Chapter 74: Prelude to the Finale |
The scene then shifted to the Demon Slayer Headquarters, where a period of rigorous, hellish training had begun. Nearly all the Hashira had rushed back from their missions, temporarily setting aside their tasks of purging the proliferating demons.
Kagaya decided that the time had come.
In his estimation, if Tamayo joined forces with Makomo and Shinobu—whose strength had surged thanks to Yeruashi’s guidance—along with Gyomei, whose power was as unyielding as a mountain, and Tanjiro, who was steadily mastering Sun Breathing, they would finally be a match for Muzan!
Centuries of experience, bought with the blood and sweat of countless Demon Slayers, had finally borne fruit, culminating in the most powerful generation of Hashira yet. Not to mention, their ranks now included Shinobu, blessed with the gift of a god, and Makomo, the disciple of that very same god.
There was no doubt that the perfect moment had arrived.
Kagaya could not afford to remain idle. He planned to orchestrate an information leak over the coming months to ensure the Progenitor of Demons discovered their headquarters.
And then...
They would spring an ambush, surround him, and slay him!
If they missed this opportunity now, who knew how many years would pass before such a chance arose again—a time when so many elite warriors were gathered together, bolstered by the aid of a god himself.
The door did not open.
However, Yeruashi’s voice drifted out from a window: "Do not worry. Simply do what you must."
Kagaya had not come for a simple social call; he wanted to demonstrate the Demon Slayers' resolve and offer Yeruashi a warning.
He planned to serve as the bait, rigging himself with explosives, poison, and other traps to catch the Progenitor of Demons off guard and attempt to kill him. Naturally, no one believed this would seriously impact the Sword Hashira Residence, but Kagaya still felt it necessary to inform Yeruashi of his intentions.
"If you succeed, the curse will lift from your family, and your descendants will live long lives," Yeruashi added calmly.
"Thank you for your mercy!" Kagaya expressed his gratitude respectfully, sinking to his knees alongside his wife.
Then.
He took Amane's hand and slowly departed from the Sword Hashira Residence, his expression peaceful.
*
Meanwhile, inside the residence.
Yeruashi shifted his gaze from the window back to the water screen, watching the Hashira training relentlessly.
His interference had made Tanjiro stronger, so his Nichirin Sword had not shattered in the battle against Daki. Furthermore, Mitsuri had not become a Demon Slayer, the Mist Hashira was training at the headquarters with everyone else, and Muzan had not summoned an Upper Moon meeting immediately following the deaths of Daki and Gyutaro.
Consequently, Upper Rank Five had not brought information about the Swordsmith Village to his leader; instead, he had set out there on foot rather than being teleported directly into the vicinity by Nakime's ability. Due to this delay, Gyokko was detected in advance by the slayers, and the forewarned Swordsmith Village was relocated elsewhere.
Even though the lack of a major battle in the Swordsmith Village prevented several Hashira from awakening their marks simultaneously, their refined swordsmanship and rigorous training compensated for the deficiency.
The most formidable among them were the Sword Hashira, the Stone Hashira, and the Insect Hashira.
While Makomo and Gyomei’s strength was recognized by all, Shinobu continued to veil her true capabilities—like a venomous bee waiting to finish her prey with a single, precise sting.
Time passed in the blink of an eye.
Several months later, Muzan received a rare piece of good news: one of the newly appointed Twelve Kizuki had discovered the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters using their Blood Demon Art!
'The time has come to finish off these annoying flies once and for all!' An unquenchable bloodlust burned in the Progenitor's gaze.
He was utterly fed up with those damned slayers!
Although no human capable of threatening his life had been born since the death of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, there was no guarantee that such a person wouldn't appear in the future.
Even if he still hadn't found any trace of the Blue Spider Lily, locating the Demon Slayer Headquarters was excellent news; at the very least, he would no longer have to swat away these persistent pests.
As for the rest... the current generation of Hashira was certainly strong, but in Muzan's opinion, they were at most on the level of the Upper Ranks under his command. This time, he intended to take no chances; he would personally wipe out the Demon Slayers once and for all.
Their fate was already sealed!
*
Deep into the night.
The Demon Slayer Leader’s Residence.
Kagaya, his face marred by a horrific purple scar and bulging veins that covered half his visage, coughed up blood onto his bed.
The curse of the Ubuyashiki family had already stolen his sight and now threatened to claim his life.
Meanwhile, Amane sat by his side, patiently wiping the blood from her exhausted husband's chin with a towel.
Even in total blindness, Kagaya could be certain that his wife was right there, forever ready to support him.
"Cough, cough..." He parted his lips in an attempt to speak, only to break into another fit of coughing up blood. Based on his health, he didn't have much time left, yet his end would arrive even sooner than nature intended.
Kagaya turned with difficulty toward the window.
Rustle... The trees in the courtyard sighed in the breeze beneath the pale moonlight.
But as time passed, a heavy silence settled over the grounds... and the crescent moon imperceptibly stained a deep crimson.
Under that bloody glow, a human silhouette appeared beside the bed.
Yet, not a single muscle twitched on the couple's faces.
"So, we finally meet... Muzan Kibutsuji... Our Ubuyashiki family and the Demon Slayer Corps, who have pursued demons for centuries... Amane, what does he look like?" Kagaya murmured softly, propping himself up in bed.
"He appears to be a man in his early twenties with red eyes and vertical, cat-like pupils," Amane stated imperturbably.
"I see, I see," Kagaya rasped through his cough, turning his head toward the Progenitor of Demons. "You have been searching for the path here for a very long time."
"I see my arrival isn't a surprise to you... which means you also foresaw your own death and the destruction of the Corps," Muzan said calmly, though beneath that composure lay a piercing chill that made the very air in the room turn cold. He looked at the hideous scar and continued, "What an eyesore. Is this the heavens' way of cursing your lineage for constantly buzzing around my feet?"
"The heavens did indeed curse my line, but only because an abomination like you was born into it... slaying you is not just my desire, but the duty of my entire house," Kagaya replied, his words interrupted by coughing.
"I'm already sick of your delusions. I see no connection at all; I have never suffered from any curse, not to mention that God does not exist," Muzan said with cold indifference.
"Is that so?" Kagaya suddenly burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Muzan frowned.
The leader of the Demon Slayers did not answer, merely continuing to laugh until he coughed up blood once more.
"Ah, I see. Are you happy because you think you've lured me into a trap?" Not a single muscle moved on the Progenitor's face, but his voice grew noticeably colder. "I imagine you orchestrated the information leak on purpose, but I came here expecting as much. Do you know why? Because I have absolutely no fear of your traps. Let me guess—have you planted explosives or anti-demon poison? It won't work on me. Your fate is already sealed!"
With every word, Muzan's voice grew chillier and chillier as his right hand slowly reached toward Kagaya.
But the man kept laughing with the last of his strength, even though his plan had been exposed. This sparked a seed of unease in the Progenitor’s heart; he did not understand, and he could not comprehend why.
Goosebumps actually crawled down his spine.
"Enough. I've had enough of this." Muzan's face darkened completely, and his clawed hand shot toward the laughing Kagaya's head like an arrow.
But at that exact moment.
Boom!
A cataclysmic explosion erupted directly beneath his feet.
Clearly expecting something of the sort, the Progenitor of Demons merely narrowed his eyes in contempt. At the same time, his flesh quivered violently, unleashing a powerful shockwave that radiated outward in all directions.
When it collided with the explosion, a deafening roar erupted, making the very earth tremble. The entire house instantly blew into smithereens, and the tremors rippled through the surrounding area.
A brief moment later, the ground cracked, buildings collapsed like houses of cards, and fires began to rage across the entire headquarters.