[Now!]
Completely unaffected by Gyokko's verbal taunts, relying on the Transparent World's keen perception of aura.
Tanjuro precisely seized the extremely brief opening when Gyokko disappeared once more and poked his head out from another jar, breaking through the obstruction of the fish swarm, his body instantly rushing forward at that unbelievable speed, his Nichirin sword slashing across its neck in one stroke!
"...Eh?"
It wasn't until Tanjuro's body had already dashed past that Gyokko seemed to finally react, lowering his head to look at his own body.
His face still frozen in his previous smile, his vision gradually beginning to invert, he subconsciously raised his hand but failed to catch his own head that was falling backward.
"Ehhhhh? What?! My neck was cut?! I actually, actually..."
His body beginning to disintegrate, after extreme shock, extreme rage appeared on Gyokko's face.
"How is this possible! I'm Upper Rank Five! How could I be beheaded by a dying guy?!
You bastard! Who the hell are you?! Why were your movements so fast just now! Hey! Don't leave! Come back! Come back!"
"Cough cough..."
Completely ignoring Gyokko's roars from behind, Tanjuro just covered his mouth and coughed twice, then sheathed his sword and continued forward.
*[Must hurry, need to rendezvous with Tanjiro and the others as soon as possible...]*
"..."
"Upper Rank Five successfully slain! Repeat! Upper Rank Five successfully slain!"
On the other side, the Kasugai Crows flying everywhere in the Infinity Castle also immediately transmitted Gyokko's death to the ears of the other Hashira in the Infinity Castle.
These Kasugai Crows were all inhabiting the surroundings of the Ubuyashiki residence, and when Nakime opened the Infinity Castle earlier, they flew in together with the Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira.
On their bodies, they all wore talismans painted with strange symbols.
According to the demon named Yushiro beside Tamayo, through these talismans, he could allow the talisman controller to see the vision seen by other talisman wearers, an ability similar to vision sharing.
At this very moment, Kiriya Ubuyashiki—the son of Kagaya Ubuyashiki—was outside the Infinity Castle, through these Kasugai Crows with attached talismans, observing and commanding the battle situation inside the Infinity Castle at all times.
"They've already defeated an Upper Rank demon?"
On the other side, in a corridor of a certain building complex, the Water Hashira trio who had been hurrying on their way stopped in their tracks upon hearing the news.
"Such fast speed, wonder who managed to do it..."
"It was Tanjiro's father, Tanjuro Kamado."
A Kasugai Crow answered Sabito's confusion.
"Tanjuro Kamado..."
Slightly raising his head, recalling that always sickly middle-aged man at the residence, Giyuu subconsciously spoke:
"So he wasn't dead yet?"
"Hey, Giyuu you... forget it."
Once again shocked by his best friend's astonishing ability to express himself, Sabito hesitated for a moment, then ultimately chose to give up.
"Let's go, we need to hurry and find the others to rendezvous..."
"What's the rush? Why not stay and have a match with me first?"
Just as Sabito finished speaking, a figure suddenly appeared at the end of the corridor ahead.
It was a man with short black hair, wearing glasses, appearing refined and cultured.
The moment the man appeared, neither Giyuu nor Makomo reacted, only Sabito, who had personally participated in the battle at the Infinity Estate, recognized this man's identity at the first moment.
He immediately drew his sword and shouted loudly:
"Be careful! That's Upper Rank Three · Akaza!"
"What a coincidence, mask brat, we meet again. Are those two behind you your friends?"
Looking at Sabito, who was facing a great enemy, Akaza just slowly assumed his stance and grinned.
"Come, let me see how much you've improved during this time."
"..."
---
At the same time, on another side, Tengen Uzui's last two wives—Hinatsuru and Makio—were also moving quickly through the Infinity Castle.
When Nakime opened the Infinity Castle, the two of them had just arrived at the periphery of the Ubuyashiki residence, so Nakime, who sensed their presence, conveniently captured them along with the others.
After falling into the Infinity Castle, the two were fortunately not separated, instead moving together.
"Where... is this place?"
The two wandered aimlessly through the Infinity Castle, eventually arriving at a place filled with lotus flowers everywhere.
Unlike other places in the Infinity Castle, this place actually had large amounts of soil, upon which lotus flowers of enormous and beautiful sizes were growing in violation of natural laws.
And in the center surrounded by these lotus flowers was a uniquely styled wooden church of Eastern architectural design, emitting waves of strangeness.
The two looked at each other, and ultimately still cautiously walked over, reaching out to pull open the door.
Behind the door were pools filled with blooming lotus flowers, and small wooden bridges winding and coiling above them.
Deep inside the building, a tall man in religious robes was sitting there.
"Hm? Someone has arrived already?"
Originally resting with his eyes closed, Doma slowly opened his eyes upon hearing the movement at the door.
Recognizing the two people at the door at a glance, Doma was stunned, then immediately grinned.
"Oh my~ So it was you two~ Long time no see~
How have you been lately? Is there anything I can help you with?
It's fine, it's fine~ You can tell me any troubles you have~ As the founder of the Eternal Bliss Sect, I'm best at listening to other people's troubles~"
"Doma?!"
Unlike Doma's smiling expression, the moment they recognized him, extreme rage appeared on the faces of the two people at the door.
"..."
---
At the same time, not far from Doma's church, Tanjiro had finally rendezvoused with another person.
"Kanroji-senpai?!"
Spotting Mitsuri Kanroji searching for people nearby from afar, Tanjiro waved his hand excitedly in greeting and ran over.
"Tanjiro?"
Turning around at the sound, upon seeing Tanjiro, Mitsuri Kanroji's face also showed an expression of excitement that was almost about to cry.
"Waaa~ That's great~ I finally found someone else~ This place is so empty everywhere, I was so scared..."
"Haha, me too! By the way, senpai, have you seen anyone else on your way here?"
"Eh... not yet, Tanjiro you're the first human I've seen in here..."
"In that case, senpai, come with me!"
Tanjiro actively extended the invitation.
"Earlier when I was on that building over there, I saw two of Tengen-senpai's wives heading in that direction up ahead..."
"Hinatsuru and Makio? They were captured in here too?"
Mitsuri Kanroji was somewhat surprised by this.
She had thought that only the Hashira present at the time were captured.
"Yeah, unfortunately the distance was too far, they didn't hear me shouting... Senpai, I'm really worried about them, how about we go find them together?"
Tanjiro proposed.
These two wives of Tengen Uzui didn't know Breathing Styles, he really couldn't just leave them alone.
"Okay."
Mitsuri Kanroji immediately nodded in agreement.
Thus, the two quickly hurried together in the direction where Doma was located...