After Tianyue left, Ren murmured to himself, "I can't rely solely on Tianyue's strength. It's too slow. By the time it reaches the Master and he sends out Kasugai Crows to notify the other Hashira, it'll take at least four or five days!"
"Evernight can move through a different dimension; he's much faster than I am. In four or five days, I'm afraid it'll be far too late."
"I have to notify the other Hashira myself. Miss Shinobu..."
As he spoke, Ren suddenly looked southeast, toward the Butterfly Mansion. Kocho Shinobu was there, and the dense forest where he stood was nearly three hundred li away from the mansion.
Kocho Shinobu was still the closest Hashira to him. The areas guarded by the others were even further away.
Moreover, the other Hashira weren't inanimate objects; they weren't just standing still. If they were out on missions, it would take considerable effort just to find them.
"I'll start with Miss Shinobu! Besides, there should be some Kasugai Crows at the Butterfly Mansion. I can temporarily commandeer them to notify the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps."
Ren made up his mind. Whether out of personal feelings or rational consideration, regrouping with Kocho Shinobu first was the best course of action.
"It's only three hundred li. Dammit, I'm going for it!"
His gaze sharpened as he said, "Tanjiro, I'm going to regroup with my comrades now. You should head back first."
"Brother Ren!" Tanjiro spoke up immediately as soon as Ren finished, his voice firm and his eyes resolute.
"Let me help this time. Even though you've always refused to let me join the Demon Slayer Corps, you must know that the Corps is facing a life-or-death crisis. At a time like this, every extra hand counts!"
At this, Tanjiro raised his Nichirin Sword and gave a light smile. "Besides, didn't you say I already have strength comparable to a Hashira? Then please let me do my part—for the Demon Slayer Corps and for the world!"
"Alright, then follow behind me. But I move very fast."
"It's fine. You know I have a keen sense of smell, Brother. Just run ahead; I'll follow your scent to find you!"
"Good! Let's go! Flash of Instant Thunder!"
Ren patted Tanjiro's hair with a slight smile, then suddenly leaped, rushing toward the southeast at full speed. He was like a bolt of lightning, vanishing from Tanjiro's sight in an instant.
"Wait, that's too fast!"
Tanjiro's eyes went wide, his expression one of utter shock. In the blink of an eye, Ren had actually vanished right before him?
"But with that kind of speed, Brother Ren will definitely make it in time!"
"Right, I can't fall behind either. Total Concentration: Hinokami Kagura!"
Tanjiro took a deep breath, following the scent left in the air as he pursued Ren toward the Butterfly Mansion.
...
Meanwhile, Evernight had already appeared near the Butterfly Mansion. Relying on his spatial Blood Demon Art, his movement speed far surpassed that of an ordinary person.
Aside from Nakime, it was likely no one could exceed him in terms of travel speed.
Gazing at the Butterfly Mansion before him, a thick scent of wisteria flowers wafted toward him. The fragrance was refreshing, but Evernight couldn't help but scowl upon smelling it.
"What a sickeningly revolting smell..."
"However, with the wisteria scent this strong, this must be the Butterfly Mansion—the medical facility of the Demon Slayer Corps. Heh, I have to thank Kaigaku for the intel. Otherwise, I would never have found this place among these layered mountain peaks."
"It's a pity that brat doesn't know the location of the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. If he did, I would have stormed right into their nest and wiped them out completely!"
"For now, I'll just have to take my time. The one stationed at the Butterfly Mansion should be the Insect Hashira. I'll start with her."
With a cold sneer, Evernight stepped into the Butterfly Mansion and headed straight into the multi-story building.
Although it was late at night, some rooms in the mansion were still brightly lit. Kanzaki Aoi and three young nurses were applying medicine to the severely injured and tending to patients with limited mobility.
Busy in the corridor, the three nurses suddenly heard the front door open. They immediately looked toward the entrance. Upon seeing the figure who looked almost identical to Ren, cute smiles broke out on their faces.
"Ah! It's Lord Cloud Hashira!"
"Lord Cloud Hashira, what brings you here?"
"Hehe, could it be that you're looking for Lady Kocho..."
"Lady Kocho? Who is that?" A cruel smile appeared on Evernight's face. "I'm here to take something. And that is... your lives!"
Shing!
As the words left his mouth, a cold light flashed. The Bone Blade was suddenly unsheathed, and a sharp sword qi whistled through the air. With a squelch, the three nurses were cut down on the spot, their blood spraying across the walls and ceiling.
"You! What are you doing!"
Hearing the nurses' chattering, Kanzaki Aoi had intended to come over and scold them, telling them to keep it down so they wouldn't disturb the resting patients.
Instead, she arrived to see this bloody and cruel scene. The three young girls lay in a pool of blood, and the one responsible was the figure she admired as Ren. She let out a cry of grief and indignation.
"What are you doing? Why would you do something like this?!"
Evernight didn't answer. He simply turned back with an expressionless face, carrying his Bone Blade toward Kanzaki Aoi.
Seeing the words 'Upper Moon Zero' in Evernight's eyes, Aoi's eyes widened in shock. 'Upper Moon'—as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, she couldn't possibly be ignorant of what those words meant.
"Upper Moon Zero? You! Have you become a Berserk Demon? Why?!"
Finding courage from somewhere, Aoi shouted angrily at Evernight.
"Why would you become a Berserk Demon! Everyone in the Corps admired you so much! Why did you side with Muzan? Why become a Berserk Demon?"
"Honestly, why does a dead person need so many answers?" Evernight said indifferently, swinging his blade down.
"Flower Breathing, Second Form: Honorable Shadow Plum!"
At that moment, a pink figure suddenly struck with a blade. It was Kanao Tsuyuri, delivering a continuous barrage of slashes aimed straight for Evernight's throat.
"Hmm?"
Evernight paused for a moment, the Bone Blade in his hand abruptly shifting direction. He blocked Kanao's first strike with extreme ease.
Then, relying on his monstrous dynamic vision and incredible attack speed, he effortlessly parried the ensuing storm of blows.
"Quite a fast attack speed. Continuous slashes like a revolving sphere... It's not an offensive technique, but a defensive one?"
"If performed to its limit, this move could theoretically block attacks from all directions. It seems you're using offense as defense to save this blue-haired girl from my hands?"
"It's a lovely thought, but reality is quite harsh. Before absolute power, all techniques are nothing more than flashy tricks!"