"Yoizumi-nii, is there another mission?" Tanjirou asked, watching Yoizumi, who was about to leave with his sword.
"Yes, Demon Slayers have been disappearing lately, and the Pillars have received alert orders," Yoizumi turned back and gave Tanjirou and Nezuko a reassuring smile.
"I'll be back before dinner."
"Big Brother Yoizumi, please be careful," Nezuko urged, worried.
Yoizumi hummed softly and vanished from the spot.
Seeing his sister's worried expression, Tanjirou patted her head and, clenching his fists, comforted her.
"Don't worry, Nezuko, Yoizumi-nii is very strong!"
Nezuko nodded, still troubled. She knew Big Brother Yoizumi was amazing, but for some reason, she felt a sense of unease.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Nezuko got up from her chair. She would make an omurice, his favorite, before Big Brother Yoizumi returned.
"Brother, I'm going to help Miss Aoi."
"Mm, okay," Tanjirou smiled at his sister.
"I'll make you your favorite miso soup, so look forward to it."
"Wow~ I'm really looking forward to it!"
Hearing this, Tanjirou broke into a lively smile. Staring at his sister's gradually receding back, Tanjirou couldn't help but smile again.
It's so good... if only everyone were here... Father, Mother, Takeo, Hanako, Shigeru, Rokkuta.
I miss you all... Standing on a high vantage point, Yoizumi overlooked the road below. The sun had just set, and there were still many scattered people on the road, preparing to return home.
His sapphire eyes narrowed slightly as the night wind blew through the golden strands of hair on his forehead. Even though he didn't detect anything unusual, Yoizumi felt a subtle sense of incongruity.
Why?
Some patrolling Demon Slayers were walking on the road, taking over their shift. After confirming there were no problems, Yoizumi proceeded to the next location.
The sky had completely darkened, and Yoizumi's footsteps stopped at a pitch-black alleyway. Rustling sounds came from within, sending shivers down one's spine just by listening.
An unpleasant feeling.
With a deep gaze, Yoizumi entered the alley. Thanks to his excellent eyesight, Yoizumi could still see even in such a dark environment.
"Click."
"Swish!" The moment he heard the sound, his frost-white nichirin blade was drawn. A flash of white sword light, and Yoizumi frowned, seeing an eyeball impaled on the tip of his nichirin blade.
A product of a Blood Demon Art.
Yoizumi looked around, and with a flick of his wrist, the eyeball on the blade tip turned into dust and ashes.
"Squish, squish..."
More sounds of fleshy things crawling came from his ears. From the corner of the alley, countless wriggling eyeballs crawled towards Yoizumi's direction.
Those grotesque pupils, each one inscribed with a single character.
[Four]
Snow Breathing Third Form: Thousand Feathered Crane Snow
A biting cold instantly assailed the narrow alley. White mist exhaled endless chill, freezing the close-range eyeballs which then rolled away. Thousands of white feathers sliced through the countless eyeballs.
Blood stained the entire alley, and Yoizumi closed his eyes in disgust.
Truly, nauseating.
"Clang!"
"!" A sudden sound of a koto. Yoizumi immediately looked around vigilantly. His feet found no purchase, and looking down, he saw countless buildings, an seemingly endless space.
Is this...?
Looking up at the rapidly closing space, Yoizumi didn't hesitate to use Blood Demon Art: Instant Shadow, escaping back to his original position.
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
The opponent seemed unwilling to give up. The moment Yoizumi returned to the ground, he would once again fall into that peculiar space.
His target was very clear: himself!
This time, Yoizumi chose to teleport to a much farther place, escaping the opponent's pursuit.
That place just now... that must be what Shinazugawa and Iguro mentioned at the Mark meeting.
At that time, he was shaken by Tanjirou's Mark and didn't pay much attention, but now Yoizumi had seen with his own eyes the thousands upon thousands of demons lurking there.
Without a doubt... Yoizumi could confirm.
This was Kibutsuji Muzan's lair!
Was that eyeball the Blood Demon Art of Upper Moon Four?
Appearing here, the opponent might not take long to find the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
Kibutsuji Muzan had indeed learned about his ability to conquer the sun, otherwise, he wouldn't have been so persistent in trying to drag him into that Different Space just now.
He needed to report the situation to the Master.
Blood Demon Art: Instant Shadow!
..."I apologize, Muzan-sama, he escaped," The bangs that previously covered half his face were now parted, revealing a grotesque giant eye with a huge 'Four' carved into it. His entire face was covered in bulging veins.
In the depths of the constantly shifting wooden architecture, Nakime leaned against the wall, her black hair spread out like a dense net across it.
She bowed her head respectfully towards the man beside her, who was seated on a sofa in a suit, his left leg crossed over his right, his right hand resting on his forehead, nonchalantly looking at the green potion in his hand. The glass vessel revealed the man's shattered magenta eyes.
He seemed to scoff, a sneer twisting his lips, exposing his demon fangs. His gloomy red eyes stared at the potion in his hand, then tightened little by little, and the test tube shattered.
A white handkerchief slowly wiped away the liquid from his hand, and his low voice echoed throughout the Infinity Castle.
"Run? Where can he run to?"
"I'm tired of this cat-and-mouse game."
Kibutsuji Muzan's icy eyes swept towards Nakime, his fingertips tapping rhythmically on his temple. His morbidly pale skin made his eyes appear even redder.
"Nakime, focus on finding the place where he was discovered."
"Since he appeared, he must not be far from Ubuyashiki's hideout."
Kibutsuji Muzan sneered, his expression utterly malicious.
"Yoizumi, ah, Yoizumi..."
"You cannot escape my grasp."
"You should be grateful that you can serve as my—"
"Kibutsuji Muzan's—"
"Stepping stone to becoming the perfect being!"
Kibutsuji Muzan was so excited just thinking about it that he covered his entire face with his hands, letting out a suppressed, low laugh.
And that Ubuyashiki, who had annoyed him for so long.
None of them will escape!
------------------------
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