Chapter 62: Growing Up |
'I did it...' Tamayo exhaled in relief.
Since many of the plants from Yeruashi's recipe had gone extinct over the past thousand years, and some had been personally destroyed by Muzan, it had taken many years and even more failed experiments to find suitable replacements for each one.
Despite the fact that the medicine had not yet been tested in practice, Tamayo's demonic intuition told her it was a success.
'I think its effect is similar to Muzan's medicine, even though I had to do without the Blue Spider Lily...' Tamayo murmured to herself, throwing back her head and emptying the test tube in one gulp.
As it hit her throat, the drug began to spread through her system.
Tamayo immediately felt a change in her own blood, which burned like molten metal, causing agonizing pain.
The pain was so intense that Tamayo's slender legs buckled, and her trembling body fell to the floor, curling into a ball.
However, as time passed...
The blood began to cool slightly, and the horrific pain was gradually replaced by an indescribable sensation, as if she were being born again.
'It worked!' Tamayo sat up on the floor, clenching her delicate hands as she tried to feel her renewed power.
She had desperately craved this strength, not for the sake of eternal life or power, but solely to defeat the Progenitor of Demons.
"I've become strong, very strong... but he is stronger..." Tamayo whispered, perfectly aware that she was still inferior to Muzan, who had spent the last thousand years feasting on the flesh of countless humans.
One could say she was now a newborn Progenitor of Demons, surpassing all other demons, but still lagging behind a matured Progenitor like Muzan.
And she had no intention of feeding on humans.
'Well, I need to think...' Tamayo's large eyes sparkled.
If she couldn't handle Muzan with brute force, she would simply develop a deadly poison based on the medicine she now possessed.
For instance, something with the opposite effect, or a toxin that caused rapid cell destruction. From there, it would be a simple matter of injecting the drug by surprise and finishing off the weakened Muzan!
Alternatively, she could even join forces with the Demon Slayer Corps.
Regardless, it was time to prepare for Muzan's assassination!
*
"Is that the medicine?" Mitsuri inquired.
"Yes, I gave her the recipe once," Yeruashi nodded.
"Incredible..." Kanae whispered in fascination. Unlike Mitsuri, she fully understood the magnitude of what had happened, having spent years unsuccessfully researching demon blood herself.
Not to mention that even with a recipe in hand, one needed incredible knowledge to find substitutes for extinct herbs.
"Well, she is several hundred years old, after all," Kanao added softly.
At those words, Kanae shot her a reproachful look, while Mitsuri's face froze, a nervous tic twitching at the corner of her eye.
Meanwhile, Yeruashi turned his gaze to the screen showing Tanjiro. The boy was already making his way toward Mount Natagumo after slaying another demon.
Now, the boy had a much clearer and more tangible goal than in the original timeline—to become a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Sakonji had told Tanjiro that he had to kill a member of the Twelve Kizuki and become a Hashira to gain access to top-secret information about turning Nezuko back into a human.
The battle on Mount Natagumo also impressed Mitsuri.
"Sun Breathing... Tanjiro is incredible!" Mitsuri exclaimed admiringly, a piece of cherry cake in her hand.
She was very nervous watching Tanjiro, who had already become like family to them, fight a life-or-death struggle on Mount Natagumo.
When he finally used Sun Breathing, Mitsuri felt that the boy had finally grown up, and she clapped her hands joyfully.
However, his broken blade combined with his previous injuries prevented Tanjiro from finishing off the Lower Rank demon, even with Sun Breathing, and the fight ended with the exhausted boy collapsing to the ground.
'Almost... just a little more...' Although Tanjiro's body could barely move, his mind refused to accept defeat.
He had become stronger, much stronger. Strong enough that he had nearly defeated a member of the Twelve Kizuki, which, according to his teacher Sakonji, could bring him one step closer to becoming a Hashira.
Tanjiro grit his teeth and tried to stand.
But the crimson threads were already rushing toward him.
And a moment later...
Whoosh!
An elegant silhouette fluttered past, and all the bloody threads were instantly reduced to nothingness.
"Ara, ara... you're quite battered, but you held out well until I arrived," Shinobu said with a sweet smile as she landed next to Tanjiro.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Mitsuri and the other girls exhaled in relief when the Insect Hashira saved Tanjiro and Nezuko at the last moment.
Only Yeruashi remained thoughtful. Giyu hadn't appeared, but that didn't change anything, as all the Hashira had become much stronger.
"She's already here..." Rui rasped at the sight of the Insect Hashira.
He already knew of Shinobu's arrival on the mountain, as she hadn't even attempted to hide her tracks. He had ordered his "family members" to set traps, but they had apparently failed to have the desired effect.
"Are you a Hashira?"
"The correct answer," Shinobu smiled, adding softly, "And your reward is... a one-way ticket to hell..."
A chill ran down Rui's spine at that smile, and his intuition screamed of danger. Shinobu certainly didn't look as terrifying as the Progenitor of Demons himself, but this was the first time he had encountered such a powerful slayer.
There was no question of a fight.
"Blood Demon Art: Murderous Eye Basket!" Rui threw his arms wide, and a bloody web instantly wove itself around the petite figure of the Insect Hashira.
"Watch out..." Tanjiro hurried to warn her.
But before he could finish, a smiling Shinobu tore the bloody web to shreds with a few light strokes of her Nichirin Sword.
Meanwhile, the demon was already beating a hasty retreat!
"Ara, ara, what a disappointment..." Shinobu shook her head, covering dozens of meters in a single bound and making an elegant flourish with her Nichirin Sword.
In that same instant, the Lower Rank Five froze in his tracks. A thin red line appeared on his neck, and his head, wearing a stunned expression, tumbled away.
"Wow, she's so strong..." Tanjiro's eyes bulged.
He had actually begun to think he wasn't far behind the Hashira when he nearly defeated one of the Lower Ranks using the Hinokami Kagura. But Shinobu's effortless victory over Rui showed him that he still had a long, long way to go!
"You still have everything ahead of you," Shinobu said, returning just as swiftly. She spoke softly as she began to examine the wounded Tanjiro.
In truth, she admired the boy's talent.
When they first met, the Insect Hashira hadn't noticed any particular talent in Tanjiro, only becoming slightly interested in him after Makomo mentioned him. Even then, she hadn't given the boy much weight, as he had only just passed the final selection.
But who would have thought that in such a short time, he would be able to survive an encounter with the Lower Rank Five. Moreover, judging by the traces left behind, their battle had been nearly equal.
Additionally, a brief examination showed that Tanjiro had not yet reached Total Concentration: Constant. Otherwise, the Lower Rank Five wouldn't have stood a chance against him. If he added Makomo's swordsmanship and a bit of experience to that, he would certainly reach the level of a Hashira!
If previously the Insect Hashira hadn't believed Tanjiro could become one of them, she now recognized his talent and effort.
"Rest now..." Shinobu smiled and forced the exhausted boy into a deep sleep.
She then ordered her arriving colleagues to deliver Tanjiro and Nezuko to headquarters. She explained that with such wounds, he needed medical attention at the Butterfly Mansion. Besides, it wouldn't hurt for him to finish his breathing concentration training there.
"They'll be here soon!" Mitsuri beamed with joy.
She was a huge fan of the pair, especially the adorable Nezuko.
"That's right, they're already here!" it soon dawned on Mitsuri.
"Yes, but Tanjiro is still coming to his senses. You can go see Nezuko, though..." Yeruashi nodded helplessly.
"Then I'm off!" Mitsuri scurried outside.
Meanwhile, the screen showed a wooden box in the Butterfly Mansion. A moment later, Mitsuri burst in, unceremoniously tore off the lid, and began pinching Nezuko's cheeks.
And just at that moment.
The call of an older brother echoed from the next room.
"Nezuko!" Tanjiro rushed in wearing a hospital gown and covered in bandages. He froze at the sight of the stranger pinching Nezuko's cheeks, then tentatively asked, "Uh, excuse me... who are you, exactly?"
"Oh! Never mind me!" Mitsuri turned her head and covered her mouth with her hand, finally letting go of the poor girl. She added with a smile, "Keep up the good work, we're watching you!"
With those words, she ruffled the stunned Tanjiro's hair and ran out of the Butterfly Mansion as if nothing had happened...