Kaigaku's figure dissipated into the air, leaving not a trace of his existence.
"Hoo…"
Zenitsu took a deep breath. He had thought he would be happy because he had killed this traitor.
To be honest, he knew very well that Kaigaku was beyond saving. It wasn't just that he had turned into a demon, but that his thoughts were too twisted; he was no longer a normal person.
Such a person, even if they returned to human society, would only harm others.
Even Mizuki herself still insisted that when encountering a demon, one should just find a way to cut off its head, a thought that made no distinction between right and wrong.
However, many within the Demon Slayer Corps, including the Master and the Hashira, had undergone significant changes in their views on demons.
He thought he wasn't simply hating Kaigaku for becoming a demon.
Instead, he hated his endless desires, which ultimately led to such a downfall.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to live, but those who never give will ultimately receive nothing from others.
Those who allow their greed to swell will eventually lose everything.
Humans are social animals; they cannot live alone.
"Hoo…" Zenitsu exhaled again.
"Seriously, she makes it sound so casual, I actually thought it would be simple," he muttered inexplicably to himself.
If Mizuki were present, she would probably understand what he meant.
When listening to Young Miss Mizuki talk about her elder brother, she always said with a fierce expression that if she met him, she would chop him into mincemeat, hack him into seven or eight hundred pieces, and then feed him to pigs.
At the time, it made his scalp tingle and his body tremble uncontrollably.
Now that he had encountered and killed the opponent, he felt no joy whatsoever.
He and Kaigaku didn't even have much affection, yet he felt this way. Could Young Miss Mizuki truly bring herself to do it?
Zenitsu withdrew his gaze and headed in Himejima Gyomei's direction… somewhere in the Infinity Castle.
Nakime's hand paused on her biwa, and she looked up into the distance.
This is bad.
All the Upper Ranks, except for Lord Kokushibou, have been eliminated.
The strength of the Demon Slayer Corps is somewhat beyond imagination; even the Upper Ranks can only die in regret before them.
Those Hashira… they are not simple… not on the same level as the Hashira encountered before.
Is it really the enhancement from the Demon Slayer Mark?
What made Nakime even more speechless was that the most useless one was actually killed by a kid who wasn't even a Hashira… No, that useless one aside, even Hantengu and Lord Douma were killed.
Nakime didn't have many thoughts about Kaigaku, her colleague who suddenly took the Upper Rank seat.
He was merely chosen by Lord Muzan to be an Upper Rank because he was basking in Lord Kokushibou's glory; he was just… a useless dead last.
Nakime couldn't help but look back. Not far behind her, between two buildings, was a cocoon-like web.
Faster, Lord Muzan… I can't hold on much longer… "Can't hold on much longer?"
"Is someone coming?"
Deep within the Infinity Castle, Tanjirou was panting heavily, his clothes torn into many small cuts, looking tattered.
He looked cautiously at Kokushibou, who had shed his clothes and exposed his strong physique, and couldn't help but grit his teeth.
It's too exaggerated… this monster… Even if I can see his movements through the Transparent World, my body can barely keep up, and even my vision struggles to follow completely.
He possesses the same abilities as me, the Demon Slayer Mark and the Transparent World. On this basis, physical strength will decide everything.
No, there's also one more move.
If I can master that ability… the scarlet blade… As Tanjirou's thoughts wandered, Kokushibou seemed to have seen through his inner thoughts.
"Do you understand now? Where you lost." Kokushibou stood calmly before him and said, "That's right… being human is the reason for your defeat."
Before Tanjirou could reply, Inosuke, behind him, responded with difficulty: "Who lost?"
"This old man is still alive and well!"
Tanjirou glanced out of the corner of his eye at Inosuke, who was struggling to get up behind him.
His boar mask was half-cracked, revealing his delicate face underneath. A deep sword wound was visible on his bare upper body, with flesh exposed, continuously oozing blood.
Tanjirou said without turning his head: "Inosuke, you recover first. I'll try to hold him off."
Although he was very concerned about Inosuke's injuries, if this monster wasn't kept in check, they would all be wiped out in an instant.
Tanjirou was probably a bit too pessimistic; Kokushibou had no intention of advancing, instead extending his hand towards them.
"How about it? Do you want to become a demon? Because you are very talented, you are worthy." Kokushibou was still thinking about recruiting for the company at this moment.
No, perhaps he just felt that if he could persuade the other party, persuade the human Mizuki thought most highly of, he could prove to Mizuki and Yoriichi that he was the one who was right.
"To have mastered the Demon Slayer Mark and the Transparent World at this age, you undoubtedly possess rare talent." Seeing Tanjirou unmoved, Kokushibou couldn't help but try to recruit him again.
"However, if you don't resolve the inevitable death that comes with the Demon Slayer Mark, you will have no path to becoming stronger."
Tanjirou calmly refused: "I didn't wield my sword to become stronger."
If it weren't for Muzan, he would probably still be living happily in the mountains with his family, making a living by burning charcoal.
"Moreover, wasn't Mr. Yoriichi a human stronger than any demon?"
Hearing that name, Kokushibou inevitably paused.
Indeed, no matter how many times he heard that name, it always evoked disgust.
"Is that so…" Kokushibou's tone became even calmer, "Your thoughts are the same as Mizuki's."
"In that case, I will have to kill you."
To be honest, compared to Kaigaku, who would kneel before him without hesitation just to live, he felt that Tanjirou had more potential for recruitment.
Even if he found that face disgusting, it was a pity… As his voice fell, Tanjirou once again felt that extreme pressure, that overwhelming Aura washing over him.
Behind him, Inosuke took out a potion and applied it to his body.
He remembered clearly: external and internal use.
Seeing this, Kokushibou frowned.
Mizuki's blood?
It can give humans almost a second life, but it means nothing in front of a strong opponent; even if you get a chance, it's just one more cut.
Sensing the change in Kokushibou's Aura, and with Inosuke behind him not fully recovered, Tanjirou decided to strike first.
"Sun Breathing, Twelfth Form: Flame Dance!"
The fiery figure surged forward, and a crimson cross-slash powerfully struck towards Kokushibou's neck.
Kokushibou retreated sharply, choosing to evade.
Tanjirou's eyes lit up slightly; he wasn't entirely without a chance of victory.
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