Inside the Infinity Castle,
Muzan had already learned of Kokushibou and Hantengu's deaths, and his mood had plummeted to rock bottom.
Even Kokushibou lost…
Musashi! This guy is a monster just like Yoriichi! The current plan won't work either. If Akaza and Douma are also slain, then they will gather all their strength to find my whereabouts!
Muzan's pupils trembled, and his body shook. He learned more information about Musashi through Kokushibou's death.
Just by seeing the scene of Kokushibou's death, Muzan felt a wave of high temperature wash over him, and the scars left on his body hundreds of years ago began to ache, still unhealed even now, burning him day and night.
If he were to experience something like that again, he estimated he would directly die.
Subsequently, he transmitted the command to summon the only remaining Upper Moon, Akaza and Douma.
Immediately after, he looked at Nakime, and a thorn whip extended from behind him, then directly pierced Nakime's head.
Nakime was knocked to the ground by this sudden attack, and then Muzan spoke:
"Nakime… I think highly of you, I hope you don't disappoint me."
A slightly trembling voice indicated Muzan's agitated mood at this moment, as a large amount of blood was transported from his body to Nakime.
Nakime's Blood Demon Art was his last guarantee. Even if he couldn't defeat Musashi, Muzan could still escape through the Infinity Castle. At worst, after Musashi and the others arrived, he could have Nakime trap them inside and then teleport himself out. After that, he would kill Nakime, and the collapsing Infinity Castle would definitely cause no small amount of trouble for Musashi and the others.
Therefore, Nakime was extremely important to him now, even more so than Akaza and Douma.
Kokushibou was already dead, and the strength of these two Upper Moon was even less impressive. Improving their strength wouldn't be very useful; it would be better to improve Nakime to strengthen her control over the Infinity Castle.
"Pfft… Yes… Muzan-sama…"
Nakime, lying on the ground, twitched all over from the pain, suddenly spitting out a large mouthful of blood. At the same time, she also felt the blood Muzan was transmitting to her and her body getting stronger.
After a difficult response to Muzan, Nakime lay on the ground, no longer making a sound.
...
Three days later, both Douma and Akaza returned to the Infinity Castle.
Akaza stood in the star-studded Infinity Castle, looking around but temporarily seeing no other demons.
Did I arrive early… Or is it…
Just as Akaza was deep in thought, another figure descended into the Infinity Castle.
"Ah~ It's Akaza-kakka. I'm so happy to see you're alright. You should have completed Muzan-sama's mission well during this time, right? There won't be a situation where you're beaten by a Hashira and have to run away again, right?"
Upon seeing Akaza, Douma enthusiastically approached him, smiling and saying what he thought were caring words to Akaza.
Although he had long anticipated that this guy would definitely come to annoy him, Douma's words still made Akaza's veins bulge, and his fists audibly creaked.
"Akaza-kakka, why aren't you speaking? I'm so worried about your safety, shouldn't you say thank you? Being impolite isn't a good habit."
Douma, seeing Akaza's indifferent reaction, spoke to him with a somewhat worried expression.
Akaza's anger soared. Without a word, he directly swung his right fist towards Douma's head, putting all his strength into the blow.
Boom!
Douma's entire head was directly smashed by Akaza's punch, scattering flesh and blood.
"You'd better shut your mouth, or I will kill you!"
Akaza exuded killing intent all over, speaking coldly to Douma.
"Akaza-kakka is as easily angered as ever. Although I can temporarily not speak for the sake of harmonious coexistence with Akaza-kakka, I don't think you can achieve your desire to kill me, can you?
After all, we are both demons, so it should be impossible to kill each other."
Flesh buds grew from the severed neck, then quickly formed a head. Douma recovered completely, raising his right index finger and reminding Akaza with a very serious and earnest expression.
...
Akaza slowly turned his head to look at Douma. Douma's expression was normal, without any change.
Just as Akaza was about to ignore everything and directly activate Destructive Kill: Compass Needle to beat Douma, a voice sounded, interrupting his thoughts.
"Muzan-sama has arrived."
The sound of a biwa resonated, and Nakime appeared there at some point, followed by Muzan's figure descending beside her.
Akaza could only forcibly suppress the anger in his heart and kneel on one knee.
"Greetings, Muzan-sama…"
Douma also quickly knelt on the ground, but his expression was still one of playful amusement.
Why has Muzan-sama personally arrived when only two Upper Moon have gathered?
Akaza, with his head bowed, was very confused by this unusual situation, but he dared not speak to ask.
"Kokushibou and Hantengu also died not long ago."
Muzan didn't waste any time and spoke directly to the point.
!!!
That guy… he actually died?
Akaza was incredibly shocked by Kokushibou's death. He wasn't too surprised by Hantengu's death; the strength of the bottom three Upper Moon was too far behind theirs, so it was very possible for them to be slain by the Demon Slayer Corps. But Kokushibou's death completely exceeded his expectations.
Although he had said before that he would definitely kill Kokushibou, he actually knew how powerful Kokushibou was. It would take an unknown amount of time for him to surpass Kokushibou with his current rate of improvement.
He had even always used Kokushibou as a goal for getting stronger, as the other party had already reached the highest realm he had always pursued but failed to attain, leading him by a significant margin.
However, such a powerful individual, whose strength far surpassed his, was now dead.
"May I ask, Muzan-sama, who killed him?"
Intense curiosity made Akaza directly look up and ask.
Somewhat unusually, Muzan did not show anger at Akaza's reaction this time.
"Musashi, the demon slayer I previously told you to slay."
Muzan also understood who Akaza was referring to; Hantengu's death could not possibly provoke such a strong reaction from him.
Although Muzan's tone was calm, after uttering that name, the scene of him fighting Kokushibou reappeared in his mind, and the image of Yoriichi using Sun Breathing to cut him also surfaced, the emotion of fear and the burning pain hidden beneath his surface. He had to maintain his dignity in front of his subordinates.
"This is truly a sad affair… To think that just a while ago we were gathered together, chatting and laughing, and now only Akaza-kakka and I remain…"
Douma's eyes shed a string of tears, revealing a very sorrowful expression.