The Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen

like the Wind Hashira before him

had fallen.

This time, however, Carl had actually exchanged words with Uzui.

And since Uzui had launched an attack of his own,

everyone around already knew they were fighting.

But when they rushed to help

Uzui Tengen was nowhere to be found.

Could it be… he was dead too?

!!!

『Flame Hashira, Rengoku Kyōjurō』: Bastard! You dared to kill two Hashira right here in our base?!

In an instant, blades flashed in every direction.

The surrounding Hashira all drew their Nichirin swords,

charging at Carl together.

SWISH! CLANG! CRASH!

Flames, water, serpents, meteor hammers

every element roared through the air as attacks collided at once.

BOOM!!!

A massive explosion shook the courtyard, kicking up clouds of dust and shattered tiles.

『Rengoku Kyōjurō』: Haah! Did we get him?!

Tanjiro, however, looked uneasy.

『Kamado Tanjiro』: Carl-san…?

『Carl』: Get rid of me?

A calm voice drifted through the settling dust.

As the haze dispersed, Carl's silhouette came into view

completely unscathed.

The real shock came when everyone realized something impossible.

The great meteor hammer and two Nichirin blades

they looked as if they'd struck him.

But if one looked closer,

there was still a tiny gap between the weapons and his body.

A distance so smallless than a centimeter

yet as vast and unbridgeable as an abyss.

No matter how hard they pushed,

their blades simply could not touch him.

『Serpent Hashira, Iguro Obanai』: W–What… what is this?!

『Love Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri』: It's like… something invisible's blocking our attacks!

The Hashira were stunned.

Even as they continued to strike, the results didn't change.

No matter how they attacked, Carl remained untouched

not even his clothes stirred.

It was only natural.

He had wrapped himself in the Power of Space,

a barrier no human blade could pierce.

Unless they could shatter space itself,

their attacks would never reach him.

And even if they could,

Carl could simply expand it infinitely.

『Carl』: Enough. Stop wasting your strength.

The only reason you're still alive

is because I don't want to kill you.

And that was the truth.

Even if among the remaining Hashira

there were some stronger than the Sound or Wind Pillars

against Carl, it made no difference.

Killing them would take less than a thought.

A flicker of will, a whisper of power

and time or space itself would erase them.

The reason he hadn't acted

was simply because he didn't feel like it.

The Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira…

were, in his eyes, decent people.

Some, he even admired.

And besides

none of them had yet crossed the line with their words.

『Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyu』: Such arrogance!

The Hashira's anger surged.

Each of them was among the strongest swordsmen alive

heroes who had slain countless demons and saved countless lives.

Their pride burned deep.

Yet here this man stood, speaking as if he could kill them all at will.

And deep down, they knew…

he wasn't bluffing.

Both the Wind and Sound Hashira

slain in an instant.

『Tanjiro』 thought bitterly.

They were all good people

warriors who fought to protect others.

If Carl killed them all…

it would be far too tragic.

『Kamado Tanjiro』: Carl-san! Please, stop!

They're not bad people! Don't kill them!

『Iguro Obanai』: You little brat! Who do you think you're talking to?!

Poison-tongued as always, Iguro snapped at Tanjiro.

To him, this half-demon boy defending their enemy

was unbearable.

『Carl』: Relax. I don't plan on killing them.

I told youI don't want to.

The calm in his voice only made their fury rise higher.

But suddenly, Obanai's pupils shrank.

Carl's voicethough quiet

sounded right beside his ear.

As if the man was right there.

『Iguro Obanai』 (thinking): What the hell!?

He said he wasn't attacking

so why is he right in front of me?!

I have to move!

Every instinct screamed at him to flee.

He wanted to fight, yes

but after seeing how easily Carl had killed the other two,

self-preservation came first.

Still

before he could retreat,

a searing pain tore through his arm.

『Iguro Obanai』: AAAAAHHHHHH!!!

He screamed, agony twisting his face.

『Carl』: You still don't get it, do you?

If I wanted you dead

you'd be gone already.

And remember this…

words can kill. Watch your mouth.

The Hashira froze, staring in disbelief.

Carl now stood before the writhing Iguro,

his right arm gone

blood spraying across the courtyard.

『Rengoku Kyōjurō』: Iguro!!!

They wanted to rush forward,

but none dared.

Not with him standing there.

A heavy dread sank into every heart.

Too strong.

This man was simply too strong.

They couldn't even touch him

not even graze his sleeve.

Even the bravest among them felt despair

at the vast gulf of power.

『Love Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri』 (thinking): How… how can anyone be this fast?

He killed two of us in the blink of an eye…

and now Iguro's arm…

No one even saw him move.

『Rengoku Kyōjurō』: Don't give up!

He roared, his body blazing with fire as he charged again.

WHOOSH!!!

But once morehis sword struck only air.

『Carl』: …This is getting annoying.

He sighed, glancing at Rengoku with faint irritation.

『Carl』: Rengoku Kyōjurō… you don't actually believe I won't kill you, do you?

He had no intention of killing them all at first.

In fact, he quite liked Rengoku's spirit

his honor, his warmth.

But being attacked again and again…

was wearing on his patience.