Chapter 58: Went Out for a Bit, and Infinity Castle Is Destroyed Again?!

The innkeeper’s heart was anything but calm, his gaze fixed on the distant direction of Wan Shi Lejoy Sect.

He had long worshipped the sect’s leader, so thoroughly brainwashed that his devotion was absolute.

The words Zero had spoken before leaving that morning left him perpetually unsettled.

“Boss, I found this while checking the guest’s room—it must’ve been dropped by accident.”

The innkeeper’s subordinate held a black rectangular metal box, its surface displaying a red countdown.

It emitted a soft “beep… beep…” sound.

The innkeeper had no idea what it was, but instinctively felt it must be something extremely valuable.

He ordered: “Secure this item. When the guest realizes it’s missing, he’ll come back for it himself.”

“But boss, this thing seems valuable too—shouldn’t we…”

“Are you the boss or am I? Do as I say!”

“Yes!”

Though the innkeeper’s subordinate didn’t understand what was happening, he followed orders, wrapping the item in cloth and placing it in the front desk drawer.

The innkeeper did this hoping to leave a good impression on Zero, wishing he’d forgive past grievances and speak well of him before the sect leader.

Yet soon after, when the countdown reached [00:00], a violent explosion erupted!

BOOM!

A deafening roar shook the inn’s first floor—the innkeeper and several of his subordinates were instantly blown to shreds.

At that same moment, Wan Shi Lejoy Sect fared no better.

Both inside and out, chaos reigned like a boiling pot.

Thick smoke billowed everywhere within the sect.

Disciples and followers scattered in panic.

The smoke choked them, blinding their eyes and forcing tears to stream down their faces.

Naturally, this was Zero’s doing.

After entering Wan Shi Lejoy Sect, he had retrieved timed smoke and tear gas grenades from his [Nanospace], programmed to detonate automatically at set times.

The combined effect of smoke and tear gas would paralyze anyone caught within.

They’d have no chance to attend to their leader’s affairs.

That was why Zero had earlier told Douma he had two minutes to say his last words.

He had perfectly mastered the art of timing.

At that moment, in the central chamber of Wan Shi Lejoy Sect.

Douma’s figure darted left and right, dodging Zero’s relentless fire, with no opening to unleash his Blood Demon Art.

Not to mention getting close to Zero.

His once unstoppable attack methods now seemed utterly powerless.

Beneath the brutal barrage of the Cross Floating Cannons, the dim room was mercilessly ravaged—everything in its path lay in ruins, flames roaring fiercely.

Zero’s face, illuminated by the gun barrels’ fiery tongues, grew increasingly sinister and mad.

Yet the one thing Douma couldn’t understand was why none of his disciples had come to aid him yet.

As if sensing Douma’s confusion, Zero ceased firing and said: “You’re wondering why your disciples haven’t come to help you?”

His inner thoughts laid bare, Douma stared at Zero before him—and felt genuine terror.

Not only could he read Douma’s mind, but he was chillingly calm, as if nothing could shake him.

“Oh my~ You’ve seen through my thoughts. Can you tell me why?”

“Heh… Why? Go outside and see for yourself.”

“You really are a terrifying demon slayer~ But this ends now!”

Blood Demon Art—Lotus Ice!

Blood Demon Art—Scattered Lotus Blossoms!

Blood Demon Art—Frozen Clouds!

Seizing the moment, Douma swung his iron fans, unleashing three Blood Demon Arts at once.

Vast quantities of shattered ice crystals and icy mist froze everything in the room.

Had any other Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps been here, death would’ve been certain.

These ice shards carried deadly poison—once inhaled, they destroyed alveoli, making them a perfect counter to Breathing Techniques.

Contact with skin caused instant freezing, severely restricting movement.

Yet Zero still wore that same sinister, calm smile.

As the ice crystals and mist touched his surroundings, the [Quantum Shield] on his chest suddenly emitted a blue glow, blocking them all completely.

CLANG!

A metallic clang rang out—Douma had swung his fans in a surprise strike aimed at Zero’s neck, but the blue light halted him cold, not allowing even an inch of progress.

Added to that, the room’s fires, ignited by the Cross Floating Cannons, caused the ice and mist to dissipate even faster.

“Douma… you still haven’t learned, have you? Heh!”

TATATATATA…

Zero instantly swung the Cross Floating Cannons’ barrels to aim at Douma and unleashed a furious barrage.

Douma, unable to dodge, took a hail of wounds across his chest—flesh torn, blood spurting.

He then ceased firing, drew the Sun Wheel Scythe, and severed Douma’s arms at the shoulders.

“Douma, I won’t kill you—but I’ll make you suffer a thousandfold, ten thousandfold the pain my beloved girl endured!”

Adjusting the strength of his mechanical left hand, he activated the Crimson Blade and severed Douma’s regenerated arms again.

His regeneration was now restricted—Douma was completely on the defensive.

Zero swung his fist, driving it straight through Douma’s face.

Then he kicked him hard, sending him crashing into the wall.

But it wasn’t over—he swung the Sun Wheel Scythe again, slicing off Douma’s legs too, leaving him unable to even crawl away.

Truly reduced to a demon-stick.

Zero unleashed full-force punches into Douma’s body—each blow pushed to its absolute limit, cracking the wall behind him like a spiderweb.

Finally, the wall could no longer bear the force—it collapsed with a thunderous crash.

Douma fell to the ground.

Still not satisfied, Zero raised his foot and stomped repeatedly on Douma’s body.

With his limb regeneration restricted, Douma was now a pitiful wreck.

He clearly felt the demon slayer’s hatred, rage, and murderous intent had reached a breaking point.

He couldn’t understand why such emotion existed.

After venting for a long while, Zero grabbed Douma’s hair and yanked him up, his crimson eyes locking onto Douma’s.

He said: “Don’t worry—I still won’t kill you. Earlier you asked for my name? I’ll tell you.”

“I am Zero, the Zero Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps. As I said before in Infinity Castle, I’ve lived over two thousand five hundred years—possibly more.”

“The user of Flower Breathing you fought two years ago? She was one of my beloved ones.”

Looking into Zero’s eyes, Douma saw mountains of corpses, seas of blood, and endless dark despair.

For the first time ever, he felt fear—despite having no emotions to begin with.

Yet his face still wore its cheerful grin.

“So your name is Zero? What a nice name—and you’re quite handsome too. Never seen such a beautiful boy before…”

THUD!

Before Douma finished speaking, Zero hurled him to the ground and slashed off his newly regenerated limbs again with the Sun Wheel Scythe.

Finally, Zero returned the Sun Wheel Scythe to his [Nanospace], and planted his foot on Douma’s body.

He pulled out the [Dark Alloy Annihilation Cannon Sniper], aimed at Douma’s head, and fired a concentrated blast—reducing it to fragments.

He waited for Douma’s head to regenerate, then repeated the exact same process.

He did this over and over again, without stopping.

ZING!

Suddenly, a harp note rang out—and both Douma and Zero vanished, reappearing inside Infinity Castle.

Minu saw Douma, mangled beyond recognition, and frowned slightly.

But when she saw the man standing atop him, she nearly lost her soul to terror.

Seeing him brought back the dread she’d felt over half a month ago, when dominated by that iron monster.

She frantically plucked her shamisen again, preparing to teleport him away.

But before she could act, Zero fired at Minu—shattering her shamisen and blowing a hole through her abdomen.

Then he unleashed a concentrated blast, reducing Minu to fragments.

He kicked the unrecognizable Douma away and said: “Feel fear again!”

Plan B:

Dark Alloy Battle Armor, activate!!

…

Inside a luxurious villa.

Muzan Kibutsuji hid in his study, reading, the curtains drawn tightly shut, letting not a single ray of sunlight in.

But now, Kibutsuji Muzan felt an intense unease within him.

As if something great was about to happen!

As time passed, this unease grew stronger and stronger!

The agitated emotion annoyed him, so he decided to summon the Upper Moons to discuss whether anything had occurred recently.

He gave the command in his mind to the Kotohira in Infinity Castle: “Kotohira, gather all the Upper Moons inside Infinity Castle—I have questions for them!”

“Yes, Lord Muzan.”

After receiving the order, Kotohira plucked the shamisen in her arms, first teleporting Dojima.

Not for any other reason—only because Dojima was closest to her, though he was annoying and detestable.

But the result was unexpected…

Not only Dojima appeared in Infinity Castle—but also a creature that filled her with utter terror!

Seeing Dojima crushed beneath Zero’s foot, she was filled with rage!

Before she could teleport Zero away, her shamisen was shattered, piercing her abdomen.

She was blown into fragments once again!

Dark Alloy Battle Armor, activate!

Hum!

A violent ripple tore through the void—the battle armor materialized out of thin air, descending once more into Infinity Castle.

The armor crouched, its cockpit opening on the chest; Zero entered and began piloting.

“Initiate overload mode! Target: Destroy Infinity Castle again!”

【Overload mode initiating…】

【Initiation successful!】

“Launch all missiles!”

Click-click-click…

Shhh-shhh-shhh…

The armor’s arms opened, firing a total of twenty missiles.

Five missiles flew toward Dojima.

One missile flew toward Kotohira.

The remaining missiles streaked toward different locations across Infinity Castle.

Dojima and Kotohira, still regenerating, were once again blasted into fragments by the missiles!

Then, Zero maneuvered the armor to draw two massive swords from its back.

He swung the swords wildly, sprinting through Infinity Castle and ravaging it once more.

During this, he launched several timed explosives from the armor’s arms, tossing them randomly into corners of Infinity Castle…

Meanwhile, Kibutsuji Muzan waited a short while, and when Kotohira still had not teleported him to Infinity Castle, his temper grew volatile.

“Kotohira, what are you doing?!”

“…”

“Kotohira!”

“…”

He sent multiple messages to Kotohira—still no reply!

In that instant, the unease inside Kibutsuji Muzan exploded—Infinity Castle must be in dire trouble!

He immediately sent a message to Kokushibo.

“Kokushibo, are you currently in Infinity Castle?”

“My lord… I have not returned… to Infinity Castle…” Kokushibo replied.

“Understood.”

After receiving Kokushibo’s reply, Kibutsuji Muzan sent another message in his mind to Akaza: “Akaza, where are you now?”

“My lord, I am with Hantengu.”

He was with Hantengu because at dawn, he had seen Hantengu feeding on a child—a girl.

Akaza could not tolerate it; he stepped forward and punched him—“Bang! Bang!”—and since dawn was approaching, he dragged Hantengu to a hidden cave to avoid sunlight and keep beating him.

“Hmm.” Kibutsuji Muzan severed the connection with Akaza.

Since Akaza was with Hantengu, neither of them was in Infinity Castle.

He then contacted Daji—her answer was the same: she and her brother had remained in Yoshiwara’s pleasure district and never left.

None of the other Upper Moons had returned to Infinity Castle—something terrible must have happened there!

So he sent another message to Dojima.

“Dojima, where are you now?”

“…”

“Dojima!!”

“…”

Still no reply—this made Kibutsuji Muzan’s inner agitation swell further.

Infinity Castle must be in grave danger!

Otherwise, given Kotohira’s nature, she would never dare to ignore him completely.

As for Dojima, though he always wore a smiling face and was insufferable,

he was utterly loyal to me—he would never dare to ignore me!

The scene shifted back to Infinity Castle.

At this moment, Infinity Castle was utterly devastated, broken beyond recognition!

Flames blazed fiercely across it.

Blood Demon Art—Frozen Clouds!

Blood Demon Art—Vine Lotus Blossom!

Blood Demon Art—Lotus Ice!

Blood Demon Art—Fog Ice: Lotus Bodhisattva!

While Zero was destroying Infinity Castle, Dojima completed regeneration and unleashed multiple Blood Demon Arts, freezing and extinguishing the flames within Infinity Castle.

He then created a colossal ice Bodhisattva to oppose the armor.

But the ice Bodhisattva, shorter than the armor by several meters, was split cleanly in half by a single sword strike.

Dojima was crushed again, his body stamped into the floor as fragments.

Kotohira completed regeneration at that moment.

But her first act was to teleport herself away.

She did this to avoid being blasted into fragments again by this steel monster!

Jing! Jing! Jing…

She frantically plucked the shamisen, summoning a massive wooden door that teleported Zero and his armor out of Infinity Castle.

Zero, still rampaging inside Infinity Castle with the armor, was suddenly teleported out by the wooden door.

Zero had not expected Kotohira to grow clever this time.

She had learned to teleport herself away first and hide.

And this time, the teleportation landed precisely at Wan Shi Ji Le Jiao.

The enormous body plummeted from the sky onto Wan Shi Ji Le Jiao, triggering a violent earthquake that destroyed everything within and around it.

This time, Wan Shi Ji Le Jiao had been destroyed by more than half!

The followers and nearby villagers, seeing the armor, believed it to be a god descending—they knelt instantly, worshipping with devout reverence.

Seeing this, Zero immediately recalled the armor into the [Nanomaterial Space], concealed his form while they were distracted, and left.

His goal had been achieved—he had avenged Kanao.

But now, the most urgent matter was returning to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, or else Kanao and Mitsuri would begin worrying again.

He still had to fulfill his promise to Xiao Yue.

…