"Yes."
Ding!
Successfully added On-bashira Tengen Uzui as a friend.
Detected friendship intimacy with Tengen Uzui and the host as Initial acquaintance, randomly granting a reward.
Obtained skill: Sound Breathing Fourth Form: Constant Resounding Slashes (Masterful).
Do you wish to fuse skill now: Sound Breathing Fourth Form: Constant Resounding Slashes (Masterful)?
No.
"It's not bad, just an extra way to attack."
The unexpected reward made Raiden's expression noticeably lighter, his white hair catching the glow of battle light as his gaze shifted toward Gyutaro, waiting for a response.
Gyutaro heard Raiden's words, and a bitter smile creased his face, disdain evident in his eyes. He opened his mouth to mock Raiden's audacity, but before a single word formed, a calm, distant male voice echoed in Gyutaro's mind: "Agree to him."
Gyutaro trembled violently, as if an electric current had shot from his feet to the top of his head.
"It's Tongmo-sama's voice?! Why is Tongmo-sama here?"
The mocking retort in his mind vanished, replaced with, "I… I'm willing."
Ding!
Successfully added Upper Moon Six: Gyutaro and Daki as friends.
Detected Upper Moon Six: Gyutaro and Daki's friendship intimacy as Initial acquaintance, randomly granting a reward.
Obtained skill: Blood Demon Art: Batsu Jumping Beam (Masterful).
Do you wish to fuse skill now: Blood Demon Art: Batsu Jumping Beam (Masterful)?
No.
After Raiden declined, he stopped focusing on the rewards entirely. The way this reward had been acquired felt off. From Gyutaro's expression just then, it clearly looked like he had no intention of agreeing to be allies.
Raiden watched the shift closely. Gyutaro hadn't compromised, yet somehow his words had changed entirely as if something unseen had intervened. Daki was in his grasp, and Gyutaro should have fought instead of agreeing. The inconsistency made Raiden uneasy.
He stepped forward, planning to observe Gyutaro's face for clues behind this sudden change.
As he moved, Raiden's peripheral vision caught a sight that had been hidden behind Uzui Tengen's towering form. At first nothing seemed unusual, but then something registered, and Raiden jerked his head to the side, spotting a figure dressed in red sitting on distant eaves.
"Doma?! Doma has appeared in the Entertainment District? That shouldn't be possible."
"Wouldn't his presence here be the real climax of this whole battle?"
"Did my arrival here somehow alter the original events entirely?"
Hey — Raiden!
Seeing Raiden notice him, Doma waved with excitement, shouting as if greeting a long-lost friend.
"Long time no see, Raiden. Teach me Akaza's Blood Demon Art now, will you? I really want to learn it. Akaza is always so cold to me. I want to make him happy."
Doma spoke aloud to himself, seemingly oblivious to whether Raiden was listening or not.
Uzui Tengen, having heard the strange voice, initially assumed help had arrived from the Demon Slayer Corps or that reinforcements had come. But when he turned and saw Doma, his eyes narrowed sharply. "A demon. This is a demon too."
The oppressive aura radiating off Doma was stronger than even Upper Moon Six's presence .
After speaking, Doma stood, dusted off his nonexistent coat, and hopped down beside Gyutaro.
"Tongmo-sama."
Gyutaro, normally brimming with arrogance, suddenly regarded Doma with unusual respect. Not only had Doma given them life once, but his power was immense. Among all the demons, only the strongest eclipsed him — only Lord Muzan and Upper Moon One stood above him in strength .
"Gyutaro, you've gotten stronger. Looks like you've eaten quite a few humans," Doma said with a careless smile, the rainbow hues in his eyes adding an unsettling charm .
"Take care of your duties. I'm here for my friend Raiden."
He turned toward Raiden and tilted his head playfully. "Last time we didn't have enough time. This time we do, Raiden. Teach me now?"
"Upper Moon… Two?" Uzui Tengen muttered, his heart sinking.
Fighting Upper Moon Six alone was already near impossible for him. Facing Upper Moon Two as well was unthinkable. The gap between their powers was enormous. Gyutaro's threat alone was dire .
This mission was turning into a disaster.
Uzui Tengen's mind raced. I shouldn't have called Tanjiro and the others in. Could I hold off two Upper Moons long enough for Raiden and the rest to escape?
He fought to find any possible plan, but every option crumbled under the weight of impossibility.
Am I really going to die here? If so, at least make it something memorable.
Have you finished the score?
A clear voice sounded from Raiden's side.
Uzui Tengen looked at Raiden with surprise. "A score? Raiden knows about the score? How do you know I'm adapting to a score?"
"It needs a bit more," Raiden replied, eyes fixed forward.
"Hurry then, I'll handle Doma."
After speaking, Raiden's attention was fully fixed on Doma's approach.
Uzui Tengen's score ability was formidable. By synchronizing with an enemy's combat pattern, he could compose a counterattack through rhythm and sound. But the buildup took time. In the original story, he barely completed the score before being nearly killed by Gyutaro, and only with Tanjiro and the others' help did they survive.
Now, with Raiden by their side, finishing the score should turn the tide.
"Hand him over to me?" Uzui Tengen asked, bewildered. "Did Raiden really misjudge the target?"
"Upper Moon demons aren't stronger just because their numbers are higher," Raiden said calmly.
"Upper Moon Two should be for him, and Raiden should take Upper Moon Six."
"Even if Raiden doesn't understand the ranking, he should see the difference in strength just by how Upper Moon Six responded to Upper Moon Two, right?"
Raiden knew exactly the difference in strength, and that was precisely why he made his choice.
"In other words… Raiden thinks his strength is better than mine?"
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