"You are not going anywhere!" Kokushibo said in a deep voice as he vanished from sight. When he reappeared he was just a few feet away from Ryou.
Moon Breathing, Sixteenth Form: Moonbow, Half Moon! With a deadly upward swing of his flesh katana, Kokushibo unleashed six curved slashes that crashed down toward Ryou.
Ryou didn't even look at Kokushibo's attack. Turning his back, he walked away, fully trusting the Hashiras to deal with it. After all, he had already told them about Kokushibo's abilities and identity, having even sparred with them simulating how the Upper Moon would fight.
Six razor-sharp slashes arced through the air, each one aimed to cleave Ryou apart. But just as the strikes were about to reach him, Sanemi sprang into action, intercepting the attack with his own technique.
Sixth Form: Black Wind Mountain Mist! Sanemi slashed his sword, summoning a tempest of slashing winds that engulfed the incoming attacks. The tornado of slashes deflected Kokushibo's assault.
At the same moment, Gyomei charged forward, his flail spinning with deadly momentum. 'Stone Breathing, Second Form: Upper Smash!' He swung the spiked flail with incredible strength.
The weapon aimed straight for Kokushibo's head, but the demon evaded, showing unbelievable speed. However, Gyomei's chain wrapped around his neck, trying to restrain him.
Without giving Kokushibo a chance to breathe, Kyojuro and Muichiro pressed forward. They attacked in perfect synchronization, each of them displaying their breathing style.
'Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!' Kyojuro jetted forward, flames dancing around his blade as he launched a powerful strike toward Kokushibo, who was ducked in time to free himself from Gyomei's chain and parried the slash.
Muichiro followed suit with his own attack. 'Mist Breathing, Second Form: Eightfold Mist', he whispered, enveloping Kokushibo in thick fog while performing six slashes in succession.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Genya reloaded his double-barreled shotgun and aimed it at Kokushibo, waiting for the right opportunity to fire, unaware that the demon had already sensed his presence.
As the five of them engaged in an intense clash with Kokushibo, Ryou's figure disappeared from view, rushing toward Muzan's location.
---
As Ryou advanced, he was surprised to find that the structure of the Infinity Castle had stopped its usual shifting and attacking. 'It seems Tamayo and Yushiro succeeded,' he thought.
At the same moment, he sensed Muzan's presence—an overwhelming, malicious aura just from a distance away. Muzan was close. Without hesitation, Ryou dashed forward, planning to end it all, as soon as possible.
Within seconds, Ryou arrived at a vast floor filled with rooms, its architecture spiraling upward with multiple floors circling a wide open space in the center. And there, suspended in the heart of the chamber, was Muzan Kibutsuji—encased within a grotesque, pulsating cocoon of flesh.
He wasn't alone. With the Infinity Castle's movements stopped many Demon Slayers had arrived at the scene, spreading out across the multiple floors.
Among them were familiar figures—Giyu, Tanjiro, and Inosuke—each ready to fight Muzan. They don't look that injured, just some torn fabrics and scratches.
The flesh cocoon writhed, the flesh pulsating as if it were alive. Muzan was attempting to dissolve Tamayo's poison within the cocoon.
Ryou's arrival immediately drew the attention of everyone present. Giyu, Tanjiro, and Inosuke swiftly leaped to his side, their faces solemn.
"Ryou-sama, what should we do?" one of the Demon Slayers asked, his voice uncertain as they all gazed up at Muzan's grotesque flesh cocoon suspended mid-air.
The cocoon hovered out of reach, and with the endless depth below, the risk of falling to death was high. None of them could see the ground beneath them, as the floors stretched endlessly.
"Let's strike before he dissolves the poison," Giyu said in his usual cool tone, unsheathing his sword as he prepared to act.
"No," Ryou interjected. "There are so many people here, they'll be at risk. Muzan could massacre and consume them to replenish his energy."
He turned to Giyu, Tanjiro, and Inosuke. "Get everyone out of here. I'll deal with Muzan."
The Demon Slayers obeyed the command and began to retreat, albeit unwillingly. Many of them wanted to fight Muzan, as most had suffered because of him in one way or another.
Before they could fully retreat, the cocoon jerked with a tearing sound. From within, Muzan emerged with a brand-new appearance. His hair, was now far longer and silver-white due to his accelerated aging, while his body was covered in numerous jaws, each lined with sharp, white fangs.
Muzan's crimson eyes burned with malice and rage, while his body overflowed with a terrifying aura and violent intent to massacre everything.
He had been so close to dissolving the poison Tamayo had created, but now, he was interrupted. So of course, he's furious. It wasn't directed at the Demon Slayers but at Nakime.
'What is Nakime doing? Letting them reach here this quickly!'
At the same time, Muzan's demonic eyes locked onto Ryou, sensing the immense strength and vitality radiating from him. An insatiable urge to consume Ryou surged within him. His primal instinct tells him if he does that, his strength could transcend into a new realm.
But Muzan suppressed his urge and spoke with a slight smile. "So, you're here, Nature Hashira, Ryou. I can tell you're different from the others, an abnormality. I've also encountered some who claimed to come from the same place as you, wielding supernatural powers. It seems you killed them. They deserve it."
He offered, "I lack a powerful subordinate. Why don't you join me? Help me capture that girl who conquered the sun, and I'll grant you immortality. Once I absorb her power, I can even help you walk in the sun."
Muzan paused, his tone turned generous and merciful. "Even though you've killed many of my subordinates, I offer you this chance. Because you are special."
"You look so pathetic, Muzan!" Ryou chuckled, his tone filled with sarcasm. His mocking gaze locked onto Muzan's crimson eyes. "You're just a product of someone's experimental drug.
Don't deceive yourself into thinking you're some kind of god. You're nothing."
Hearing Ryou's words, Muzan's eyes narrowed, igniting with flames of fury. In an instant, he transformed his arms into long, spiked tendrils that lashed out like whips, aiming at Ryou.
Ryou, however, remained unfazed. He casually waved his sword, Ikazuchi, multiple times, slicing through the tendrils with ease.
Seeing Ryou effortlessly slice through his attacks, Muzan felt an unknown fear. It was as if he stood before another Yoriichi, one even stronger than the latter.
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