The wind wailed through the shadowed peaks, a restless murmur that seemed to foretell a storm. Horitake stood motionless, his mind a whirlwind of silent conversation with the System, oblivious to the puzzled gazes of the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen nearby. To them, he was a statue lost in thought, his stillness unnatural under the weight of the looming night.
A cautious swordsman edged closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "Lord Tenju, are you alright?"
Horitake snapped back to the present, his dialogue with the System concluded. "I'm fine," he said, a faint smile flickering across his face. "Just stumbled upon something intriguing."
He turned to face the gathered swordsmen, his presence commanding, voice sharp as a blade. "Demon Slayer Corps! Return to your posts immediately! Stay vigilant, stand ready, and await my orders. The Corps headquarters is about to make a major move. Go now—hold your positions!"
His authority was undeniable. The swordsmen, awestruck, chorused a unified "Yes, sir!" before scattering like leaves in the wind, resuming patrols or standing guard with renewed focus.
Horitake's gaze drifted to the distant mountains, shrouded in the inky veil of night. A wry chuckle escaped him. "The winds howl before the storm arrives," he muttered, shaking his head. In a flash of violet lightning, he vanished, arcs of purple electricity trailing in his wake as he sped back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
At the Ubuyashiki estate, the family awaited his return. Yōya remained calm as ever, while Miri stood watch, her diligence unwavering. All was as it should be.
"Horitake," Yōya asked as he appeared, "what's the situation?"
"Just a few common demons," Horitake replied, his tone steady. "No real threat. I broke their curses and cut them down."
A collective sigh of relief rippled through the room. The danger was over, or so they thought.
But Horitake's next words doused their hopes like cold water. "The headquarters will still be exposed."
"What?" Miri's voice cracked with disbelief. "How? Horitake, didn't you say you broke their curses? Even if they're dead, Muzan shouldn't notice!"
"That's how it should be," Horitake said, his expression darkening. "But after slaying them, the future shifted. I saw a new vision. Muzan may not come himself, but Upper Rank Three, Akaza, will. He's bringing a horde of demons to assault our headquarters."
Horitake laid out the grim details. Akaza, using maps to narrow down the Corps' location. Akaza, withholding this knowledge from Muzan to prove his loyalty through a daring strike. Akaza, leading two Lower Ranks and over a hundred demons in an attack set for tomorrow night.
Unlike his previous visions, this one was vivid, precise. The clarity lent weight to his words, and the room fell silent, the gravity of his prophecy sinking in. How could he speak of the uncertain future with such certainty unless he'd seen it?
"So that's the situation," Horitake concluded. "Tomorrow night, we face Akaza, two Lower Ranks, and a swarm of demons. It's a battle—a long-overdue war."
Yōya's face grew solemn. "A true war," he said. "The Corps hasn't faced a battle of this scale in years. In the past, we were always at a disadvantage, suffering heavy losses. But this time, Horitake, your foresight gives us the upper hand. With proper preparation, we can turn the tide."
Horitake nodded. "Exactly. We know the future in detail. If we don't prepare thoroughly and give Akaza a fight to remember, we'd be doing him a disservice." His tone sharpened. "Lord Ubuyashiki, we must relocate the headquarters immediately. An empty headquarters makes for a perfect battlefield. Fighting here, in our current base, would tie our hands and lead to devastating losses. And your family must move with us. You are the heart and mind of the Corps—your safety is non-negotiable."
Yōya didn't respond at once. Doubt and concern flickered in his eyes as he weighed the proposal. After a moment, he spoke. "Horitake, can you defeat Akaza?"
"I can," Horitake said confidently.
"But if Akaza is in danger, will Muzan stand idly by?"
"No."
"So, in the end, we might still draw Muzan here, correct?"
Horitake said nothing, his silence an acknowledgment.
The Ubuyashiki family and Miri fell quiet, the weight of the realization settling over them. The situation was as dire as ever.
Yōya took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "Horitake, you're not yet a match for Muzan. But your potential is limitless. In time, you'll grow strong enough to slay him. You are the Corps' greatest hope, and you must not fall. I've decided: the headquarters will relocate immediately to preserve our strength. As for Akaza's attack, I entrust you to defeat him. If you can't, and it risks drawing Muzan… use me as bait. I'll face him myself."
His words carried an unshakable finality. His family erupted in protest. His wife, Amane, clutched his hand, tears brimming in her eyes. "My lord, please, don't do this! You've just broken the curse, just glimpsed a chance at health. Why must you… sacrifice yourself?"
Yōya's heart ached at the sight of his tearful wife and children. He was no man of stone. But some duties could not be shirked. He turned to Horitake, his voice steady. "Horitake, you are a once-in-a-millennium genius. The hope of destroying the demons lies with you, not me. The Corps, and my children, Kiriya included—I entrust them to you."
Horitake met his gaze with an odd look. What, you're really trying to pass the torch to me?
He shook his head, his voice firm with conviction. "Lord Ubuyashiki, you're being reckless. Why would you sacrifice yourself to face Muzan? What makes you think you can?" He pointed to the floor. "These things beneath us? They won't even scratch him."
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