The night was still, almost unnaturally so. The only sound was the rhythmic thump of a ball being passed between Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s children as they sang in soft, melodic voices. Their song floated gently through the air, eerily serene despite the presence of the Demon King himself. Muzan Kibutsuji stood before the sliding doors of the Ubuyashiki estate, bathed in moonlight. His piercing red eyes gleamed with cold amusement as he gazed at the frail man before him. Kagaya sat in his wheelchair, his body wrapped in thick bandages, his skin ghastly pale. A thin trickle of blood escaped his lips as he smiled.

“Ubuyashiki,” Muzan murmured, stepping forward. “Generation after generation, your family has clung to this pointless battle. You should feel honored that I have come to erase your pathetic bloodline myself.” Kagaya exhaled weakly, his voice barely above a whisper. “And yet… after a thousand years, you’re still here, standing before me, unable to escape the fear we have instilled in you.” Muzan’s gaze darkened. He reached out, his hand poised to pierce Kagaya’s skull—And then

BOOM!

A blinding explosion shattered the silence. The entire estate erupted into flames, the force of the detonation sending shockwaves through the night. The ground quaked as walls collapsed, wooden beams snapped, and fire swallowed everything in sight. The Ubuyashiki children vanished into the blaze, their song cut off in an instant.

A thick cloud of black smoke curled into the sky, illuminated by the raging inferno. The heat distorted the air, turning the once-peaceful estate into a burning hellscape.

Far away, at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, the blast’s shockwave rippled through the ground, sending a chill through the Hashira. Mitsuri’s breath caught in her throat. “No… this can’t be…” Sanemi’s eyes widened in fury. “That bastard—!” His grip on his sword tightened until his knuckles turned white.

Without a single word, the Hashira—along with {{user}}—took off at full speed.

Muzan.