Anime/Manga: Bankai Starting with Demon Slayer

He froze on the spot, frozen by an invisible chill.

"Even you, Your Excellency... couldn't kill him...?"

...As time passed, these conversations and past events were recorded by Hidetoshi, passed down from generation to generation, and finally presented to Asuka and Kyojuro.

Asuka read the entire story with a furrowed brow. He didn't care about these people's self-pity; he only noticed two things.

Will Yoriichi Tsugikuni's sword also catch fire...?

And he also has freckles on his face....

Chapter 71 Marks and Crimson Blade

From the lord's crocodile mouth, Asuka learned something.

Among the Pillar-level swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps during the Sengoku period, there was a power known as the "Scarlet Mark".

These markings, resembling the claws of a demon, are menacingly attached to the human body, yet they can greatly enhance a person's strength and reaction speed.

When Asuka fought Akaza, similar markings appeared on her face, which made the lord very concerned, so he specially dispatched Kasugai to verify it.

The lineage of the Demon Slayer Mark has become blurred after several generations of Demon Slayer Corps faced near annihilation, coupled with previous neglect.

I only remember one saying that has been passed down through generations: "As long as one person awakens, more swordsmen will awaken one after another, as if in resonance."

Now, Asuka has seen a similar statement in the Flame Pillar's records.

The markings... so that burning sensation all over my body back then was caused by this...

"So the Demon King Muzan is this powerful, even the swordsman who practiced the first breath couldn't..." Rengoku Kyojuro stared blankly at the Book of Flame Pillars before him, lost in thought: "...Sun Breathing, is that the name of the first breath...?"

Asuka glanced at Kyojuro, who seemed somewhat lost in thought, and her gaze became more serious.

He was about to say something when he heard Kyojuro laugh: "Haha! That's great! The origin of Flame Breathing—Sun Breathing! That's powerful!"

Kyojuro Rengoku's eyes were burning, his arms crossed: "Hmm! Asuka, I suddenly have an idea! If we bring together the five breathing techniques and look for their commonalities, maybe we can deduce this powerful Sun Breathing!"

"Even if I can't learn it, someone else will! That will make the Demon Slayer Corps even stronger!"

"If one person isn't enough, then ten, a hundred! As long as there are enough swordsmen who have mastered the Breath of the Sun, even the Demon King will have to flee in disarray!"

Such a bright and straightforward thought dispelled the slight worry that had just arisen in the bird.

He glanced at the corner of the room, where someone was eavesdropping behind the wall, their breathing noticeably unsteady.

See that? That's the difference between you and him.

Passive avoidance cannot change the fact that you are weak; the only way is to keep moving forward.

Asuka withdrew her senses and focused her attention back on the Book of Flame Pillars: "Kyojuro, what do you know about the burning sword?"

“A burning sword…” Rengoku Kyojuro recalled carefully, then shook his head: “But speaking of which, when fighting the Upper Moon Demon Moon, why was your sword so hot, Asuka? It even prevented the Demon Moon from regenerating itself.”

"I don't know, but I think it might be related to the markings." Asuka pointed to the record about Yoriichi Tsugikuni in the Book of Flame Pillars.

"Patterns?"

Seeing Kyojuro's puzzled look, Asuka then explained her situation to him, drawing upon the Book of the Flame Pillar...

On the other side of time.

Three months ago, Hirota's house in Tokyo.

With a cold expression, Wuchan pulled his fingers out of Akaza's head, his mood at its worst.

It won't be wrong....

That mark, that burning [Crimson Blade]...

Was it that damned Inuichi Tsugikuni reincarnated? Or was there some other Sun Breathing inheritor he missed?

He thought of the boy wearing the Ji Guoyuan earring, and a sudden wave of irritation washed over him.

"In the end, it's all because of you useless trash that you didn't kill Tanjiro Kamado sooner! That's why this has happened!" he roared, his voice shattering the glass.

Akaza remained silent, kneeling on the ground, awaiting Wuchan's judgment.

Aside from his awe of Lord Musan, he genuinely didn't want to speak.

Asuka's knife tore open his neck, and also tore open a corner of his memory.

Koiyuki... Komashi...

The two names kept clashing in his mind, making him feel agitated, but he just couldn't remember who they were.

He felt that a part of his memory had been taken away by Lord Musan, but he didn't know how to ask about it, and he was worried that if he did, the other party would erase it again.

Moreover, he knew that Lord Musan could know what the Ghost Moons were thinking if he wanted to.

He had no choice but to keep those two names silently in his heart and try not to think about them again.

“Yiwo seat”.

After tearing up several books, Wuchan's anger subsided somewhat, and he regained his cold tone: "I'm getting tired of this hiding and dodging. At this rate, when will we ever find the Blue Spider Lily?"

He sat in a large velvet armchair, arms crossed, looking down at the Akhorus:

"I'm going on a hunt."

"Hunting?" Akaza didn't understand the meaning and looked up at Mukhan's cold smile.

“Not bad, a hunt targeting the Demon Slayer Corps.” His gaze fell on the words “Upper Moon” in Akaza’s eyes, and he continued, “There’s no point in denying it. You were defeated by the Demon Slayer Corps, and now is when their morale is at its peak.”

"However, this is also an opportunity for us..."

"I plan to take advantage of the Demon Slayer Corps' laxity and release a few baits to attract their attention, preferably the attention of the Pillars."

"After all, they just defeated the Upper Moon Demon Moon, so they probably think the other Demon Moons are nothing special, heh..."

Wu Can counted on his fingers, thinking it over and over, and finally decided on two names:

"Doma, the Fallen Princess."

"I plan to leak their information so that the Demon Slayer Corps can investigate, then catch them red-handed and kill the Pillar-level swordsmen who come to their aid! This shouldn't be difficult for them, as long as they don't run into that swordsman with the Crimson Blade."

He stood up and walked to Akaza: "As long as they can capture enough Pillar-level enemies on both sides, the leader of the Ubuyashiki family will definitely be thrown into chaos. At that time, we will be able to find their main camp by following the clues of various personnel movements!"

His crimson eyes flashed with rage, and his gleaming white teeth pierced through his grotesque grin: "Then, I will lead you all and storm straight into the Demon Slayer Corps' lair!"

"A mere Demon Slayer Corps member? He can't possibly kill us all! This time, we'll wipe out the Demon Slayer Corps completely!"

Seeing Muzan's confident demeanor, Akaza didn't know what expression to make.

He simply bowed his head and responded heavily, displaying the same high fighting spirit.

He wasn't quite sure if the Demon Slayer Corps would be wiped out, but he really wanted to join Muzan in fighting his way into the Demon Slayer Corps!

"Black-haired boy, I will definitely win this time!" he thought to himself.

"Alright, you may leave before the order is given."

Musang waved his hand, signaling Akaza to leave: "By the way, go search for information related to that black-haired swordsman... He should be a swordsman who uses the Breath of Wind, right? Find out where the Breath of Wind training center is."

He frowned impatiently: "One or two old geezers, hiding in the deep mountains and forests every day and ruining my plans, it would be best to kill them all!"

Yiwozuo accepted the order and withdrew, his figure quickly disappearing into the night wind, leaving behind only a large, shocking pool of dark red blood on the carpet.

After he left, Wu Can sat alone in the empty and luxurious room, his scarlet eyes fixed on the locked ebony cabinet.

"What on earth is this thing...?"

After thinking it over and over, he still felt uneasy, so he simply opened the cabinet again, took the flask containing the flesh and blood of the Yiwozu and other colored reagents, and started pounding it.

Outside the window, the lights of Tokyo burned all night long, a scene of bustling prosperity and noise.

From this point onward, the shadow of the Ghost King is spreading outwards...

It stretches towards the distant snow mountain shrine, and also towards the bright lights and bustling nightlife of Yoshiwara.

The night was deep.

Chapter 72 New Mission

Early that morning, Kasugai delivered an order, requiring Shinobu Kocho to go to Shinobu in the west as soon as possible to meet up with Giyu Tomioka, the Water Pillar.

According to reliable information, the area around Mount Myoko in the Shinetsu region may be the headquarters of the Manse Gokuraku-kyō, which the Demon Slayer Corps had previously paid special attention to.

Several recent disappearances of young women have led to clues pointing to this area.

Considering the Mugen Train incident, although it was committed by the lower moon demon, an upper moon demon was lurking behind it all...

The clues to this incident came suddenly, and it was unknown what kind of crisis might be involved, so the lord asked the two of them to investigate together.

If the situation becomes unfavorable, a retreat can be initiated immediately without engaging in combat.

During this time, Shinobu Kocho also stayed at the Rengokuya to observe Kyojuro's recovery and carried out some tasks such as providing guidance at the nursing home in the vicinity.

Once the order was given, she was required to leave.

I have basically figured out the Flame Breathing technique. (The text then abruptly shifts to a seemingly unrelated topic: "The bird visits its master in the mountains.")

Upon learning that Shinobu Kocho was to undertake a mission that might involve Upper Moon demons, she changed her mind:

"I'll go with you."

“This… Asuka, you’ve just recovered from your injuries, there’s no need to push yourself.”

“I don’t think it’s forced.” He said seriously, “The Upper Moon demons are very strong, you are no match for them.”

"...Mr. Asuka, could you please not be so direct?"

Although Shinobu Kocho was smiling, her eyes twitched slightly, and her smile was no longer as warm.

With Asuka, she doesn't have to always be gentle, otherwise she'll get internal injuries from being driven crazy by this guy who, like Mr. Tomioka, can't talk.

After conveying this temporary decision to Lord Ubuyashiki, the three embarked on their westward journey.

You asked why there are three people? That's because Shinobu Kocho's stepson, Kanao Rikka, was also specially summoned to accompany her on the mission.

After Tanjiro and Kanao had a heart-to-heart talk, the girl has become much more talkative.

At least, it's no longer a situation where birds can say whatever they want and get no response.

So the three of them said goodbye to the Rengoku family and boarded a train bound for Shinetsu Province.

Although Asuka had some reservations about this mode of transportation, it was so convenient that it would only take a day to reach her destination, so she silently followed Shinobu Kocho onto the bus.

During the day, there were far more passengers in the carriage than at night, with three people crammed into the same row of seats. It was the first time Asuka had ever seen such a scene.

He couldn't help but wonder if he could have saved everyone if the unlimited train had had so many passengers...

"Feiniao, you haven't been having nightmares lately, have you? I've noticed you've been sleeping quite soundly these past few days."

Seeing that the bird seemed a little uneasy, Butterfly asked casually.

The three of them sat in the same row, with Kanao inside and Shinobu in the middle.

Fortunately, both of them were quite petite, so even when the three of them sat together, it wasn't crowded.

Asuka shifted to the side, giving her some space, while she herself half-straddled the aisle: "...Since experiencing the nightmare of the Lower Moon, I'm much better, at least not as uncomfortable."

Asuka has been thinking a lot about that dream lately.

Nightmare's Blood Demon Art may have been triggered by chance, triggering a projection of Aizen deep within her own consciousness.

Perhaps it's because Aizen is the reason the nightmares exist, or perhaps, as that person said, the constantly unsealing spiritual pressure is the root cause of the recurring nightmares.

In short, since that battle in the spiritual world, Asuka has rarely dreamed of those non-existent fantasy worlds, or the past and future dreams of the people around her.

As for whether Aizen will appear again in the future, he doesn't know.

"Speaking of which, I heard that the Lower Moon uses magic that can create beautiful dreams...?"

With so many people talking, Shinobu Kocho did not claim to use Blood Demon Art to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

Asuka nodded: "Unfortunately, I didn't have any sweet dreams. Instead, I encountered people I didn't want to see."

"Haha, could it be Mr. Tomioka?"

"...Of course not, they are enemies."

"You should continue taking the herbal medicine for a while to get your energy back..."

"...Excuse my intrusion, gentlemen..."

Just as Shinobu Kocho was entrusting Asuka with her instructions, a male voice carrying a hint of concern suddenly came from the opposite side.

The three of them looked in the direction of the sound at the same time.