Chat group, become my wings!

"Well? Isn't this art? Isn't this noble, transcendent art…" Gyokko, Upper Rank Five, emerged from his porcelain vase, his grotesque upper body writhing while the lower half remained hidden within the ceramic. He proudly flaunted his so-called artwork before Brunhilde.

Of course, calling it art was simply masking his depravity. Even while human, he had a penchant for grotesque cruelty dissecting animals and stitching together their bones and scales onto pots as twisted decorations. Shunned by his fishing village, he was regarded as a freak even in life. After becoming a demon, he only grew more revolting.

This time, Kibutsuji Muzan had dispatched him personally to either steal the rare Blue Spider Lily hidden within the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters or, failing that, capture Nezuko, who had consumed the flower and could now walk freely under sunlight.

But the Demon Slayer Corps had anticipated this. And Gyokko, unfortunately, ran into Brunhilde.

He kept boasting about his vases, utterly oblivious to the growing impatience on Brunhilde's face. Not that it would've mattered to him anyway he didn't believe a mere woman could harm him.

He could smell it on her, though something like marechi blood, perhaps even more potent. Her scent stirred his appetite.

Drooling obscenely, Gyokko slithered closer, just about to sink his teeth into Brunhilde.

Her expression grew colder.

With a single punch 

Boom!

Gyokko exploded. Shattered into chunks.

Her enhanced physical strength, tinged with divine might, didn't even require a Nichirin blade. With just one strike, Brunhilde reduced him to a smear. He was the first demon to die instantly, and thoroughly.

As for the Lower Moons, their luck was better this time. They weren't slaughtered by Muzan like in the original timeline. But even so, they stood no chance. The Hashira now wielded crimson blades, and against such power, the Lower Moons were hopelessly outmatched. One by one, they fell.

Watching through the blood-sense network, Muzan frowned deeply. He hadn't expected the Lower Moons to be quite so weak but then again, that's why they were Lower Moons. They were barely even speed bumps against the Hashira.

What shocked him more was the sudden appearance of unknown individuals people with no prior records, no information whatsoever. One of them had even annihilated Gyokko in a single punch, with a power entirely different from the usual Nichirin techniques.

The situation was spiraling. Muzan could feel it.

"No. I can't wait any longer. Not another second. If I delay, the Twelve Kizuki will all be wiped out."

His voice grew cold with urgency. "The Blue Spider Lily comes first. Then, Nezuko the girl who consumed it and now walks in the sun. Either one will be enough. I must obtain one of them."

He turned to the last demon at his side.

"Nakime. Use your Blood Demon Art. I want the entire layout of the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters and everyone inside."

"Yes, my lord."

Nakime activated her power. Countless eyeball-shaped creatures scattered, silently crawling through the compound. With most of the Demon Slayer Corps engaged in battle, few noticed them.

Though, in truth, they had been detected the moment they appeared only no one acted. They were allowing the surveillance to continue, as if laying a trap.

The small eyeballs scurried through the corridors, eventually reaching their goal Nezuko.

She looked tense, eyes flicking toward the entrance repeatedly. Beside her sat a delicate-looking girl: Izumi.

Though not particularly powerful on her own, Izumi had proven invaluable when paired with the xenon lamp one of the most effective tools against demons. For that reason, Kevin had assigned her to guard Nezuko.

Through Nakime's shared vision, Muzan caught sight of Nezuko and his eyes gleamed with fanatic joy.

Outside, the remaining Upper Moons were crumbling. The Demon Slayer Corps was about to break through.

Muzan no longer cared about the Blue Spider Lily. Nezuko was enough. If he devoured her, the power of the flower would become his. That would be enough to make him the perfect lifeform.

The echo of a biwa note rang out Nakime's space-warping ability activated. Nezuko vanished.

But Izumi, always clinging to her, instinctively grabbed Nezuko's hand and was transported alongside her.

Inside the Infinite Fortress, Muzan loomed, his expression twisted into a rapturous, deranged smile.

"Finally. Finally! The Blue Spider Lily… It's mine at last. I shall become the ultimate being. An immortal, indestructible Demon King! Hahahahaha!"

The sight of him made Izumi shudder. She gripped Nezuko tightly with one hand, and clutched the xenon lamp even tighter with the other.

Nezuko's eyes burned with fury. She glared at Muzan with the unrelenting hatred of a victim who remembered everything.

But Muzan didn't care. Neither of them mattered. They were just girls and neither held a Nichirin blade.

He reached out.

His pale, graceful hand twisted grotesquely as muscle bulged, tumors erupting across his skin. The flesh warped into a monstrous claw, hurtling straight for Nezuko.

Izumi instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding Nezuko with her own body.

Muzan sneered. This little girl still thought she could protect someone?

Ridiculous.