The "whip"... the "moon blade"... were like mice scattered in panic, unfortunately encountering the tabby cat waiting at the corner, dissolving and collapsing in an instant... vanished into thin air!
"Sun Breathing?"
"This is not Yoriichi's sword technique!"
"There's no such move in Sun Breathing!"
"Woosh~" Under the sunlight, the face immediately caught fire...
Kibutsuji Muzan roared, "Nakime!"
"Zheng~" came the sound of a koto.
The world shifted!
Roy moved swiftly, autonomously retreating, instantly pulling away from Muzan and Kokushibo, who was shielding him.
The young man watched them leave, the floorboards beneath his feet changing in quick succession, detecting a hint of "Space" after "Cause and Effect".
On the panel under "En" and "Nenryoku Nature: Yin Release", it couldn't help but stir restlessly.
[Tip: Detected two "Evil Ghosts", one "Ghost King", the "Demon Compendium" has unfolded...]
[Name: Kibutsuji Muzan]
[Ghost King]
[Constitution: 841 (Note: 1 for an average human)]
[Innate Blood Demon Art: One, "Gift": Kibutsuji Muzan can forcibly transform others into Evil Ghosts by injecting them with ghost blood, significantly enhancing their constitution.]
[Two, "Domination": Kibutsuji Muzan has "absolute control" over his subordinate Evil Ghosts, capable of browsing their memories with a single thought, even deleting or modifying restrictions... and taking their lives.]
[Three, "Multiple Organs": Kibutsuji Muzan can cultivate "multiple organs" within his body as his strength increases, and unless these "organs" are completely destroyed, he will not die.]
[Four, "Self Division": Kibutsuji Muzan can "self-destruct" and split his body into countless small pieces for hiding; as long as one piece survives, he can resurrect.]
[Five, "Whip Technique": Kibutsuji Muzan specializes in "whip techniques", transforming parts of his body into "thorn whips" and "tube whips" to strike others.]
[Six, "Infant Proliferation": Kibutsuji Muzan can transform into his most original infant state to infinitely multiply his flesh and organs (Note: in this state, Kibutsuji Muzan is extremely weak and will not resort to it unless in dire straits).]
[Seven... Eight... Nine...]
A "notification sound"... an "information"... also a "talent"....
Roy was dragged backward by the music played by Nakime on her biwa, watching Muzan and Kokushibo fly high and far away, glancing casually at the panels of "Nakime" and "Kokushibo". One possessed vast "Space" experience, highly compatible with the "Swamp Space"... the other mastered numerous "Swordsmanship" techniques, absorbing it could further enhance swordsmanship level...
He swayed as all the black energy of "Curses" within Ubuyashiki Kagaya's body was cleared by the "Sun Flame Sword"... gradually fading until it disappeared completely...
His consciousness barely returned, eyes opening, taking a long breath, saying to Ubuyashiki Kagaya: "Mission accomplished, the 'Curse' has been removed."
"Crack~" sounded like a shattering shackle, suddenly emanating from Ubuyashiki Kagaya's body...
The man swayed slightly, his once-hunched back slowly straightened, a flush appearing on his deathly pale face. He exhaled a turbid breath, feeling unspeakably refreshed, supporting the adage... the shackles break with a single move, and the world opens up wide...
Unable to resist letting out a comfortable murmur, the quick change and immediate effect were evident!
The profound bond with Ubuyashiki Kagaya moved the surrounding kneeling Hashira, such as Gyomei Himejima, Shinazugawa Sanemi, and Tengen Uzui... especially to tears, choked up with emotion...
"I feel well."
"Eiichiro Oda-sama... my lord... anata (husband)...."
Excited murmurs echoed through the secluded wisteria forest...
Following the expansion of the "Demon Compendium", the "Follower Panel" for "Gyomei Himejima", "Shinazugawa Sanemi", "Tokitou Muichirou"... and even senior brother "Tomioka Giyu" unfolded, notifying the young man "Loyalty +10+10+15..."
Meeting the "promotion" conditions, only needing an "award" to immediately bring everyone into initiation.
Roy's hand warmed, his right hand tightly grasped by Ubuyashiki Kagaya: "Eiichiro... my lord, I..."
His agitation rendered him almost speechless, a sign of Ubuyashiki Kagaya's current state, never expecting such a scattered behavior from his normally composed self.
Wanting to say something, but not knowing what... the gratitude for the young man's curse removal was as if born anew!
Roy quietly savored everything around him, his heart's understanding of "Cause and Effect" and "En" was hazy, yet somewhat enlightened, but always lacking something, unable to break through like a layer of window paper.
The young man patted the tightly clenched double fists of Ubuyashiki Kagaya, smiling and said: "I understand your feelings, you needn't say anything else, just rest now, and recover years of deficit quickly."
"Amitabha Buddha... Eiichiro Oda-sama is absolutely right." Gyomei Himejima put his palms together, raised his head, gratefully looked at Roy, helped Ubuyashiki Kagaya lie down again, yielding space for Hina, Nichika, and those led by Tamayo: Kiriya, Kanata, and Shino...
As Roy, with a single touch, using the "sun" to "banish the dark attributes", condensed the "Sun Flame Sword" to eradicate the "curse" black energy lingering in several hearts... Hina, Nichika, Kiriya, the little ones almost the same as Ubuyashiki Kagaya felt a sudden lightness, even their spirits seemed revived!
"Now thank Eiichiro Oda-sama!" Tamayo scolded.
Hina, Nichika, Kiriya solemnly bowed... on the tatami not far away lay a futon,
Ubuyashiki Kagaya lay horizontally on it, silently watching, not knowing when his blind eyes shed tears for the first time, as if the tear glands revived, unrestricted by curses, began to produce tears, flowing out two hot streams, invoking empathy....
"Stand up, you don't have to..."
"No, Eiichiro Oda-sama, you must accept this!" Ubuyashiki Kagaya seemed to have finally found the ability to organize words, insisting.
Nobody among the kneeling Hashira encircling Roy objected... In Roy's silence, he had to calmly receive these bows,
A moment later, Hina, Nichika, Kiriya were led by Tamayo back to the inner courtyard to rest,
In the vast front hall, on the spacious wooden corridor, there remained only Ubuyashiki Kagaya and the Nine Hashira along with Roy.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya held up and lounged, after a moment's rest, surprisingly not needing Gyomei Himejima's assistance, finding a cushion to support his back, seriously watching Roy say, "Eiichiro Oda-sama, don't you really think it over?"
"No, I lack the energy for managing bureaucratic but trivial matters." Roy waved his hand.
His thoughts remained immersed in "Cause and Effect" and "En", timely... as Ubuyashiki Kagaya's gaze swept over, Gyomei Himejima, Shinazugawa Sanemi, and others exchanged a glance, placing their right hand on their chest, kneeling on one knee, greeting Roy: "Gyomei Himejima/Shinazugawa Sanemi/Tengen Uzui... meet my lord."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya laughed and added: "Then two lords, both as lords."
Roy: "..."
The man said: "I manage my Demon Slayer Corps, you manage your followers, no one said a person can't serve two masters, right?"
Behind Roy, Kyojuro Rengoku straightforwardly voiced support, eyes shining: "I agree!"
Then pounded his chest loudly: "Praise the sun!"
Gyomei Himejima and Shinazugawa Sanemi immediately echoed: "Praise the sun!"
Roy stood alone, a crane among chickens, searching around, wordlessly tapped Tomioka Giyu, saying: "Senior brother, you this...."
"Speak as you will," Tomioka Giyu knelt on one knee, raising his head, still that taciturn and cold look, and said calmly: "Call me 'senior brother' or 'Giyu' as you please, I only recognize you as 'sir'."
Roy: "..."