Demon Slayer : Breath of The Forest

"Kumeno! You bastard! Don't close your eyes! Wake up!"

In the dilapidated mansion, Sanemi Shinazugawa held his dearest friend in his arms, howling in anguish.

Kumeno arms hung limply, his life fading fast.

Both were drenched in blood, their uniforms torn to shreds, bodies covered in grievous wounds from the brutal battle.

The fight against Lower Rank One had been devastating.

Sanemi ribs were nearly half-shattered, his throat torn open.

Kumeno fared even worse—one arm ripped clean off by Ubume, his abdomen pierced straight through.

Had it not been for Sanemi's rare blood slowing Ubume movements at the critical moment, the barely breathing Kumeno wouldn't have had the chance to swallow the dorayaki given earlier by The Forest Hashira.

The moment Kumeno consumed it, an overwhelming surge of vitality and raw power erupted through his body.

With this final burst of strength—

As Ubume claws descended toward Sanemi throat, Kumeno drove his broken Nichirin Blade straight through the demon neck.

Ubume never anticipated that Kumeno who was on the death door, could unleash such power.

The demon had no time to react.

Seizing the opening, Sanemi roared through his gushing throat wound and unleashed his own strike.

"Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter!"

A spray of blood.

A Demon's head soared skyward.

"We... did it..." Kumeno regained consciousness just in time to see Lower Rank One dissolving body and its still-gibbering head spouting hollow words.

Then all strength left him.

Kumeno collapsed into the pool of blood.

Before darkness took him, his final sight was a battered Sanemi staggering desperately toward him.

'What a shame... wanted to talk to Sanemi... no strength left... so heavy... can't apologize to master now... won't become Hashira after all... should thank The Forest Hashira... dorayaki really helped... though better flavor would've been nice...'

With these fading thoughts, Kumeno eyes closed forever.

As Sanemi cradled his friend body in anguished cries, Shinichi arrived at the ruined mansion after pushing himself to the limit.

Sensing the lingering thick demonic aura and faint traces of life inside, his expression darkened.

This oppressive presence surpassed even Lower Rank Four—had Sanemi and Kumeno faced an even stronger Lower Moon?

No time to ponder.

Shinichi charged inside just as a Kasugai Crow flapped out from the ruins, screeching its report across the night.

"Kinoe-ranked Demon slayers Kumeno Masachika and Shinazugawa Sanemi have slain Lower Rank One! Lower Rank One slain!"

Under the cold moonlight, the black-feathered messenger flew straight toward Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

***

This was an anomalous space—no up or down, no earth or sky.

Only endless rows of mismatched buildings, staircases twisting in impossible configurations and roads branching in every conceivable direction.

Here there was neither sunlight nor moonlight, only countless lanterns and candles emitting a dim yellow glow, casting an eerie and unsettling light over the entire bizarre space.

Twang!!

A crisp pluck of a biwa string reverberated clearly throughout the strange dimension.

Following the sound, the entire space seemed to come alive as if commanded, with countless houses, staircases and pathways beginning to writhe and shift.

The entire dimension operated with an uncanny rhythm.

This was the sacred land in the hearts of all Demons, the dwelling place of the one they dared not name.

Only those Demons who had earned the recognition or favor of that great one were granted the privilege of being summoned here—such as the Twelve Kizuki.

And this place was none other than the Infinity Castle!

Swish, swish, swish!!

Several figures abruptly appeared on a floating wooden platform.

They varied in height and form, yet without exception, each exuded a terrifying Demon presence.

Their eyes, each a different color, all bore pupils inscribed with characters.

Without a doubt, these were the Lower Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki—Demons standing at the pinnacle of their kind, the trusted subordinates of Muzan Kibutsuji, now assembled!

Thud!

The moment the Lower Ranks gathered, they dropped to their knees in unison, bowing their heads without hesitation.

Before them sat a female Demon, cross-legged on a cushion.

Her long black hair cascaded over her face, obscuring all but a small, crimson mouth against her deathly pale skin.

Most striking was the exquisite biwa in her hands, her slender fingers tipped with black claws gently gripping the bone plectrum.

Yet the Lower Ranks were not kneeling for the biwa-wielding Demon.

Twang!

As she plucked the strings—

Swish!

A figure suddenly appeared before the gathered Demons.

Clad in the ornate robes of an ancient Japanese noble, his hands folded gracefully before his abdomen, his eerily beautiful face gazed down at the Lower Ranks with the disdain one might reserve for insects.

His crimson eyes bore vertical pupils, radiating a murderous aura that made the Demons tremble.

His neatly tied-up black hair formed an immaculate topknot and the fangs peeking from his lips unmistakably declared his identity—the progenitor of Demons, Muzan Kibutsuji.

The moment Muzan appeared, the kneeling Lower Ranks pressed their foreheads even harder against the floor, sensing the overwhelming fury and displeasure emanating from him.

Sure enough, Muzan spoke, his voice icy and devoid of emotion.

"Ubume is dead. Lower Rank One, dead without achieving anything. Add to that Wakuraba and Rokuro—three Lower Ranks slain by the Demon Slayer Corps in just three years. Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

Silence.

The moment Muzan finished speaking, the entire dimension plunged into stillness.

Thud!

Suddenly, a massive, grotesque Demon with jagged fangs, wearing a military cap and coat, slammed his head against the floor and cried.

"Lord Muzan, please calm your anger! Ubume was simply incompetent! That foolish woman only waited passively for humans to come to her—she never took the initiative! We beg you to believe we are not such worthless trash!"

The Demon who spoke had the characters "Lower Two" etched into his left eye—clearly the Lower Rank Two, Hairo!

"Ah~ Lord Muzan, your magnificence remains as awe-inspiring as ever. Your every command is our guiding light and your doubts are entirely justified. Even among the Lower Ranks, there are those who are incompetent~"

A Demon dressed in a tailcoat said in a sweet tone.

The number in his eye revealed his identity—Lower Rank Three, Enmu.

"Lord Muzan, forgive us! We swear to hunt down the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen with all our might from now on!" A female Demon with sharp horns and an adorable face trembled in fear—Lower Rank Four, Mukago.

"My apologies, my lord" said a pale, childlike Demon with an equally pallid expression and hair, his tone indifferent—Lower Rank Five, Rui.

Thud!

The last one, a grotesque Demon covered in drums, immediately prostrated himself, not daring to utter a word—Lower Rank Six, Kyogai.

Muzan said nothing, merely staring coldly at the five Lower Rank Demons.

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