Demon Slayer’s End! A Newcomer Arrives!

Chu Yang looked around and found that most of the demons wandering nearby had no rationality to speak of. Though their auras were powerful, they were extremely unstable.

Clearly, these were temporary creations Kibutsuji Muzan had produced at enormous cost in order to deal with him.

But even as temporary creations, judging by the intensity of their auras alone, these demons were already nearly as powerful as Kibutsuji Muzan, enough to crush Doma and Akaza, both of whom had fought Chu Yang before.

As for who would be stronger in an actual battle, that was another matter.

"One, two, three, four." Chu Yang casually counted the demons, his tone full of disdain as he sneered at Kibutsuji Muzan. "You spent so much blood just to create these pieces of trash?"

Chu Yang’s arrogance and dominance repeatedly reminded Kibutsuji Muzan of that familiar sense of oppression.

It was as though Yoriichi Tsugikuni stood before him, speaking in the exact same tone.

I am no longer the Kibutsuji Muzan from centuries ago. And he is not Yoriichi Tsugikuni. I have no reason to fear him.

Kibutsuji Muzan clenched his fists, veins bulging as his gaze grew colder. The humiliation Yoriichi Tsugikuni had left him with centuries ago—today, he would repay it all upon Chu Yang.

The four demons wandering around Chu Yang sensed Kibutsuji Muzan’s will. Their faces became exceptionally ferocious, and as they roared at Chu Yang, saliva dripped from the corners of their mouths.

"Looks like you really enjoy brains ruled by savage instinct." Chu Yang mocked playfully. "Is this the evolution you admire? I have to say, your taste really is…"

"Hmph!"

Before Chu Yang could finish, Kibutsuji Muzan snorted coldly, and the four demons attacked Chu Yang at the same time.

Compared to any demon Chu Yang had seen before, these four temporary creations were even more grotesque and hideous.

They had already lost their human forms, looking more like stitched-together animals.

Crimson fur covered their entire bodies. Their limbs resembled those of apes, their heads those of wolves, wings sprouted from their backs, and their spines extended continuously from their tailbones, resembling long tails lined with hooked barbs.

The strange tails shot toward Chu Yang like venomous snakes.

Facing their coordinated assault, Chu Yang had already prepared himself through Observation Haki. He took a step back, first using his broad Horse-Cutting Blade to block the monster behind him, then suddenly swept his blade in a wide arc.

The Horse-Cutting Blade, wrapped in blazing flames, struck every tail shooting toward him with perfect precision, severing the hooked barbs in a single slash.

Like maggots clinging to bone, the flames traveled up from the wounds on their tails. The burning fire charred the monsters’ flesh into a bloody mess, drawing out miserable shrieks.

The roaring flames made fear flash through Kibutsuji Muzan’s eyes. He knew that was the power of Sun Breathing—the power he had once feared most.

What reassured him slightly was that those monsters had not been killed by Chu Yang’s single strike. Instead, they slowly rose to their feet.

At that moment, Chu Yang also realized the characteristics of these monsters. Not only were their strength and speed both at the highest level, but they also possessed regenerative abilities comparable to Kibutsuji Muzan’s.

Like Kibutsuji Muzan, they had multiple hearts and brains, though theirs were not nearly as refined.

"If these little toys you made are only this strong, that’s rather disappointing." Chu Yang planted the Horse-Cutting Blade into the ground and grinned. "A friendly reminder: you don’t have much time left."

Kibutsuji Muzan took a deep breath. His face gradually flushed, perhaps from rage making his blood surge. He revealed a sickly smile. "Of course there’s more. Enjoy what comes next. This is treatment even Yoriichi Tsugikuni never received!"

Infinity Castle began to tremble violently. Many sealed rooms opened, and countless monsters flickered in and out of view within the darkness!

Kibutsuji Muzan spread his arms and laughed hysterically. "This is the blood I accumulated over a thousand years! Even if Yoriichi Tsugikuni were reborn, he would still die here today!"

As he spoke, Kibutsuji Muzan’s body began changing as well.

In the blink of an eye, crimson fur covered his entire body, while vicious thorn whips protruded from both arms.

He transformed from a gentleman in a suit into a monster that drank blood and ate raw flesh.

"From this day forward, there will be no more Demon Slayer Corps in this world!"

Kibutsuji Muzan vented his emotions without restraint, charging at Chu Yang alongside countless monsters. The overwhelming black tide seemed ready to drown the entire world.

The situation appeared to have been reversed, yet Chu Yang still stood calmly where he was, his hands crossed over the hilt of the Horse-Cutting Blade.

"You don’t seriously think this place has to be your home ground, do you?"

After Chu Yang said that, his next actions left Kibutsuji Muzan completely baffled. In the latter’s eyes, Chu Yang’s fingers continuously formed irregular movements.

They were neither sword techniques nor a new Breathing Technique.

The movements clearly held no meaning, yet for some reason, panic suddenly rose in Kibutsuji Muzan’s heart.

Just as the black tide of monsters was about to touch Chu Yang—

The ground of Infinity Castle suddenly cracked apart, and countless lush green trees burst from the earth, flinging the monsters into the air.

In an instant, the eerie Infinity Castle transformed into a thriving, verdant forest.

Thick vines and tree roots twisted across the ground like enormous boas. Any monster that tried to approach Chu Yang would be wrapped up and strangled one after another.

The entire forest seemed alive, silently protecting Chu Yang.

Kibutsuji Muzan stared blankly at the earth-shaking transformation before him, doubt filling his face.

Where did my Infinity Castle go?

Am I dreaming?

Only when warm blood flowed to his feet did he suddenly awaken.

Right in front of him, heaps of monster corpses had already piled up across the ground.

Kibutsuji Muzan raised his head toward Chu Yang, unable to stop a question from surfacing in his heart.

Is he even human? Or is he the true god?

Outside Infinity Castle, at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

The former peace and tranquility had been buried beneath a sea of flames. Every corner had become a battlefield, covered in blood and severed limbs.

Fortunately, without Kibutsuji Muzan joining the battle, the Upper Moons, having lost Doma and Akaza, could not gain any advantage against the Hashira, all of whom had awakened their marks.

Tengen Uzui, the second-oldest among the Hashira, was responsible for fighting Gyutaro and Daki, the brother and sister of Upper Moon Six.

Before awakening his mark, Tengen Uzui had truly struggled against the siblings, as the original events had already proven. But after awakening his mark, the situation was completely different.

After only one exchange, Daki was instantly killed by Tengen Uzui, unable even to fight back. Even when Gyutaro entered the battle, he could not defeat Tengen Uzui, whose speed and strength had risen dramatically.

Even working together, the siblings could barely hold on before him.

Strictly speaking, Gyutaro was the true Upper Moon Six. Daki’s strength had far too much padding, making her an easy breakthrough point for Tengen Uzui to kill both siblings.

Upper Moon Five, Gyokko, was handled by Obanai Iguro and Mitsuri Kanroji. The two sides were evenly matched. Though Mitsuri Kanroji was still young, her extraordinary physical strength, enhanced by her mark, gave her astonishing destructive power. She had instead become the main force in the battle.

Upper Moon Four, Hantengu, faced Sanemi Shinazugawa and Kanae Kocho.

For Kanae and Sanemi Shinazugawa, this was an extremely troublesome enemy. Hantengu’s cloning ability rendered their numerical advantage meaningless. As the number of clones increased, the two were gradually pushed back, becoming the only team on the battlefield at a disadvantage.

Elsewhere, as the strongest demon second only to Kibutsuji Muzan, Upper Moon One, Kokushibo, was so powerful that the Demon Slayer Corps had no choice but to send three Hashira to match him.

Gyomei Himejima, Kyojuro Rengoku, and Giyu Tomioka joined forces against Kokushibo.

Even under such circumstances, Kokushibo could still fight the three of them evenly, without falling into the slightest disadvantage.

This left Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who was overseeing the rear, deeply shaken!

He found it difficult to imagine how this battle could have continued if the Demon Slayer Corps had not mastered the marks beforehand.

Beside Kagaya Ubuyashiki stood the former Water Pillar, Sakonji Urokodaki, and the former Rumble Hashira, Jigoro Kuwajima, protecting him. Behind them were Shinobu Kocho and Makomo, who were responsible for medical treatment.

They did not know that Nakime, Kibutsuji Muzan’s maid and the wielder of a spatial Blood Demon Art, had originally been assigned to assassinate Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

But at that moment, a shocking upheaval had occurred within Infinity Castle. Nakime had no choice but to return and help Kibutsuji Muzan stabilize Infinity Castle’s space.

With the battlefield currently deadlocked, if Nakime had appeared and successfully assassinated Kagaya Ubuyashiki, it would undoubtedly have dealt a devastating blow to the Demon Slayer Corps’ morale.

Fortunately, that did not happen.

Unknowingly, Chu Yang had helped the Demon Slayer Corps avert another crisis.

Yet from the overall perspective of the war, the Demon Slayer Corps was still at a disadvantage. Besides the Upper Moons, the Lower Moons were also leading vast numbers of demons in slaughtering the swordsmen with overwhelming superiority.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki was frantic with worry. Before the battle began, he had been full of confidence, certain that he would win this war concerning humanity’s fate. But ever since Chu Yang had silently vanished, his confidence had gradually crumbled.

Only then did he realize that the foundation of victory had always rested on Chu Yang alone, just as in the scene he had seen when foreseeing the future.

"Don’t stay here guarding me. Hurry and stop the Lower Moons." Kagaya Ubuyashiki turned to Sakonji Urokodaki and Jigoro Kuwajima. "Only you can save those swordsmen now."

Sakonji Urokodaki hesitated. "If anything happens to you…"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki shook his head. "Whether I live or die will not affect the overall situation at all. You should have joined the battle from the beginning. It is not too late yet. You can still save many people."

Sakonji Urokodaki and Jigoro Kuwajima still hesitated. They knew their master was deliberately saying this in order to save those swordsmen.

"Must I take my own life here before you are willing to act?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki became angry at his subordinates for the first time. As he spoke, he accidentally bit through his lip, and blood slowly trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Seeing this, the two no longer hesitated. They disappeared from Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s side at the same time, choosing to enter the battlefield and join forces against the six Lower Moons.

Only then did the dangerous situation ease.

"Master, don’t worry. I am a swordsman too. I will definitely protect you!" Shinobu Kocho said firmly.

"So will I." Makomo’s voice followed.

"Thank you." Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded with a smile, then tightly clasped his wife Amane Ubuyashiki’s hand.

The husband and wife silently prayed in perfect understanding, begging for a turning point to arrive sooner, so that more of those vibrant lives might survive.

It was as though heaven had heard their prayers. The entire Demon Slayer Corps camp suddenly began trembling violently.

A tear suddenly split open in the pitch-black night sky, followed by more and more black holes appearing.

Countless trees extended from the depths of darkness, continuously pouring outward as though they were trying to force open the shackles of space.

This horrifying sight made both sides temporarily forget the battle.

Kokushibo caught a glimpse of Infinity Castle through one of the Space Rifts. His entire body shook as he said in astonishment, "What is Nakime doing? Why is she making Infinity Castle descend here? Could it be… Lord Muzan has already won?!"

Kokushibo’s voice instantly spread across the entire battlefield. After a brief silence, thunderous cheers erupted.

Daki cheered excitedly, not forgetting to mock Tengen Uzui, who had beaten the siblings to the point of utter helplessness. "What are you going to do now? Looks like you’re about to lose! Once Lord Muzan arrives, every one of you will die!"

Gyutaro licked the corner of his mouth, staring at Tengen Uzui with a cold smile.

Tengen Uzui said nothing. He merely calculated in his heart that no matter the cost, he had to kill the siblings before him.

Gyokko hid inside his sturdy pot, rocking back and forth as he mocked Obanai Iguro and Mitsuri Kanroji with nearly identical words.

Hantengu did not mock Kanae and the others. Instead, he reverted to the form of a timid old man and said in relief, "Thankfully, Lord Muzan has come. Otherwise, I might really have died here today."

He was the only Upper Moon currently holding the advantage, yet he spoke in such a tone, making the scene all the more ironic.

Kokushibo remained silent, the oppressive aura radiating from him suffocating.

Gyomei Himejima pressed his palms together. He had already prepared himself to die together with Kokushibo. As long as he could take down the strongest Upper Moon, the others would naturally have a better chance of winning against Kibutsuji Muzan.

Kyojuro Rengoku held the same resolve.

On the Demon Slayer Corps’ side, everyone looked pale. Quite a few wore dazed expressions, only a step away from giving up the will to live.

The terrifying sight overhead gradually calmed, and the entire space began stabilizing.

Had they really lost?

Kagaya Ubuyashiki stared fixedly at the rifts in the sky, his pupils bloodshot. The future he had seen was not like this!

He did not believe it. Neither did Kanae.

"He will never lose!"

At last, those rifts vanished completely. In their place, countless trees sprouted up, unknowingly occupying more than half the battlefield.

At the top of the largest tree, whose trunk might have required dozens of people to encircle, a figure became increasingly distinct beneath the moonlight.

He carried something resembling a coffin over one shoulder while holding a head in the other hand.

The face of the head was dominated by a massive eyeball, its gaze filled with terror.

Daki, who had been smug just moments ago, recognized the head. Her expression changed, and she screamed, "Nakime!"

"Oh, you know her? Then she’s yours!"

Nakime’s head was immediately thrown out.

Daki instinctively reached out to catch it, but the head turned to ashes in midair.

Kokushibo raised his head with an ugly expression, yet he did not see the familiar figure.

That was not Kibutsuji Muzan!

The battle inside Infinity Castle was over.

Nakime was dead.

But the person who had come out was not Kibutsuji Muzan.

Every demon present understood what that meant. They had lost—completely lost. From this day onward, demons might no longer exist in this world.

"HAHAHAHA!!!"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki forcefully slapped the railing he leaned against. His laughter was freer and more unrestrained than ever before. Listening closely, one could even hear a trace of sobbing in it.

With that laugh, he vented the thousand years of resentment carried by the Demon Slayer Corps.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s laughter echoed across the battlefield, forming a stark contrast with the arrogant laughter of the Upper Moons from moments earlier.

"Don’t laugh! Don’t laugh! You damned human, you lowly maggot!" Daki completely lost control, spewing vicious curses. If she could, she wanted to tear that man’s mouth apart right then and there.

But in the next moment, Tengen Uzui’s Nichirin Sword streaked through the night with a brilliant silver gleam, precisely beheading her. Daki’s curses came to an abrupt halt.

Daki did not die, but she was too terrified to speak again.

Unless both siblings were beheaded at the same time, one of them would revive endlessly. If not for that, Daki would already have died hundreds of times beneath Tengen Uzui’s Nichirin Sword.

The next to break down was the naturally cowardly Hantengu.

His Blood Demon Art spiraled completely out of control.

The four emotional clones fused directly together, and the final composite descended.

Zohakuten!

The cowardly demon serving as the main body also began changing. His body rapidly expanded, his timid expression becoming exceptionally savage. His eyes turned crimson, and the character for "hate" could faintly be seen carved into his tongue!

This was Hantengu’s final emotional incarnation—the Hate Demon, and his final safeguard.

Driven by his survival instincts, Hantengu unleashed his full strength without holding anything back.

Sanemi Shinazugawa and Kanae, who were fighting him, suddenly felt the pressure increase sharply.

Whether it was Zohakuten or the Hate Demon, both could use all the Blood Demon Arts wielded by the previous emotional clones. In other words, Sanemi Shinazugawa and Kanae were each fighting the previous four emotional clones simultaneously.

The two of them each had to face four enemies alone.

Just as the situation became critically dangerous, Gyomei Himejima, Kyojuro Rengoku, and Giyu Tomioka all joined the battlefield at once.

They no longer needed to fight Kokushibo.

Because the person who would deal with Kokushibo had returned.

And at that moment, Kokushibo’s attention was no longer on those three.

Consumed by extreme fury, all six eyes on Kokushibo’s face stared fixedly at the tree coffin Chu Yang carried over his shoulder.

He had a powerful premonition that Kibutsuji Muzan was inside.

Kokushibo felt that he had not lost yet.

As long as he defeated the man carrying the tree coffin and freed Kibutsuji Muzan, victory would still belong to them.

Therefore, Kokushibo charged toward Chu Yang with overwhelming force.

It wasn’t that Chu Yang insisted on keeping Kibutsuji Muzan alive; he truly had no way to kill the monster with five brains and seven hearts.

Kibutsuji Muzan from centuries ago differed from the one he was now. At the very least, his regeneration had become powerful enough to greatly resist the effects of Sun Breathing.

No matter how many times Chu Yang tried to kill him within the Infinity Castle, his terrifyingly rapid regeneration allowed him to revive at the very last moment. That was why Kibutsuji Muzan had managed to stall Chu Yang for so long.

Chu Yang realized that he seemed unable to deal with this guy.

To kill Kibutsuji Muzan completely, he had to wait until dawn and let sunlight burn him to death.

To prevent Kibutsuji Muzan from repeating his old trick from centuries ago and escaping right under his nose, Chu Yang could only seal him inside a wooden coffin.

The result looked fairly good.

Kokushibo raced up along the tree trunk, charging straight toward Chu Yang.

He was a peculiar fellow. Even after becoming a demon, he still fought as a swordsman. He was also the only demon among the Twelve Kizuki who used a Breathing Technique in battle.

Without counting Kibutsuji Muzan’s absurd regenerative ability, Kokushibo’s destructive power alone was no weaker than Kibutsuji Muzan’s.

Kokushibo could even fight while bearing the mark.

Even Hashira would suffer little differently upon encountering Kokushibo than they would upon encountering Kibutsuji Muzan.

But unfortunately, Kokushibo’s opponent this time was Chu Yang. No matter how powerful his destructive power was, he could not break through Chu Yang’s Armament Haki.

The instant he reached the top of the giant tree, the Kyokoku Kamunashi-form Nichirin Sword in Kokushibo’s hand changed.

The blade writhed like living flesh, growing longer and producing many sharp side edges.

As a weapon Kokushibo had personally crafted from his own flesh and bones, this was Kyokoku Kamunashi’s original form.

Only then did Gyomei Himejima and the others realize…

Kokushibo had still been holding back while fighting the three of them.

Kokushibo, now fighting at full strength, radiated a suffocating aura. Even from a great distance, everyone present felt fear rise in their hearts.

Chu Yang stretched his muscles, a flash of pleasure passing through his eyes. Compared to a shameless demon like Kibutsuji Muzan, who could endlessly restore his health, he preferred fighting berserker-type opponents like Kokushibo.

"Whew…"

Chu Yang exhaled softly. His long breath instantly transformed into brilliant golden flames, which soon wrapped around his entire body and guarded him like a sun fallen into the mortal world.

The light around Chu Yang was so dazzling that many demons on the battlefield below thought dawn had arrived. They fled in panic in every direction, only to be cut down one by one by Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen led by Sakonji Urokodaki.

Even the Lower Moons suffered losses.

Faced with such an enemy, Kokushibo did not retreat. Instead, he charged at Chu Yang with even greater determination.

The greatest regret of his life was that he had spent it living in Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s shadow. Even after becoming a demon and breaking the curse of the mark, he had ultimately still lost to the elderly Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

To lose to an old man at the end of his life—how ironic was that?

Kokushibo had allowed himself to become this ugly creature precisely to surpass Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Yet Yoriichi had died with the final victory, meaning Kokushibo could never erase that defeat or truly surpass Yoriichi Tsugikuni in his lifetime.

Now, Chu Yang, who also practiced Sun Breathing, stood before Kokushibo. That blinding light was so familiar. Killing him would be the same as defeating Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

At that moment, Kokushibo’s eyes held only Chu Yang. Even the wooden coffin sealing Kibutsuji Muzan slowly vanished from his sight.

Time and space slowed more and more in Kokushibo’s eyes. He saw that the Horse-Cutting Blade in Chu Yang’s hand was already wrapped in layers of flame as it cleaved toward his neck.

Kokushibo raised his sword to meet it, likewise aiming for Chu Yang’s vital point.

The two blades did not collide. They passed one another by the slightest margin and struck each other’s necks at the same time!

Kyokoku Kamunashi clashed violently with Armament Haki. The flames around Chu Yang’s body tangled and tore at the flesh on the blade. In the end, the flesh disintegrated, and Kyokoku Kamunashi snapped apart.

At the same time… the Horse-Cutting Blade severed Kokushibo’s neck, sending his head flying high into the air with a face full of disbelief.

Why hadn’t Kyokoku Kamunashi severed the other man’s neck?

He was obviously just a human, wasn’t he?

Kokushibo could not understand.

If Doma and Akaza were still alive, they could probably have told him why.

Kokushibo felt that he had lost again.

Lost to Sun Breathing again! Lost to Yoriichi Tsugikuni again!

I’ve already paid such a heavy price!

I became an ugly demon for hundreds of years, so why did I still lose to that man?

If I broke through my limits, could I defeat the enemy before me?

With that question, Kokushibo looked at Chu Yang.

He stood amid layer upon layer of flames, his presence terrifying, like a god.

Even if I tried again, I still wouldn’t be able to sever his neck…

Having received his answer, Kokushibo’s lips curled into a bleak smile as his consciousness gradually sank into darkness.

His body erupted in blazing flames and was instantly reduced to ash.

The moment Kokushibo died…

The final trace of luck in the remaining demons’ hearts was shattered.

Whenever Chu Yang’s gaze swept over them, it felt as though the blazing sun were burning their bodies.

The demons had already collapsed into utter disorder and wanted to flee, but the strange forest had trapped them, preventing them from escaping the battlefield.

The remaining Twelve Kizuki were slaughtered one by one by the Hashira amid extreme terror.

The war had finally settled into dust.

A faint red glow also bloomed at the horizon, reflecting against the golden flames around Chu Yang.

Dawn had come.

"Ahhhhhh!!!"

"It hurts! It hurts so much!"

"Save me! I don’t want to die yet!"

"I was wrong! I was wrong!"

Countless demons’ wails echoed above the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, but not a single swordsman found them noisy. Their eyes brimmed with tears as they silently mourned their fallen comrades and family members.

Everything was over…

No more demons would appear in this world.

Carrying the wooden coffin on his shoulder, Chu Yang walked to an open area at the center of the battlefield. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he set it down and slowly opened it.

"Muzan, come out and enjoy the sunlight!"

The instant he finished speaking, a Black Shadow shot out of the wooden coffin. Warm sunlight fell upon it, and a scream rang out that sounded especially pleasant.

His powerful regeneration prevented Kibutsuji Muzan from being killed by sunlight as quickly as other demons, greatly prolonging his torment.

Supported by his wife, Kagaya Ubuyashiki came nearby and quietly watched Kibutsuji Muzan burn beneath the blazing sun. He said softly, "Does it hurt? The pain you are suffering now is the pain every generation of the Ubuyashiki Clan has suffered."

"From the moment we are born, we are cursed because of you. We are born in pain and die in pain."

"Besides the Ubuyashiki Clan, countless innocent people have died because of you. Those who never wished to become demons but ultimately did—how much pain did they suffer?"

"Feel this pain well, and do not forget it even after you descend into hell."

Kibutsuji Muzan glared furiously at Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

Wrapped in flames from head to toe, he charged toward him.

All the Hashira stood in front of Kagaya Ubuyashiki, becoming an impassable chasm that Kibutsuji Muzan could not cross.

In the past, these people had all been ants in his eyes. What right did they have to block his path?

"I won’t accept this!!! If I had found the Blue Spider Lily, I would have killed every last one of you long ago!!!"

At that moment, Chu Yang quietly walked to Kibutsuji Muzan’s side. Unafraid of the flames covering him, he placed one hand on Muzan’s head and whispered in his ear.

"Do you know why you could never find the Blue Spider Lily?"

"Because the Blue Spider Lily only blooms during the day. Demons can’t see it. Hahaha."

Kibutsuji Muzan’s pupils abruptly contracted, and towering fury erupted from his eyes. His trembling finger pointed at Chu Yang. "You… you…"

In the end, he left behind only a venomous glare before being consumed by the flames. Ashes scattered across the ground and drifted away with the wind.

The thousand-year war between humans and demons was over. Beginning the next day, Kagaya Ubuyashiki gradually dismissed the swordsmen.

Before leaving, every one of them received an extremely generous severance payment.

It was enough to ensure they would never lack food or clothing for the rest of their lives.

To the wealthy Ubuyashiki Clan, it was nothing. If possible, Kagaya Ubuyashiki would have preferred for every swordsman to survive until today and receive that payment.

Living out the rest of their lives peacefully was the hope of most swordsmen. Kanae was among them. She had always hoped Shinobu Kocho would not become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, but instead live as an ordinary girl.

Now, the two sisters could both live such lives—like ordinary girls, carefree and no longer worrying whether they might die during some mission tomorrow.

To express his gratitude for Kanae’s many years of treating the wounded, Kagaya Ubuyashiki gave the Butterfly Mansion to them, allowing the sisters to continue practicing medicine.

After having a heartfelt conversation with her master, Sakonji Urokodaki, Makomo decided to remain at the Butterfly Mansion and live with Kanae and the others.

Sakonji Urokodaki returned to the deep mountains to continue living in seclusion. Giyu Tomioka decided to stay by his master’s side, though he would occasionally visit the Butterfly Mansion to see Makomo.

Some inexplicable feelings seemed to be developing between the two.

After Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s persuasion, Sanemi Shinazugawa finally let go of the knot in his heart and set off for home. He intended to tell his younger brother Genya everything and, after earning his forgiveness, live with him again.

He did not know that Genya had long known the truth: their siblings had been killed by their mother after she became a demon, while his elder brother Sanemi had held their mother back until dawn, when sunlight burned her to death.

Once the two brothers cast aside their resentment, they would support one another as they continued onward.

Gyomei Himejima returned to the temple to continue cultivating, but there was one difference: the temple now housed several children who had lost their families. With Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s help, it had become an orphanage.

The children’s noise would occasionally interrupt Gyomei Himejima’s chanting, but he did not show even the slightest impatience.

There were no longer tears in his eyes, only a faint smile.

Kyojuro Rengoku returned home. Waiting for him were his father, no longer consumed by despair, and his younger brother, who had laid down his swords and could finally live in peace.

"You’ve worked hard, Kyojuro." Shinjuro Rengoku gently stroked his son’s hair. The long fiery-red hair so similar to his own filled him with incomparable pride.

Kyojuro Rengoku’s eyes had already filled with tears.

On the night the war ended, Obanai Iguro confessed his feelings to Mitsuri Kanroji.

After a brief moment of shock, Mitsuri Kanroji accepted Obanai Iguro’s feelings. The two opened a ramen shop near the Butterfly Mansion. Travelers passing through and pedestrians coming to seek medical care all lined up there, and business flourished.

Kanae would also bring people from the Butterfly Mansion there to show their support.

Besides them, there were also those who firmly refused to leave. Tengen Uzui did not wish to return to the life of a ninja, so he stayed by Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s side with his three beautiful wives, continuing to freeload off him.

As for Chu Yang…

Before he could enjoy the life ahead of him, his consciousness arrived in the Soul Palace.

This time, two new figures had unexpectedly appeared on the previously empty thrones.

"It hasn’t been long since we came last time. Why are we here again?"

"The frequency of entering the Soul Palace has been a little high lately."

"May I ask which brother is causing trouble this time?"

Pirate Chu Yang, Hokage Chu Yang, and Magic Chu Yang appeared in the Soul Palace with complaints written all over their faces. All three had their own matters to attend to, especially Magic Chu Yang, who had recently been spending every day conducting research in the potion room.

"I cleared it!" Demon Slayer Chu Yang raised a hand and declared smugly, "I just killed Kibutsuji Muzan. All the main characters survived. What do you think?"

"Not bad, congratulations." Pirate Chu Yang laughed. "I never expected you, the last to arrive, to be the fastest among us to clear your world!"

Hokage Chu Yang clicked his tongue and said sourly, "What do you mean, cleared it? There aren’t even any mandatory missions. There’s no need to rush. Wouldn’t it be better to take things slowly?"

Demon Slayer Chu Yang grinned. "Hehe, I wanted to take things slowly too, but the enemy didn’t give me the chance."

Pirate Chu Yang said, "That’s true. The Demon Slayer world’s power level is indeed a little lower than ours. Killing Kibutsuji Muzan didn’t require much effort."

Hokage Chu Yang turned and noticed Magic Chu Yang talking to the two newcomers. Curious, he asked, "Which world are the newcomers from?"

Hearing this, Magic Chu Yang shook his head. "I don’t know. They seem to be from ordinary worlds with nothing unusual about them. After sharing memories, I still can’t see anything suspicious."

Hokage Chu Yang’s eyes widened. "How could they be ordinary worlds? Let me take a look!"

Pirate Chu Yang and Demon Slayer Chu Yang also heard the conversation.

They were equally curious, so they moved closer as well.

After everyone shared memories, they discovered that the two newcomers were both students attending school in rural towns. Their worlds were set in modern Japan and America, respectively.

Interestingly, both were about to enter new schools for high school.

"That doesn’t make sense." Magic Chu Yang rubbed his chin and frowned. "Based on the usual pattern, the odds of traveling to an ordinary world are very low. How could both of them be from ordinary worlds?"

"Come on, you’re someone who uses magic, and you want to talk about science?" Pirate Chu Yang could not help mocking him. "Low probability doesn’t mean zero probability."

Japan’s high school student Chu Yang said enviously, "I’m so jealous that all of you ended up in such exciting worlds. My life is basically the same as before I transmigrated. I’m bored to death."

America’s high school student Chu Yang sighed as well. "You have no idea how terrible the infrastructure is in rural American towns. The signal is awful. Whenever it rains here, both the television and internet go dead. It’s rained almost every day since I transmigrated, and I haven’t even properly watched TV."

Demon Slayer Chu Yang laughed. "If you can’t even watch TV, then your era isn’t that different from mine."

Magic Chu Yang suddenly understood. "No wonder there wasn’t much information in your memories. I remember it’s around 2008 on your side, right?"

America’s high school student Chu Yang nodded.

Demon Slayer Chu Yang’s eyes lit up. "Get a ticket and go home to watch the Olympic Games!"

His bizarre idea left everyone stunned.

Pirate Chu Yang could not help complaining, "It’s just a parallel world with a modern setting. Where would any Olympic Games come from?"

The others bombarded Demon Slayer Chu Yang with complaints for quite a while before continuing their discussion about the two high school student Chu Yangs.

They believed it did not really matter whether the worlds were ordinary. Even if there were no special abilities to learn, the two high school student Chu Yangs could work with Magic Chu Yang in logistics, conduct some research, and help share the pressure.

In short, everyone was delighted to have newcomers. After all, every person who entered was another "self," making it easy for them to unite.

However, Pirate Chu Yang and the others did not know that after the two high school student Chu Yangs returned to their respective worlds, their lives would suddenly undergo earth-shaking changes.

Japan, a rural town.

The Chu Yang there lived on a small island. His relatives had all died in a tsunami several years ago, leaving him alone to study and live by himself.

Because the island’s school had suffered from insufficient enrollment for years, it decided to close down. Chu Yang’s class became its final group of students, and anyone wishing to continue their education had no choice but to attend high school in a city outside the island.

Quite a few people chose to drop out and inherit their families’ fishing work. Chu Yang had originally planned to do the same.

But!

He had suddenly been summoned to the Soul Palace and received this belated cheat.

After returning, Chu Yang immediately decided to leave the island. He did not belong here.

Chu Yang sold the property left behind by his family as well as every valuable possession, preparing to attend school in a big city.

A week later, Chu Yang rented an apartment near the school and began his brand-new high school life.

As he entered the campus, Chu Yang glanced at the school monument beside the gate.

It read, "Karakura First High School."

For some reason, Chu Yang found the name familiar, but he did not think much of it and entered the school gates with the other students.

A moment later.

As his classmates introduced themselves, Chu Yang suddenly felt that something was off.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Ichigo Kurosaki. I look forward to getting along with you."

The boy with orange spiky hair said this from the podium, his expression somewhat indifferent. People like him were usually rather withdrawn, though it was also possible that he was cold on the outside and warm within.

"Haha, no way. Maybe it’s just that the name and appearance are a little similar." Chu Yang’s mouth went dry. He had only just accepted that this was an ordinary world, and he had even been planning to steadily work his way toward college.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Orihime Inoue…"

Well!

His high school life might not be as peaceful as he had expected…

America.

Perhaps because his cheat had finally arrived, Chu Yang’s luck had begun to improve as well. The town’s endless rainy weather finally disappeared.

Looking at the clear blue sky, Chu Yang happily hummed a tune as he turned on the boxy old television at home.

This was the second time he had watched TV since transmigrating.

He had originally planned to find some entertainment program to watch, but after flipping through several channels, Chu Yang found that they were all broadcasting breaking news.

"It’s not like the president croaked. What’s with the panic?" Chu Yang grumbled as he raised a cup of water to his lips.

Just as he took a sip, the news anchor on the television began reporting.

"According to confirmation from relevant military officials, Tony Stark, president of Stark Industries, was attacked by terrorists in Afghanistan this morning. His current whereabouts are unknown…"

Pfft!

Chu Yang sprayed every last drop of water from his mouth.