Hello everyone, gabrielchiong11 here, and welcome to a new chapter.
I am terribly sorry that I am late, I was busy with stuff in school and a part time job.
But enough of that, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Hopefully this doesn't feel rushed for you guys.
Note: To avoid confusion in this chapter, I would be referring Muzan (from Demon King Tanjiro's world) as Muzan while Muzan (of Novirp13's or this fic's version of him) as Kibutsuji.
Whereas Muzan would talk like this while Kibutsuji would talk normally in this text
"Where is that Bitch!? I swear I'm gonna kill her!"
Nezuko heard the voice of an enraged child, filled with absolute hatred in her tone of voice between the sounds of the crumbling house.
The second child of the Kamado family peeked from under her brother's protective hug, watching the newcomers with trepidation.
Judging from the lowered atmosphere that made the air colder and choking their respiration, they were clearly demons. Both of which are filled with killing intent.
A girl, younger than her, sported a growling expression with veins bulging on her forehead like she had missed an opportunity for a comeback against someone that Nezuko wasn't sure of.
What's that on her hand? A kemari ball? Don't tell me that was the thing they used to attack them? That tiny weak-looking ball?
Aghast at the weapon the two demons seemingly used, she wasn't aware the next words they spoke as she processed the weapon used to destroy Tamayo's house.
"Where the hell is she!? If I ever find her in this dump of a hideout, I'll make sure she'll die painfully at the sun's rays!"
"Tch. She must've gotten away. No matter, we still have a job to do, Susamaru. Fortunately, we have found our primary objective and it seems like they used a Blood Demon Art capable of hiding things."
The other demon, a boy older than Nezuko but younger than Tanjiro, picked a fallen piece of paper that came from the wall outside of the house.
The Demon Slayer soon noticed with her red eyes the drawing within it. Widening her eyes slightly at the realization.
It was Yushiro's cloaking spell.
Without it, the two demons finally found their location and unveiled their presence. Revealing the building for all the world to witness.
The demon holding the talisman tore the paper apart, letting the remnants of it blown by the passing wind. Erasing what was once used to protect them. A ward to repel unwanted guests.
"Hmph. There's a Demon Slayer and a demon along with them. The Demon Slayer, I can understand. But, why is she having a pleasant conversation with our kind? One of them even looked like they were trying to save her to boot."
The demon with the closed eyes scoffed as he turned to his companion after evaluating what he saw.
"Well anyway, Susamaru. Normally I would berate you for dirtying my clothes, which I will later after this, I'll let you off the hook for now. We have a mission to do... and hunt that girl down after what she did to us earlier."
"Couldn't agree with you more, Yahaba. Let's finish this before she's gone too far for us to track."
The demon with the kemari balls agreed with her companion as she turned her attention toward the Demon Slayer in their nearest presence, Nezuko.
Dammit, they're clearly strong!
Grasping the handle of her sword, preparing for the battle ahead.
Unbeknownst to her, a figure, who is not from this world, was from afar. Waiting for an opportunity to make his interference.
"It has finally begun."
On top of the building where she stood, Yuna muttered to herself, staring at the would be battlefield within the range of her line of sight. As well as having a safe distance for her to observe from without any stray shots that could hit her in her position.
Judging by the expressions worn by Yahaba and Susamaru, she could easily tell that they were enraged...
...Perhaps I've motivated them far more than reasonably should.
The young demon thought to herself as she saw Nezuko blocking the kemari ball using a Breath Form she remembered from her father's memories back when he was a human in his early days of his demon slaying career.
"This changes things... this might be a problem if I don't intervene now..."
She pondered if she made a move now while it's early and enough time to plot a course of action should there be an unexpected move made by the two demons that Nezuko and her father's counterpart are currently locked in combat.
To intervene or not to intervene?
Weighing her choices, the daughter of the Demon King of the Rising Sun struggled if she should kill the both while she still has the chance or wait till everything plays out exactly what her father's memories suggested it would be.
There were two fatal flaws regarding her father's memories she currently has.
One, it was only shown from his perspective. Relying on it alone can cause problems if there's a factor that is related to events that had happened when he wasn't there to know how and where it exactly happened. A problem which could already been deviated since he first came to this world.
Second, she only possessed his memories relating events prior to coming to this world. Any events after his transfer and before her birth was alien to the young demon. Not knowing what happened prior to the events occurring this night irked her to a degree that she thought her father一一
No, don't think of that. I'm sure father isn't like that... is he?
Facing doubts at the memories her father placed in her from her birth, Yuna tried to deny the possibility that he wasn't the kind person he remembered himself to be. A fact that there's a slight chance that he wasn't the same as before becoming a Demon.
Does he still consider himself human after all these years?
Sure she can see his memories from his time as a human and a Demon, but what she lacked is his perspective on his time in this world.
Has it been months or years since he came to this world? Has he done something that she wasn't aware of when he had given her his memories? Did he not trust her enough for this mission?
Ugh... thinking all of these made my head hurt.
She wasn't one to openly ask questions, but the complicated questions that rose in her mind is in dire need of answering.
Yuna was too young for this crap to get into her head.
After much internal debate on whether or not she make the first move, Yuna made her choice.
Before that, she had one question in mind.
"I wonder what father is doing right now?"
She says as she stares at the night sky as the battle below it raged on.
Earlier.
How long has it been since Tanjiro had met the Muzan of this world?
An hour? Perhaps several more?
He questioned his ability to read the time without watching the clock nearby, which he checked, only to be disappointed by the minute hand which it moved a few centimeters. Meaning a few minutes had passed.
Tanjiro turned his eyes at the furnitures and contents of the room they're staying in a building he didn't recognize being there in the first place.
They were inside a bar, western-style at that, with him still wearing the armor when he first encountered this version of Japan's Demon King, whose clothes also styled in the same way as the Westerners do and the same clothes when he first saw him back when he was human.
This was no ordinary bar though. According to Kibutsuji, this was a bar sponsored by the company this particular Demon King lead in one of his many human aliases. It was a private bar only a select few can enter.
Those select few were mainly demons.
Staring at Kibutsuji, who was drank a shot of what it looks like to be beer, the Demon King of the Rising Sun was wondering if eating human food and drinking ordinary drinks weere a luxury for the Demons of this world?
Back in his world, or in this case Muzan's way, he never sponsored a private bar. Much less drinking beer like an ordinary person would do. He even wondered if there's anything else this world has to offer.
Demons able to partake human substance, Nezuko having red eyes instead of pink, Numa able to use Martial Demon Arts along with his Blood Demon Art as well.
It was surreal to the young Demon King, especially with the fact that the Japanese Empire of this world was far stronger and more capable than his version of the country he lived in. Even with the information he had beforehand, this was something he never thought was realistically possible, and this was coming from a human who was turned into a Demon and traveled around the world hunting said monsters.
Tanjiro was debating if this bit of information was worth mentioning to Yuna, which he and Muzan had been sending her via their mental link with her, but decided not to since it wasn't significant enough to warrant their full attention on the matter at hand.
But the more significant information had been sent the moment they knew it was. It was important to keep tags on such vital pieces to help them fully understand this world and its differences from their own.
Namely the fact that this world's history was already a different variation on its own.
"Ah," he heard Kibutsuji utter, thus breaking Tanjiro's inner thoughts, "it's good for a fine beer in this time of night. Especially one made from Germany. What good beverage those German demons have that most of the world don't is beyond me. As that one demon say "German beverage is the best in the world"! Am I correct, Shakakiri Gengoro?"
The former Demon Slayer nearly flinched at the alias he made, from one of the many names Inosuke called him, for his current disguise.
The Demon King inside of the Eldest Kamado groaned at the reminder of one of the stupid names Tanjiro chose for the occasion. One that Muzan wasn't entirely fond of and not exactly a good name either.
"...I don't drink... so, I can't exactly express what joy you have now, Kibutsuji... sama."
The former Demon Slayer nearly said the last word in disgust. Disgust that he had to refer Kibutsuji with respect which also extends to Muzan inside of him.
Although their relationship were that of partners, they both couldn't stand to formally call each as such. Instead, they both opted for a more informal way. Especially Muzan calling him Demon King in a way that does not speak of formality in all given form.
Such was the life between Tanjiro and Muzan who had mended their ways before coming to this world.
"I see." Kibutsuji nearly scoffed at the Demon wearing armor, who visibly flinched at the response, "Such a shame. You're missing all of the good stuff. Especially beverages like these are made of special ingredients that only demons such as we can fully enjoy."
"...What do you mean by that?"
Confused by what Kibutsuji said, he was suddenly intrigued of what "special ingredients" he meant by.
"Oh?" Kibutsuji made a look that seemed to express that he was amused, "You don't know, do you? Well, for starters, it contains a substance that can easily kill a human one hundred times over in just a second. Only demons, even the weakest of them all, can enjoy drinks such as these the same way as a human does."
Kibutsuji explained offhandedly, requesting another refill of his shot before he continued.
"This bar, as well as the entire company sponsored it, was a collaboration between me and Germany's Demon King as a means to build a friendly relationship for us and as well as to bridge diplomatic ties with each other."
"Germany's Demon King?"
This raised Kibutsuji's brow at the sudden question.
"...You don't know him? That's quite a surprise I was sure you knew based on what you said in your story."
Tanjiro pursed his lips behind the mask.
Earlier, he had told Kibutsuji about his journey to the west and how he met the Demon Kings along the way. Excluding the part where he killed them.
However, he never met Germany's Demon King. The only European Demon Kings he met were from the British Isles, Ireland, Austria, Netherlands, Denmark, and every country in Europe except for Germany's.
Tanjiro wasn't aware he existed, although they were vague mentioning of him being an extremely powerful demon, enough to gain respect from all the Demon Kings that existed in the continent since the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire.
That being said, Germany's Demon King was also the Holy Roman Empire's resident Demon King. A successor to the previous Demon King of the defunct Roman Empire.
In fact, he heard rumors amongst the Demonkind in Europe that he disappeared going westward into the United States. Never to be seen again since Tanjiro first came to the continent with the intent to hunt down all demons there.
Because of that disappearance, there was a succession crisis that inevitably lead a civil war between demon on who would take the throne as the next Demon King of Germany. The one who will claim to rule the Demons in Germany.
During that time, he took an apprentice. A young girl who was turned into a Demon against her own will and was struggling in maintaining her humanity. And she was a native of the former Holy Roman Empire's territory that was known today as Austria.
He recalled that girl to be extremely talented. Able to learn to fight in speeds that can be considered abnormal. Even by his own standards.
He taught her how to use the Water Breathing style, which took him two years of hard work to complete and master its forms.
But the girl, it only took two weeks for her to reach the same level as he did.
A mere two weeks is what it took for her to learn that Breathing Style. And mastered it to the same level after he completed Urokodaki's training.
The Demon King of the Rising Sun recalled on what George Wellington, the Demon King of Britain, said to him once when he first fought him on the empty streets of London.
"Us Demons in this continent are born to fight. We grow as warriors, learn as scholars and be as religious as devout followers. It is our innate talent to know every fighting style in existence, even those that can be considered unique in other countries. So long each and every one of them can be trained and used physically and mentally. That, is our persistence in Martial Prowess. To become stronger through pushing our bodies beyond the limits we placed ourselves in."
He remembered that Demon King's words before he fought him. Back when he first step foot on London in that fateful night.
The Demon was strong. Extremely so. Far stronger than anything he faced when he first came to Europe. Even during his travels from Asia to the west was nothing compared to his fight with the British Demon King.
In that battle, Kamado Tanjiro faced his first lose in combat since he first became a Demon against the Demon King who ruled the British Isles.
Not just him, most, if not all, Demon Kings in Europe were as capable as George.
He lost each and every one of them.
Even when he had gone to his full power, he was no match for them. In fact, he was considered by them as a weakling.
They were all monsters. Beyond what Tanjiro could comprehend.
Those Demons, those monsters, easily bested him in combat. A battle Tanjiro wasn't aware he wouldn't win.
Capable conjuring storms and shatter entire mountains with their fists. Can strike faster than light itself. Defenses powerful enough to make even his strongest attacks to moot. Speeds that they easily run circles around him without noticing.
Most jarring of all, they found no need to use Martial Demon Arts on him. They only used their base physical abilities to fight him head on.
He was nothing compared to them.
Not only that, they managed to even copy all of his breathing techniques and styles. Even the impossible Sun Breathing, which only him, Yoriichi, Taka, and, his daughter, Yuna could use was easily replicated just by watching him use it.
It was then he came to a realization that he was outclassed in each and every category of power against them.
They were truly worthy to be called Monsters amongst Monsters. Rulers of the continent that housed the Great Powers who brought their influence to all four corners of the world.
He was truly insignificant in the eyes of the Demon Kings that lived in the European Continent. The strongest Demons in existence.
Kamado Tanjiro, Demon King of the Rising Sun, truly had no chance against them.
What's worst, Germany's Demon King was leagues above them. Who was stronger than all the Demon Kings he faced in Europe combined.
He is what he is referred to as a Demon God.
For Kibutsuji to make a connection with the strongest Demon King in existence suddenly made Tanjiro numb after he remembered what made him so respected by his peers.
A god among Demons.
He was an existence that Tanjiro never got to meet but only heard of.
If he ever met him in person, he was sure that standing in his presence would be suffocating experience for him. He would feel unbearably unworthy to stand in the presence of such a powerful Demon.
It was by that fact that Tanjiro went completely silent, which made both Kibutsuji and Muzan wonder what made him go silent.
The previous Demon King that resided inside of him made a fake cough that brought Tanjiro back to reality when he realized that Kibutsuji was staring at him intensely.
Aware that he went silent, Kamado Tanjiro tried to apologize to Kibutsuji, but was stopped when said Demon raised his hand.
"I think we should stop for tonight. You should where you come from, Shakakiri Gengoro. It's best to leave."
"...Why? I still have questions that I need you to answer."
Tanjiro was correct.
It was still far from dawn, and they still have enough time for everything that the former Demon Slayer wanted to ask Kibutsuji about.
He wanted to know how Kibutsuji managed to survive partaking two Demon Kings' blood without dying. As well as them surviving the same procedure.
Tanjiro also wanted to know how many connections the Demon Kings of Europe made in this continent.
Most importantly, where was Germany's Demon King, Kaiser Bismarck von Deutschland, currently was.
Kibutsuji stared at Tanjiro in the eye. Looking at it for several intense second, which made the latter feel as though a threat was looming in on him.
Though the meeting between him and Kibutsuji was short, and no real concrete conclusion of their stance between each other, it was clear that the old Demon King was wary of him.
Then, the thousand year old Demon responded.
"...There is no answer that I would give you, but I have one question for you."
"...That is...?"
A foreboding feeling rose inside. Uncomfortably building something he hadn't felt since he came to this world.
Something of great consequence.
"I don't like where this is going, Tanjiro."
Me too.
The young Demon King could only respond before Kibutsuji spoke.
"Tell me, have you heard of a Demon who fell from the sky a long time ago?"
"...How long ago was that?"
The Demon King of the Rising Sun couldn't help but ask that. How long was he talking about? And what does he mean a Demon who fell from the sky?
The uncomfortable feeling inside him kept on growing, his instincts telling him to leave, and at the same time, stay to hear the old Demon's tale.
Kibutsuji began to speak his tale
"It was 35 years ago, on a cold winter night. I was there, taking my stroll to seek my greatest desire which I sought so long. A desire that I won't mention to you... at least for now."
"...I know what he means."
Muzan spoke to Tanjiro, vaguely referring to the flower which he sought so long and could not find anywhere.
Then, the old Demon King continued.
"I saw a figure falling from the heavens, from a tear in reality that I noticed with my own eyes."
35 years ago. 1885.
The lone figure of the old Demon King was standing in the field of snow in this dark, strong blizzard. Threatening to freeze unfortunate fools who were not prepared for the weather.
He turned his head at the heavens, witnessing a tear in reality. A portal in space-time.
He stared at it, he saw an unnatural phenomenon occurring. A sight he never beheld before. A sight that was nothing he never could've thought was happening.
Then he saw a figure of a human being.
With his enhanced vision, he saw the tattered remains of the figure's haori, or what remained of it at least, clothing reminiscent to that of the humans of the Demon Slaying Corps that sought to kill him.
Kibutsuji Muzan could tell the figure was Male, and he was also a young person as well.
He had a ruffled black hair, with burgundy in the tips of his hair. With said hair combed back to expose his forehead.
Though he never knew the color of the boy's eyes, nor what it looked like. But he managed to recognize the earrings the boy wore.
A pair of hanafuda earrings, the same kind as that
man wore.
The old Demon King gritted his teeth at the sight thereof, painful memories about that man began to resurface in his mind.
As the figure began his descent from the heavens, the tear in reality closed the moment the boy reached the Forest below him.
After this manner, Kibutsuji made his move.
Making his way to the forest, the lone Demon King thought of many ways to kill the young man.
But the thought of turning him into a Demon. A demon that he would use for his own purpose. That would make a fine addition to his already plentiful demons roaming Japan.
Mere moments passed, the blizzard seemed to intensify with each step he made, Kibutsuji Muzan, Demon King who roamed Japan for nearly a thousand years, has reached his intended target.
"...Tch. A Demon Slayer."
Scoffing at the sight of the body upon closer inspection, Kibutsuji recognized the nichirin blade placed nicely in its sheath, tied near to the left side of his belt. A blade that was used to kill demons which he made, including himself.
He saw the guard of the sword to be uniquely made, but he had seen enough to not be surprised by the design. In fact, he wondered what sort of blade these Demon Slayers commissioned and where did they make them?
It was a small thought that needed a careful consideration. However, he saw the boy was breathing well, despite the fact he fell from the sky and all.
He reached his hand toward the boy, he nails sharpened as he prepared to inject his blood to the unconscious body.
Suddenly, he stopped himself.
Curious, he was unsure what had happened.
It was the same feeling when he was about to give blood to his demons.
"Could it be..."
He was unsure of it at first, but he chuckled as he realized what it meant.
The boy was already a Demon. A powerful one at that.
The odd thing about it, it was
his blood. His Demon.
Though he couldn't recall when and where he turned the Demon Slayer into a Demon, but a thought suddenly came to his mind.
"Hmph. It would seem that this boy came from a time not of this era."
That is what he concluded.
He considered carefully what had transpired before. A tear in reality, clothing similar but different at the same time.
The fact that he wasn't aware that a Demon of his own existed beforehand, means he came from the future.
From how far into the future, he does not know.
Regardless of that, he sensed the boy was powerful. So powerful in fact that he knew exactly what the boy laying in front of him was.
A successor.
Grinning at the thought, Kibutsuji decided to leave the young Demon alone in this forest.
Before that, Kibutsuji drew the nichirin blade from the boy's sheath. Revealing a pure dark blade.
He went to another part of the Forest in a burst of speed. Finding himself in front of a tree he chose on a whim.
Without time to waste, Kibutsuji stabbed the Sword deep into the tree's trunk. Firmly placing itself into it, and deep enough not to be pulled out easily by normal human hands.
"I will wait for you to rise. Until then, be sure to meet me again soon."
With that, the old Demon King left where he found the young Demon was and went his way.
Went his way to change a certain political decision regarding a war brewing in the south.
"Impossible..."
Tanjiro widened his eyes after hearing Kibutsuji's tale regarding the Demon who fell the from the sky.
"Yes. That is all true. I've seen it. Witnessed it. Investigated it. All of it is true. And there is nothing to refute."
"No...
He couldn't believe it... no, he refused to believe it.
The young Demon King couldn't comprehend what he had heard. It shouldn't be possible!
Sure he didn't know what happened to him after his encounter with Mordred, but the idea of him sleeping for 35 years in this world was absurd!
Yet, deep inside of him, he felt it made sense.
The time he awoke, there was no snow. No blizzard that covered the land in cold darkness.
He was asleep for a long time. And he didn't even realize it.
Tanjiro froze on the spot. The information he has right now shocked him to the core. An unbelievable piece of evidence was standing in front of him.
Kibutsuji was aware of him coming to this world.
That said Demon stared at him with his cat-like eyes with a grin plastered on his face.
"Judging by how you reacted, I am now sure that you are that same Demon I saw falling from the sky 35 years ago."
Tanjiro unconsciously took a step back at Kibutsuji's statement.
"How?"
The young Demon King uttered those words filled with undeniable shock in its tone. Revealing that he wasn't prepared for this at all.
The older Demon simply grinned once more.
"I knew the moment I could sense my blood inside of you in that alleyway. In that same moment I recognized you as one of my demons. My creation."
With great pride swelling inside of Kibutsuji, so much that it terrified Tanjiro to a degree that it could be even said that it was a foreign feeling he did not experience since he was born.
A kind of fear that he fell for a dangerous trap that he could not escape.
"...What do you want from me, Kibutsuji Muzan!"
The young Demon growled at the old Demon King, his predecessor in demonic blood. The Demon that started his journey as a Slayer.
Though he bear no hatred to Muzan inside of him, but he couldn't stand at the physical presence of the monster he sought to kill long ago.
Second passed, and there was no movement made between the two demons.
With each second passing by, the atmosphere around grew colder with Tanjiro's killing intent gradually increasing to the point where a normal human would suffocate in the same air around them.
However, Kibutsuji remained unperturbed by this.
Calm as the stillness of a lake, firm as the holy Mount Fuji, the old Demon King remained still in front of what is considered as a natural disaster by human standards.
The only thing he made by all of this was putting a smile on his face.
A second more passed, and the killing intent dissipated.
Kamado Tanjiro stared at Kibutsuji with an intense expression behind his mask as he slowly calmed himself down. But still wary of any moves that the old Demon might make.
"Tch. You win. Now, what do you want from me? Especially after knowing that I was the same Demon when you first found in that forest 35 years ago."
The young Demon King grunted at his own words, but reluctantly made himself clear that he calmed himself down and is willing to hear the old Demon out.
"There are a few things that I want to know from you. One of those being what the future holds."
Tanjiro did not make a single unnecessary noise to that remark. Only a simple scoff came out of his mouth in response.
"...I'll tell you, Kibutsuji. Soon. Several weeks from now."
"Glad to hear that we're making reasonable negotiation. Unfortunately, several weeks from now, I'll be going somewhere."
Tanjiro raised a brow at this. Him? Going somewhere?
"Where?" He asked curiously.
"Somewhere in Indochina." He answered vaguely, enough to throw the young Demon King off, "Me and the Demon Kings of the Triple Entente are going to meet with the Demon Kings from the Indochina Association. We are planning to meet up and have a discussion regarding strange events that is currently occurring in the region."
Hearing this, the Demon King of the Rising Sun couldn't help but ask the old Demon King for elaboration.
"What kind of strange events?"
Before Kibutsuji could answer, he briefly turned his head for a moment then back at Tanjiro.
"You'll know soon enough. Other than that, I would like to hear your formal introduction for our guests outside."
"Guests?"
The old Demon King smirked as the sound glass shattering was heard in an instant.
Although caught off guard by the sound, Tanjiro was quick enough to deduce it was an attack.
Moving at speeds that they, both young and old Demon Kings, can reach. Kibutsuji nodded at the former Demon Slayer which the same can be said to the latter as he did precisely that as they disappeared instantly.
At the same time, the walls holding the entire building together collapsed from where they used to be
Retrieving the spiked flail with the chains rattled at each movement. Catching the weapon with power that can shred any Demon it hits.
The body of a large man was seen. His build was strong and firm. Which radiated an aura of pure strength and power that can rival even the strongest of warriors.
"Gyomei, you hit anythin'?"
The man whose face full of scars asked his companion, who was concentrating on whether or not he hit his intended targets.
"No, Sanemi. In fact, I missed them."
The giant, Gyomei, responded. His scarred friend, Sanemi grunted in frustration that their surprise attack failed.
They received orders from Oyakata-sama to investigate Asakusa as well as finding the whereabouts of the mysterious demon wearing Edo Period armor.
Though they came into the district with no lead since they arrived. They, however, felt a strong killing intent coming from this part of the district.
So strong and murderous the intent was, they believed it have belonged to the Demon wearing the armor of a Samurai. Which they tracked in a bar.
They saw him conversing with a person in western clothing, which they believed to be a demon as well, so a plan was hastily made for a surprise attack. Composing Gyomei to make the first move.
Should it hit them, they would all strike at the same time to capitalize the demons' moment of weakness.
However, that plan failed the moment it missed the two.
"Worry not! Even if those two demons escaped, we can still hunt them down!"
The boisterous voice of a flame-haired individual came from behind. Unsurprising the two who had known him for a long time. As well as being a fellow Hashira.
"Tch. To think they managed to escape Gyomei's attack is unthinkable. They must've been using a Demon Art to escape at a moment's noticed."
The short man with black hair and white cloth that covered his lower face mirthless remark.
The man was also a hashira, who has a snake around his neck. Who viewed a creature as more a friend instead of a pet.
"I-I don't think they could've used a D-Demon Art, Iguro."
The pink haired woman with a curvaceous figure responded shyly to black haired man, which was also supported by her companions.
"Mitsuri is right, though." Responded the Giant, "I can still hear them nearby. Though it's odd."
"What did ya mean it's odd? They're demons, and they fight smart, then we'll fight 'em in their own turf."
"I don't think that it will be necessary... children."
The unsettling calm voice was soon heard.
The 5 hashiras raised their guard. Pulling their weapons and taking a stance. Preparing for a battle of which to come.
Turning their attention toward the source of the voice. Standing on top of a street light in perfect balance as though he had done this before.
They saw a man in the same western clothes they saw earlier at the bar talking with the Demon in Samurai Armor.
He had black hair, pale skin, but it was his eyes that caught their attention.
Slit as a cat and the color thereof the same as plum. The look of a Demon.
Though they do not know who this demon was, but they knew he was strong. Stronger than they are combined.
"Who are you, strange demon? I suppose you're here to fight us!"
Kyojuro's booming optimistic voice prevailed at the tense atmosphere between his group and the Demon, making the latter chuckle darkly at the humans who amused him.
"Perhaps so, perhaps not. I was enjoying this night with a very special person a while ago. Though it seems you know what I meant by the looks of things."
The Demon remarked in condescending tone he used at them. Making them assume that he was subtly threatening them.
All of them except Gyomei who can hear the demon's intentions in the slight movement of his demonic body.
However, what he said next surprised them.
"But sadly, I'm here for a fight. I'll be leaving soon. I hope we'll meet again, Demon Slayers."
"You won't get away from us!" The flame-haired man declared.
"Oh? Is that so... I have someone for you to face."
In response to that declaration, another appeared at the streetlight across the street.
The Hashiras noticed and recognized said figure.
It was the Samurai Demon they were sent to track down.
Then, they heard the demon's voice once more.
"He'll be the one to handle you pests. Though I wish I was the one, but I can't help but let him fight you."
He says in the same condescending tone but putting more emphasis of the Samurai Demon taking his place.
"Until we meet, farewell."
With that, the Demon left without the Hashira knowing his true identity.
Grunting in collective frustrations, the Hashiras turned their sights on the Demon they were sent to track down.
"With that bastard out of the way, I guess we're gonna kill you if we wanna know who he is."
It wasn't a question Sanemi made, but it was certainly threat that he wasn't too keen in reeling in.
The Samurai Demon made no response but he crossed his arms below his chest in silence.
This was taken into account that he wasn't impressed by the threat at all.
"Heh. I guess we'll do it the hard way."
Before Sanemi could charge in and attack the Samurai Demon head on, he was struck.
Struck below his chest, he was suddenly flying into a building in an instant.
Though it did no noticeable damage to him, but the speed of the attack surprised him. Including the other Hashiras that were with him.
Noticing that the Demon wasn't moving from his position, the Hashiras raised their guard. Cautiously, as they prepared for an attack from him.
Their collective thought on the strike he made on Sanemi was only one word.
Fast.
That was what they thought as they continued to stare at the Demon until Sanemi recovered.
At the same time, the Demon finally spoke.
"...I am one who should not be trifled with, Demon Slayers."
"Finally you speak! That bravado won't get you anywhere when we cut your neck off!"
Kyojuro responded in the same tone he spoke since the beginning.
However, the Demon simply spread his arms at his side, placing his right foot behind his left as though he is declaring himself an embrace.
A wave of sudden killing intent washed over the Hashiras, sending the cold chill of death to the Demon Slayers.
With a booming voice, with the resolve they felt in his words. He declared himself in a deep, commanding voice which brought absolute power in his tone, unto them who and what he was
"I am what you call an Heir! I am Kibutsuji Muzan's Successor一一!"
The killing intent intensifies, to the point that each word he spoke can bring any human to their knees.
"一一I am Upper Moon Zero. You will soon know the strength that I hold!"
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.
If you guys have any confusion in this chapter, if it's the lore, don't worry, it will be elaborated in later chapters.
However, if the characters here feel OOC, I apologize.
Until then, hope you guys leave a review and be sure to press the fav and follow button if you like this story.
That is all, gabrielchiong11, out!