolen the technique idea from Itachi Uchiha after all. The modified Domain Expansion essentially gave me control over reality for the target or targets who were caught in it.
The best part was unlike the original Tsukiyomi, you couldn't escape no matter how hard you tried. Even dying wasn't an option as I could keep your mind trapped in the domain even if your body was destroyed.
Fun fact, your brain stays active for approximately seven minutes after your body dies. There's a lot I can do in seven minutes, especially if I can stretch a second into days.
The moon turned blood red, an ocean of blood spread from my feet outwards. A shrine rose from the ground, followed by pillars of stone.
Galaxies reflected on the endless sea of blood. The cursed spirit found itself bound in place by unseen chains.
It screamed in horror as it was sucked into an endless cycle of death and rebirth. Its flesh rendered from its body, its bones crumbling to dust. Then from the ashes it rebuilt itself only to repeat the same process again and again.
To me it all happened in the blink of an eye, but for the spirit… days, months, years, centuries.
It tried to fight back of course, burning skeletons rose from the ground around it trying to attack me. Only the second they stepped into the domain, they crumbled to ash too.
When the spirit was reduced to a limp mess of smoldering embers and dark smoke. I dropped the domain, the spirit didn't resist as I stepped forward with my blade.
The nichirin sword hummed in my hand, as if telling me what to do.
I stabbed the cursed spirit and watched in shock as it was reduced to ash before being absorbed into the blade of my katana.
I released my transformation, the air around me still smelled of burning flesh and earth that had been turned to glass.
Turning slowly I glanced at my captivated audience. Some of them were shocked, no doubt having seen my full Lobotomy Kaien form for the first time did that.
Mitsuri ran forward, a huge smile on her face. "Satoru-kun!!! That was so cool!"
I chuckled, "Thanks," she pulled me into a hug that I returned. "Did you enjoy the show?"
She nodded against my chest, "it was kinda scary, but I knew you'd win."
We broke apart and turned to everyone, Kagaya was smiling gently, the other Hashira wore a range of looks from confusion to shock.
"What the hell was that?!" Sanemi shouted.
[Scene Break]
After some time explaining what had just happened with help from Tamayo, Kagaya had everyone gather inside the meeting room of his mansion.
The Kakushi were busy cleaning up the small mess that had been made during the battle. Nothing had been wrecked thankfully, but some trees and quite a bit of paving had been destroyed.
The sun was already peeking over the horizon when Kagaya started the debriefing. The air still smelled faintly of smoke and wet ash, the Kakushi had to douse some burning brushes.
Kagaya sat cross legged at the head of the room. The soft light of dawn streaming in through the open shoji doors. Amane sat beside him, silent and poised.
His voice rang out, soft but resonant. "You have all done well," he smiled, much wider than he usually did, "after centuries, the scourge that was Kibutsuji Muzan has been vanquished."
I could see him actually relaxing for once, the weight of leadership easing from his shoulders for the first time. Tamayo sat nearby, her legs folded neatly beneath her. Yushiro eyed everyone nervously next to her.
"While I am grateful for peace, I must warn you all that the demon threat is far from over. My continued existence is proof of this."
Everyone turned to her as she spoke.
"I broke free from Muzan's control centuries ago, it is one of the reasons that I did not perish with his death."
That got everyone's attention.
"You mean there might be others like you?" Sanemi's voice was sharp but not accusatory.
"It is possible." Tamayo nodded.
Kagaya also nodded, he sent a thoughtful gaze at me. "That aligns with my own fears. That… Cursed Spirit that you faced Satoru-san… that wasn't the first was it?"
I sighed, "No, I believe there were at least two others. Abe no Seimei wrote in his records that he believe that they may make a reappearance in time."
Kagaya's eyes closed briefly, then opened again with quiet resolve. "Then it seems our duty as protectors is not over. The Demon Slayer Corps was made to protect humanity from the dark. So long as darkness remains, no matter what form it takes, we will continue to guard the world from the shadows."
He looked around at the room, meeting everyone's eyes in turn. "Those of you who are willing… I ask that you remain with me. Help restructure the Corps into a new organisation. Not as slayers of demons, but as guardians against all supernatural threats."
There was no hesitation.
Giyu bowed his head first. "If there are lives to protect, I will stay."
Shinobu followed, her voice soft but steady. "It's be a shame to let my knowledge of medicine and poisons go to waste."
Sanemi grunted, "So long as there's something to fight… count me in."
Muichiro and Obanai nodded together, glancing around the room at the various Hashira agreeing to stay. Gyomei muttered a prayer, everyone took it as his answer.
That left Tengen Uzui and I.
Uzui leaned back with a grin, "I supposed I can help make sure things stay flamboyant but I need a break too, after we get this new… thing, off the ground I'm retiring. I want to spend some time with my wives before I'm old and grey."
I smirked, "Same here, call me if you need help, but I'm planning on spending a lot of my time with my darling future wife making sure our family is nice and big."
Mitsuri blushed, Kagaya gave me an understanding nod then he let out a genuine laugh that shocked a lot of the people in the room.
"Then I will not hold either of you to it, you and everyone here has more than earned your peace. But should the world call again, I trust you will answer."
Tengen and I shared a knowing look, we both knew that domestic life got boring and we'd eventually need some excitement again.
When the meeting ended, the sun was much higher in the sky. The courtyard was alive with the sound of laughter as repairs were wrapped up. It felt wholly different, like the world was healing after centuries of darkness.
Mitsuri slipped her hand into mine as we stepped out of the gate and onto the dirt road.
"It's really over isn't it?" She asked quietly.
"For now," I replied with a smile, "knowing how it is… I doubt the world will be without its interesting moments in the future."
She laughed softly, and leaned against me.
"Good, you get bored too easily Satoru-kun."
I didn't deny it.
[Scene Break] (POV Shift)
When the last of the Hashira had left, Kagaya was left alone with his wife and children. The Kakushi had dismissed themselves after finishing their work on rebuilding what needed to be fixed.
Amane poured tea and set the cup beside him as he gazed out into the courtyard. Her hands trembled faintly.
"You didn't tell them everything."
He smiled, "They've earned some peace, no point in placing a new burden on them just yet."
"But you're certain… there will be another?" Amane asked.
Kagaya's gaze drifted to the horizon. In the distance, sunlight spilled over the mountains, washing away the last traces of the night.
"Cursed Energy…" he murmured, "spirits born from humanities emotions. With the world on the brink of war… who knows how many will be born."
"It's tied to him then." Amane sat next to him, hands flat on her lap. "The reemergence of this energy."
"Perhaps," Kagaya sighed sipping his tea, "but that is beyond his control."
Amane bowed her head, silent.
"But," Kagaya set down the tea cup, "it will be up to us to better prepare the next generation. We can build something more lasting than just breathing forms passed down to descendants. Maybe we could build a place where we can teach the young…"
Amane looked up at him, "You mean a school?"
Kagaya nodded, "Yes, a place to teach those that have the potential. A place where strength and compassion coexist. The original Demon Slayer Corps may fade, but our mission will forever stand."
For a moment both of them remained silent. Then Amane smiled faintly.
"A school that trains guardians to protect humanity from both curses and demons alike."
Kagaya hummed, "Lady Tamayo mentioned a word that stuck with me… it sounds like a good name for a school."
Amane inclined her head, "She mentioned a lot of things husband."
"Perhaps," Kagaya continued, "we'll call it Jujutsu."
Outside, dawn had come, but with it, new shadows were beginning to stir.