Watching the scene unfold, Muzan Kibutsuji severed his connection with Daki and Gyutaro. He had seen enough of their tragic defeat. It was clear their end was inevitable, and their defeat came as no surprise.
Muzan made no attempt to save them—demons like Gyutaro were rare, but replaceable. With time, they could be cultivated again.
His crimson demonic eyes narrowed as he recalled Ryou's every move. He mused, 'That human named Ryou... he's stronger than all the Demon Slayers, except for that man, Yoriichi. But not by much.'
True, His strength is stronger than humans who awaken their Demon Slayer Marks, and his Breathing Style is indeed formidable. Yet, despite Ryou's power, Muzan felt no concern.
He even began to feel that his previous concerns were unfounded. Despite Ryou's strength, Muzan remained confident in his own power, convinced that no human could truly threaten him.
'He may be as strong as Upper Moon One, but in the end, he's still a human.' Muzan's expression filled with disdain. 'If I were there, I could crush his head in one or two moves. No matter how special he seems, he's just another mortal struggling to live past 80.'
He dismissed the threat Ryou posed. 'That human will perish with time, just like all the others.'
Muzan's thoughts shifted to his ultimate goal. 'My priority should be finding the Blue Spider Lily... or creating a demon that can survive the sunlight.'
His desire to walk under the sun, free from his only true weakness, consumed him.
--
Back in the Entertainment District,
Beneath Tengen's foot, the Upper Moon Six, Gyutaro's severed head let out a furious roar. "No!" His voice was filled with anger, sorrow, and despair. With his sister's head severed, and his own head already chopped off by Ryou, their end was inevitable.
It's just that he couldn't accept it. He could feel his life slipping away with every breath, as he looked at his sister's decapitated head, still weeping and cursing him for not being strong enough to protect her.
Tanjiro, with kindness in his eyes, knelt before them. "Be good to each other. You're brother and sister. Nothing can forgive the things you've done, but you still have each other."
"You damn brat, don't lecture me. Get out of here!" Daki cried with tears, as the two demons slowly began to disintegrate into ashes, their forms fading away little by little.
Within seconds, their bodies finally disintegrated into ashes, carried away by the wind. They are dead.
The battle was over. The Entertainment District, once filled with vibrance, now lay in ruins—shattered buildings, torn streets, and the lingering scent of blood.
But the demons who had brought destruction and terror to this district for centuries were no more.
'+10 Demon Points.' The system rewarded Ryou the full points for defeating an Upper Moon demon.
--
Tengen's three wives rushed into his arms, their voices trembling with relief and joy. "Thank goodness, Tengen-sama! You're okay!" Tears flowed freely as they clung to him, happy at surviving the battle against the Upper Moon demon.
"Gahahaha! I'm pretty awesome. We killed an Upper Moon demon!" Inosuke bellowed, puffing out his chest with pride. Zenitsu, still half-asleep, mumbled incoherently.
Comforting the demon siblings in their final moments, Tanjiro secretly collected a sample of Gyutaro's blood. No one noticed his actions, except for Ryou, while the others were lost in celebration.
Tengen, wrapping his arms around his wives, laughed heartily. "Anyway, our job here is done! Another Upper Moon is dead. It's a flashy battle. I wonder how the demons will react after knowing another Upper Moon has fallen."
At that moment, Ryou's taunting voice sliced through the joyful atmosphere. "Go on and enjoy your life with your little wives. I've got no issue with that.
But I have to ask, who gave you the courage to come and provoke an Upper Moon demon? You knew a powerful demon was lurking in the Entertainment District and you came with three newbies.
With your strength, you wouldn't last more than a few moves. Upper Moon Six killed more than twelve confirmed Hashira before you. Do you really think you're stronger than those fallen people?
If you don't care about your life, fine, but don't drag rookies and ordinary people into fights they're not prepared for."
Tengen's expression changed as a smile disappeared from his face, and Ryou's words struck a nerve. The vein on his forehead pulsed visibly. "Even without you, I would have killed that demon. Just a little more effort!"
"Tsk." Ryou scoffed. "You know the truth. Without me, there's a high chance you'd all be dead. Don't try to deny it."
Hearing Ryou scolding Tengen, his wives stepped in, their voices soft yet resolute. "Please, don't scold Tengen-sama. We went with him willingly. It's our duty to share his burden and protect him, just as he protects us."
"Whatever!" Ryou shook his head.
Minutes later, the Kakushi arrived at the scene to handle the aftermath of the battle. Just like when Akaza fell, the news of Upper Moon Six's defeat spread rapidly through the Demon Slayer Corps, reaching every Hashira.
--
Walking a few steps, Ryou gazed up at the moon, lost in thoughts. 'The next major event should be the demons attacking the Swordsmith Village... but with Tanjiro uninjured and his Nichirin sword intact, who knows if the timeline will follow the original plot. I'll just have to wait and see.
As for the Swordsmith Village, there's nothing I can do. I don't even know its location, and I can't simply go and say there's danger without proof. Ubuyashiki might believe me, but I can't say it outright.'
Ryou sighed, his mind shifting to another concern. 'Furthermore, the Earth Humans haven't made any moves since the last encounter. I thought they would at least come to observe the battle, but there's no sign of their presence. They might be exceptionally good at hiding, even evading my Nature Perception or they simply didn't come.
Fangs in the dark are always the deadliest!'
Though he wants to find them, trying to track them down is like searching for a needle in a haystack. There's nothing Ryou can do but wait.
---
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