Anime/Manga: Bankai Starting with Demon Slayer

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's health is worse than it was a few months ago, Asuka can feel it.

The purplish-black curse marks had almost covered half of his body, and he was so thin that a gust of wind could blow him over.

Even so, he forced himself to leave the inner quarters, just to personally share this exhilarating joy with the swordsmen:

"My brave swordsmen... brave children... welcome back... cough cough..."

With his daughters' support, he sat down shakily, his unfocused eyes gazing at the stench.

"My lord, please take good care of yourself..." The tall rock pillar bowed deeply, its voice filled with sorrow.

"It's alright, Gyomei... I will not fall until that man's head hits the ground." Kagaya smiled slightly, his voice still as gentle as a spring breeze: "I'm sure everyone knows why I've gathered you all here—"

"For the past hundred years, the position of the Upper Moon has never changed, and we have always been in a passive position... But in these past few days, fate has begun to turn dramatically like never before."

"The Upper Moon demon has been slain! Well done, Asuka, Giyu, Obanai..." He laughed at the participants in the arena, his voice trembling with excitement.

"It's all part of my duty," Asuka replied politely, mimicking the manner of the other two Pillars.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki waved his hand, signaling his daughters to take out an old book and hand it to Kagaya Ubuyashiki. "In these battles, a miracle spanning a century is being revived..."

"We have grasped the key to defeating Muzan Kibutsuji—the mark."

The pillars raised their heads and stared at their lord in bewilderment.

Stripes? What are those?

Kagaya Ubuyashiki was too weak to speak for long, so a black-haired boy stepped forward—Keriya Ubuyashiki—to speak to the demons on his behalf.

"My lords, the stripes are a power that has been passed down since the Demon Slayer Corps in the Warring States period. It is said that they can push a person's physical limits and advance their physical qualities and swordsmanship to a higher level."

"We don't know the specific reason for its appearance, we only know that so far only Lord Asuka and Mr. Tanjiro have awakened similar powers."

After he finished speaking, he looked at his lord beside him and received a nod of approval from the other party.

"Lord Giyu, tell everyone about the changes in you during the battle of Mount Myoko," Kiriya said softly.

The fishy-smelling sword lashed out at Yoshiyuki Tomioka.

Giyuu, who had been silently bowing his head, pointed to his cheek:

"During the battle, I was almost killed by an Upper Moon demon. A slideshow appeared before my eyes, and I remembered many people and things."

"My body started to heat up, my movements became faster, and my reaction speed became more sensitive."

"above."

"Huh—? Is that all?" Shinazugawa Saneya couldn't contain himself and asked urgently, "If a life-or-death crisis can unleash a person's potential, isn't that a bit too easy?"

"I really envy your mind that thinks this is so simple," Giyu said casually.

"...You brat, you think you're so arrogant for killing the Upper Moon?"

No, not at all.

Seeing that Shinazugawa Sanemi was about to erupt, Kanroji Mitsuri quickly spoke up to mediate: "Oh dear, does that mean if each of us cultivates this power, we can easily defeat Muzan? Hehe, that's great, is the chaos about to end?"

Kagaya placed his hand on the somewhat nervous Kiriya's shoulder, then looked at Asuka: "Asuka, as the first Pillar to awaken the Mark, what experience do you have?"

Feiniao frowned, deep in thought.

He had already discussed the matter of the markings with his lord's Kasugai and Rengoku Kyojuro, but they hadn't reached a complete conclusion yet.

But after Giyu's infectious awakening of his markings, he felt he had regained some direction:

"I suspect that Mr. Tomioka's near-death experience that night triggered strong emotions within him."

"The first time I had this experience was when I was fighting against Upper Moon Three. At that time, I only felt that I could not lose, I could not fall down."

"He must have been like me, with his blood burning and his heart beating so fast it was almost bursting, which is why he was able to have such an outburst."

"As for the rest, I don't know. That's all."

Although Asuka's description is more concrete than Giyu's, it is still quite abstract.

"If I had to say... my heart rate was probably over two hundred beats per minute during that time," Giyu added.

"Two hundred times?" Iguro Koba frowned. "In that state, a human's internal organs would have been ruined long ago."

Humans are not machines; they can't be adjusted back to normal when overloaded.

With a heart rate like that... Tomioka, are you sure there's nothing wrong with your body?

Xing Siting Chang Ying U, I really have a hard time commenting on what Yoshiyuki Tomioka said.

Muichiro Tokito, who had been expressionless the whole time, was the first to accept the concept: "Perhaps this is the screening method for whether or not the body will develop spots."

"If you can endure it, you will awaken; if you can't, you will die."

His cold words made the timid Mili cover her mouth, and even the composed Beimingyu Xingming clasped his hands together and remained silent.

Although the atmosphere was already quite heavy, Kagaya still took over, his tone becoming even more serious:

"In addition, there is something I must tell you."

"If you unlock the markings, it means you have exhausted your life force to the extreme. You can gain power that surpasses that of evil spirits, but there will be no turning back."

"Those swordsmen who developed the markings never lived past the age of twenty-five."

Chapter 91 The Bloodstained Spirit of Facing Death

The courtyard fell silent.

Upon hearing the news, Giyu was initially stunned, but quickly accepted the reality.

Even though this means that his days are numbered.

But that's enough.

However, just three seconds later, a hearty laugh broke the silence.

"Hmm! Twenty-five years old? That's quite a long age!" Rengoku Kyojuro laughed with his arms crossed, clearly delighted. "Doesn't that mean I have five years to hunt down Muzan? Excellent!"

"As long as I can wring Muzan's head off, I don't care if I die tomorrow." Shinazugawa Saneya sneered, his right fist clenched, his eyes flashing with a crazy killing intent.

Beimingyu Xingming was still in tears, but he appeared to be weeping with joy: "Ah... let this humble monk use this brief moment to end a thousand years of atrocities, Amitabha..."

The other pillars also nodded in agreement.

Even Mitsuri Kanroji, who initially joined the Demon Slayer Corps simply to find a strong partner and a place to stay, has long regarded this place as her home, and is willing to fight to the very end to protect each other.

Everyone in this room has a reason to fight the ghost to the death.

Seeing the young swordsmen so brave, so disregarding life and death, Ubuyashiki Kagaya's blind eyes glistened with tears as he respectfully led his children toward the enemy's lair.

"Thank you to the Ubuyashiki family for your contributions..."

"I am unworthy of such praise."

After straightening up, Yao-ya coughed violently, but he let Victory continue to chair the meeting and had no intention of leaving.

"Another...another thing is..."

Teriyasu is only eight years old this year, an age when most families would be carefree, but he has already taken on the mission of the Ubuyashiki family.

Faced with her father's serious illness, Xing Hui was inevitably a little nervous.

His older sister, Nika, gently supported his back, encouraging him to be strong.

After composing himself, Kiriya spoke again: "...During the battle with the Upper Moon, Lord Asuka and Mr. Tanjiro once made their blades catch fire."

"In that state, the Nichirin Blade seems to be able to suppress the regeneration of demons, making it easier to cut through the flesh of the Upper Moon demons."

Regarding this point, aside from the battle data with the Upper Moon, there is more information.

After Asuka left the House of Hell, Kyojuro discussed the contents of the Book of Flame Pillars with his master and came to a conclusion.

This power is likely a sword technique that complements the markings.

"The strongest swordsman in the past, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, once used a crimson blade with markings and burning. I think this is the power we should try to master next."

Asuka looked down at Mujina and said frankly, "If Tanjiro also made his Nichirin Blade burn, then I think it's indeed possible for him to learn this technique. I suspect..."

He described to them, as abstractly as possible, the feeling of burning the blade.

Actually, what he was thinking was that Yoriichi might be like him, his sword wasn't working right.

But Tanjiro wouldn't have a strange sword, would he?

Giyu barely listened to Asuka's description.

His gaze remained fixed on the raccoon dog at Asuka's waist the entire time.

He always felt that the knife was staring at him.

Is it really okay? This knife... He chose silence.

After a period of discussion and speculation, the topic of the Crimson Blade came to an end.

Kagaya coughed weakly a few times, his expression growing increasingly serious:

"Children, time is running out. Muzan Kibutsuji has already sensed the reappearance of the Demon Slayer Mark and the Crimson Blade. He will eliminate this threat at all costs, just as he has done with every Demon Slayer Corps over the past few centuries..."

“He will come out in full force; we cannot sit idly by and wait to die.”

With great effort, he stood up unsteadily, supported by his two daughters.

"I have decided that, starting tomorrow, we will begin a pillar training program with everyone's participation!"

"With Giyu, who has already awakened his Demon Slayer Mark, and Asuka as instructors, they, along with the Pillars, will conduct special training for all members of the Demon Slayer Corps."

"There are only two goals: First, to awaken the markings of Pillar-level swordsmen. Second, to find the opportunity to unlock the Crimson Blade!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The brothers responded with a roar, their soaring fighting spirit shaking the clouds in the night sky, announcing the arrival of the final battle.

As the meeting adjourned, the pillars also began to leave one after another to prepare for their respective training areas.

Asuka stood under the outdoor veranda, gazing at the distant mountains shrouded in night.

He wasn't really comfortable with this kind of 'large group' atmosphere.

But after experiencing so many life-or-death battles, he truly understood a principle that a teacher had told him long ago:

In this world, it's always easier to have companions to walk hand in hand with.

He planned to tell the lord some more absurd things about the Fist Pillar, but found that the burly, hot-tempered man had not gone far.

Shinazugawa Saneya stood on the steps not far away, seemingly waiting for him.

His profile looked somewhat lonely in the moonlight, his open shirt fluttering in the wind.

Seeing the menacing aura emanating from him reminded Asuka of her days at the Hayama Breeding Center.

Asuka slowly walked forward and stopped three steps behind Miya.

"You did a great job in the Upper Moon battle."

Shinazugawa Saneya didn't turn around, but he could still sense Asuka's approach: "I thought that after I died in battle, you would become the Pillar of Wind. Teacher was right."

"Shinzogawa, do you know Kanae Kocho?"

"...Where did you hear that name from?"

Asuka's calm question, however, caused Saneya to frown, and he turned around with a grim expression:

"Kid, don't think that just because you've done something good and become a pillar, you can..."

“I avenged her.”

"what?"

"The Upper Moon Two, Doma, is the murderer who killed Kanae."

In the Ubuyashiki garden, Asuka, staring into Shinazugawa Saneya's shocked eyes, explained:

"Shinobu Kocho confirmed this, and together we sent Doma to hell to avenge Kanae."

At that moment, Asuka clearly saw Saneya's hand tremble violently.

Kanae Butterfly.

This name is the hidden pain in the heart of the scarred man before me.

Perhaps it was because she was the first Pillar with whom he had a relatively good relationship after becoming a Pillar.

Perhaps it was because the other person was very gentle that Shinazugawa, who had been deeply mired in hatred, felt a rare moment of relaxation.