Chapter 85: Awakening

Enmu stood atop the front of the train, sensing that things did not seem to be going very smoothly.

Up to now, there was still no sign of a single person's spiritual core having been destroyed.

"Looks like things aren't going so smoothly~ Not a single spiritual core has been destroyed yet…"

"Well, no matter — the time has already been successfully dragged out, and it's pretty much done~"

This was also part of Enmu's plan.

He had tampered with the ticket; once the conductor clipped it, the spell would activate and plunge everyone into sleep.

During this period, he would merge himself with the Infinity Train, so that those passengers and Demon Slayers would effectively be sitting inside his belly.

When the time came, he could devour all two hundred train passengers and Demon Slayers inside the carriages in one go.

As long as he completed the mission Muzan had assigned, he would also receive the blood Muzan bestowed.

When that happened, his own strength would surge greatly.

By then, he could request Muzan to challenge an Upper Rank demon to a Blood Battle for position, getting even closer to Muzan's side.

Thinking of all this, Enmu grew immensely excited, his face flushing red, feeling as if all of this really were like a dream!

Suzuko looked at the Zero before her, a strange, inexplicable pressure constantly emanating from him, not knowing how to answer.

Even if she wanted to destroy his spiritual core now, the chance had already been lost.

And Zero had also been constantly thinking about how to break through this dream and return himself to reality.

Though the dream was beautiful, in the end it was only a dream!

Living forever inside a dream — what difference was there between that and being a living dead?

"Have you seen the face of that 'person' you mentioned?"

"I… I have…"

"Then tell me what he looks like."

With no choice, Suzuko could only truthfully describe that person's appearance, along with some of his features.

Zero, meanwhile, took pen and paper, and following her description, drew down that person's appearance, then used the 【Analysis Glasses】 to analyze it.

This way, he could find a way to leave the dream from within it.

Before long, the portrait of the person Suzuko had described was finished.

He showed the portrait to Suzuko and asked: "Is this what he looked like?"

Suzuko only took one glance and was somewhat shocked — it couldn't be said to look alike; it was simply identical!

"Y… yes, that's exactly what he looked like…" Suzuko answered.

After confirming, Zero pointed the 【Analysis Glasses】 at the portrait and began analyzing the data.

【Analyzing… analysis successful】

【Name: Enmu — Dream Demon】

【Gender: Male】

【Age: 100+ years】

【Identity: Lower Rank One of the Twelve Kizuki】

【Superior: Kibutsuji Muzan】

【Blood Demon Art: Forced Sleep Hypnosis Whisper, Forced Sleep Slumbering Eye】

【Special Ability: Dream Rope】

【Note: The individual "Enmu's" Blood Demon Art can forcibly send opponents to sleep and begin dreaming, allowing him to control the people and things within their dreams; one can only wake by committing suicide within the dream.】

【Brief Profile: …】

"I see…"

Looking at the data from the 【Analysis Glasses】, Zero already knew what to do next.

But there was still one problem — what was to be done about this Suzuko?

"Then how do you yourself plan to leave my dream?"

"That person said that I only need to destroy the dream master's spiritual core, and I can leave automatically…"

"Heh heh… how laughable."

"Um… may I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Why do you want to leave the dream? Here, you can have everything you want, and you can be reunited with your family — isn't that a wonderful thing?"

Suzuko blurted out everything she wanted to say in one breath.

Zero merely smiled faintly and answered: "A dream is, after all, only a dream; no matter how long you sleep, there will come a moment when you wake~ If you keep being lost inside a dream, then what difference is there between you and a dead person?

Even if there is a difference, it's only that of a living dead wandering inside a dream… The past is the past in the end; facing reality is what one ought to do, and what can be done now is to live well."

These words echoed unceasingly in Suzuko's mind.

"A dream is only a dream… you can't go back to the past…"

Yes, a dream is only a dream; even if some things were changed, the past still cannot return.

As if some knot in her heart had opened a door, Suzuko also came to understand certain things.

In a dream, one could be reunited with family — but what about reality?

What must be faced still has to be faced; constantly fleeing reality is nothing more than being irresponsible toward oneself.

Having thought all this through, Suzuko felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her heart, and could not help but cry out.

Just then, a flame suddenly ignited on Zero's wrist.

That flame, in but an instant, enveloped his entire body — yet did not harm him.

Before long, Zero had transformed into another appearance.

Holding a Sun Wheel Scythe, wearing a white trench coat and metal boots, with a head of long white hair.

This is what he looked like after three years in the Demon Slayer Corps.

"This is... Nezuko's Blood Demon Art?! Is she trying to wake me up... Good girl, thank you."

Zero also noticed that Suiko's figure on the bed was gradually beginning to become ethereal, clearly about to leave her own dream.

Before leaving, Suiko said to Zero: "Thank you..."

Then, she vanished into the dream.

Zero also prepared to leave his own dream, but before doing so, he had one thing to take care of.

"Rose, contact Sister Luo Li for me."

【Yes, Creator.】

Not long after, Sister Luo Li came to Zero's room.

"Zero, what did you need me for? Huh? How did you become like this..."

Before the words fell, Zero pulled Sister Luo Li into his arms and gave her a long kiss.

Feeling the warmth and breath from Zero's lips, Sister Luo Li slowly closed her eyes.

Although she didn't understand what had happened, at this moment, she only felt her heart filled with happiness.

After a long while, their lips parted.

Sister Luo Li cupped Zero's face, looking at him with a countenance tender as water, her eyes brimming with love.

"Although it was only a dream, I'm already so happy to see you again. Sister Luo Li, wait for me to come back!"

Sister Luo Li didn't understand why he would say these things; from his words, she could tell he was about to leave.

"Can... can you not go?"

"Sorry, I must leave! This is also so that I can truly see you again!"

Seeing that Zero was about to leave, Sister Luo Li hugged him tightly, unwilling to let him go.

With no choice, he could only forcefully break free from Sister Luo Li's embrace, turn around, and head straight for the door.

"Zero!!!"

Zero did not turn back at Sister Luo Li's call, and kept running outward.

Arriving at the top of a tall building, he looked up at the scenery below from here.

But, there was no time left, he had to leave!

"Enmu, although you let me see my beloved whom I missed once more, but... my dream—how could a lowly piece of trash like you pry into it!!!"

Then, he took out the first form of 【Dark Alloy Fourth Form】 and held it against his own neck.

"Suicide can let me leave the dream and return to reality... Heh heh, Enmu, don't underestimate us hot-blooded sons of Huaxia!!!"

Letting out a roar, he slashed across his own neck with the blade.

Puchi!

Fresh blood splattered everywhere, and Zero's figure vanished on the spot.

Mugen Train.

Zero opened his eyes, waking from the dream.

Looking to his side, Rengoku Kyojuro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu were still fast asleep.

Only Tanjiro and Nezuko were nowhere to be found.

His wrist was still bound with a burnt rope.

From the looks of it, this rope had been burned through by Nezuko's Blood Demon Art.

"Thank you." A girl's voice came from behind Zero.

Zero turned his head, already knowing who it was.

Suiko.

On her back, she was also carrying another unconscious girl.

"Hurry and find a place to hide."

"Mm, you... be careful."

Then, Suiko carried the other little girl and left the train car.

However, not long after Suiko left, just as Zero was about to wake the others, the interior of the Mugen Train car switched to an entirely different scene.

The entire train car was wrapped in disgusting flesh walls, with disgusting tentacles extending out one after another.

Inosuke also woke up at this moment, leaping up and crashing through the roof, shouting the slogan "Tonsoku!" the whole way!

Although Zenitsu was still in deep sleep, at this moment he also unleashed his power, his body transforming into golden lightning as he charged forward!

Looking at the surrounding scene, emanating waves of the foul stench of demons, Zero only felt a wave of nausea.

"So disgusting!"

He took out the Sun Wheel Scythe, tightening his grip.

Sun Wheel Scythe—Hinokami Kagura appears!

Shu!

Only to see a blur flash past in an instant.

The Sun Wheel Scythe in his hand spun at an unbelievably high speed, and every tentacle it passed through was reduced to chunks!

In just the span of a few breaths, he had shuttled back and forth slashing a thousand times within the train car.

Boom!

The overly ferocious attack caused the Mugen Train to produce a violent crashing sound, and the train nearly derailed.

"Ahhhhh!!!"

Inside the carriage, an extremely shrill scream rang out.

"What's going on?" Enmu said, baffled.

Because Enmu's body had fused with the Infinity Train, Zero's attack, combined with the effect of the Crimson Blade, made him feel that heart-tearing pain and searing burn!!

His regeneration power was also being suppressed!

At the same time, in the very front carriage, Tanjiro was also fighting.

The collision that had just struck the train had thrown him off balance, and his body had tumbled into another carriage, smashing a huge hole through the door.

"What's happening?! Could the demon have launched an attack?!!"

He had no time to think it over. Those tentacles began attacking again, seizing the sleeping passengers, preparing to devour them.

Tanjiro stood up, picked up his Nichirin Blade once more, and sliced all those tentacles apart.

But the carriage corridor was too narrow, leaving him unable to fight at full strength!

Tap— tap— tap—

Kyojuro Rengoku also woke up at this moment. Seeing everything unfold before him, he felt it was a failure of duty for him as a Pillar.

"Hmm…～ to think something like this would happen while I was taking a little nap～

Who would have thought, who would have thought～ I'm truly useless as a Pillar～ if there were a hole here, I'd want to crawl right into it!!!"

Whoosh!

Boom! Boom! Boom! …

Kyojuro Rengoku swung his Crimson Flame Blade, slashing rapidly!

The carriage seemed to catch fire, and another violent collision occurred, nearly causing the train to derail once more.

Thud!

Tanjiro had just pulled his head free from the door when, without warning, he tumbled to the other side again, landing flat on his back.

"What is going on now?! A violent collision just like before—could the demon really have launched an attack?!" Tanjiro thought.

"Tanjiro!" Kyojuro Rengoku appeared before Tanjiro.

"Mr. Rengoku!!"

"Tanjiro, I'll keep it brief. Before I came here, Zero and I had already slashed at it quite a few times! The demon won't be able to regenerate for the time being!

The train has eight carriages in total. Zero and I will protect the last seven carriages, and the remaining one will be protected by the demon girl Nezuko and the blond-haired boy!

You and that pig-headed boy go find the demon's neck and cut it off!"

"But, Mr. Rengoku, the demon has already fused with the train…"

"No matter what shape the demon takes, as long as it's a demon it will have a neck! Zero and I will also keep an eye on the carriages, so you need to pull yourself together!"

Looking at Kyojuro Rengoku's serious expression, Tanjiro understood what he had to do next.

"Yes, I understand!"

Immediately, Kyojuro Rengoku's figure vanished from before Tanjiro, and he went with Zero to protect the last seven carriages.

"Amazing! Gone in an instant… no, no! This isn't the time to be thinking about that, you idiot. I have to hurry and find the demon's neck!"

He picked up his Nichirin Blade and set off toward the front of the train.

The closer he got to the engine, the thicker the demon's scent became.

"Inosuke! Inosuke, where are you?"

Tanjiro shouted as he advanced toward the front of the train.

"Shut up!" Inosuke's voice came from outside on the roof.

"Up top?" Without thinking further, he immediately went to join up with Inosuke to search for the demon's neck.

"Dammit! That big googly-eyed freak actually dares to order me around! And that black-and-white bird-wing guy actually ignored me… but those two… are really strong!! Pisses me off, aaaaaah!!"

Inosuke seemed deeply unconvinced in his heart, shouting as he ran.

"Inosuke, the two of us have to find the demon's neck and cut it off!"

"I know that!! And I've already found it! With my Seventh Form, I found this guy's weak point, yahahaha!!"

Only then did Tanjiro remember that Inosuke's Seventh Form could sense everything.

On top of that, because the wind was too strong, the scent had been blown away, so he had been unable to detect it.

Since Inosuke said it was ahead, Tanjiro naturally believed he couldn't possibly be wrong!

After that, Tanjiro also climbed onto the roof, met up with Inosuke, and headed together toward the front of the train.

Inosuke reached the front of the train first, swung his twin serrated blades, and split open the roof of the driver's cab.

A conductor was still standing guard inside!

"Who are you? What are you doing here?! G-get out of here right now!" the conductor shouted angrily.

Inosuke paid him no heed. He could sense it—the demon's neck was right here!

He immediately raised his twin blades and brought them down in a slash.

Unexpectedly, numerous arms suddenly extended from inside the cab and attacked Inosuke.

Inosuke could only temporarily give up and swing his twin blades to attack these arms.

But there were simply too many arms—he couldn't keep up at all, and his hands and feet were seized tight by the other arms, leaving him unable to move!

Water Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirling Currents!

Tanjiro, who had arrived just in time, twisted his body and spun his Nichirin Blade, slicing all the arms apart and saving Inosuke.

And the force of this strike once again wrecked the driver's cab.

Enmu was wounded in the neck by this strike and let out an extremely wretched scream once more.