The Hashiras were rushing to the Ubuyashaki manor. They received an urgent message from the headquarters. Muzan was there, this was the chance to finish this conflict.
Sanemi and the other pillars were close to the mansion, they could already see it. The all felt relieved, just in time to save the master.
Suddenly a huge explosion blowed up the entire manor, so close yet so far, the Hashiras could only witness in shock. The master decided to blew himself and damage Muzan.
The father of all demons was astonished, Ubuyashaki was so calm, a serene smile plastered on his face before blowing himself and his family.
Kibutsuji Muzan was trying to regenerate and heal up, but a strange blood demon art was delaying his regeneration.
Suddenly, spike began to sprout from the ground, piercing and trapping the strongest demon. He knew he could just destroy them and escape.
"This is nothing!" But before he could move an inch, Tamayo appeared from nowhere, like a shadow and stabbed him. A medicine. "You bitch!"
"I've been waiting for this day, you fucker." The demon lady smiled with calm, even though she knew, she won't live another day. Tamayo felt her arm began to be absorbed by the original demon. "You will die, Muzan."
The father of all demons couldn't reply, Gyomei rushed and cut off his head, before the others came to him. Even Tanjiro Kamado was there, ready to fight.
"We did it..." Mitsuri whispered when she saw the headless body.
"DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!" The rock pillar yelled as he began to swing his axe again. "It's Muzan who we are facing, he won't die that easy!"
They saw in horror as the original demon began to grow a head again, he's without a doubt a monster. All the swordsmen prepared to strike with his breathing, from the wind to the water breathing, from the mist to the love breath. The will show no mercy to the demon.
Before they could get close to him, the space around him distorted. The slowly began to fall, they could see the angry demon looking down on them.
"I WILL KILL YOU ALL, DEMON SLAYERS, I WILL DEVOUR ALL OF THE UBUYASHAKI'S LEGACY AND PROCLAIM MYSELF THE WINNER."
The decisive battle against Muzan and his demons has begun. Now there's no time to waste nor to have a doubt.
The pillars were separated, they were in the secret fortress of the master of demons: The Dimensional Fortress.
Hiiro finished to suit up. The shinigami were kind enough to fix his tattered uniform form the demon slayer corps. Now is good as new.
"Yes, it's perfect." He proceeded to take his blade and sevired it to his hips. Everything was almost ready. "But this..."
The white haori didn't had the same luck as his uniform, it was dirty and ripped from his training.
"Awww man..." the night pillar on regret. But, no use on crying over spilled milk.
"Give me that." Soi Fon, captain of the second squadron, she snatched the old coat from his hands. "You will embarrass all the shinigami if you go with a tattered haori. Instead, take this."
Hiiro's eyes sparkled as he received the gift, he coul not believe his eyes. It was such a perfect parting gift.
"Is it ok?" Before the girl could continue, the captain of the sixth squadron barged in.
"It's our gift, you should just wear it and shut up, kid." The cold swordsman spat.
"Byakuya-sensei is cold as ever..." the tenth pillar let his head fell, he then smiled and double checked, sword, bag, the special flask from Kurotsuchi-sensei and now this. "But I'm ready to go back..."
He bowed to his mentors, again, like five years ago; they guided him through hardships and showed him the way to discover his true strength.
"Thank you for training me!" The two captains smiled. He was more than his apprentice, more like a little brother or his son... like the two of hen were thinking the same thing, their cheeks became pink. "I'll be going now."
"Be sure to survive." Byakuya stopped him before he entered the senkaimon. "You still have to let me meet Shinobu Kocho and Kanroji Mitsuri."
Hiiro smiled. It was a small and calm smile.
"Yeah, I will bring them."
Even if he didn't say anything, he had the hunch that he will not survive.
When Shinobu's amethyst eyes were open again, she found herself in an unknown location. Last thing she remembered was the attack against Muzan, it's seemed like they couldn't land a single blow. Such a shame.
"Now, where to go?" She concentrated, breathing calmly, sharpening her senses. The insect pillar felt the dim presence of the three idiots and the pillars.
They were all safe, but like a wild animal, she felt the enormous bloodlust of the strongest demons: The Upper Moons.
She roamed around the fortress, it was like a maze, at some point she spotted Zenitsu, he was bloddy and he was fighting with another demon who wielded the same lightning breathing technique.
Even if she wanted to help, there was no way to reach them.
Shinobu arrived to another door. A disgusting cold ran through her, she felt something from long ago and it was behind that door.
Douma enjoys eating females, indeed, they are delicious and made him stronger.
Long ago he decided that he will not eat other than women. He was consuming some of his disciples when he noticed the presence of a third party.
At the door, a butterfly pattern haori girl stood silent, looking directly at her.
"Oh! A new meal has arrived!" He exclaimed delighted by the sight of the girl. "Thank you Nakime-saaaan."
The Upper Moon two didn't saw a surviving disciple ran from his grip and shelter herself behind the newcomer, beggin her to save her from the Upper Moon.
"Tch." Douma, the second strongest Upper Moon, rushed to her disciple, attempting to take her life.
He met with the nichirin blade of Shinobu, with swift moves, she guarded the weak girl from the disgusting man.
"Are you alright?" She smiled at the girl, but, before she could receive an answer the female disciple exploded in a bloodbath. The hashira was dumbfounded at this, a raging fire began growing inside of her.
"I saved her. By killing her." A mocking smile appeared on Douma's face. He revealed a pair of sharp fans.
Just like that time, the painful memories from long ago flooded her mind. He was the bastard who killed Kanae.
"Do you remember this haori?" She angrily inquired, tightening her grip on the blade. "It was originally from my older sister, a former Hashira... YOU KILLED HER!"
The demon studied calmly the girl from head to toe. His memorie was not that good, but he will never forget a good meal, especially if it's as cute as the lady in front of him. The butterfly wing pattern...
"Oh! That's it, I remember her, yes, yes." He playfully expressed his dissatisfaction. "It's a shame I couldn't devour her. She looked delicious. But, you will do the trick..."
Her amethyst eyes burned with rage, he did not care at all, but that's ok, she was going to kill him.
'I will finally avenge you, Kanae-nee.'
Sanemi, Genya, Muchiro and Gyomei were standing in front of the strongest Upper Moon Kokushibo.
He is strong and cold blooded. The mist pillar was sure of that as he held his injuries tighter, there was no way he could die fighting him. He at least wanted to see Tanjiro once again.
"Genya, take Muchiro and run." Sanemi stood in front of his brother.
Even if he didn't want to say it outloud, if his brother is far from the battle he will feel calmer.
"But, aniki..." the youngest of the Shinazugawa tried to protest just to be met by a death glare.
"Just do it!" The wind pillar launched himself to attack the treacherous demon. "Breath of the wind. Fifth style: Cold Mountain Wind!"
Before his sword could find his objective, the demon dissapeared in front of his eyes. The white haired Hashira couldn't react fast enough to the blade of Kokushibo. He has become stronger.
"Breat of Stone. Fifth style: Arcs of justice!" A barrage coming from the axe and iron ball of the stone pillar saved him.
The hulking man swung his kurasigama-like weapon, protecting his fellow demon slayers.
"You are a pest, demon slayers." He sheated his katana and observed them carefully. "But I have to defeat you, this battle would help me to dominate my new power."
With flashing speed, he pierced through the Mist pillar shoulder, his true intentions were to stab his heart and kill him immediately, even if he was his descendant, he kept no mercy for him.
"You saw my sword?" Genya's eyes were wide open.
In front of him, struggling to keep the blade from falling and cause a bigger injury to the youngest Hashira, Shinazugawa Sanemi stood patting and with Kokushibo's blade gracing his cheeks.
"Ha! You're still slower than Him." Another swing from the Stone pillar made the ex-demon slayer retreat. "You're not as fast as that damn annoying technique of him."
"Is that so?" The Upper Moon one was meditative for some seconds, even in that state he was no joke, he could attack at any moment. "I consumed twice the humans I used too and even asked Muzan-sama for more demon blood, but he's still faster than me? Well then I will attack at my strongest and then you can tell me who's stronger."
The demon slayers retreated a little, Sanemi gulped, there was no way he was not serious about the battle, he was stronger than the last time, far stronger than the last time.
"Genya, go now. Gyomei and me are going to stall him as much as we can." He gripped his sword with both hands, calming himself and focusing on his enemy. "Take Muchiro with you."
"No, Shinazugawa-San." The mist pillar trembled while he took his battle stance again. "I will not run, I will fight alongside you."
"Me too, aniki." Genya loaded his shotgun.
"Whatever, the more the merrier." The wind pillar looked at the gigantic monk, they had a nice teamwork, and they knew what the demon will do as his first move.
"He's coming." The demon attacked again with his insane speed, he was targeting the injured Mist pillar.
Just as Sanemi deduced, he jumped to counter him supported by the iron ball and axe from the blind pillar.
Kokushibo was stopped by the two of them, even with this he showed no surprise or emotion.
"Breath of the Mist. Fifth style: Sea of Clouds and Haze!" The mist pillar charged toward the demon and unleashed a flurry of slashes.
Even with the three of them attacking him, he evaded all the attack coming from the swordsmen. He even retreated unscathed from the shot of the youngest Shinazugawa, even though Genya has a high proficiency with his gun, he did nothing to the demon.
"You are strong, that I shall recognize." He let a breath out and then took some air in. "I will unleash my own breathing techniques. Try not to die until He arrives."
The demon slayers braced themselves, Kokushibo's aura changed completely. He became stronger, faster and now he will unleash all his power.
He was really at the peak of the Upper Moons.
Sanemi knew that the battle was going to be hard and long, they will fight with his all but they will not win, he knew it and he was enraged by the fact.
'Hurry up, idiot. We fucking need you.'
"I'm coming, Demon Slayers." Upper Moon one unsheathed his sword and took a small step forward.
The real battle is beginning.