Chapter 333

In a scholar's study of a household, the childlike form of Kibutsuji Muzan suddenly twisted into a grotesque mask, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, vertical pupils glowing sinister and malevolent, like a demon.

"What exactly happened? Who killed it?!"

It reached out and pressed its hand over one eye, intending to use the blood within Akaza's body to see what had occurred before its death.

But due to the great distance, it could not accomplish this.

"Was it the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen who killed Enmu?"

"If they could kill Akaza, I truly underestimated these fools."

Kibutsuji Muzan lowered his hand, his crimson vertical pupils brimming with savage rage, the veins around his eyes bulging violently, his killing intent boiling.

"Annoying Demon Slayer Corps…"

40, I'll take you to find him.

Inside the Infinite Castle.

Muzan summoned all remaining Upper Moon demons.

Upper Moon Two, the Ice Demon, Tohru, received the order and arrived at the Infinite Castle.

Its seven-colored pupils scanned the surroundings, a flicker of surprise crossing its face.

An Upper Moon meeting?

It has been one hundred and thirteen years since the last Upper Moon meeting.

Being called here means… one of the Upper Moons is dead?

Who?

The first to appear before him was the City Demon, holding a biwa—the attendant of Lord Muzan who dwells in this Infinite Castle, Muzan's servant, Muichiro.

Accompanied by the sound of a biwa.

Upper Moon Five, the Pot Demon, Gyokko.

Appeared.

Then came Upper Moon Four, the Splitting Demon, Hantengu!

Upper Moon Six, the Twin Demons, Kyogai and Daki!

Upper Moon One, the Sword Demon, Kokushibo!

As the Upper Moon demons arrived one by one.

Muzan, having assumed his childlike form, appeared.

Tohru also noticed the absence of someone.

Upper Moon Three, the Fighting Demon, Akaza…

"We greet you, Lord Muzan."

Muzan, in his childlike form, stood before them, his crimson vertical pupils cold and merciless as he looked down upon them kneeling in bowed submission.

"Akaza is dead. The Twelve Ketsu are incomplete."

Hantengu, Gyokko, Kyogai, and Daki were all startled.

Tohru, having received confirmed news, was somewhat astonished.

"Akaza actually died… That is indeed surprising."

Kokushibo, seated behind the curtain, remained calm.

In his view, Akaza was never strong enough—his death was inevitable.

"For the first time in a hundred years, an Upper Moon position lies vacant."

"Upper Moon Three was slain by mere Demon Slayer Corps members."

Muzan coldly gazed down at them, his icy, emotionless voice echoing throughout the entire Infinite Castle.

"I created you to find the Blue Biban Flower and eradicate the Demon Slayer Corps. Yet after all these years, we have no trace of the Blue Biban Flower, the Ubuyashiki clan still lives, and now even Upper Moon Three has been wiped out by the Demon Slayer Corps… Upper Moon Three has fallen into decay."

Muzan's facial veins bulged.

Hantengu, Gyokko, Kyogai, Daki, and the other demons trembled, their hearts gripped by dread.

Gyokko sweated profusely: "L-Lord Muzan, I shall immediately seek out the Demon Slayer Corps members and kill them one by one."

Muzan's cold gaze fell upon him: "What good does killing them do? Did you not hear me? I want the Demon Slayer Corps eradicated—every last one of them crushed to dust, so they can never again obstruct me!"

"It's not a complicated task, yet you've failed to accomplish it for so long—what is wrong with you?"

"I… am beginning to question the very reason for your existence. Do you even have value?"

Feeling the fury and killing intent radiating from Muzan.

Gyokko and the others shivered, their demonic blood surging and boiling within them, causing their kneeling bodies to tremble uncontrollably.

They feared and revered Muzan with a primal, blood-deep instinct.

Hantengu trembled in terror: "Forgive me! Please forgive me!"

Gyokko pressed his forehead tightly against the ground: "I-I shall find the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters at once!!"

Tohru hung his head dejectedly: "I'm not good at searching or tracking… what should I do…?"

Kokushibo, as if he had not spoken in ages, replied haltingly: "The Ubuyashiki… have skillfully… concealed their trail…"

"I am weary. If you cannot locate the Ubuyashiki clan and eradicate the Demon Slayer Corps to prove your worth…"

Muzan's icy crimson vertical pupils swept over the demons. "You know the consequence. Do not make me angry."

The Upper Moon demons were seized by dread.

"From this moment, Muichiro shall be Upper Moon Three."

Muichiro, cradling the biwa, lifted her head; beneath her bangs, her enormous eyeball glowed with the character 'Three'.

………………

Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

Ubuyashiki Mansion.

"You defeated an Upper Rank…?!"

"Or was it Upper Rank Three?!"

Ubuyashiki Kagaya and all the Pillars, upon hearing Tanjiro's report, wore expressions of shock.

Tanjiro, who had been summoned to report and now sat before them, nodded seriously: "Yes, both I and Inosuke saw it with our own eyes—his two eyeballs bore the character 'Three' of the Upper Ranks, and his power was immense; he is undoubtedly one of the Twelve Kizuki, an Upper Rank!"

The Pillars exchanged glances.

Uzui Tengen looked at him intently and said: "Boy, tell us exactly what happened."

As Tanjiro recounted, in full detail, what had occurred on the Infinite Train.

When they heard Tanjiro describe Akaza's appearance.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya nodded: "Correct. The one you encountered must be Upper Rank Three of the Twelve Kizuki, the Fighting Demon. Over the past decades, many of our Demon Slayer Corps' Pillars have fallen to its hands."

Rengoku Kyojuro crossed his arms and said: "So this was the kind of opponent… If I'd known, I would've gone with you."

Uzui Tengen stroked his chin and said: "The battle between Upper Rank Three and Mr. Luo En… must have been fierce. But to have slain Upper Rank Three alone—only Mr. Luo En could do such a thing."

Kanroji Mitsuri asked Tanjiro urgently: "Was Mr. Luo En injured?"

Tanjiro shook his head: "No. The fight ended quickly."

Everyone turned to look at him.

When they heard from Tanjiro that Luo En had shattered Akaza's body with a single punch and crushed his skull underfoot.

The entire room fell silent.

"One punch…"

Rengoku Kyojuro's eyes widened slightly: "You're saying… he killed Upper Rank Three with one punch?!"

Tanjiro nodded.

Uzui Tengen froze.

Shinazugawa Shimeji stood stunned, like a statue.

Tokito Muichiro's face remained expressionless.

Kanroji Mitsuri's face was filled with awe.

Though they had known that man was powerful, to kill Upper Rank Three with one punch…

Could this even be human strength?!

Koyoharu Gotouji was among the Pillars present who understood best just how strong Mr. Luo En was, yet even she felt dazed upon hearing this news.

One punch killed Upper Rank Three—then what of Upper Rank Two?