Chapter 316: Kabaneri World and Man-Eating Demons!
In the Demon Slayer World, as the Bright Moon rose, the night turned into a vast curtain covering the sky and earth. The mountain Forest in the wilderness once again became eerie, pitch-black, filling people with Fear.
The branches and leaves that were worth admiring during the day now became menacing, swaying in the Wind like Yokai, surrounding this open space roughly the size of a Basketball Court.
Captain Guts and Mekko, both from CIPHER POL - Nue Squad, stood back to back, with the Black Jar containing Douma behind them. They calmly scanned the flickering Afterimages in the Darkness.
Although their naked eyes couldn't see anything clearly, the presence of Observation Haki made the Positions and Auras of those Demon things completely visible.
Of course, the two Transponder Snails on their Shoulders were also constantly turning their large eyes.
Their numbers were large.
A full hundred.
The one with the strongest Aura was directly opposite Captain Guts.
Soon, the opponent slowly walked out, their Footsteps carrying a strong Sense of Oppression. They bathed in the bright Moonlight alongside the two.
Upper Rank One, Kokushibo!
He had a long black mane tied in a high ponytail, and his Face bore three pairs of Red-Eyed Demon eyes with red Sclera. He wore a purple snake-patterned Kimono paired with black hakama, and the Katana at his Waist was named 'Kokushibo's Katana'.
The Eldest Son of the Tsugikuni Family during Japan's Sengoku period, the older brother of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, and currently the World's Strongest Upper Rank under Muzan Kibutsuji.
[Tap, tap, tap]
Immediately after, nine figures appeared one after another from all directions. Four of them stood in front with Kokushibo, while the other five were behind the various 'Upper Ranks'.
Upper Rank Three, Akaza!
Pink short hair, his entire Body covered in dark blue tattoos.
Upper Rank Four, Hantengu!
Swollen forehead, two horns on his Head, an old man with a Face like a Hannya.
Upper Rank Five, Gyokko!
Hiding within and connected to a pot, his mouth was where his eyes should be, his eyes were on his forehead and where his mouth should be, and several small arms covered in purple snake-scale patterns grew from his Head and other places.
Upper Rank Six, Daki!
A young Beauty like an Oiran, with a Hairpin in her hair, and pink flower tattoos on her left cheek and right forehead.
The latter five.
Lower Rank One, Enmu! Lower Rank Two, Rokuro! Lower Rank Three, Wakaba! Lower Rank Four, Mukago! Lower Rank Six, Kamanue!
It could be said that, except for Upper Rank Two, Douma, and Lower Rank Five, Rui, all of the 'Twelve Kizuki' were here. This was the first time in nearly a thousand years.
"Are they the Demons who aren't afraid of Sunlight?"
Hantengu, who was completely prostrate on the ground, exuding a cowardly and timid Aura, looked timidly at Captain Guts and Mekko, his voice low.
"How nice..."
"But I don't smell any Demon Energy on them. They look more like Humans. Perhaps the reason they aren't afraid of Sunlight is related to this?"
As he spoke, Akaza squinted his eyes, observing Captain Guts. He thought to himself, "Such powerful Battle Aura. Stronger than all the Hashira I've encountered before, or rather, even stronger than that Monster."
His Gaze then flickered towards Kokushibo not far away.
From the large mouth where his left eye should be, Gyokko extended a scarlet Informant and chuckled, "What a beautiful Woman. I need to think about what kind of pot would be most artistic to place a golden-haired Head on."
At this moment, Captain Guts, who had been playfully teased by these 'Upper Ranks' with their mocking tones, crossed his arms over his Chest and interrupted them calmly.
"Why are you missing one?"
As soon as he finished speaking, In the Court fell silent. The many Low-Grade Demons who were only fit to stay in the Forest looked at him in surprise at how calm he was. Didn't this guy know death was imminent?
As for Lower Rank Five, Rui, because Demons can pass Intelligence to each other, they already knew he had been eliminated by the Demon Slayer Corps.
Of course, because the Core is Muzan Kibutsuji, if something happened to him, this Function of passing Intelligence would temporarily disappear.
For example.
Back then, when Muzan Kibutsuji was severely injured and escaped near death after being slashed by Yoriichi Tsugikuni, he couldn't pass Intelligence anymore. This also allowed Tamayo to seize the opportunity to use a Prescription to Renovate her Body, freeing herself from his Bloodline Control.
"Trash who disobey Lord Muzan's Orders, gather with a bunch of Low-Grade Demons, and play family games, how are they qualified to stand here?"
Kokushibo answered Captain Guts Expressionlessly. It hated those who had no concept of hierarchy the most, believing it would make Order become Chaos.
"Is that so? Then what are you planning to do now?"
Captain Guts shrugged indifferently.
"Come with us to see Lord Muzan, or, have your Limbs broken by me, and then go see Lord Muzan."
Kokushibo used 'I' here, not 'we'.
Because it felt Muzan was making a bit of a fuss. He had only defeated a single Douma; there was no need to summon the entire 'Twelve Kizuki'. It alone was enough.
"Then show me what Ability/Skill you have!"
Suddenly, Mekko roared angrily.
Immediately after, Black Substance began to appear on her Skin. It covered her upper Body, her Neck, arms, and Face. The Pupils of her eyes, in particular, emitted a faint Blue Light.
The biggest change was that her right arm had already condensed into a long, large Black Scimitar.
At the same time, a ball of greenish-purple Energy Bullet shot out from the Palm of her left hand, aimed forward. The fierce Strong Wind completely ripped open the ground in front of her.
"First Form: Dark Moon - Evening Palace!"
An Iai slash, so fast that the Blade couldn't be seen, was unleashed by Kokushibo in an instant. The arc-shaped Slashing Trajectory, carrying streaks of bright yellow Crescent Moons, split the Energy that had already turned into a Beam mid-flight into two, sending them flying past on either side.
Finally, in the dark Forest behind it, they turned into dazzling Radiance and exploded, sweeping over a large area of Low-Grade Demons serving as the background, blowing their bizarre Bodies to pieces with severed limbs flying everywhere.
[Boom boom boom]
"Ahhh----"
"It hurts so much!"
"What is this thing? It can even explode?"
Among them, a Red-Eyed Demon with bluish Skin Color, demonic horns on its Head, and a mouth full of fangs, quickly recovered its tattered Body. It stared at Mekko, who had also turned into a Monster, with Killing Intent and cursed.
Clearly, Mental Energy Bullets were also difficult to cause damage to these Man-Eating Demons.
"As expected, you are not Demons, but you are not Humans either. Then, what exactly are you?" Kokushibo asked coldly, loosely holding 'Kokushibo's Katana', which had already been returned to its Scabbard.
At this moment, Captain Guts was raising his hand to stop Mekko from further attacking. Hearing its words, he smiled and said, "We are Kabaneri."
The words "Kabaneri" caused a discussion among the many Man-Eating Demons around. Many of them had lived for hundreds of years, but none of them had ever heard of it.
"Alright, since you can cut through a 'Mental Energy Bullet' with a single Blade, it shows you indeed have the Strength to capture us. Since that's the case, we'll go with you to see that Muzan. We also happen to want to talk to him."
Hearing Captain Guts' words, both Kokushibo and Muzan Kibutsuji, who was watching all of this Inside the City through its eyes, frowned.
Kokushibo asked in a deep voice, "Do you mean that the so-called Kabaneri are also a large group like us, and you also have stronger individuals behind you?"
"Heh heh."
Captain Guts smiled.
At the same time, large amounts of Black Substance also began to emerge from his Body, quickly forming a Hardening Black Facemask and Ferocious Armor on him. His eyes, emitting Blue Light, looked at Kokushibo.
"We have a History of over 300 years. There are tens of thousands of Low-Grade Kabaneri, hundreds of Mid-Grade Kabaneri, and over a dozen High-Grade Kabaneri like us in 'Nue' Form. Above that, there is the strongest 'Deep Nue'!"
"How about it? Shall we have a Communication? Man-Eating Demons of Japan."
Thanks to Asan Bahang for the 500 Qidian Coin Tip! Bow! Thank you for your support and Encouragement!
(End of Chapter)