Night had fallen.
The evening was much like any other, except… in the heart of the encircling mountains, an army of over a hundred demons surged through the forest, charging with reckless abandon.
The demons moved with uncanny speed, a chaotic swarm of shapes—crawling, leaping, sprinting, or skittering in eerie, unnatural ways through the darkened woods. Leading this horde was none other than Upper Rank Three, Akaza.
If Akaza was the general, then at his left and right were his lieutenants: two Lower Moons of the Twelve Kizuki—Lower Four, Ruiyo, and Lower Six, Kamayue.
Lower Four Ruiyo was a demon girl with two horns sprouting from her head and two streaks marking her cheeks, giving her an oddly endearing appearance. Lower Six Kamayue, by contrast, bore a cross-shaped scar on his face and looked rather unremarkable. Yet, despite their appearances, both were Lower Moons, their strength undeniable.
Their personalities, however, couldn't be more different.
Ruiyo, for instance, seemed frail and reluctant, trailing Akaza with visible unease. As she ran, her voice trembled with panic. "Lord Akaza, are we… are we really attacking the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters? Can we even do this? There must be tons of demon-slaying swordsmen there. Can we… can we possibly stand a chance?"
Her timid nature was baffling. Rumor had it she fled every time she encountered a Pillar, a testament to her cowardice. How someone like her became Lower Four was anyone's guess, but she undeniably held the rank.
Akaza, a demon of unyielding dominance, had little patience for such weakness. Her words ignited his fury, and he whirled on her, roaring, "You fool! You're a member of the Twelve Kizuki! Even if you're just a Lower Moon, you're Lord Muzan's loyal servant! What's with this pathetic cowardice? Are you even worthy of being a Kizuki? If you weren't a female demon, I'd have killed you for being such an eyesore!"
Ruiyo shrank further under his tirade, her fear intensifying.
Akaza's frustration boiled over. "Get a grip, you idiot! Fight properly tonight! Aim to take down a Pillar! If you keep this up, Lord Muzan will lose patience with you. He'll either kill you or strip you of your rank and cast you out. This attack on the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters is your chance to prove your worth, your strength! A demon without value doesn't deserve to live!"
His earlier words held a trace of concern, but the last was pure, icy ruthlessness.
In contrast, Kamayue, the Lower Six at Akaza's other side, had a vicious streak. With a savage grin, he addressed Akaza. "Lord Akaza, if we succeed in this attack, will Lord Muzan truly see us in a new light?"
"Absolutely," Akaza replied. "He'll look at us with new respect."
"Perfect…" Kamayue's grin grew more sinister as he glanced at Ruiyo. "When that happens, can I ask Lord Muzan to promote me to Lower Four?"
His words sparked a fierce reaction. Ruiyo's eyes blazed with malice, her teeth bared as she glared at Kamayue, looking ready to tear his head off. Here was another side of her character—she was a bully among her own kind.
Akaza shot Kamayue a cold look. "You want to take Lower Four? Fine. Challenge her to a Blood Battle for the position. Defeat her, and you can claim her rank—and eat her. But that's for later. Tonight, you two will work together. No scheming, no nonsense. Your priority is to overrun the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters and kill as many swordsmen as possible. Understood?"
Kamayue's wicked grin widened as he nodded. "Don't worry, Lord Akaza. I get it. Blood Battles can wait. Oh, by the way—are we sure the Corps headquarters is in these mountains? We've been searching for over ten minutes."
"It's definitely here," Akaza growled. "With so many of us, we'll find it."
And so, Akaza led his two Lower Moons and their hundred-strong demon army, tearing through the mountains. Narrowing their search to a smaller region made the task easier.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before they found it.
Emerging from the dense forest, Akaza's group halted on a hillside, looking down into a valley. There, nestled in the mountains, was a cluster of buildings dotted with lights—a clear sign of human habitation.
A small village in such a remote area might make sense, but a town this size, deep in the wilderness? It was suspicious. Akaza's eyes gleamed with excitement. He'd found his target.
No one would build a town in such a secluded, inaccessible place. This wasn't a settlement—it was the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
Standing on the slope, Akaza surveyed the illuminated town below, assessing the terrain and its strategic position. So this is where it's been hiding. No wonder I could never find it. Well done, Demon Slayer Corps—you've hidden well. But it's over now. The moment you show your head, it's your end!
With a wild, exhilarated laugh, Akaza bellowed, "There's the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters! Charge with me! Storm it! Destroy the entire Corps!"
He surged forward, leading the assault. The two Lower Moons followed close behind. The hundred demons, though uneasy, had no choice but to obey. With guttural howls, they poured after Akaza, a tidal wave of chaos descending on the headquarters.
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