In the present time, 1960.
At night.
The forest loomed ahead, its dense canopy blotting out the moonlight, casting the night in oppressive shadows. A chill hung in the air as a group of Demon Slayers made their way along a narrow path.
One of them asked, "Do you think anyone could defeat an Upper Moon… alone?"
Another Slayer shook his head, "No. It's nearly impossible. Even Hashira struggles to fight them without support."
A younger slayer hesitantly says, "But what about Fuji… and Hajime?"
"Fuji-San, maybe. But Hajime? Tch… does he even exist? He's more of a ghost story than anything else."
"A ghost story, huh?" the youngest Slayer muttered.
"Think about it. Oyakata-sama never confirmed his existence. Sure, some older slayers swore they'd fought beside him, but most of them are long dead now. Who's left to prove it?"
As they ventured deeper into the forest, an unnatural stillness surrounded them. The faint rustle of leaves was replaced by a low, guttural growl of demons.
The demons lunged with terrifying speed, their claws gleaming in the dim light. Despite their training, the Slayers were quickly overwhelmed.
"Tch… They're strong…"
As the demons closed in on the Slayers, ready to strike, a sudden crack echoed through the forest. A bullet tore through the air, obliterating one demon's head in an instant.
Blood sprayed as the body collapsed.
Out of the shadows, a demon slayer, towering at 5'10 feet, emerges and lunges toward the demons. He has a slender figure and wears a formal demon slayer uniform with an old blanket and an umbrella hat called Kasa.
"Koji-kun!" They cheered.
Koji held double-barreled shotguns in both hands. In a blur, he appeared behind the demons, firing point-blank into one's chest, leaving only two standing.
The remaining demons lunged, but Koji leapt high into the air. A hidden blade slipped from his slipper, slicing cleanly through one demon's neck.
As he hovered for a heartbeat, he drove his arm into the last demon's gaping mouth, firing a shot that obliterated its throat.
He effortlessly defeated all the demons.
"We need more slayers to hunt demons," one of them said.
Without hesitation, they sent their crows to the Demon Slayer headquarters.
Moments later, additional Slayers arrived, their numbers bolstering the group's resolve. They quickly divided into smaller teams and ventured deeper into the forest.
One team reached the forest's center, where glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness.
"They are coming! Prepare yourselves!"
The Slayers raised their blades as the demons charged. The clash of steel and claws filled the air as battle erupted in the moonlit woods.
Meanwhile,
On the other side of the forest, Koji's group faced an overwhelming horde of demons.
"T-They're… too many…" one slayer stammered.
The demons charged, smashing through trees and tearing up the ground.
Koji leapt high above them, raining bullets down while slicing heads clean with the hidden blades on his slippers. In mere seconds, ten demons lay dead.
Everyone, even the demons, froze in shock at his sheer skill.
"So… this is the highest rank of demon slayer, Kinoe. Only second to Hashira rank… You're amazing, Koji!" everyone thinks.
"What're you waiting for? Go ahead and kill them," Koji commanded, reloading his shotguns mid-air.
The Slayers emboldened, lunged at the demons with renewed vigor. Meanwhile, Koji moved like a whirlwind, cutting through the horde as if they were nothing more than shadows.
Without hesitation, Koji grabbed a severed demon's hand and bit into it. His eyes turned pitch-black, his movements growing impossibly fast.
He reloaded his shotguns in a blur, firing and slashing with dual katanas in perfect synchronization. Demons fell left and right, unable to match his ferocity.
When the battle ended, Koji stood amidst the carnage, his kasa hat slipping off to reveal a deep scar etched across his face.
The group pressed onward, cutting through the forest, leaving behind trails of demon corpses.
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Meanwhile, the previous group continued their battle.
After finally slaying one demon, the remaining ones hesitated, fear flashing in their eyes.
"They're running… Kill them!!!"
Suddenly, a figure stepped out from behind a towering tree, her presence halting the Slayers in their tracks. She moved gracefully, almost hypnotically, her silhouette glowing under the pale light of the full moon.
Her azure eyes shimmered as they scanned the group, their piercing gaze freezing them in place.
It was Eliza, the Upper Moon 4.
The demons cowered behind her, trembling as if her very presence promised their doom.
The Demon Slayers stood frozen, their blades faltering as they were ensnared by her otherworldly beauty.
One of them, trying to shake off his trance, called out, "Hey, get over here. It's too dangerous to be near demons!"
She chuckled softly, "What made you think I'm just a harmless little girl, boya~?"
Another demon slayer stepped forward, "Please come here, don't get yourself hurt. There's no time for talking."
Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she tilted her head. "Oh, you sweet, naive boys... Don't you understand yet? I'm not here to be saved. I'm a demon. And not just any demon… an Upper Moon."
To emphasize her words, Eliza began to rise into the air. Her long, obsidian hair cascaded like a waterfall, reaching her feet as it swayed unnaturally, giving her an almost ethereal presence.
"What?! She's a demon?"
The Slayers raised their swords, but in an instant, she vanished from sight.
"Huh? Where—"
Before they could finish, she reappeared behind them, her speed leaving them stunned.
"When did she—?"
They spun around and lunged at her, desperation fueling their strikes.
Suddenly, the world shifted.
The Demon Slayers, the forest, and everything around her dissolved into nothingness, leaving her standing in an endless void.
The emptiness around her shimmered, slowly giving way to an awe-inspiring sight, an infinite expanse of space, where countless universes floated like tiny, glowing orbs, each no larger than an apple. Their soft light illuminated her figure, making her appear even more otherworldly.
Eliza began to glide gracefully through the multiverse, her movements seamless as if she were one with the cosmos. Her azure eyes reflected the swirling galaxies and distant stars as she gazed at the universes, a serene smile playing on her lips.
With a wave of her hand, an ancient book materialized before her, its cover adorned with cryptic symbols and glowing runes. She opened it delicately, her fingers brushing the fragile pages.
The book was alive with stories. Every Slayer's name, their deepest secrets, their victories, and their tragedies are written in painstaking detail. Every event that had shaped their lives was laid bare before her, as if the book itself contained the essence of their souls.
She smiles and says in a calm voice, "Their life isn't even that interesting… Let me change it a bit."
With a flick of her wrist, a crimson pen appeared in her hand. Opening the ancient book, she carefully inscribed:
"AS THEY LUNGED AT ME, SAYO, THEY SLIPPED AND FELL, THEIR HEADS SHATTERING HORRIBLY ON THE SPIKY STONES BELOW."
She paused, admiring her work, then grinned softly. "Perfect."
In an instant, the infinite multiverse dissolved, the shimmering galaxies and universes vanishing like a fleeting dream.
Reality returned. Eliza stood once more in the forest, the air thick with silence. Before her lay the Demon Slayers, their skulls gruesomely crushed on jagged stones, just as she had written.
Another group of Demon Slayers arrived, freezing at the sight before them.
Eliza stood calmly, her figure bathed in moonlight, surrounded by the mangled remains of their comrades.