Third Person:
Aoi and Kanao were now watching Nezuko and Zenitsu do the cup game again. They were both very fast.
Kanao: Incredible...
Aoi: Look at them go!
Zenitsu managed to lift up a cup.
Inosuke: That's it!
Nezuko sighed.
Nezuko: You sure are fast, Zenitsu.
Zenitsu said nothing.
Inosuke: Your record is now 10 wins and 10 losses.
Nezuko: I'm not done just yet. I'm going for a run. Are you up to it?
Kanao: You mean while doing Total Concentration, Constant?
Nezuko nodded. She then slapped Kanao's stomach.
Kanao: I gotta keep this up the whole time?
Aoi: Monzuko!
Aoi opened her jacket so Nezuko could slap her too. Kanao did instead.
Kanao: Take this!
Aoi: That's nothing!
Kanao: You're all brawn, and no brains!
Nezuko: Let's go!
A few months earlier
A black snake was on the floor, sliding around. They found a pot and went in it.
Suddenly a demon whose eyes read Lower 6 was teleported into a different area of the fortress.
He looked up and gasped.
Where the hell is this place?
A demon who was walking's eyes read Lower 1.
There was another demon whose eyes read Lower 2.
Was it that snakes power, Lower 6 thought. Seems like this whole space works with him at the center.
Lower 6 looked around. Lower 3 and 4 were there now.
Only the Lower Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki have been summoned. That's never happened before. Lower 5 isn't here yet.
The snake hissed and all of the Lowermoons were now in the same spot.
A Blood Demon Art again?
In front of all of the demons was a woman. They wore a white kimono with purple ascents, and their long black hair was tied into a bun. They had purple eyes.
What is it with this woman? Who is she?
Kagaya: Lower your heads and kneel down. Prostrate yourselves.
Suddenly all of the summoned Lowermoons were on the ground, doing as Kagaya asked.
It's Master Kagaya! That's Master Kagaya's voice! I didn't recognize him! He's changed his appearance and aura! His disguise is incredible!
Lower 4: P-Please forgive us! Since you've assumed a different form and aura—
Kagaya: Who said you could speak? Don't presume to voice your worthless thoughts.
Kagaya's eyes glowed.
Kagaya: Answer my questions. Nothing else. Kaigaku was killed. I'm talking about Lower 5. I have but one question to ask of you. Why are you members of the Lower Ranks so weak? You shouldn't be satisfied merely being among the Twelve Kizuki. That is only the beginning. To devour more humans, to become stronger... Your starting point for becoming useful to me... For over a century, the members of the Upper Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki remain unchanged. It's always been the demons of the Upper Ranks who've disposed of those Demon Slayer Hashira. But what about you demons of the Lower Ranks? How many times have the numbers changed?
That's easy for you to say but we—
Kagaya: "That's easy for you to say but we..." What? Go ahead and say it.
He can read my mind? This is bad!
Kagaya: What is bad? Go ahead and say it.
The Lowermoon was no crying and begging.
Lower 6: Please forgive me, Master Kagaya! Please! Please show me mercy!
A giant fleshy monster took the place of Kagaya's hand. It was holding Lower 6.
Lower 6: I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry! I'm truly—
The hand demon thing crushed Lower 6 and devoured him, his bloody spilling everywhere over the Lowermoons. The thing then burped.
Why is this happening, Lower 3 thought. Am I going to be killed? After all I went through to become a Twelve Kizuki... Why? Why? I thought I was going to do more and more!
Kagaya: Are you more afraid of the Demon Slayers than you are of me?
Lower 4: No!
Kagaya: Every time you run into a Demon Slayer Hashira, the only thing on your mind is to flee.
Lower 4 began to cry.
Lower 4: Oh, no, that's not what I'm thinking! I'll put my own life on the line to fight for you!
Kagaya: Are you contradicting what I say?
Lower 4 continued to cry as she shook in fear and whimpered. The thing crushed her and ate her too.
No good. It's over. Our minds are being read. Whether we agree or disagree with him, he's still going to kill us. We can't possibly fight him and win, either. In that case... the only option is to run!
Lower 3 tried fleeing.
What a fool, Lower 2 thought.
Just make it out of here somehow! Somehow! Now that I've gotten this far away...
Kagaya was holding Lower 3's head.
Kagaya: I believe that the Twelve Kizuki are better off consisting of just the Upper Ranks. I am now dismantling the Lower Ranks... except for the one I will make be the only Lowermoon. The one who has proven themself to be more useful than you all ever have. They will be the only Lower Rank now.
He got me? No way! Was it that demonic snake's power? But no, I didn't hear any hisses. Why? I can't regenerate my body!
Kagaya threw Lower 3's head in front of the last two Lowermoons.
Kagaya: Do you have any last words?
Lower 2: I can still be of use to you! If you could give me just a little more grace, I swear I'll be of use to you!
Kagaya: Precisely how much grace? How do you intend to be useful? What exactly can you accomplish at your current strength?
Lower 2: ... Your blood! If you could give me a share of your blood, I will not fail to make good use of it! I will fight for you as an even stronger demon!
Kagaya: What makes you think you can order me to give you my blood? How impudent. Remember your place.
Lower 2: You're wrong! You're wrong! I just...
Kagaya: Silence. I am never wrong. I'm never mistaken about anything. All authority is mine. My word is absolute. You have no right to object. Whatever I say is right is right. You tried to tell me what to do. You deserve to die.
Lower 1 was the only Lowermoon left.
Kagaya: Do you have any last words?
He'll be next to go, Lower 3 thought. Everything hinges on the Master's mood. I'll be dead soon myself.
Lower 1: Yes, let's see... This is like a dream for me. To die by your hand in person. And I so enjoyed hearing the other demons' last gasps! How truly fortunate am I. I revel in the despair and agony of others. So much that I dream about them. I thank you for leaving me for last!
Suddenly the demon thing has a needle that sticks into Lower 1's neck. It's injecting blood into him as he squirms and wiggles on the ground.
Kagaya: That's what I like to hear. I'm going to give you an ample share of my blood. Although you might not be able to withstand the volume of blood, and die. Still, if you do manage to accommodate it, you're sure to gain even greater strength. Make yourself useful to me, then. Kill a hashira of the Demon Slayers! If you can kill the demon slayer wearing a Hanafuda earring, I'll give you even more of my blood.
The snake hissed. Suddenly Lower 1 was no longer in the fortress. They were thrown onto the ground outside between stores.
What's this? I see something! Discussing into me along with Master Kagaya's blood!
Lower 1 sees Nezuko running in a forest.
If I kill a Hashira, and this kid, I can get more blood! It's like a dream!
To be continued...
読んでくれてありがとう! 🤎