Chapter 231: Reactions from All Sides

Infinity Castle

Nakime's fingers lightly plucked the shamisen, and from shadows everywhere, several figures rapidly converged toward the conference hall.

"Summoning us again?" Douma maintained his elegant smile, looking at the others, "Looks like something big happened again."

Akaza gave him a cold glance, not speaking.

Kokushibo walked over slowly, sword hanging at his waist, six eyes flashing with eerie red light. He swept a glance over everyone, standing in place.

At this moment, a suffocating oppressive feeling instantly filled the entire hall. Muzan walked in, wearing a black suit, his face gloomy to a scary degree.

"Adult." The three simultaneously knelt on one knee.

Muzan raised his hand, gaze sweeping over the three, suddenly his pupils turned blood-red.

"Trash."

Next instant, Akaza only felt his whole body tremble, blood boiling inside. "Crack!" His body suddenly exploded, flesh and blood flying everywhere.

Douma and Hantengu fared no better, both their bodies simultaneously bursting open, fresh blood splattering in all directions.

Douma forcibly endured the pain, face still maintaining a smile: "Muzan Adult, did we do something wrong?"

"You keep saying you killed the target." Muzan sneered, "That guy called Dio is now promoting himself everywhere, the streets are full of monsters he created!"

"What?!" Akaza abruptly raised his head, eyes full of shock, "Impossible, I personally watched him turn to ashes in the sunlight!"

"Enough! I don't want to hear any explanations." Muzan sharply interrupted: "A bunch of trash, if it weren't for temporarily not finding suitable replacements, I would have disposed of you long ago."

Next second, Muzan raised his right hand, palm skin suddenly splitting open, revealing bright red flesh, dozens of blood vessels bursting out like tentacles, carrying a fishy stench, instantly piercing into the three's bodies, "This is your last chance, I bestow my blood upon you, to elevate your power." Muzan said coldly, "If you can't endure my blood, then go die."

"Ah!"

The three simultaneously let out pained muffled groans.

Scalding blood poured into their bodies, every cell burning, their blood vessels bulging under the skin like wriggling worms.

Akaza could feel a violent power surging in his body, every cell trembling crazily, his originally exploded wounds rapidly healing under the blood's effect.

At this moment Akaza felt like countless red-hot knives were rampaging inside his body, every breath accompanied by intense pain.

But this pain instead made Akaza excited.

"This time." He clenched his fist, knuckles making cracking sounds, "I'll definitely make that bastard die"

And Douma's face surfaced snowflake-like patterns, pupils turning into deep spirals.

Muzan withdrew the blood vessels, looking down at the three from above.

"Have Kokushibo go with you." Muzan ordered: "Bring back that man's skull."

Kokushibo silently nodded, cold light flashing in his six eyes, aura instantly surging.

At this moment he could feel Muzan's inner anger and unease, an existence that could make Muzan care this much, worthy of him personally taking action.

"Now, all of you get out!" Muzan roared, "If you let him escape again this time, you'll stay here and rot forever!"

…………

Imperial Palace Plaza.

Countless figures surged in the darkness. They wore military uniforms, held long spears, neatly formed into square formations.

But these soldiers' eyes were lifeless, skin showing an abnormal gray-white color.

"Bang!"

Another corpse fell. Dio released his hand, letting the withered husk fall to the ground. He licked the blood traces at the corner of his mouth, feeling the power surging inside his body.

"Master, this batch of newcomers has all finished conversion." At this moment a Corpse Puppet knelt on one knee, voice icy.

Dio turned to look at the plaza, tens of thousands of Corpse Puppets stood silently, densely packed as far as the eye could see.

The former royal army had all been converted by him, becoming puppets obeying his command, this Corpse Puppet army could conquer any country at this time.

"Continue." Dio waved his hand, "I need more blood to recover."

Several Corpse Puppets dragged a group of civilians tied with ropes over. They trembled, some crying and begging for mercy, but were quickly knocked unconscious by Corpse Puppets.

Dio walked to a young woman and crouched down. The woman shrank back in terror, but was held down by Corpse Puppets behind her.

"Don't be scared." Dio reached out to stroke her cheek, "You'll gain eternal life soon."

"No don't"

Dio ignored her pleas, fingers piercing her neck. Fresh blood spurted out, Dio greedily drinking. The woman's body rapidly withered, soon becoming a dry corpse.

Corpse Puppet soldiers mechanically executed orders, continuously delivering new "offerings" to Dio. Drink blood, dry corpse, drink blood again, this process repeated endlessly.

"Mmph" Dio stood up, feeling the power from fresh blood, his injuries recovering very fast.

On the plaza fresh blood converged into streams on the ground, dyeing the palace steps red.

"Truly a magnificent sight." Dio looked at this mountain of corpses and sea of blood, corner of mouth hooking a cruel smile, "But this is still far from enough."

He turned to a Corpse Puppet captain: "Continue expanding search range, capture people from surrounding towns."

"Yes, Master." Groups of Corpse Puppet soldiers began moving, they split into squads, spreading to surroundings like locusts. Neat footsteps echoed on the streets, everywhere they went was deathly silent.

"Master, I'm back."

At this moment Rengoku Kyojuro strode over, behind him a squad of Corpse Puppets, each carrying a heavy wooden box on their shoulder.

Dio stood at a high place, looking down: "Finished the task I ordered?"

Rengoku Kyojuro shook his head: "When I went, many had already been shifted for cremation. These are all I could find."

Dio nodded, he had long anticipated this situation.

First to revive was a girl wearing a white-based cherry blossom kimono. Her long hair scattered on her shoulders, skin pale as jade. She opened her eyes, pupils showing blood-red.

Immediately after was an orange-red haired youth, he slowly stood up, moving his stiff joints.

As Dio's blood continuously poured in, more and more people stood up from the wooden boxes. Their eyes all flashed with blood-red light.

Their strength, Dio didn't value much, their greater role was psychological attack, this kind of blow was more meaningful than their strength.

Read the no-mistake version at Yikan!

"Rengoku Kyojuro." Dio suddenly spoke.

Rengoku Kyojuro immediately appeared at his side: "Master."

"You have fought for me until now; you should also receive some reward." Dio raised his right arm, his nails suddenly lengthening, carving a deep wound on his arm.

Blood gushed from the wound, but this blood was different from before. It presented a viscous dark red, emitting an eerie luster, wriggling as if alive.

Dio flicked his arm, and that viscous blood flew toward Rengoku Kyojuro, burrowing into his body like living things.

"Mmph!" Rengoku Kyojuro let out a muffled groan, his whole body's muscles tensing.

Unlike the previously infused blood, this blood brought an unprecedented change. He could feel every cell in his body undergoing some qualitative transformation.

This blood contained the origin essence of a vampire, far beyond what ordinary blood could compare to.

It can transform creatures into true vampires, gaining power far surpassing Corpse Puppets. But this essence, Dio cannot produce too much in a short time either; once lost, the recovery time far exceeds imagination.

"How do you feel?" Dio asked.

"This power." Rengoku Kyojuro lowered his head to look at his own palm, "Is far stronger than before."

At this moment, a low rumbling sound came from the distance. The ground began to tremble slightly, the vibration growing stronger and stronger.

"They're here." Dio turned to look toward the direction the sound came from.

In the darkness, several Colossi were slowly approaching, continuously rolling over the ground, emitting heavy sounds.

Rengoku Kyojuro frowned: "Master, this is"

"Things the Army previously purchased from abroad for research. I just ordered them transported back."

Looking at the weapons before him, Dio thought of his former world; these things from Britain could also be considered products of his homeland.

"Everything is already prepared." Dio surveyed his surroundings, the corner of his mouth hooking into a cold smile, "Just waiting for them to walk into the trap."

………………

At dawn, the Demon Slayer Corps group advanced quickly on the road leading to the Imperial Capital.

The scenery along the way made Tanjiro's steps grow heavier and heavier.

The villages on both sides of the road had almost all become a stretch of Ruins, houses collapsed, gunpowder smoke that had not yet dissipated still drifting among the ruins.

Every village they passed was the same scene—

Doors wide open, yet not a single human figure in sight. Daily necessities scattered on the ground, as if left behind by villagers fleeing in panic.

Stalls overturned, Items scattered everywhere. Even some large pots still sat on stoves, the congee inside already dried up and turned black.

"Ahead is another village." Muichiro Tokito pointed at the distance and said.

Tanjiro took a Deep Breath, walking quickly at the front. Large patches of dark brown traces lay on the ground at the village entrance, the air permeated with a nauseating bloody stench.

"Another empty Town." Sanemi Shinazugawa kicked a wooden crate by the road, making a "Clang" sound, "Same as those places before."

"The bloodstains have already dried." Obanai Iguro crouched down to examine, "At least a day."

Giyu Tomioka stood before a collapsed house, picking up a dust-covered wooden puppet. He gripped the hilt of his sword: "The people here were all."

Mitsuri Kanroji covered her mouth, tears in her eyes: "Too cruel."

Gyomei Himejima stood in place, tears continuously flowing from his eye sockets. He pressed his palms together, chanting in a low voice: "Amitabha. May these departed souls reach the Pure Land."

"That guy Dio is even scarier than Muzan Kibutsuji." Tanjiro gazed into the distance, his voice low, "The slaughter Muzan created over hundreds of years cannot compare to the destruction he caused in just a few short days."

Voice Not Fall, a Crow flew from the distance, landing on Tanjiro's shoulder: "Urgent intelligence! Urgent intelligence! Large numbers of monsters have begun gathering in the Imperial Capital!"

"This is obviously a trap." Giyu Tomioka said in a deep voice.

"Even if it's a trap we must go." Tanjiro turned to face everyone, anger burning in his eyes, "If this continues, the whole country will become a living hell. This time, even if we exhaust our last breath, we must completely eliminate him!"

(Chapter End)