"Ren, even if you kill me now, it won't cripple the Demon Slayer Corps."
Ubuyashiki Kōyō spoke coldly. "My child is elsewhere. If I die, he will succeed me as the new Lord, leading the Corps against you demons. My child will have children, who will marry and bear more. The Ubuyashiki clan cannot be eradicated!"
Ren nodded. "Very well. You'd better hide your child well, lest I find him.
Let me return your words: since you dared use Chitoshi and me as bait to shift blame in the past, you should have foreseen this fate. As long as I live, I'll hunt your Ubuyashiki clan relentlessly, vowing to exterminate you all!"
Kōyō gave a cold laugh. "Then let's make a wager: will my Ubuyashiki clan be erased from this world first, or will you heartless demons vanish before us?"
"Heartless, you say."
Ren's smile was hollow. "A fitting description. Though you won't see it, I'll tell you what happens next.
Ubuyashiki, I'll kill you. Your head will be my trophy, inspiring all demons. Your wife will become a banner, deepening the Corps' fear.
The villagers will all die, their blood forming a vessel to ferry my brother to the other shore. I'll show the Corps that, starting today, the tide has turned.
The days of the Corps hunting demons are over. From now on, the roles reverse."
Suddenly, Kōyō's chest felt as if crushed by an invisible hand, heaving violently. Each breath brought searing pain, forcing him to bend over, half-crouching, clutching his chest.
Yet this did nothing to ease the agony, instead triggering wracking coughs that tore through him.
As the coughing grew frantic, torrents of blood gushed from his mouth like a bursting dam, splattering the ground in a ghastly pool.
Watching from afar, Ren shook his head helplessly.
His icy gaze held a trace of pity, but far more indifference. "It seems you're not long for this world, even without my hand. I'd heard the Ubuyashiki clan all die young, but I didn't expect it to be so true. In that case, I'll end your suffering."
With a flick of his sleeve, Ren unleashed a ferocious gust, roaring like a savage dragon, claws bared, lunging at Kōyō.
A sharp *whoosh* rang out, and Kōyō's head flew upward, like a ripe fruit torn from its stem.
His headless body remained kneeling, rigid as a statue.
Ren flashed forward, catching the still-bleeding head with ease.
The crow perched on his shoulder opened its maw, swallowing the head whole.
After this, Ren tilted his head, listening.
Moments later, a faint smile curved his lips. "They're finally here…"
He heard rapid footsteps approaching—clearly the Flame Hashira and others he'd fought earlier, rushing to the scene.
But Ren seemed disinclined to tangle with them now.
"Enough. I'll spare you ants for today."
Ren's expression was calm. He knew he couldn't go too far.
Yoriichi was still alive. Though Ren had killed Kōyō, it was justified by avenging Chitoshi, as Kōyō bore responsibility for his death.
But these Hashira, in truth, had no direct connection to Ren or Chitoshi.
Killing them would be wanton slaughter.
"I know, I know."
Ren sighed. "Stop nagging. I know killing them all would anger Master Yoriichi. Lord Muzan's already cowering in hiding. If I push Master too far, even I might face his blade."
"Time to leave. Today's goals are more than met."
"Hm… keep an eye on these Hashira's movements. They're likely wary of crows now, so handle it yourselves."
Ren turned, hands behind his back, his figure fading into the darkness.
About a minute later, several figures rushed in from the distance.
"Lord Ubuyashiki!" The Flame Hashira, Rengoku Kyōkawa, called out, spotting the Lord's carriage from afar.
But when his gaze fell on the crimson blood streaming from the carriage, his pupils shrank.
They raced to the carriage.
The sight before them chilled them to the bone, their limbs numb, minds blank, standing frozen.
They saw Lord Ubuyashiki, a relief that he was here.
But tragically, his neck was bare—his head gone.
Only a headless corpse knelt there, facing outward.
"Ren…goku-san, you… you need to look back…" Saki's voice trembled, fragile as a flickering candle, as if she'd seen something horrific.
At Saki's words, Kyōkawa stiffly turned. At first, he saw only a white blur. In the cold wind, it swayed gently, indistinct in the dark night.
Kyōkawa focused, peering closer. In the next instant, he staggered back, startled.
Hanging from the treetop was a woman!
Her face was pale as paper, bloodless, exuding an eerie aura in the darkness. From afar, her form was a ghastly banner, fluttering in the wind.
"This… this is Lord Ubuyashiki's wife…"
Saki stared at the "banner," her voice laced with terror.
"We were too late…"
Kyōkawa seemed drained of all strength, collapsing to his knees.
"Why…" His fists clenched against the ground, his eyes filled with unwillingness and despair. "Why, with four of us here, couldn't we stop him… Why is that monster so powerful…"