Standing before Tanjūrō Kamado was a stunted, dwarfish creature—his body hunched like some malformed goblin. Yet, it wasn't his grotesque appearance that stirred a nauseating hatred deep within Tanjūrō's chest.

It was something far worse.

The heinous acts this demon had committed… were beyond the grasp of words. Unspeakable. Unforgivable.

An oppressive aura of resentment clung to the creature's form like a miasma. It almost took on shape, as if the cries of the countless children he had devoured still whispered through the air around him.

The demon's name was Yamabiko.

And Tanjūrō could feel every ounce of that suffering radiating from him.

Slowly, he reached for the hatchet hanging from his belt. His gaze, calm yet heavy with sorrow, fell upon Yamabiko—who merely blinked back at him in confusion, unaware of who, or what, stood before him.

With a whisper soft as wind and eyes brimming with tears, Tanjūrō spoke.

"Poor children..."

"…Just hold on a little longer. I'm sorry."

This was Yamabiko's first time encountering a member of the Demon Slayer Corps face to face.

For over a century, he'd lurked in shadows so deep even the Pillars failed to detect him. So when he looked upon the man before him—calm, still, completely unassuming—he felt no fear.

But the next moment, Tanjūrō vanished from his sight.

And in the blink of an eye—

Pain. Sharp. Blinding.

His limbs—both arms and legs—had been severed with terrifying precision. The ground rushed up to meet him as his body collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.

Blood sprayed out in thick jets, painting the dirt a blazing crimson.

Before Yamabiko could even think about regenerating, Tanjūrō jabbed a syringe deep into his back—injecting a special serum crafted by Lady Tamayo, designed to halt a demon's regenerative abilities temporarily.

And it didn't stop there.

With swift, practiced movements, Tanjūrō crushed Yamabiko's fangs using the blunt end of his axe, then carved out several muscle clusters to render the demon completely immobile.

Only after confirming that Yamabiko could no longer pose a threat did Tanjūrō reach down, seize a fistful of the demon's hair, and begin dragging his head down the mountain.

This wasn't an execution.

No—Tanjūrō's mission wasn't to kill Yamabiko.

As the Lower Moon Three of the Twelve Kizuki, Yamabiko held a unique role: messenger—a living transmission beacon for Muzan Kibutsuji.

Elsewhere, Himejima Gyōmei, the Stone Hashira, had been sent on a similar mission.

But his target was far more dangerous—a full-fledged member of the Twelve Kizuki, one feared across Japan as the Iron-Handed Demon.

Why capture them?

Because only demons who've consumed a significant amount of Muzan's blood—enough to become one of the Twelve Kizuki—maintain a spiritual tether to Muzan and Kokushibō. When they die, that tether reverberates through the link, broadcasting both their location and fragments of their final memories to Muzan.

It was the perfect bait.

— — —

One week later. Nightfall.

Gyōmei returned, his entire body dust-covered, his hulking frame weathered from battle. In his left hand, he carried his massive chained axe and flail. In the other—he dragged half the shredded body of the Iron-Handed Demon, still twitching faintly.

They had arrived at Kumagaya, barely 1.5 kilometers from a narrow ravine that had been prepped in advance.

Inside a small wooden lodge nestled in the center of the ravine, Tachibana Kyūjō stirred from quiet meditation. Seated beside him was Ubuyashiki Kagaya, watching over him in silence.

"…Gyōmei's close," Kyūjō murmured, eyes narrowing. "Keep the demon near the edge of the ravine. Don't let him see me."

Kagaya gave a slow, measured nod.

Caution was everything in a war like this.

Even if Kokushibō somehow discovered that Tachibana Kyūjō was still alive, it wouldn't necessarily strike fear into him. But in war—a hidden trump card is worth more than brute force.

— — —

Five days later. Dawn.

Sunlight spilled across the mountains in golden sheets. Tanjūrō finally arrived, carrying a large wooden box on his back containing Yamabiko's broken body.

The messengers were in place.

After two days of rest, both Tanjūrō and Gyōmei had recovered fully, now back at peak condition.

Assigned to guard the captured demons were two former Pillars:

— Flower Hashira: Morishita Yuzuki

— Snow Hashira: Hoshino Erii

They wouldn't participate in the coming battle—just in case. Their job was to ensure the security of the bait.

And now… gathered before the temporary wooden cabin of Ubuyashiki Kagaya, the full might of the Demon Slayer Corps had assembled.

— — —

Present Hashira:

Tachibana Kyūjō — Thunder Hashira

Tanjiro Kamado — Sun Hashira

Himejima Gyōmei — Stone Hashira

Urokodaki Sabito — Water Hashira

Rengoku Shinjurō — Flame Hashira

Kōyama Shinichirō — Wind Hashira

Ameku (Reader's pseudonym) — Rain Hashira

— — —

Former Hashira:

Urokodaki Sakonji — Former Water Hashira

Kuwajima Jigoro — Former Thunder Hashira

Ishikawa Mannosuke — Former Stone Hashira

— — —

Support:

84 Swordsmen of Kinoe Rank

268 Swordsmen of Hinoe and Kinoto Rank

(Note: Ranks follow the traditional nine-tier system, with Kinoe being the highest.)

— — —

When Kagaya Ubuyashiki stepped from the cabin, every swordsman across the ravine dropped to one knee in unison.

"Oyakata-sama!" they cried out together, voices echoing across the valley.

Even Yuzuki and Erii, stationed hundreds of meters away, heard it loud and clear. Tears welled in their eyes, barely held back.

For a thousand years, the Demon Slayer Corps had endured. Thousands of swordsmen had laid down their lives for one dream:

A world without demons.

And now… that dream felt closer than ever.

Kagaya looked upon them—hundreds of warriors, brave and unflinching. He lowered his head slowly in respect, a tear trailing down his cheek.

Then, in a steady, resolute voice, he began his final speech before the war.

— — —

Kyūjō stood off to the side, watching the fresh young faces lined up with proud resolve.

He let out a quiet breath.

"…How many of them won't return from this battlefield?"

Though he possessed power rivaling the legends of old, Kyūjō knew his hands were tied unless Muzan or Kokushibō showed up in person.

This was a trap—and those two would sense it instantly. Still…

The lure of the Blue Spider Lily was too irresistible to ignore.

If Kyūjō moved too early, Muzan would vanish. Escape was his specialty.

Especially with her on his side.

A demon who couldn't be killed by brute force. One whose ability could turn the tide of battle instantly.

Nakime.

The Biwa demon—guardian of the Infinity Castle.

With a single note from her instrument, Nakime could twist the fabric of space, pulling her targets into endless corridors of shifting rooms. Or worse—teleport them anywhere she had marked beforehand.

(Author's Note: While Nakime's power might sound broken, it's been slightly adjusted for balance here. Otherwise, Muzan could've just yeeted everyone into the ocean and called it a day.)

This was why the plan was simple:

Lure Kokushibō first.

Once Kyūjō senses his presence—kill Yamabiko on the spot.

That way, Muzan and Nakime will detect the death through the spiritual link… and come looking.

— — —

After the speech, both demon messengers were moved to the ravine's edge.

There, on the soil beneath their feet, bloomed a single flower—its petals glowing softly in the morning light.

The Blue Spider Lily.

Gyōmei forced the Iron-Handed Demon to gaze at it.

At the far end, Ubuyashiki Kagaya stepped forward, his voice cold yet calm.

"Kokushibō," he said, his words carrying far beyond the mountain peaks.

"I am Ubuyashiki Kagaya. The current leader of the Demon Slayer Corps."

"I believe you recognize this flower."

"This… is the Blue Spider Lily. The very one Muzan Kibutsuji has spent over a thousand years searching for."

"I don't know if he's ever told you why. But I believe you're smart enough to figure it out."

"I'll be waiting here. Three days."

"If you don't come… this flower will fall into Muzan's hands."

He gestured silently.

In a single swing, Gyōmei decapitated the demon.

At that exact moment…

Far away in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kokushibō opened his eyes.

He felt it.

One of the Twelve Kizuki—had just died.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

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