Chapter 104: Signals from Another World

The universe’s starry expanse, the Temporal-Spatial Management Hub.

Beep... beep... beep...

Bai Yun analyzed the remnants of the [Dark Matter Battle Armor] she had retrieved and performed corresponding calculations.

Using the residual energy left on it, she sought to trace and locate which spacetime her brother Bai Yue had been stranded in.

Yet, no matter how much time had passed, she still had no leads.

This left Bai Yun utterly frantic.

But upon seeing the photograph placed beside her, she quickly calmed herself again.

It was a childhood photo of her and her brother.

She remembered that, after certain events—and after her brother uncovered the truth behind their parents’ deaths—

he had flown the [Sky-Striking] in a rage, destroying two-fifths of M Country’s territory, including its lackey, Nihon.

At that time, Nihon had nearly been wiped off the map.

Though in the end, Bai Yue had stopped.

But because of the heinous crimes he committed—releasing massive amounts of HW water—the mutated sea beasts still doomed Nihon to total annihilation.

After that battle, at the age of five hundred, Bai Yue sealed all memories related to himself.

Bai Yun still remembered the words her brother spoke before sealing his own memories:

“When I change, then you can lift my memory lock.”

But the cost of memory sealing was too great; if too much time passed, even after lifting the lock, he might retain only scattered fragments.

And now, over two thousand five hundred years had passed—how much memory would remain if the lock were lifted? How much would he still remember?

“What am I even thinking?! Right now, the most important thing is bringing my brother back to Luo Li’s side.”

She rallied herself again and resumed analysis.

[Xiao Yun, you should rest.]

Rose’s virtual projection appeared beside Bai Yun to remind her.

“Rose, I’m fine. By the way, could you and Tianqi keep an eye out for signals from deep in the stars? I think T0 might send one too—then we could find my brother more easily.”

[Understood. I’ll inform Tianqi and help you find the Creator as soon as possible.]

Immediately, Rose’s virtual projection stood guard beside Bai Yun and ordered the butler robot to prepare nutritious food for her.

Swish~

The smart mechanical door opened, and Luo Li entered the control room.

[Miss Luo Li, you’ve arrived.]

“Yes, Rose, thank you for taking care of Xiao Yun these past days.”

[You’re too kind.]

She walked to Bai Yun’s side, placing her hands on her shoulders to massage them.

“Xiao Yun, don’t exhaust yourself.”

“It’s fine, Luo Li sister.”

As the sisters chatted, Rose suddenly spoke:

[Xiao Yun, Miss Luo Li, Tianqi detected a strange signal fluctuation—intermittent and faint. I’ve routed it here.]

“What?!”

Bai Yun and Luo Li immediately analyzed the incoming signal fluctuation.

Though hope was slim, they could not abandon it.

Soon, they identified the frequency of the signal.

Due to its extreme weakness and intermittent nature, some sections remained unadjusted.

After tuning the frequency, they played it back.

“Spacetime... (static)... T0... Master... (static)... Requesting... (buzz)... coordinates... (buzz)...”

“This... this is T0’s signal!”

“Yes, Luo Li sister. That means T0 and my brother are still alive—but stranded in another spacetime we don’t know!”

“Can we find their current location?”

“The signal is too weak. It may take time to analyze and pinpoint the coordinates!”

“Then let’s divide tasks: Rose, you and Tianqi monitor for any such signal fluctuations. I’ll handle analysis and determine the corresponding spacetime coordinates. Luo Li sister, you help decode these frequencies.”

“Got it, no problem!”

[Rose understands.]

Demon Slayer World.

Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Zero’s Mansion.

Xiao Yue flew to the rooftop, her twin hair buns opening to extend antenna-like signal transmitters.

Her eyes glowed blue as streams of data repeated endlessly.

This was what she had been doing all this time—sending the same signal every day.

Twice daily, each transmission lasting one hour, hoping it would be received.

After finishing, Xiao Yue retracted the signal transmitters into her hair buns.

“I hope Tianqi brother and Rose sister receive it... and that Bai Yun sister, Luo Li sister, and everyone else find this place soon.”

Seven days had passed in the blink of an eye.

Under the influence of Zero and Xiao Tie’s sharp tongues, Tanjiro had mastered combat techniques that no longer left him at a disadvantage against Zero.

He had also learned a new technique, faster than [Flaw Line].

By scent, he could now predict his opponent’s next move more quickly and accurately.

Though he was still mostly on the receiving end of blows.

Now, Tanjiro’s battle with Zero entered its final stage.

Leaping into midair, he hesitated the instant his Nichirin blade swung toward Zero’s neck.

He knew that if he struck, Zero would be destroyed.

But Xiao Tie shouted: “Tanjiro-san, don’t hesitate! Cut! Even if it breaks, I’ll fix it! Master Zero said he’ll help me! And precisely because you’re the kind of person you are, I don’t want you to die—I want you to become stronger than anyone!”

Boom!

Zero’s head was severed, and Tanjiro’s Nichirin blade snapped.

“Ow!” He landed poorly, hitting his buttocks.

Tanjiro crawled on the ground, clutching his rear and howling.

Suddenly, Zero changed.

The severed portion cracked open, revealing a rusted Nichirin blade inside.

Clearly, this was a blade from another era.

Judging by its condition, it had lain untouched for hundreds of years.

Both stared at the blade, making strange gestures and refusing to take it.

Finally, they agreed to jointly retrieve it.

When they pulled the rusted Nichirin blade from its scabbard, they collapsed in disappointment.

Not because of anything else—the blade’s entire surface was corroded, unusable.

Thud! Thud! Thud!...

Deafening footsteps emerged from the nearby forest, shaking the ground.

From the trees, a massive dark silhouette slowly emerged.

Xiao Tie and Tanjiro cowered together in fear.

But when they recognized who it was, their expressions changed.

“Steel Tomb-sensei!” Tanjiro cried out.

The man was Steel Tomb, long unseen.

Steel Tomb handed Tanjiro a new Nichirin blade, then picked up the ancient blade extracted from Zero’s body.

He said: “Leave it to me. I’ll polish it using the Steel Tomb family’s ancestral Nichirin polishing technique!”

Without waiting for Xiao Tie or Tanjiro’s reaction, he turned and left.

“Wait... wait!”

As they moved to stop him, someone grabbed them.

They turned—Zero.

“Zero-brother (sir)!”

“Tanjiro, Xiao Tie—leave it to Steel Tomb. Trust him.”

Though reluctant, since Zero had spoken, Tanjiro and Xiao Tie could only relent.

Zero then pulled out several sheets of paper and handed them to Xiao Tie. “This is what I promised you. Study them at your own pace.”

Xiao Tie snatched the papers and read them through, over and over again.

His expression shifted from shock to awe to disbelief—every emotion imaginable.

Not because of anything else—the papers detailed the repair method for [Zero], along with gear adjustments and rotational mechanics.

Finally, Xiao Tie could no longer hold back—he knelt before Zero and wept: “Zero-sensei, thank you so much!”

“No need to thank me. It was a fair exchange.”

I’ve stopped drawing for now; my depression has worsened from mild to moderate, it’s such a hassle—I can’t do anything right...

Night fell.

At this moment, within the Blade Forge Village, apart from the sound of forging Nichirin blades, all remained peaceful.

Yet, none of them knew that two Upper Moon demons were quietly approaching.

“Oh my~ This is the forge village that crafts Nichirin blades for demon slayers? I don’t like it here at all~ The air is scorching everywhere. If that’s the case, I’ll just tear it apart~ I wonder if Lord Hantengu has begun his move yet~”

Doji’s gaze passed through the dense canopy of trees, gazing at the star-strewn night sky, his face still smiling.

On the other side, Upper Moon Four—Hantengu—was trembling on the rooftop, observing his surroundings, searching for the right moment.

“It’s fine, it’s fine—I’m just a pitiful weakling; they won’t hurt me...”

Inside the house.

Zero lay on the tatami, closing his eyes to rest.

Suddenly, his combat instinct told him: something was wrong outside the door!

He snapped his eyes open and rose, scanning his surroundings.

A faint, icy breath lingered in the air—this sensation, Zero knew all too well.

In an instant, his eyes brimmed with lethal intent.

“I hope it’s not you—if it is, then the debt for harming Kanae will be settled tonight... Upper Moon Two—Doji!!!”

He retrieved the [Quantum Shield] and the Nichirin Scythe, stepping outside to investigate.

Yet, before he took even a few steps, he noticed the lanterns along the corridor had been extinguished.

It wasn’t so much extinguished as frozen solid!

“I guessed right—you’re here! Come out, brat!”

Still no movement around him, but Zero’s gaze never wavered from ahead.

“Heh, what’s this? Seeing an old acquaintance and not even greeting him loudly? Isn’t that beneath your status? Or... are you afraid of me?”

Tap~ tap~ tap~

A figure appeared not far ahead; under the moonlight streaming through the window, Doji’s face became visible.

“Oh my~ Why would I be afraid? I merely wanted to surprise you, but you spotted me~ It’s been a long time, Zero—you’ve grown even more beautiful~ Oh yes, yes, I prefer you in women’s clothing; you looked truly exquisite~ After all, back in Yoshiwara’s pleasure quarters...”

Shh!

Before he could finish, Zero swung the Nichirin Scythe straight at Doji’s face.

Doji raised his paired fans to block.

Ding!

The Nichirin Scythe clashed against the fans, sending sparks flying.

Seizing the moment, Zero powered his leg and delivered a spinning kick, forcing Doji back several meters.

A deep gash opened across Doji’s face, blood spraying; one of his fans was shattered by the impact.

In this brief exchange, Doji was already at a disadvantage.

“You’re still the same—too much talk, even more annoying!”

“Oh my, Zero, you’ve grown so much stronger~ But we’re old acquaintances, surely you shouldn’t interrupt me like this~ And Lord Muzan has always admired you—why not become a demon yourself?”

“Heh. Tell Muzan, that coward: the farther your dreams stretch, the farther you should crawl away!”

Boom!

A house nearby suddenly exploded, a violent gust blasting outward and tearing off the roof.

Another figure was hurled into the air and vanished.

“Muichiro!” Tanjiro shouted.

Only then did Zero realize: Muzan had discovered the location of the Blade Forge Village and sent two Upper Moon demons to attack it.

“Oh my~ It seems Lord Hantengu has begun his move too,” Doji said cheerfully, utterly unconcerned.

“Doji—new grudges and old ones will be settled tonight! The debt for harming Kanae ends here! I hope you can still speak so casually in a moment.”

He slung the Nichirin Scythe onto his back, drew the [Quantum Dual Pistols], and opened fire at Doji.

Bang! Bang! Bang!...

Doji had already witnessed the power of Zero’s weapons—he smashed through the window and leapt outside.

Blood Technique—Crystal Offspring!

As he landed outside, he created five miniature ice clones identical to himself, joining the fight.

Yet, barely seconds after they appeared, Zero shattered them all with his dual pistols, reducing them to icy shards.

Immediately, Zero leapt out the window, pistol barrels aimed at Doji, unleashing continuous fire.

Doji couldn’t dodge in time—his limbs were struck, and he felt a strange energy suppressing him, halting their regeneration.

This was only the beginning—Zero’s assault was far from over.

Doji had mentioned his cross-dressing—bringing back a deeply unpleasant memory.

That was his black history!

He had originally planned to kill Doji outright—but now, Zero changed his mind. He would torment Doji once more.

Let him learn: talking too much has consequences—not everything deserves to be said!

As for Tanjiro’s side... as long as it’s not Zankyo, he should be fine.