"Flame Pillar severely injured, Raiden's nichirin blade broken by Upper Moon Three Akaza."
Sanemi Shinazugawa's expression betrayed no surprise, only the grim expectation of history repeating itself. Kyojuro Rengoku, severely wounded, and Raiden, his blade shattered—Sanemi could imagine the desperation they must have faced.
"Subsequently, Raiden wielded the Flame Pillar's nichirin blade and fought Akaza alone."
"Alone? He went to his death?" Sanemi's chest tightened involuntarily, and he cursed under his breath.
"Raiden briefly suppressed Akaza until daybreak. As a result, all two hundred passengers on the Infinity Train survived."
"Huh?"
Sanemi's stern expression collapsed into disbelief. He had expected tragedy; Upper Moon Three Akaza was a force even the Flame Pillar struggled against. Yet Raiden had not only endured but had held Akaza at bay alone until sunrise, saving everyone. It sounded impossible.
A mixture of astonishment and suspicion flashed in his eyes. If it had been Rengoku suppressing Akaza, Sanemi would have nodded, accepting the feat. But Raiden, a young Demon Slayer Corps member, doing so alone?
"Alone? Raiden?" Sanemi's voice shook slightly, as if a stone lodged in his throat. Even Pillar-level swordsmen would struggle against an Upper Moon. How could Raiden, so young, manage such a feat?
"Suppressed… Akaza?" he repeated, testing the words. His heart raced. The information was far beyond expectation, almost unreal.
He looked east, where the sun now fully lit the training ground, light filtering through leaves and casting a serene glow. Sanemi drew a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil within.
"Everyone… survived?" His voice steadied, though a trace of awe remained. If this was true, Raiden had not only displayed extraordinary power but had saved countless lives in a single critical moment. The achievement surpassed even the feats of some Pillars.
The Kasugai Crow nodded, confirming the information. Every message it delivered had been verified multiple times. Its simple nod was like a pebble in water, sending ripples of realization through Sanemi's mind. Raiden had truly suppressed an Upper Moon Demon. How could he be so strong? The increase in Raiden's power was staggering.
Sanemi inhaled deeply, grounding himself. If Raiden could accomplish such a feat, he, as the Wind Pillar, had no excuse to slacken. Sanemi picked up his nichirin blade, the sun glinting sharply off its edge.
Centering himself, he unleashed a flurry of short, precise strikes at the training dummies. Each swing struck harder, each cut deeper, sending chips of wood flying. His movements quickened, approaching the speed of an untrained eye. Every strike seemed to carve his renewed resolve into the lifeless targets, imprinting his astonishment and fighting spirit onto them.
At the Ubuyashiki Residence, Kagaya received the same report from the Kasugai Crow.
His gentle voice carried a trace of surprise. "Did Raiden suppress Akaza?"
Compared to other Pillars, Kagaya understood Upper Moon Demons more intimately. For centuries, one Pillar after another had fallen to them. The Demon Slayer Corps' gap in strength against the Upper Moons was staggering.
If Muzan's attention had not been diverted by the Blue Spider Lily, casualties would have been catastrophic. And now, someone had suppressed an Upper Moon. Upper Moon Three Akaza, one of the elite—this was monumental. Even Kagaya's usually calm emotions stirred.
"Did he enter that special state?" Kagaya mused. He had observed Raiden and Sanemi previously. Raiden seemed capable of entering an enhanced state that dramatically increased his power. At that moment, even Sanemi had been briefly suppressed.
"Is it a secret technique from the Warring States Period?"
Kagaya rose slowly, sunlight streaming through the window and casting long shadows across the room. He pulled out an ancient tome, one of the few containing records of secret arts and breathing techniques from the Warring States Period.
Flipping through the sparse pages, he searched for anything matching Raiden's demonstrated abilities.
"If the Pillars could master this technique," he thought, "the Demon Slayer Corps' strength would grow to unprecedented levels, potentially tipping the scales against the demons."
The records offered little clarity. Kagaya would need to speak directly with Raiden in the future. If Raiden agreed, it would be a cause for celebration. If not, Kagaya would not force him. Slaying Muzan was Kagaya's ultimate goal, but he would never violate another's rights for it.
Standing by the window, Kagaya gazed at the blue sky and drifting clouds, quietly hopeful. The Infinity Train incident had reinforced his conviction—Raiden's potential could change everything.
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