The sun was just beginning to dip beneath the horizon as Tanjiro with Nezuko in the box, Inosuke, Zenitsu, arrived back at the station to see familiar faces waiting for them: Rengoku and Bell.
Bell grinned widely, his hand resting comfortably on the hilt of his sword as he waved to the approaching group. "Tanjiro! Inosuke! Zenitsu!" he called, his warm voice carrying over the clamor of the station. "Good to see you all in one piece. Rengoku and I were starting to think you'd taken a detour."
Rengoku gave a hearty laugh, his usual fire and cheer undampened as he clasped a hand on Tanjiro's shoulder. "We thought you might not make it! But you're here, and that's all that matters. Shall we go grab some food and celebrate a bit?"
The reunited friends settled at a quiet spot, sharing stories of their recent missions and laughing together, but the reunion was cut short when flickering lights above them grew dim, and the air grew heavy with an unsettling presence. Bell noticed first, his senses keen, and he tensed, his hand back on his sword.
"They're here," he muttered, his voice low. "Weak ones. But demons nonetheless." He glanced over at Rengoku, who stood at once, the Fire Hashira's eyes blazing with excitement.
"Demons daring to interrupt our reunion?" Rengoku said, flashing a grin. "I don't think so."
The group rose, eyes alert, and moved to the edge of the street where three demons leapt from the shadows. Bell wasted no time, lunging forward and cleaving one in half before it had a chance to fully materialize. Rengoku took the second demon, his blade a blur of fire as he slashed it down effortlessly, while Tanjiro and Inosuke worked in unison to dispatch the third. The fight was over as quickly as it began, the demons falling into ash as the group stood victorious.
As the dust settled, Bell nodded approvingly at the others. "Well, that's how you deal with pests," he said, sheathing his sword.
Just as the group relaxed, a shadowy figure stirred nearby, a hand with a grotesque mouth on its palm, talking quietly to a group of disheveled children and a gaunt, malnourished man crouched by its side. The mouth on the hand twisted into a smirk as it whispered something to the children, sending them away with instructions. "Pesky slayers…" it muttered, chuckling in its raspy tone.
The next thing Tanjiro knew, he was drifting off into a strange, overwhelming sleep. His vision blurred, and despite trying to fight it, his eyes finally shut. Inosuke and Zenitsu fell into the same deep slumber beside him, but Bell remained awake, looking around with a slight frown. His divinity and powerful resistance protected him from the Demon Art, and he watched as the others collapsed.
Bell knelt by Nezuko's box and knocked gently. "Hey, Nezuko," he called softly, "you're immune to this demon's tricks. Come on out and help me."
Nezuko emerged, blinking in confusion, but immediately sensed the problem. Bell instructed her to use her flames to burn away the ropes that tied Tanjiro and the others to the malicious dream spell, freeing each of them with ease.
Bell then approached the sleeping children who had been manipulated by the hand demon's instructions. He knocked each one out carefully, ensuring they wouldn't interfere or hurt themselves, and turned to the train.
He narrowed his eyes, his enhanced senses allowing him to see past the layers of flesh and sinew that lined the entire locomotive. "You're not hiding from me," he murmured, spotting the demon's head fused into the front carriage. With a single, powerful leap, Bell landed on the roof, sword drawn.
The demon's eyes widened. "H-How? You—"
Bell cut its head clean off without a second thought, only for the demon to laugh, revealing that its body had merged with the entire train. Tanjiro arrived beside him, looking wide-eyed at the grotesque fusion.
"Bell! It's like the demon and the train are one!" Tanjiro exclaimed.
Bell glanced over at him with a smirk. "Then we treat it like any other demon. Find the neck—the real one—and slice it." He motioned to Tanjiro. "Come on, let's find it."
Together, they moved through the train, evading flesh-covered tentacles and limbs as they zeroed in on the demon's weak point. With one swift strike, Tanjiro and Bell both plunged their swords into the core, ending the demon's life. The train groaned as it derailed, screeching to a halt. Despite the chaos, there were no casualties, thanks to Zenitsu's quick efforts to protect the passengers.
Just as the dust began to settle, a sudden, cold silence blanketed the area. Emerging from the shadows was a tall, imposing figure—an upper-rank demon with piercing eyes that glinted with malice. His aura was overwhelming, a deadly stillness in his stride as he stepped forward.
"Upper Rank Three…" Rengoku whispered, his eyes narrowing.
The demon introduced himself with a sneer. "I'm Upper three, Akaza. I'm impressed, slayers. It's been a while since someone like you dared to challenge us."
Before Tanjiro could even blink, Akaza lunged at him, a swift, brutal punch aimed for his head. Tanjiro dodged, countering with a strike that nearly decapitated the demon in one go. Akaza reeled back, surprised, his gaze settling on the slayers before him. He smirked, recognizing the challenge.
Without a word, Rengoku and Bell stepped forward, swords raised. They exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them.
Bell took the lead, his bright red blade flashing as he struck with lightning speed. Akaza blocked the blow but was forced back by the sheer force behind it. Bell laughed, his voice echoing in the night. "Come on, Akaza! Is that all you've got?"
Akaza growled, retaliating with a flurry of attacks, each one faster and stronger than the last. But Rengoku joined the fray, his fiery strikes complementing Bell's relentless offense. Akaza found himself cornered, the two swordsmen pressing him from every angle.
Akaza's fists moved like a blur as he activated his Destructive Death technique, sending powerful shockwaves across the battlefield. But Bell and Rengoku countered with precision, their blades slicing through Akaza's defenses.
"Not even forbidden martial art techniques can save you now," Bell taunted, his eyes gleaming. "You're fighting against more than just brute strength."
Inosuke and Tanjiro provided cover, ensuring Akaza had no room to maneuver. Zenitsu, meanwhile, protected the civilians. The combined teamwork wore Akaza down, and in a brilliant display of synchronized skill, Bell and Rengoku executed a devastating final attack—a cross-slice that severed Akaza's head cleanly from his shoulders.
Akaza, stunned and disbelieving, attempted to regenerate, but Bell's bright red blade burned with the power of the sunlight that prevented him. As the first rays of dawn began to appear on the horizon, Akaza's body began to crumble.
Bell looked down at the fading demon and nodded, his tone almost respectful. "Rest now, warrior. May you find peace in whatever comes next."
With Akaza's demise, the battle ended. The kasugai crows and Kakushi arrived soon after, their cheers ringing out in celebration. After 113 years, one of the Upper Half of the fearsome Twelve Kizuki had been slain.