CHAPTER 39 - Battle! The Night Hunt Begins!

Two days since Law's ordeal.

An emergency notice had shown up from Ubuyashiki. Zoro was compelled to dispatch a large group of Demons. Uzui's wives, Hinatsuru, Makio and Suma had been busy with other missions, and much to Shinobu's chafe, Zoro had to employ Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira both of whom had just arrived from a mission.

"Alright! Back-to-back demon hunting!" bellowed Inosuke.

"But I don't wanna!" cried Zenitsu. "I just came back. You could have motivated me if Nezuko was coming along!"

"How about motivation with my blade?" Zoro drew his Shusui.

Zenitsu panicked to the threat giving in to Zoro's demand.

"How can we defeat twenty demons at once?" demanded Zenitsu.

"We shall kick their ass, Monitsu!" bellowed Inosuke.

"Leave everything to luck, kid." Zoro chuckled. Zenitsu replied with a snivel.

Law found Shinobu and Tamayo conversing in the corridor.

"How's the situation?" Law asked Shinobu.

"A few wounded have shown up. Zoro has left the morning to tackle an incident. Another surge of Demon attacks that took place last night."

"Thought Uzui's wives were out. He went alone?" Law was surprised.

"You shan't worry. Zenitsu and Inosuke went with him. He won't be lost."

"Hope not."

Tomioka showed up at the Mansion, meeting up with the both of them. He had news regarding Kanae Kocho and Jigoro Kuwajima, both of them scouting the previous week. Unlike the usual conveyance to Ubuyashiki, Kanae and Master Kuwajima instead communicated directly with Zoro's faction, being hidden away from the large remainder of the Demon Slayer Corps.

"They have been able to locate an Upper Moon." Tomioka relayed.

"Who?" demanded Shinobu.

Law knew of Shinobu's history; the Demon that killed Kanae Kocho when she had been alive.

"The very same that attacked Jack's flagship." said Tomioka. "The one that killed Rengoku."

"Hush now!" hissed Shinobu, with sudden alarm.

"Right, Tanjiro." Tomioka looked around, remembering the kid traumatised after the Upper Moon had killed Kyojuro Rengoku in the train incident.

"Where's the kid?" Law asked. "Heard he went for some mission with his kid sister last night."

"He came back in the morning, right after Zoro had left with Zenitsu and Inosuke." Shinobu explained. "We must not let him hear about this." she whispered.

"Yeah. Saw him the last time. Took quite a while until he came back to his senses." Tomioka said, in concern for the kid.

"What's Kocho-ya and the old man up to? Are they planning to fight the Demon?" Law asked.

"We can't let them. Not yet unless reinforcements can back them up. Rengoku was a strong warrior and this Demon was able to kill him." Shinobu said, in concern for her sister.

"I know you are concerned for Kanae, but Master Kuwajima is with her." Tomioka explained, only to find her adamant return look. He sighed, "Very well, I'll send a reply for them to keep a distance."

"Is there any Hashira around the area?" Law asked.

"I can't remember exact, but I think Tokito or Shinazugawa might be out that side." Tomioka tried to remember.

"Not Tokito. Heard he had some close encounters with the other devils. He had to withdraw from the sector." Shinobu explained.

"'Other devils'?" Law enquired.

"Imperial troops. The harbingers of militarism in the mainland." Shinobu replied. "They were the ones who had kept control of the Takeshi's Castle before Kibutsuji's minions took the roles for themselves."

"You don't mean those troops out there were killed by the Demons?"

"Who knows? Couldn't care less. These people are up to no good. Winning the Great War has made their heads big. This Taisho Democracy won't last long with the way things are going." Shinobu criticised.

Tomioka agreed with Shinobu's criticism. Despite being not much connected with the civilian world, Tomioka was a supporter of the liberal regime that followed the chaos of the Meiji Restoration. And yet, he was highly critical of the imperialistic advancements in the past years, including the invasion of Korea, which gave a similar vibe to Demons trying to take over humanity.

"I do know that those imperialists had shown up at Shi-niju after we had left. They were wiped out by Jack." he said. "But that won't stop them."

"Then we best stay away from this faction. We met some of their ships in the waters near Tokyo. I may have a fair idea they might know about us." Law said.

Shinobu nodded. "Right. We damaged one of their ships."

"Metal ships to control people into an authoritarian regime." mocked Tomioka. "They'll soon be after the Demon Slayer Corps knowing we don't work for them."

After a critical and logical conversation regarding the woes of the mainland, the three of them returned back to their former topic of tackling the Upper Demon Moon.

"Alright, Muichiro Tokito can't help us." Tomioka stated.

"That leaves Shinazugawa. I heard he was around that side. Not sure though." Shinobu said. "How about we send him a message?"

"Be my guest." Tomioka replied, finding Shinobu back observing at him, knowing he was reluctant.

"Very well." Shinobu sighed, believing that Tomioka was unable to handle simple tasks. Her sigh annoyed her fellow Hashira.

"Isn't he that same Hashira Zoro-ya took down?" Law asked.

"That's him. Zoro wiped Shinazugawa's face to the floor. I guess it served him right. Never liked his mad attitude." Tomioka explained.

"Let's just hope he's more than cordial in accepting the offer to fight an Upper Moon."

"Oh my, he will be, without a doubt. He's a Demon killer alright." Shinobu remarked.

Night hours. Law walked down the hallway next to the courtyard, observing the fireflies glow. He arrived upon his room. He opened the desk drawer with his key and found Moria's heart beating inside. Finding the object of interest in place, he locked the drawer and left the room for the infirmary. Aoi and the girls were resting after attending to the wounded Demon Slayers.

"How are the newcomers?" Law asked.

"They are fine. Nothing serious to worry about at the moment." Aoi replied.

"I thought you were resting, Law-san." said Sumi.

"I'm done resting." Law replied.

"Law-san, you promised!" Aoi snapped.

"I am not in active duty. And besides, I haven't used my powers for the past two days." Law said. "I'm simply here to check on the wounded."

"We'll be keeping an eye on you." Naho mentioned.

Law made a sigh. "Very well."

Tanjiro had been talking with Nezuko in their room. Law showed up alone.

"Law-san." Tanjiro was happy to see the man.

"Mmmf!" Nezuko beamed.

"You brats look well." Law walked up to them.

"Thanks for your help, kid." He appreciated Nezuko's help for the other day, shaking her hands.

"How are you feeling now?" Tanjiro asked.

"I'm okay. Tamayo explained how her flames had worked. It killed much of Gyutaro's infection keeping the Blood Demon Art at a stable state now." Law told them. He looked upon Nezuko. "In a way, you saved my life, kid. I owe you one."

"Mmm... mmmn." Nezuko patted Law's head.

Yushiro had been in guard duty ever since the sun went down, feeling uneasy for unfound reason. He kept watch from atop the Butterfly Mansion trying to ease his thoughts that something bad might have happened that night. His watch had been smooth sailing since sundown, until two minutes before midnight.

Out of the blue, Yushiro got up in surprise to find hostile entities walking towards the Mansion. He peered ahead and discovered they were a horde of samurai, with their blades drawn for belligerence. Before he decided to confront them, he rang the emergency bell atop, alerting every last one of the Mansion's inhabitants.

"What's going on?" Tamayo enquired, rushing ahead with Shinobu to the north side of the Mansion. Yushiro had leaped down from the top, to their surprise.

"Samurai incoming." he mentioned, discovering Tanjiro, Nezuko and Kanao. Kiyo, Naho and Sumi rushed after them followed with Aoi who came along with, Trafalgar Law.

Law discovered the incoming troops marching ahead with no restraint.

"Samurai?" Tanjiro asked, to which Yushiro nodded.

"Who the hell are they? They working for Ubuyashiki?" Law asked.

"We don't have samurai in the Demon Slayer Corps." Shinobu replied.

"What do they want at this hour? Everyone's asleep."

"Do you people know of something called the 'Night Hunt'?" Tamayo asked.

"A what?" Law asked confused.

"I heard that headless man bellow in that locked room. I don't know what he meant, but somehow, I remembered realising its midnight now."

"You mean, Moria's involved? There's no way." Shinobu replied.

"A Night Hunt? Now, that you mention it, I did hear some vague rumours. I'm not sure. Maybe Zoro-ya might have a better idea. Heard his crew fought Moria two years back."

"Are those Samurais the meaning behind this 'Night Hunt'?" Shinobu asked, "I thought Moria couldn't do anything with his head and heart with us."

"It does give us the leverage, but in truth, one needs Sea Prism stones to hold down a Devil Fruit user. And Moria was once a Warlord. They are pirates strong and cunning enough to be recognised by the World Government. It looks like he has found a way to fight back."

Law made the statement observing the invading enemy. The marching samurai opened the gate. Arrows and wounds and scars all over them. The samurai were not amongst the living but the walking dead.

"A Night Hunt?" Law asked himself.

"Those are zombies!" Shinobu bellowed in shock.

"He has summoned a big number of them. Where did he find these corpses?"

"There have been many battlefields with samurai dead and being unnoticed. The pirate Moria must have known of their whereabouts." Tamayo said.

"We may need some support." Law mentioned. "Are there other fighters stationed at the Headquarters?"

"Tomioka's at his place. I'll send a Kakushi right away." Shinobu replied. "Goto!" she bellowed.

The Kakushi working for Shinobu had shown up in haste.

"Yes, my lady." Goto answered.

"Summon Tomioka and then head to the Master. Relay that we are being invaded by enemies and need reinforcements." Shinobu explained.

Goto observed the marching army in awe, before nodding and leaving the Mansion from the other side.

"I don't think you should fight, Law-san." mentioned Kanao.

"I'll try not to overdo it." Law replied, drawing his blade.

"I'm ready. So, how do we defeat these zombies?" asked Tanjiro.

"The use of salt can purify them." Shinobu answered.

"How do you know that?" Law asked in surprise.

"Zoro told me back when we had landed ashore. I think feeding them salt could do the work. Or salt water for that matter."

"Makes sense." Law nodded. "These zombies are the manifestation of a Devil Fruit power. They are weak to sea water and as a result, salt."

"Alright, girls. We will need all the salt in the house." Tamayo told Aoi and the girls. "We shall drench them in brine."

"Bring in dried salt as well. We need to throw something at them." Shinobu mentioned.

"There's so many of them." Yushiro was surprised, looking at the influx around the gate.

"Nezuko, Kanao, are you ready?" Tanjiro asked.

"Yeah." Kanao replied.

"Mmmf." Nezuko drew her claws.

"I don't know if Wisteria poison should work on them." She mentioned, looking at her thin blade.

"You can't kill the dead with poison. Best to hold them off until the salt arrives." Law advised.

"Right." Shinobu stepped ahead withdrawing her thin blade, whilst deploying her new Nichirin over her head grabbing with both her hands.

"What's she doing?" Tanjiro asked confused.

"A Flying Blade attack." Kanao replied, recalling her sister's attack during the battle against the Upper Moon Hantengu and pirate Doflamingo.

"She can do that?" Law was surprised, unaware of Shinobu's new ability, realising she might have learned from Zoro.

"One-Sword Style..." Shinobu prepared. "36-Pound Phoenix!" she bellowed, releasing a strong pressure of wind rushing in towards the incoming zombies.

Explosion! The zombie vanguard was taken by surprise, sending the front line flying beyond the gate.

TO BE CONTINUED...