Higashikuze Akiho's very existence was thought to be taboo among demons and humans alike: she was a half-demon, the first of her kind. But being taken in and rasied by a former pillar with a strong sense of justice and a hatred for Kibutsuji Muzan...
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第三十八话
At merely eight years old, Ubuyashiki Kiriya became the lord of House Ubuyashiki and the next leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Those born from the Ubuyashiki clan never had a childhood and they never lived past their twenties.
This was all because of Kibutsuji Muzan—the demon born from their clan.
Along with his younger twin sisters, Kanata and Kuina, they did not break focus for even a second to coordinate and plan the demon slayers' movements against the demons. They could not afford the time to mourn the passing of Ubuyashiki Kagaya, Amane, and their two older sisters Hinaki and Nichika.
Yushirou had given their Kasugai Crows his paper talismans which served as eyes to gather information inside the Infinity Fortress to Kiriya. They were also crucial in keeping the slayers informed and guide them towards their targets.
"Muzan's location hasn't changed. At present, everyone is far away. Lead them north," Kiriya strategized as he continued to paint out the dimensions of the fortress. Thanks to the talismans on the Kasugai Crows, he was getting a better picture. "Is Shinobu the only one to confront an Upper Moon?"
"Kanao and Inosuke are in battle with the Upper Moon Two that killed Shinobu," Kanata reported.
"Agatsuma just won against the new Upper Moon Six and Yushirou is tending to his wounds," Kuina continued without missing a beat. "Giyuu, Akiho, and Tanjirou are battling Upper Moon Three."
"Good. The others?"
"Not ye... I see..." Kanata didn't let anything show on her face as she relayed the new information. "Muichirou has just encountered Upper Moon One... Genya is not far behind."
⚔
Although the fight was between Akaza and the three slayers, the demon was exchanging the most blows from Giyuu. He was beyond excited to be fighting someone so strong; even the Flame Pillar hadn't awakened the mark when they fought. But despite being outnumbered, Akaza was not slowing down.
Akiho and Tanjirou took this time to analyze the demon's techniques; was this 'compass' something that made him immune to surprise attacks? Even if an attack from them came from behind, he was still able to sense it mid-battling Giyuu. Was there any way to interfere with it?
"'Compass', 'battle spirit'... All of these things sound similar to what Inosuke told me about his 'instinct' and sensing 'murderous intent' from someone," Akiho said, now even more thankful in her decision to ask Genya in helping her learn how to suppress her emotion and intent through meditating. "Like how Inosuke's skin tingles when there's someone with an obvious intent to murder is nearby, Akaza can sense our movements with his Compass Needle because our body is radiating this 'battle spirit' he mentions. To defeat him, we have to become invisible."
