The path from the ruins of the ancient kingdom stretched out before the group like a forgotten road, winding through dense forests and rocky hills. The air was cool, and the sounds of birds chirping in the trees provided a stark contrast to the eerie silence of the ruins they had left behind.
Tanjiro walked alongside Yūka, who had grown more comfortable with the group over the past few days. Though she still struggled with the language barrier, she was learning quickly, picking up words and phrases as the group spoke around her. There was a quiet determination in her eyes, as though she understood the importance of communicating with them—not just for her own sake, but for the sake of unlocking the knowledge she carried.
Gon and Killua, walking ahead, were deep in conversation about the murals they had seen in the ancient kingdom's ruins. Gon's bright enthusiasm contrasted with Killua's more cautious attitude, but both were equally curious about what they had learned.
"I wonder what else we'll find," Gon said, his voice filled with excitement. "There's got to be more ruins around here, right? Maybe even more clues about the breathing techniques!"
Killua nodded, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "There's definitely more out there. But we need to be careful. We've already seen how dangerous this ancient power can be."
Tanjiro, overhearing their conversation, glanced at Yūka. "Do you think there are more places like the kingdom we found?" he asked gently, though he knew she might not fully understand.
Yūka looked at him, her brow furrowing in concentration as she tried to piece together his words. She hesitated, then nodded slowly. "More… ruins," she said, her voice soft but clear. It was one of the few phrases she had learned so far, but it was enough to convey her meaning.
Tanjiro smiled at her, his heart swelling with pride. "That's right. We'll find them."
Nezuko, walking beside them, hummed softly in agreement. She had grown close to Yūka in the short time they had been traveling together, and though they couldn't speak directly, they had formed a bond based on shared understanding and empathy.
As they continued down the path, the air around them seemed to grow heavier, as if the ancient curse they had been uncovering was beginning to stir once more. The distant mountains loomed in the horizon, their peaks shrouded in mist, and Tanjiro couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting for them there—something powerful and dangerous.
The Ancient Power Awakens
After hours of walking, the group came upon a clearing in the forest, where the remnants of another ancient structure lay half-buried beneath the earth. It was smaller than the kingdom they had explored before, but the same ancient symbols were etched into the stone, and the same energy pulsed faintly from within.
Yūka's eyes widened as they approached the ruins, and she gestured toward them, her expression urgent. "Here," she said, her voice quiet but insistent. "Breathing… techniques."
Tanjiro's heart skipped a beat. "You think this place holds more information about the breathing techniques?"
Yūka nodded, though her expression remained troubled. There was something about this place that unsettled her, something that brought back memories she wasn't ready to face.
Gon, ever curious, stepped forward eagerly. "Let's check it out!"
Killua, more cautious, placed a hand on Gon's shoulder. "Wait. There's something off about this place."
Tanjiro, trusting Killua's instincts, approached the ruins carefully. The air was thick with an oppressive energy, and as they entered the ancient structure, the weight of the past seemed to press down on them.
The interior of the ruins was dark, with faint rays of sunlight filtering through the cracks in the stone ceiling. The walls were covered in more of the ancient carvings, depicting scenes of warriors in battle, their bodies glowing with the power of the breathing techniques.
But there was something different about these carvings—something darker. The warriors here were not just fighting enemies; they were fighting each other. Their faces were twisted with rage, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light. And above them, the image of a godlike figure loomed, its eyes filled with judgment.
Yūka's breath hitched as she looked at the carvings, her body tense. She placed her hand on the wall, tracing the lines of the ancient symbols, and whispered something in the old language—a word filled with sorrow and regret.
"What is it?" Tanjiro asked, his voice gentle.
Yūka turned to him, her dark eyes filled with sadness. She spoke slowly, carefully choosing her words. "Curse… began here."
Tanjiro's heart sank. "This is where it started?"
Yūka nodded, her expression pained. "The god… punished them. The warriors… became demons."
Killua's eyes narrowed as he studied the carvings. "So the warriors of the ancient kingdom tried to control the power of the breathing techniques, but it led to their downfall."
Gon frowned, his usual enthusiasm dampened by the weight of Yūka's words. "That must be when the curse of demons started."
Tanjiro clenched his fists, his chest tightening with a mixture of anger and sorrow. The warriors had been trying to protect their kingdom, just like the Demon Slayers were trying to protect their world now. But they had failed. They had become the very thing they sought to destroy.
"We can't let this happen again," Tanjiro said firmly, his voice filled with resolve. "We have to stop the curse from spreading."
Yūka's gaze lingered on him, her expression softening. She could see the determination in his eyes, the same determination that had driven the warriors of her kingdom long ago. But there was something different about Tanjiro—something pure.
She placed her hand on his arm, her touch light but reassuring. "You… can stop it," she said, her voice filled with quiet conviction.
Tanjiro's heart skipped a beat, and he smiled at her, his resolve growing stronger. "We'll do it together."
The Weight of the Curse
As they explored deeper into the ruins, the oppressive energy grew stronger, and Tanjiro could feel the weight of the ancient curse pressing down on him. It was as though the very air around them was thick with the remnants of the past—the pain and suffering of the warriors who had fallen to the curse of demons.
Nezuko, sensing the growing danger, stayed close to Tanjiro, her eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. She, too, could feel the pull of the curse, the same darkness that had claimed her when she became a demon. But this place felt different—stronger, more powerful.
Gon, who had been examining one of the carvings, suddenly froze, his expression tense. "Guys… look at this."
Killua, Tanjiro, and Yūka moved to stand beside him, their eyes widening as they saw what he was pointing to. In the center of the room, carved into the stone floor, was a large, circular symbol. It was the same symbol they had seen in the ancient kingdom—the mark of the god who had cursed the royal bloodline.
But this time, there was something different about it. The symbol was glowing faintly, as though it still held some of the ancient power that had been used to curse the warriors.
"What is this?" Killua muttered, his silver eyes narrowing.
Yūka stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the symbol. She knelt beside it, her fingers brushing the surface of the stone as she whispered something in the ancient language. Tanjiro could see the pain in her eyes, the weight of centuries of regret and sorrow.
"This…" she said, her voice trembling slightly, "is the mark of the god. The curse… the bloodline…"
Tanjiro's breath caught in his throat. "This is where the curse was cast?"
Yūka nodded, her expression grave. "The god… punished the royal family. Those with royal blood… became demons. Their power… twisted."
Gon frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "So, only those with royal blood became demons?"
Yūka shook her head, struggling to find the words. "The bloodline… spread. The curse… spread with it."
Tanjiro's heart pounded in his chest as he processed her words. The curse of demons hadn't just been confined to the royal family—it had spread to others over time, twisting those who carried even the faintest trace of royal blood.
"That's why demons still exist today," Killua said, his voice cold and calculating. "The curse never went away. It just spread over time."
Tanjiro clenched his fists, his mind racing. The demons that plagued his world—the same curse that had taken Nezuko—they were all connected to this ancient power. The god's punishment had never truly ended. It had only grown stronger.
"We need to stop this," Tanjiro said firmly, his voice filled with determination. "If we can break the curse, we can stop the demons from spreading."
Yūka looked at him, her eyes filled with hope. "You… are the one. The warrior… to end the curse."
Tanjiro's heart swelled at her words, and he nodded resolutely. "We'll do whatever it takes."
But as they stood there, the ancient symbol glowing beneath them, a new feeling of unease began to settle over the group. The air seemed to grow heavier, and the oppressive energy that surrounded them intensified.
Something was coming.
A Rift Between Worlds
The ground beneath them trembled, and the ancient symbol on the floor began to glow even brighter. A low, rumbling sound echoed through the chamber, and the walls seemed to vibrate with an otherworldly energy.
"What's happening?" Gon asked, his voice filled with concern.
Killua's eyes narrowed as he scanned the room, his body tensing. "This place is waking up. Whatever power was used here—it's still active."
Tanjiro, his senses heightened, could feel something shifting in the air. It wasn't just the energy of the curse—it was something else, something foreign. The very fabric of reality seemed to ripple around them, as though the boundaries between worlds were starting to blur.
Yūka's expression grew fearful as she placed her hand on the glowing symbol. She whispered something in the ancient language, her voice trembling with urgency.
"The power… it's too strong," she said, struggling to find the right words. "A… a gate is opening."
Tanjiro's eyes widened in shock. "A gate? To where?"
Yūka shook her head, her expression filled with uncertainty. "Another world… a world beyond this one."
Killua's heart raced as he realized what she meant. "This place isn't just cursed—it's a point of connection between dimensions."
The ground shook again, more violently this time, and the glowing symbol on the floor began to crack. A dark energy surged from beneath the stone, and the air around them grew thick with tension.
Tanjiro's mind raced. If this was truly a point of connection between worlds, then the ancient power they had been chasing might have spread beyond their world. And if they didn't stop it, the curse could spread even further.
But as the energy in the room continued to grow, Tanjiro couldn't help but feel a strange pull—a sensation that told him this rift between worlds might hold the key to ending the curse once and for all.
"Yūka," he said, his voice steady but urgent. "Do you know how to stop this?"
Yūka hesitated, her dark eyes filled with fear. "I… don't know. The power… it's too strong."
Gon clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes. "Then we'll have to go through the gate."
Killua shot him a sharp look. "What are you talking about? We don't even know what's on the other side!"
"But if there's a chance to stop the curse, we have to take it," Gon replied, his voice filled with conviction. "We can't let this power spread."
Tanjiro nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "Gon's right. If this gate leads to another world, we might find the answers we need there."
Yūka's gaze flickered between them, her expression torn. She knew the dangers of the ancient power, but she also understood the desperation in Tanjiro's eyes—the same desperation that had driven her people to seek the god's power long ago.
"We… must be careful," she said quietly, her voice filled with caution.
As the ground shook once more, and the rift between worlds began to widen, Tanjiro felt a surge of determination. This was their chance to end the curse, to stop the demons from spreading to other worlds. It was a dangerous path, but it was one they had to take.
And as the ancient gate opened before them, the choice was clear.
They would step through the gate.