After Upper Moon Six fell, a Kasugai Crow circling high in the sky gave a single turn before flying off with its message.
At the residence of Flame Pillar Kyojuro Rengoku, nearly four months of recuperation had healed his wounds from the battle with Akaza. His injuries from that fight were long healed.
He was returning to his room after completing a mission against a tree demon, planning to finally rest.
As he stepped into the courtyard, a Kasugai Crow landed on his shoulder.
Kyojuro Rengoku tilted his head with his usual cheerful energy and asked, "What news do you bring? Another mission?"
His hand, which had reached to remove his clothes, paused and lowered again. Whenever the Kasugai Crow had a message, Kyojuro Rengoku never hesitated to answer the call, even if it meant a long and exhausting night of travel.
The Kasugai Crow cocked its head and began its report, "Upper Moon Six and Upper Moon Two were encountered in the Entertainment District mission…"
At these words, Kyojuro's hand tightened into a fist. Two Upper Moons at once? Were there casualties?
He understood the strength of the Upper Moons firsthand. Akaza—Upper Moon Three—had pushed him to his limit.
How could two more powerful demons appear at the same time? Who went to the Entertainment District? What was the situation?
"Upper Moon Two Doma was driven back by Raiden. Upper Moon Six Danki was slain by Raiden, and Danki's sibling was slain by Zenitsu and Inosuke working together."
Kyojuro's worry hadn't even fully formed when the Kasugai Crow's next words struck him dumb. His ears worked fine, and Kasugai Crows never lied.
So Raiden not only drove back Doma—who was stronger than Akaza—but also slew Upper Moon Six? Could Raiden's strength have grown that much?
An image formed in Kyojuro's mind: Raiden standing firm with his nichirin blade, unwavering.
Raiden… could he now stand on his own without needing someone to buy time for him?
A rush of emotion warmed Kyojuro's heart.
The Kasugai Crow, perched on his shoulder, hopped forward, peering into his eyes. Why didn't the Flame Pillar react? Other Pillars had been stunned upon hearing the news. But why did this Hashira's gaze remain steady and composed?
…Wait. His eyes weren't dull. He simply wasn't finished processing the news yet.
Before the bird could repeat the entire report, Kyojuro Rengoku suddenly shouted, "I know! Raiden is incredible!"
The crow flinched at the loud, bell‑clear voice, ruffling its feathers in apparent resentment before flying up from his shoulder.
You could have warned me before shouting! it seemed to chide.
Kyojuro stood tall in the courtyard, his head held high and his flame‑patterned haori gleaming bright in the sun. If Raiden could slay an Upper Moon, then as a Pillar, Kyojuro had to keep striving. Raiden's ascent would not outpace him.
Though Raiden would no doubt be promoted to Pillar upon his return, Kyojuro had already been a Hashira for many years. He could not fall behind.
With renewed motivation, his tired body seemed to spring to life once more.
...
At the Ubuyashiki Estate, the gravely ill Yaozai Ubuyashiki sat up despite blood bubbling from his mouth. "What?! Upper Moon Six is dead? And Upper Moon Two was driven back?"
When he first heard that two Upper Moons had appeared at once, his heart had dropped. Not only was Zenitsu there, but promising Slayers like Raiden were involved. If they had lost a Hashira and fresh talent, the blow would have been disastrous.
But the Kasugai Crow's news took a turn for the unbelievable.
Not only had Doma been driven back by Raiden, but Upper Moon Six had also been slain.
"Well done, Raiden, Tengen, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Nezuko, Inosuke," he said, his complexion pale but his excitement unmistakable.
With Upper Moon Six gone, the myth of the Upper Moons' invincibility was shattered. The Demon Slayer Corps now knew that slaying an Upper Moon was possible. If they could do that, Muzan himself was no longer an unreachable dream.
As hope grew in Yaozai's eyes, a wave of blood surged in his chest. Pain contorted his face, but he gripped his wife Amane's hand tightly.
"A hundred years… a century of stalemate, and now it changes. Amane," he coughed, "this is proof that destiny itself is shifting. The shockwaves of this change will spread ever outward, causing enormous upheaval and finally confronting that man…"
"Kibutsuji Muzan, we will defeat you in this generation!"
With a final shuddering breath, Yaozai Ubuyashiki collapsed back down, blood spilling again as he fought the pain.
Amane sprung into action. "Boil hot water, prepare medicine and towels, quickly!"
The attending girls hurried at her command.
Yaozai's fading sight caught something in the bloodstained ground: a figure. Raiden. It was Raiden who had changed the stagnation of a hundred years, driving back Doma and slaying Upper Moon Six.
A new genius had appeared, one more terrifying than any before.
If Upper Moon Six could fall, how far away was Muzan's defeat?
...…
Within the Infinity Castle, Akaza's eyes narrowed in confusion. He had been following orders from Muzan, so why was he recalled to the Infinity Castle now?
No demon was summoned back without reason. If one was… it could only mean an Upper Moon had died at the hands of a Demon Slayer.
"Which Upper Moon died?" Akaza murmured.
Then the twang of a biwa sounded. At Akaza's feet, Gyokko appeared, his unusual presence capturing the demon's attention.
"Isn't this Lord Akaza?" came Gyokko's strange voice.
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