"There's such a huge commotion over there. Wonder what's going on... Eighty-thousand."
On the other side, in a certain room within the Infinity City, amidst swirling incense smoke, the four demons were still playing mahjong.
Vaguely hearing the commotion from somewhere overhead, Enmu subconsciously looked up and asked in confusion.
"That direction, if I recall, is where Master's dojo is located."
Casually discarding a tile for Ume to pick up, Gyutaro replied:
"At this point, Master should have already engaged that Demon Slayer who defeated Hantengu and Gyokko."
"In that case, should we go over and help?"
As he said this, Enmu also glanced toward the depths of the room where Nakime sat with her biwa in her arms, eyes closed.
As a seasoned workplace veteran, he was always prepared to share the burdens of his superiors.
"That won't be necessary."
Gyutaro immediately rejected this.
"Putting aside the fact that with Master's strength, he doesn't need anyone's help at all.
Furthermore, given Master's personality, he actually doesn't like people interfering in his battles.
Let's just sit here properly and prevent Demon Slayers from sneaking over here... Seventy-thousand."
"To be able to create such a commotion during battle—Master Michikatsu's strength is indeed far beyond what we can match."
Ubume also sighed in admiration at this moment.
Thanks to her connection with Mitsuba, she had visited the Infinity Castle a few times before.
She remembered that Michikatsu's dojo was located on a higher level than this area, still some distance away.
Yet the commotion from Michikatsu's battle could be faintly heard even from where they were.
One could only say that the destructive power of Moon Breathing was still too exaggerated.
"Of course."
Hearing this, the corner of Gyutaro's mouth subconsciously rose.
"I've said it before—compared to Master's true Moon Breathing, my meager swordsmanship is completely worthless."
Some Demon Slayers might think that the Moon Breathing techniques he used during the film studio battle were already quite powerful.
But Gyutaro wanted to say—this was only because they hadn't yet seen Master Michikatsu's Moon Breathing techniques!
Compared to Master's techniques, his power was completely like a water pistol!
"Speaking of which, I remember Miss Mitsuba also knows Breathing Styles.
Since the two Masters are siblings, I wonder whose swordsmanship is stronger?"
Ubume suddenly asked curiously, her gaze turning to Gyutaro as she spoke.
Among the four demons present, he was probably the only one who could answer this question.
"Hmm..."
After thinking seriously for a moment, Gyutaro replied:
"Strictly speaking, Master's swordsmanship is still superior. Miss Mitsuba mainly wins in terms of talent.
According to Master's words, Miss Mitsuba's talent is someone who can steadily rank second among all people he has seen over the past several hundred years.
If Miss Mitsuba were willing to put in the effort to diligently study swordsmanship, she could actually surpass Master.
But Master also said that the word 'effort' could appear on anyone—except Miss Mitsuba..."
Speaking to this point, Gyutaro even vividly and dramatically imitated Mitsuba's tone as he said—
"I already have such amazing talent, so why would I still work so desperately hard? What would I even need this talent for then?
I have such high talent precisely so I can better slack off! When problems arise, I can just practice a bit on the spot, can't I!"
"Indeed..."
"Mm, indeed..."
Hearing this, both Ubume and Enmu nodded deeply in agreement.
Without a doubt, Miss Mitsuba was exactly the type of personality to say such things. No one would doubt this.
"Oh ho! I've won again!"
Amidst the silence, Ume, who had been concentrating on mahjong, once again pushed the tiles before her forward and laughed with her head thrown back.
This time, Nakime in the corner didn't open her eyes to look over, nor did she emit that light sigh.
It seemed she had gradually grown accustomed to and accepted the current state of this room...
"..."
"Sabito... Sabito!"
In a pile of collapsed rubble, the unconscious Sabito slowly opened his eyes at the sound of a voice calling from not far away.
[Did I... pass out...]
His vision blurry, his entire body aching as if falling apart, warm blood seeming to flow down his cheeks.
[Strange, I remember before...]
Consciousness returning, memories gradually reviving, Sabito recalled what happened before he lost consciousness.
To save Giyu and Makomo, he had launched an assault on Akaza. The clash between their attacks completely collapsed the building.
After that... he seemed to have fallen and been knocked unconscious by the collapsing building?
Right, Giyu and Makomo—how were they now?
His eyes finally regaining focus, worried for his dear friends, Sabito hurriedly propped himself up, then saw a scene that shook his very soul.
In the rubble not far ahead, Akaza's fist had pierced through Giyu's abdomen.
From the bowl-sized hole, blood continuously poured forth.
On Giyu's usually expressionless face, an expression of disbelief now appeared.
"Giyu?!"
As Akaza withdrew his fist, Giyu, losing support, slowly fell to his knees.
"Oh? You're finally awake?"
Turning to look at Sabito who had shouted, Akaza slowly walked toward him.
"Masked brat, during the short while you were unconscious, I played around a bit with this poker-faced kid.
I must admit, your strength is indeed quite remarkable..."
Raising his hand to catch the Nichirin Blade Makomo swung at the side of his head, Akaza, without even turning around, flicked his hand and directly threw her out along with her blade.
"This kid is truly durable. His defense is so strong that among all the Hashira I've encountered before, he could almost rank first.
To have honed martial arts to this degree, you are truly excellent. How about it—interested in becoming a demon?"
"I'd rather kill you right now!"
Looking from afar at Giyu kneeling on the ground, Sabito took a deep breath and gripped the Nichirin Blade in his hand once more.
"Don't be so excited. If you transform into demons, even your poker-faced companion's severe injuries could be healed immediately."
"Very cost-effective, isn't it?"
"Cost-effective? Upper Rank Three, you probably don't know, do you?
Giyu's older sister and my parents were all killed by demons..."
"Ah, that is indeed a sad story..."
Akaza was stunned upon hearing this, subconsciously sighing.
He had almost forgotten that although not all, most Demon Slayers in the Demon Slayer Corps indeed had grudges against demons.
But his teacher's mindset immediately made him think of a solution.
"In that case, why don't you tell me the appearance and abilities of the demon that killed your family back then.
I'll find them for you. If they're still alive, I'll capture them and bring them before you, letting you kill them with your own hands to avenge yourselves. How about that?
This way, once your hatred is resolved, wouldn't you be able to seriously consider my proposal just now?"