Sekido smirked, satisfaction clear on his face.
Especially when he saw the sweat forming on Shinobu Kocho's forehead—
He knew.
She was reaching her limit.
And next—
Would be the time to torment her.
"They're all clones! If you want to kill them… you have to find the real body!"
A voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone froze.
Sekido turned sharply toward the rooftop—
And his expression changed instantly.
There, sitting cross-legged with his Nichirin Blade resting against the tiles—
Was Xia Feng.
A faint smile lingered on his face.
Fear—
Instinctive, uncontrollable fear—
Exploded within Sekido.
He remembered it clearly.
In the Infinity Castle, Xia Feng had faced multiple Upper Moons alone—
And nearly killed Muzan Kibutsuji.
He instinctively stepped back—
But in that instant—
Shinobu struck.
Her blade pierced him into the wall.
His eyes widened—
And suddenly—
He grabbed Urogi, absorbing him.
Then Karaku, who had just returned—
Absorbed as well.
One hand clamped down on Shinobu's blade—
The other transformed into a claw, slashing toward her—
Slash!!
A flash of light—
His arm was severed instantly.
Xia Feng appeared, pulling Shinobu back and retreating to safety.
Only after placing her down did he step forward again, smiling calmly.
"Upper Rank Four… relying on Blood Demon Art to hold that position. Seems your strength isn't all that impressive."
He casually pulled out a syringe.
"Be good. Let me take some blood. I promise your death won't be too painful."
"Bastard!! You think I can't kill you?! Die!!"
Sekido roared.
He absorbed all remaining clones.
His form began to change—
Drums connected along his back—
Two hands gripping curved blades.
Zohakuten—
His ultimate form.
But—
Before he could even react—
Xia Feng was already in front of him.
The syringe pierced his body.
The Nichirin Blade rested against his neck.
"Don't move," Xia Feng said lightly. "You know how it works—if I cut your neck, even if you're not the main body… you'll still die."
He smiled faintly as he collected the blood.
Zohakuten's eyes widened.
He hadn't even seen how Xia Feng moved.
That speed—
Was beyond comprehension.
Xia Feng withdrew the syringe and stored it away.
"Thanks for cooperating."
He lifted his blade slightly.
"But now… you're no longer useful."
Zohakuten's expression twisted.
He opened his mouth—
Preparing a sonic attack—
But Xia Feng was faster.
A single slash—
Clean and precise.
"I cut as fast as I could. It shouldn't hurt."
Xia Feng flicked his blade lightly—
Then turned—
And threw it.
The Nichirin Blade shot forward—
Piercing into the bushes.
The tiny, rat-like true body—
Was split in half instantly.
Upper Rank Four—
Dead.
Xia Feng turned back to Shinobu and Kanao.
"It's over."
Shinobu immediately pointed toward the main estate.
"There's a very powerful Demon there—be careful."
Xia Feng understood instantly.
That direction—
Was Akaza.
And the other—
Kokushibo.
Shinobu said firmly, "I'll head to the other side."
Xia Feng gently placed his hand on her head and rubbed it.
"You have something more important to do. Go protect Tamayo. If Muzan kills her, we lose our only chance at creating that medicine."
Shinobu's cheeks flushed slightly—
But her eyes remained resolute.
"Xia Feng-kun… I'm the Insect Hashira. I should be doing more."
"But even Muzan is searching for Tamayo," Xia Feng replied calmly. "You heard it yourself—Upper Rank Four was looking for her."
He wasn't going to let her face monsters like Akaza or Kokushibo.
Those two—
Were on a completely different level.
And—
They were his targets.
After a moment—
Shinobu finally nodded.
She took Kanao and left the Butterfly Estate.
Thrum—
The sound of a biwa echoed.
Xia Feng frowned—
And in the next instant—
He was pulled into the Infinity Castle.
He couldn't avoid it.
And he knew—
This wasn't meant to kill him.
It was meant to stall him.
The Upper Moons already understood—
They couldn't defeat him.
Inside the Infinity Castle—
Only one Demon remained.
Nakime.
The others were all at headquarters.
This meant—
Muzan had chosen to sacrifice her.
All to buy time—
To destroy the Demon Slayer Corps.
Xia Feng smiled faintly.
"So… Muzan wants you to hold me here?"
Nakime didn't respond.
Her hand had been reattached.
Though the wound remained—
Her fingers moved freely.
Clearly—
Muzan's doing.
Xia Feng didn't care.
His blade pointed forward—
And he dashed.
Thrum!
Nakime plucked the strings rapidly.
Each time Xia Feng approached—
The space shifted—
Sending him elsewhere.
But—
With every attempt—
He got closer.
She could feel it.
She was no longer fast enough.
She could delay him—
But she couldn't trap him forever.
Her eye—
Marked with the number Five.
She had inherited the position of Upper Rank Five.
Xia Feng's speed kept increasing.
Nothing in the Infinity Castle could stop him.
Thunderclap and Flash—
Pushed to its absolute limit.
Nakime couldn't even see him anymore.
She relied only on instinct—
And her control of space.
Her fingers moved—
But suddenly—
Snap.
The string broke.
Nakime froze.
Then—
She stopped resisting.
As if accepting her fate.
Xia Feng appeared before her.
His Nichirin Blade flashed—
Cutting toward her neck.
She didn't move.
Didn't struggle.
"You did well," Xia Feng said calmly. "At least… you delayed me longer than Hantengu."
The blade passed through her neck—
Clean and final.
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