Hanako and Akaza stared each other down. The Upper Moon demon cracked his neck from side to side, stretching out his knuckles, all the while keeping eye contact with the smaller Demon. The moon was overhead the pair, its light acting as a spotlight to cover the wide arena, drawn out by thick draglines with his sword blade.

The wide birth of the circle stretched out for 50 meters in each direction, giving them enough space to brawl it out. Akaza was wearing his usual attire, however, Hanako wasn't. She wore a very simple yellow Kimono, a black bow tied at the back with a black Haori covering her arms up to her elbows, thick red scar-like lines carved into them as they flowed with hazel red energy of sorts.

Akaza didn't know what to call the substance. It wasn't blood, that much had been for sure. It didn't smell like blood, it vaguely looked like it, but it wasn't blood. Whatever it had been, it had to have been something to do with her Blood Demon Art.

There was a distinct smell Hanako had wafting off of her. It was pure emotion. Demons could see it in human's eyes, and it acted as a smell if the Demon wasn't adept enough to see it. Akaza, despite being an Upper Moon Demon couldn't see it in her eyes, but could rather smell it.

She smelt like a combination of nervousness and determination. A strange mix of emotions, but it was no doubt interesting for the Upper Moon. Akaza simply rolled his shoulders, flashed a smirk towards the young girl, then got into a fighting stance.

Hanako had been nervous, that much had been true, and she was determined. Determined to beat Akaza. The aforementioned saw something in her that, apparently, she didn't. Some kind of fighting energy that, in his words, not hers: "should be unleashed in an epic clash between the two." At least, that was how he put it.

The younger Demon had only been a Demon for a handful of months, and now she had to face one of the elite Demons? To most, they'd be shitting their pants at just the mere thought of it. But Hanako simply put on a brave face and breathed out a breath that she hadn't noticed she had been holding in.

The immense pressure pouring off of Akaza was enough to make someone's skin crawl. He had the skill, he had the power, and he had the nerve to back it all up. Compared to Hanako, he was a mountain that was impossible to climb because of her little to no experience.

However, she had to try. She wasn't alone here. It wasn't just her and Akaza. If that had been the case, she would've been willing to show some form of weakness. But she couldn't now. Not while everyone was watching.

Nezuko, Takeo, Wilbur, Technoblade, Dream, Kokushibo, Douma, Hantengu, Gyokko, Kamanue, Rui, Mukago, Wakuraba, Rokuro, Enmu, and some lady were all watching her with a mix of bated breath and weary intrigue.

However, there was one person in the audience that she had never seen before. It was the mysterious woman. Was she a bystander who had stumbled upon them? If so, why hadn't the other Demons attacked her? There had to be some reason for it, but she didn't know what it was.

The lady's eyes were a sharp red, her face pale, her lips red, and her expression was… intrigued. Her hair was done back into a bun with a stick going through it to keep it in place. She wore a black kimono with beautiful flower patterns below the belt. She sat on the closest rock to the make-shift arena, her eyes scanning the two participants.

"Akaza. Please explain to me why you wish to battle this… lower level Demon?" The woman asked as the Upper Moon Demon smirked.

"Well, Lord Muzan, this is Upper Moon 6's apprentice, and I want to see just how strong she is," Akaza explained. "If I may make a request, Lord Muzan," Akaza started, glancing over to the woman as the lady motioned her hand for him to continue. "If she is able to beat me, I want her to become a member of the Twelve Kizuki. Specifically, a Lower Moon."

Akaza's request caused ripples amongst the audience as the lady, Muzan apparently, raised an eyebrow. "That's a mighty request coming from you, Akaza. However, I will grant it. Kamanue, as of now, your place amongst the Lower Moons is being brought into question. You have yet to devour a large number of humans, so, for your sake, you better hope that Hanako over here does NOT beat Akaza."

"Great, more stakes on top of the mounting pressure of fighting Akaza? Seriously?!" Hanako thought, narrowing her eyes. "Was this his plan from the get-go? Why does he want me to be a part of the Twelve Kizuki? I'll have to ask him after this…."

Kokushibo crossed his arms. "To induct this Demon into the Twelve Kizuki without having to face Lower Moon 6 is questionable. But, if it is what Lord Muzan desires, then I will have to let it slide."

Douma had a critical eye levied on the girl as he scanned her from head to toe. "She has the potential, that much is for sure, but I'm skeptical she can beat Akaza. Hmm… let's see just how well Wilbur-san has trained you, Hanako-chan."

Kamanue swallowed in fear, his eyes widening as Hanako got into a fighting stance, her legs planted into the ground, a deadly aura surrounding her as Akaza manically grinned. In his eyes, a massive aura surrounded the small girl, reaching near the height of the trees. Just how many people had she eaten before this? It must've been a whole village, at least! Not only that, but it was a deep, crimson red! "This fighting energy I'm feeling. It's insane! SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT!" Akaza shouted, rushing towards Hanako in the blink of an eye.

In that split second, Hanako backed away and surrounded her entire body with red fumes, however, that didn't seem to bother Akaza, as he punched into the mist regardless. It formed a hardened barrier around her, but it wasn't strong enough to block the strength of the Upper Moon Demon.

His fist made contact with her skin, knocking her back as she skidded against the floor, leaving drag marks in the tough snow-covered ground. Blood dripped from where she had been hit—the abdomen—as the wound closed up almost immediately.

"She has Upper Moon level regeneration? Such potency… I wasn't aware she had been so strong!" Gyokko thought, crossing his arms. "Though I have to say, it was a tad bit delayed. That must be a product of not using it too much. However, the fact stands. She's only been a Demon for a few months from what I've heard, and she can regenerate like that? Hmph, Lower Moon my ass. She's higher than that. But…" Gyokko's thoughts stopped, his eyes drifting over to Wilbur. "It's not all about regeneration. That Wilbur guy has the same Blood Art, so perhaps those two can be a pair like Daki and Gyutaro. Hmm… I wonder what Lord Muzan is going to say to this. I'm thoroughly intrigued."

When his fist made contact with the mist, it travelled up Akaza's arm as it began to burrow into the offensive limb. Akaza raised an eyebrow and activated his impenetrable defence to block whatever attack the girl had cooked up. His body moved at light speeds, however, the mist followed his limb every step of the way, causing him to grimace.

"What does this red mist do? It doesn't seem to be doing anything to me. Does it make her focus on one part of my body? If so, that's kinda lame…." As Akaza thought this, the red mist began to burrow into his skin, of which his impenetrable defence was able to block, his body moving on its own out of the way, however, the mist followed him still.

Hanako took this chance while his focus was being split between her and the mist to close the distance between the two, aiming to palm his chest, only for his body to move again. Hanako's eyes narrowed at the Demon, and then she saw it. The blue light around his body. "I can't attack him as long as the blue light is around him. But, It seems my mist is still following him."

While she thought this, she kicked dust in his face, causing him to shake his head in confusion. The blue light died down as he lost focus, and once again, she aimed to palm his chest. The hit landed, causing Akaza to stagger, however, in response, Akaza grabbed her arm and twisted it, kicked her legs out from underneath her, then threw her over his head on his other side.

Blood exploded out of her back and arm after the landing. However, she jumped up to her feet, and when she did so, she regenerated at remarkable speeds. Akaza's smile widened as he watched the girl's fist cover in the same red mist that was still floating around his left arm. Unbeknownst to Akaza, the red mist began to tether to his skin, and when Hanako made contact with his block that he had brought up in a split second, Hanako smirked.

"Detonate."

With a single word, Akaza's entire arm exploded, and the mist around Hanako's arm blew up the arm it had hit. Akaza staggered back, his arms regenerating in an instant as Hanako jumped up into the air.

"NOT SO FAST! DESTRUCTIVE DEATH!" Akaza began to punch at the air, sending shockwaves towards the younger Demon. A hole blew through her waist, right arm, and left leg as the hits made contact with her. The wounds regenerated immediately afterward, and as she landed gracefully, she glared at Akaza.

"You really are something else, aren't you, Hanako. I'm impressed. Not many Demons can land a hit on me like that! Now I know to take you seriously!"

Takeo had to bite back a scream as he watched the ensuing battle. His sister, whatever she had turned into, was capable of taking those blows and continuing as if nothing happened. He looked over to his right to see Wilbur, who had been watching intently. "What did you do to my sister, Monster?" Takeo thought, narrowing his eyes as a scowl filled his face.

The day of his awakening was a scary one. He had been surrounded by people that didn't look like people, and his younger sister, who looked changed, had greeted him with a smile and a hug. When Nezuko saw him, she smiled and the three siblings cried for a good long while. The other people let them be for a few hours as Hanako had to explain to him that she was no longer human.

Apparently, they had been in a coma for months, though Hanako was awakened early by Wilbur, Upper Moon 6 as he soon found out. He turned her into a Demon to save her life but didn't do the same to him. He asked the Demon why, and he had said it was because he had been in a healthier state at the time, that, and Nezuko, as well as Tanjiro—of which he learned in that same breath his older brother had perished—had made sure that didn't happen to him.

He had been mortified at this and felt really, really angry. But it wasn't like he could've done anything about it. He was asleep for over three and a half months, slowly withering away. Nezuko looked stronger than the last time he had seen her, however, which was better news for him at least. She also had been wearing different clothing, clothing that looked like something a swordsman would wear.

She had muscles as Tanjiro had. She wore a purple Haori with a checker-styled pattern, and underneath she wore a basic white tunic and black hakama pants with purple zori. Her hair was still long and black, though it had been done up in a ponytail. On her hip was a sword sheath with a wooden blade within it.

Nezuko had explained that she was going to be away for a long time after a few more months of hard training, what exactly for he didn't know nor was he told. When she left, she had said that they wouldn't be able to talk for a long time, but that she would always keep him in her heart. He didn't want Nezuko to leave, but he at least had a few more months with her.

However, right now, he was more focused on the fight between Hanako and this Demon named Akaza.

Hanako got into a defensive stance as red mist travelled into her right hand, then it took a stick-like form. Wilbur raised an eyebrow, looking on with intent as Hanako created another stick in her left hand.

"Is she doing what I think she's doing…. She's using that move? The last time I saw her use it, she could barely hold it for longer than a single second. But it seems she's done some practice without my guidance. Hmm… such a bright mind. Akaza doesn't stand a chance now." A devilish smirk crept across his face as he crossed his arms.

"What's happening, Wilbur. What is she doing?" Takeo asked as Wilbur closed his eyes.

"You might want to stand back. Things are about to get explosive."

"Even more than before?" Takeo questioned as Wilbur opened the eye that Takeo had been in the line of sight of.

"Yes."

The third Upper Moon Demon stood there confused. It was just surprise after surprise with this girl, wasn't it! Not that he had been mad, in fact, it was quite the opposite. He was glad that this fight was going on for as long as it had. It got his blood pumping, to finally fight someone with as much determination as he did, and with a Blood Art that didn't rely on stupid arena tricks or freezing the environment.

It was like a dream come true. To fight a worthy opponent. He didn't want this fight to stop, it was like a drug to him. Unfortunatly, he knew he had to finish things up quickly, otherwise, Lord Muzan would get bored. So, much to his chagrin, he began to amp things up.

Akaza didn't waste any time rushing towards her, activating impenetrable defence as a blow glow covered Akaza. In a blur to most eyes, Akaza sent focused barrages of punches towards Hanako, all the while using the red, hardened mist-like sticks to block the blows with equal speed.

Sparks flew as Hanako blocked each punch, and as each punch collided, neither of them made any headway against one another. Akaza's manic smile only increased in size as his eyes burned bright. "YOU'RE FAST, HANAKO, BUT CAN YOU DEFLECT THIS!"

And with an immense force beyond anything that Hanako had expected, Akaza increased the speed of the punches, which caused Hanako to falter. Each blinding punch impacted Hanako as she tanked as many hits as possible, however, the blows became too much for the younger, weaker Demon as one well time punch slammed into her gut, cutting through her like a sword would a training dummy.

Everyone gasped as Akaza smirked. Hanako glared, trying to keep her eyes open, but the pain was unbearable. Muzan watched with intrigue as the two stayed that way for a few seconds. He had to say, he had been impressed by what he saw, but in the end, she had lost. "Such a shame, too…"

"You did good, kid, but you lost. I guess I win," he said, his cocky smirk increasing as he let his impenetrable defence down. But, in a move that shocked everyone, even Akaza, she raised her arms and shoved the red-mist-like sticks into both ends of his neck. Akaza hadn't seen it coming due to the speed at which her arms had moved, and as a result, couldn't react in time. She shoved herself off of Akaza, jumped into the air with a twirl, then landed a ways from the Upper Moon Demon.

Akaza tried to rip the sticks out of his neck, but they had been shoved in with enough force that they were stuck. Technoblade blinked, trying to figure out what had just happened, as did the rest of the Demons and humans there. "What a comeback!" Technoblade thought, looking over to Wilbur.

"He trained her… perhaps I was wrong about him back in the SMP. He is a good fighter and not a coward… interesting."

As Hanako's eyes stared into Akaza's own, the Demon began to make headway on the sticks, but by then, it had already been too late for the Upper Moon Demon. Hanako brought her hand up, and with a smirk of her own, she snapped her fingers. The sticks began to glow, a small beeping sound filling the arena. And then, she spoke.

"Remote Detonation – Desolation."

Akaza's head exploded in a flurry of meaty chunks, bits and pieces of his neck and upper body following afterward, only leaving his legs. Everyone stared in intense confusion, shock, and awe. Hanako's stomach wound regenerated after a few seconds as Akaza's body began to regenerate. Once he stood himself back up, Akaza looked at her with a smirk.

"My, my. That was unexpected. I guess I let my guard down. I shouldn't have done that, and because of it, you actually beat me. Not only did you beat me, but you beat me in front of Lord Muzan and my peers. Damn kid, you're good. I guess Wilbur's training was more well thought out than I had thought," Akaza stated as he clapped.

Muzan smirked, then sharply turned his sights over to Kamanue, who had been fearing for his life. When he saw Hanako get impaled through the gut, he had thought that it had been over and that he would get to live another day. But, as he had witnessed, that had not been the case.

A massive meat tentacle with a boney protrusion launched towards Kamanue and flatted him against the house, destroying him completely as the rest of the Lower Moons flinched. Rui watched without any emotion. He had a feeling that was going to happen, even if Hanako hadn't defeated Upper Moon 3. He felt no sympathy for Kamanue, neither did Mukago or Rokuro. Enmu felt some sadness, but Wakurabra had been disheartened.

"Damnit. That kid had a lot going for him. Oh well, I guess I can't do anything about it. Someone else is joining our ranks now, so that's good. Besides, at least it's someone who actually has the guts to eat humans." As Wakurabra finished his train of thought, Muzan got off of the rock and approached Hanako, who stood, looking up at Muzan.

"Bow," Muzan commanded, and Hanako did so without resistance, getting onto one knee, using her right hand as a support and bowing with respect. Muzan took his sharp finger, grabbed her chin, and began to mark her right eye. Strangely enough, there was no pain involved. Hanako stayed still, and when it was done, in place of her right pupil had been the words Lower Moon Six.

"Welcome to the Twelve Kizuki, Hanako. Do not disappoint us, and do not disobey Lord Muzan." It was Kokushibo's voice who spoke out to the new member of the Twelve Kizuki, his tone sharp, but also welcoming.

"Indeed. You may rise, Hanako," Muzan said as Hanako did so. "There is but one rule. You can never say my last name, Kibutsugi. If you do, you will die. You're only goal and ambition in life from here on out is to find and acquire for me the Blue Spider Lily and kill any Demon Slayer in your way, with the exception of your Sister, who will be joining them shortly, and feed on any lowly humans who dare enter your sight. That is all."

Hanako nodded, standing up as Muzan returned to her spot on the rock. "Akaza, thank you for the entertainment, it was well worth it. Lower Moons, you will remain here and look after that child. Dream, Blood God, Nezuko, and the rest of the Upper Moons, we will be heading back to The Infinite Palace."

With the sound of a biwa filling the air, everyone outside of the Lower Moons and Takeo disappeared. Hanako rubbed her eye for a split second, blinking. She had to get used to the strange feeling in her eye.

"It's itchy, isn't it. Don't worry, it'll go away," Mukago said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You came pretty far in such a short amount of time. Not bad, Hanachan," Mukago said as Rui walked up behind her.

"What are we going to do about your brother. He keeps glaring at us. I almost want to wrap him up in spider web and have him hang on the ceiling," Rui said as Hanako snickered to herself. Wakurabra, Rokuro, and Enmu watched as the younger demons of the group talked to one another. Enmu looked over to Takeo and smiled.

"Little boy, I suggest you get inside. Oh, and Hanachan, the sun is rising. While it isn't a problem for us because of the Blood God, it is still a problem for you. On his next visit, I'm sure he will share his blood with you, but for now, get inside, please. We wouldn't want you burning up after just entering the fold."

And without delay, Hanako and Takeo entered the house. Rui and Mukago looked at one another and nodded, following her. Rui and Mukago began to close all the curtains for Hanako, and the other Lower Moons lit the candles to keep the house lit. Once they were all inside, they closed the front door and ventured deeper within.

However, within the foliage, Ranboo stood in shock and awe. He saw Wilbur, he saw Dream, and he saw Technoblade. But most of all, he saw Muzan. He had been too late. But maybe, just maybe, he could talk to Technoblade once he returned, after all, that was what the blue and black haired Demon had said.

He had been amazed at the girls fighting skills, as well as that other Demon's. It was truly a sight to behold. However, for now, he had to wait it out, just a little bit longer. He now knew where Technoblade called home, and he also knew what was to happen next.

He had to start planning for the future. It was either now, or it was never. Ranboo knew what was at stake if Muzan got his hands on that flower, and he was going to stop at nothing to make sure that he didn't.

Then, a sudden glimpse of realization gleamed in his eyes. Tommy. He had forgotten about Tommy. He didn't even know where Tommy was, and he could be doing who knows what, not knowing the danger he was in.

"Oh god. Oh no! Alright, calm down Ranboo. Gotta find Tommy. Ugh, now I know what Tubbo must have felt like back on the SMP. Damnit…."

Ranboo sunk back into the forest, however, not before he had been met face to face with Rui, who looked at him with a smirk. "Oh ho, now this is interesting."

Everything went black for Ranboo.

-To Be Continued-

After a week-long break, I come out and deliver this little thing. While it was only a small amount of Ranboo lore, it was better than what I had planned initially. Hanako is now a Lower Moon, and because of the number of humans she ate, indiscriminately, she has become extremely powerful, powerful enough to contend with Upper Moon 3, though only barely. Had it not been for those dynamite sticks she created, she would've lost.

I hope this chapter was well worth the wait. Until next time everyone. Peace!