"Infinity Castle..."
Looking at the magnificent, ever-changing city before him, Douma's beautiful eyes widened, revealing a pure, childlike, radiant smile.
"Wow, it's so grand!"
As a biwa string resonated, he landed on an empty wooden platform and curiously looked around.
The surrounding rooms, stacked in layers, constantly shifted, with complex corridors and staircases crisscrossing. Yellow lights illuminated everywhere, dispelling the omnipresent darkness of the city.
"I feel... a bit cozy," Douma thought, happily touching his cheek.
The Ox-Horned Demon was beside him, diligently piecing his body back together.
Zheng—
Several more biwa notes echoed from afar, and a few unfamiliar figures appeared nearby.
Before Douma could enthusiastically greet them, a wooden door high above opened with a whoosh.
Kibutsuji Muzan sat behind the door, looking down at them.
"Master."
Following the instinctive reverence and obedience in his blood, Douma, like the other demons, knelt on the ground.
"Raise your heads," a cold command came.
Douma straightened up, resting his hands on his thighs, kneeling on the wooden platform in a well-behaved posture, and looked up with a smile.
Muzan wore a black patterned kimono, his slightly curly black hair draped over his shoulders, and his plum-red eyes were devoid of any emotion.
"Master Muzan looks as magnificent as ever today~"
Douma thought, but his heart remained perfectly calm.
"What a pity, it seems I truly don't care that much about Master Muzan... This is truly saddening."
Douma, who had expected to feel some emotional fluctuation, muttered to himself, watching Muzan's unchanging expression, and blinked lightly.
Hmm, it seems Non-Thinking Heaven really works. Thoughts that are inconvenient to be read can be easily concealed.
Although he was already very good at controlling what he thought and didn't think.
But... it's still such a shame~
He really didn't want to be so out of place.
However, if he was only secretly out of place and didn't let anyone discover it, it should be fine, right?
Douma thought seriously, then quickly broke into a wide smile again.
Muzan coldly scrutinized the demons. Douma, with his particularly striking appearance, stood out like a crane among a flock of chickens from the motley crew, prompting Muzan to give him an extra glance.
He had a deep impression of Douma, the leader of a small cult, one of the rare humans who actively wished to become a demon.
Originally, after bestowing his blood, he hadn't paid him any more attention, not expecting him to amount to much. Yet, Douma had given him a little surprise.
An interesting Blood Demon Art and outstanding talent... he might be of some use.
Thinking this, Muzan glanced at the Ox-Horned Demon beside Douma again.
"I saw your battle," he said slowly.
The Ox-Horned Demon, having reassembled himself, flinched and once again prostrated himself on the ground, trembling.
"Really! I wonder if my performance was satisfactory to you?"
Douma, however, showed a joyful smile, looking up at Muzan with anticipation.
Muzan ignored him, not even sparing him a glance.
Having already read Douma's thoughts and memories, he naturally knew that this fellow was born without any emotions, and everything he displayed was a pretense.
He was more like a natural demon than a human.
While he possessed obedience towards him, the Demon King, he lacked genuine reverence and failed to understand the situation, which displeased Muzan.
But somehow, getting angry at Douma felt as meaningless as arguing with a stone... It was just—
Annoying.
Muzan's face was grim as he looked at the prostrate Ox-Horned Demon, stating coldly and mercilessly:
"Suigetsu, I am utterly disappointed with your growth. It seems your potential ends here."
"Master, please give me a little more time, I will work harder..." the Ox-Horned Demon's voice trembled.
"Boring."
No sooner had Muzan finished speaking than the Ox-Horned Demon exploded, turning into a bloody fireworks display.
The splashing blood stained the wooden platform red. The surrounding demons were terrified, not daring to breathe, fearing they would be next.
Only Douma showed an expression of regret.
"What a pity, he was the first of my kind I met, and I thought we could deepen our relationship in the future."
"Ugh~ I wish he had died further away, my clothes are all stained."
He looked down at his blood-splattered clothes, his expression turning somewhat aggrieved.
Muzan once again turned his gaze to him, frowning slightly. His right arm suddenly transformed into a long, thorny whip, the tip fiercely piercing Douma's temple.
"Eh?"
Unable to react in time, Douma felt scorching blood surge into his body, bringing extreme pain.
Veins bulged on his forehead, his body instinctively trembled, growing stronger amidst the melting agony.
Douma raised a hand to cover his head, not out of fear of pain, but because his brain being pierced made him a little muddled.
"You have great potential. I look forward to your growth."
Muzan retracted his thorny whip, said coldly, and his plum-red pupils swept over the other demons.
"You all have the qualifications to become one of the Twelve Kizuki. Today, I will give you an opportunity."
He curled the corner of his mouth, smiling without any emotion.
Zheng—
Another biwa sound echoed from afar, and the surrounding rooms moved smoothly. Two high platforms slowly rose from below.
On both high platforms were several figures, and one could vaguely see the characters carved into their pupils.
Twelve Kizuki.
"I am very disappointed," Muzan said coldly.
"Upper Moon Six died at the hands of Demon Slayers last night, killed by the combined efforts of two Demon Slayer Pillars."
"Only one of the two Pillars died."
"A mutual destruction, a mutual destruction with a mere Pillar..."
He slammed his hand onto the table, his terrifying aura making all the demons prostrate themselves.
"This is the second Upper Moon to die at the hands of a Demon Slayer..."
"My efforts to cultivate you have become a joke," Muzan scolded angrily. "The Lower Moons are replaced again and again, and the Upper Moons cannot produce any decent achievements."
"It seems I have been too lenient with you, causing you to lose your ambition and sense of crisis."
"Then, let the Blood Battle begin."
Muzan said cruelly, his expression returning to indifference.
"Demons with potential will challenge your positions. There is no need for the weak among the Twelve Kizuki."
"The strongest Lower Moon determined in the Blood Battle will be granted my blood and become the new Upper Moon Six."
"Fight with everything you have. The victor will be rewarded, and the defeated will be devoured by the victor..."
After stating the rules, he glanced at the demons below, some eager, some anxious, some expressionless, a look of boredom on his face.
As a biwa string resonated, a wide arena unfolded, and challengers immediately applied for a Blood Battle against the higher ranks.
Douma had recovered from the pain of the blood bestowal, feeling significantly stronger.
He briefly familiarized himself with his condition, then watched the battle with great interest.
Hmm~ quite exciting. It would be even better if I had some snacks to eat.
Watching a fellow beside him confidently challenge a Lower Moon, then lose and be eaten, Douma quickly lost interest.
Oh dear, how terrible, I don't seem to have any motivation.
Should I challenge? I feel like something bad will happen if I don't, but challenging isn't very fun.
Douma put on a troubled expression.
He simply stopped thinking about challenging and instead observed the Twelve Kizuki on the two high platforms.
Upon seeing them... Oh wow, so many familiar faces~
Douma's eyes lit up, and he unfolded his fan to cover the lower half of his face.