"Ah, ah, ah!!!"
The shout echoed through the Infinity Castle's entrance as Takumi's voice shook both worlds—inside and outside the dimensional rift.
All the Demon Slayer Corps members surrounding him froze.
They were supposed to infiltrate quietly.
They expected stealth.
They expected a slow search.
But Takumi? He simply kicked open the door of Muzan's hideout and yelled:
"MUZAN! COME OUT AND GET SOME SUN!!!"
The Corps collectively wondered if this was bravery… or insanity.
Kanae Kocho leaned in, slightly nervous.
"Lord Takumi… isn't this a bit too flamboyant?"
A faint floral fragrance drifted from her hair, and for an instant even Takumi's Herrscher-of-Finality mind wavered.
He coughed lightly.
"Ahem… don't worry. Muzan definitely can't run. Not from me."
With Linglong in hand, Takumi strode into the Infinity Castle first.
The Pillars and Corps members hurried after him.
■ Entering the Infinity Castle
"Lord Takumi! This place is enormous. Do you truly know where Muzan is?" Tomioka asked seriously.
Takumi smirked.
"Relax. We don't need to find Muzan. His underlings will come to us."
He pointed forward.
"Look—here they come."
A group of demons slipped out of the shadows.
Tension spiked instantly.
"Demons!! Stay sharp! Don't get separated!"
"First squad, draw your blades—!"
"Second squad, prepare—!"
Sounds of Nichirin blades unsheathing echoed through every corridor. Killing intent surged.
But Takumi glanced at the incoming demons and clicked his tongue.
"Seriously? Muzan is sending bottom-tier trash? What a disrespectful host."
The Corps was ready to charge.
"Everyone! Avenge our fallen comrades—CHARGE!!!"
"Kill—!"
"Kill—keh! keh! keh—!"
Just as hundreds of Demon Slayer members ignited their fury—
S H I N K
A flash.
A single golden arc swept forward.
Buildings. Floors. Demons.
Everything in front of them… was erased.
Silence.
The charging Corps froze mid-step.
The battlefield before them turned into pulverized ruins, demon ash floating like snow.
All eyes slowly… slowly… turned toward Takumi.
He still held his sword in the exact posture of his swing.
He calmly exhaled.
"Told you. I can handle everything myself. You can all just watch."
He wasn't showing off.
Okay, he was showing off.
But he earned it.
Rich and not returning home is like wearing fine clothes in the dark—if you don't show off, what's the point of being strong?
The Demon Slayer Corps erupted.
"IS THIS LORD TAKUMI'S POWER?!"
"THIS IS A GOD!!!"
"With Lord Takumi, Muzan will die for sure!!"
Takumi nodded, satisfied.
Leadership 101: Show overwhelming power → instant loyalty spike.
"Rengoku," Takumi ordered, "take everyone and sweep the nearby demons. Lower Ranks? You handle them. Upper Ranks? Call me."
Rengoku knelt respectfully.
"Yes, Lord Takumi! And you—?"
Takumi grinned.
"I'm going to find Muzan. Time for some fun."
His sinister laugh echoed.
Rengoku shivered. "Lord Takumi is… terrifying."
A golden shimmer flashed—Takumi vanished.
■ Takumi vs. Kokushibo – The Moon Falls Before the Sun
Takumi reappeared instantly.
Before him stood a tall demon with six eyes and a presence that warped the air.
Upper Rank One.
Kokushibo.
Elegantly dressed, katana in hand, his aura was oppressive enough to suffocate most Pillars.
Takumi tilted his head.
Yo… This guy actually looks more like the final boss than Muzan does.
Kokushibo analyzed the human before him.
Black hair.
Strange foreign clothing.
A single ancient sword.
And an energy so vast it made even Muzan pale.
"Human," Kokushibo spoke coldly. "Since you dared intrude… are you prepared to die?"
Takumi waved lazily.
"I haven't really thought about dying today. Got any suggestions?"
Kokushibo's six pupils narrowed.
"It has been centuries since anyone dared show such disrespect. I shall grant you… a glorious death."
Takumi raised a brow.
"Oho? Someone's confident. But tell me—how does it feel? Being second place your entire life? Always behind Yoriichi?"
Kokushibo froze.
"How do you know that name…?"
Takumi smirked.
"You were always overshadowed by your little brother. When the tiger is away, the monkey becomes king, huh?"
Kokushibo trembled with rage.
"Yoriichi! Curse you!"
He lunged.
"Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace!!"
A massive crescent slash roared toward Takumi.
Takumi stood still.
"Golden Light Incantation."
FLARE—
A golden barrier shimmered around him.
The Moon Breathing technique shattered harmlessly.
"Is that all?" Takumi said. "You're weaker than my expectations."
Kokushibo's expression twisted.
"I will break that shell of yours!!"
"Moon Breathing, Sixteenth Form: Moonbow – Half Moon!!"
He launched a devastating overhead slash—powerful enough to split mountains.
It struck the barrier.
Nothing happened.
Kokushibo's six pupils shook violently.
"Impossible… no… impossible!!"
Takumi sighed.
"Are you done? My turn."
He swung Linglong casually.
A single golden sword wave flew.
It froze Kokushibo in place—his body unable to move.
Death whispered to him.
He thought of Yoriichi.
Brother… maybe I was wrong from the beginning…
The sword beam passed.
Kokushibo split apart.
His six pupils dimmed… and he crumbled.
Takumi stepped over the ashes, unfazed.
"Heh. Spiritual energy really is the demon killer. One slash and they can't even regenerate."
He turned away, bored.
"Alright, Muzan. Darling. Big brother is here to play."
System: Host, you sound like a pervert.
Takumi: "Shut up. Let me enjoy this."
■ The True Hunt Begins
Takumi vanished again.
Inside the Infinity Castle, Muzan felt icy dread spread across his bones.
He hissed.
"Who… WHO IS THIS MONSTER?!"
Takumi's voice echoed through the entire castle.
"MUZAN— I'M COMING~ ❤️"
Demons trembled.
Hashira advanced.
The Infinity Castle shook.
The war for Dimensional City's future… entered its decisive stage.