The entire train had fallen into the "beautiful dreams" he created.
The plan was unfolding perfectly.
Once he fulfilled Muzan Kibutsuji's command, he would receive more blood—greater power—perhaps even step toward the Upper Moons.
In another carriage—
The exhausted conductor knelt weakly on the floor, begging the grotesque demon hand with an eye and mouth on its back.
"Please… let me fall asleep too. I've done as you ordered. I checked all the tickets. They're all asleep."
"Let me sleep… so I can see my wife and daughter again. Please… let me sleep."
He pleaded desperately.
The demon hand's mouth opened.
"You've done well."
"Sleep. Have a beautiful reunion with your family."
The moment it whispered "sleep," the conductor collapsed in the aisle, drifting into deep slumber.
Nearby, several young boys and girls who had remained awake spoke timidly.
"W-what about us…?"
The demon hand turned toward them.
"Wait a little longer. The sleep will deepen."
"Demon Slayers sometimes wake from killing intent or the scent of demons. Be careful when tying the ropes. Don't touch their bodies."
They nodded obediently.
These were Enmu's human pawns.
Using specially prepared ropes infused with Blood Demon Art, they would enter the targets' dreams and destroy their "spiritual core."
Once the core was shattered, resistance would vanish.
Then they could be slaughtered at will.
The train roared onward into the night.
The children began their work.
They carefully tied the enchanted ropes around the wrists of the Demon Slayers. The other ends were secured to their own wrists.
Then they began counting aloud.
The faster they fell asleep, the sooner they could invade the dreamscape.
Inside Aoyama's dream—
He stood before the massive stone on Mount Sagiri.
Around him were Makomo, Nezuko, Shinobu, Kanao, Kanae…
Every face wore a gentle smile.
Even the usually quiet Kanao was lively and talkative.
Nezuko stepped closer shyly, cheeks pink as peaches, and took his hand.
"Nezuko…"
Aoyama looked down at her delicate blush.
So vivid.
So warm.
So real.
But then—
A foreign presence intruded.
His expression hardened.
He would not sink into this illusion.
A young boy stepped into what should have been a blank subconscious void—
Yet the moment he entered, scenery formed around him.
"W-what? Why is it like this?!"
The boy panicked.
"Did you think I was ordinary?"
Aoyama's voice sounded behind him.
He drew his Nichirin Blade. The edge shimmered coldly.
"No matter your reason for serving a demon—I will not pity you."
In an instant—
The blade cut through him.
White light exploded—
Aoyama's eyes snapped open.
The rope on his wrist snapped on its own.
The boy connected to the other end jolted awake in reality, trembling violently. The awl meant to pierce Aoyama's spiritual core clattered to the floor.
Nearby, the unconscious Rengoku Kyojuro had instinctively grabbed the throat of the girl invading his dream.
Aoyama instinctively raised his blade to cut the rope binding Rengoku—
On the roof of the train, Enmu smiled.
Yes… cut it.
Cut the rope.
The blade hovered in midair.
Aoyama stopped.
His brows furrowed.
No.
He would not fall into that trap.
He lowered the blade.
Instead, he turned—
And smacked Tanjiro hard on the head.
No response.
The wooden box at his side rustled faintly.
Aoyama knelt and opened it.
"Nezuko."
She leapt out, returning to normal size.
Aoyama smiled and gently patted her head.
"Help me burn these ropes. Wake everyone up. Please."
"Mm!"
Nezuko nodded firmly.
Flames ignited from her Blood Demon Art—
The ropes began to burn.
In his dream, Tanjiro began to cry.
He had awakened himself inside the dream and told himself the truth—
This was an illusion.
He must wake up.
Aoyama slid open the carriage door and leapt onto the roof.
The dense scent of a demon filled the air.
Enmu stood there, coat flapping in the wind.
He slowly turned.
"Oh? You woke up? Was the dream not beautiful enough?"
"No illusion can tempt me more than reality."
Aoyama stepped forward, blade in hand.
Lower One.
Enmu's eyes lit up as he recognized him.
The face overlapped perfectly with the image Muzan had shown him.
"So lucky… I can obtain your head so quickly."
He clasped his hands in delight.
More blood.
More power.
Perhaps even advancement.
Without panic, Enmu extended his arm. A mouth formed on the back of his hand.
"Blood Demon Art: Whisper of Forced Slumber."
"Sleep."
The word echoed.
Aoyama's brows tightened.
Trying to force him into sleep?
Impossible.
"Total Concentration—Light Breathing!"
"First Form: Flash!"
His body blurred forward—
The blade severed Enmu's head cleanly.
Silence.
No system notification.
Aoyama turned calmly toward the fallen head.
Not surprised.
Enmu smiled faintly.
He had already fused with the train.
A challenge.
An opportunity to rise to Upper Rank.
Aoyama's lips curved coldly.
"You've got it backward."
"The head I'm taking—"
"Is yours."
To Read 150 AHEAD advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146