If the emergence of breathing styles allowed humans to confront demons directly, then abilities like the Demon Slayer Mark, the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, and the Transparent World further enhanced these humans, making them high-end combat power capable of facing even the strongest demons.
Whether it was the Demon Slayer Mark or the Transparent World, any of these abilities noticeably increased human strength.
Even the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, though useless against anything other than demons, had significant destructive power against them.
Therefore, among the Hashira, all but one had to awaken at least one of these abilities to have the power to confront an Upper Rank.
"So that's how it is..."
Every Hashira was deeply shocked upon learning the three abilities.
It couldn't be helped.
Because the legacy of the Demon Slayer Corps had been lost and destroyed many times throughout history, it remained incomplete. Most of the Hashira knew almost nothing about the Demon Slayer Mark, the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, or the Transparent World.
Only Kagaya, after coughing a few times, spoke up.
Kagaya revealed this information.
"Legend has it that during the Sengoku period, some of the first-generation Demon Slayers, who had pushed Kibutsuji Muzan to the brink several times, had veined marks on their bodies. I believe that must be the so-called Demon Slayer Mark."
Upon hearing Kagaya's explanation, Riezel smirked.
"Pushed Kibutsuji Muzan to the brink, huh?"
Riezel was skeptical about this claim, but he didn't correct it.
"That is indeed the Demon Slayer Mark. Demon Slayers who awaken the Mark have significantly more strength than ordinary Demon Slayers. Whether they could push Kibutsuji Muzan to the brink, I don't know, but they certainly had the power to push the Upper Ranks to the brink—that's unquestionable."
Upon hearing this, the Hashira couldn't stay calm.
"Young Tsugikuni, are you this strong because you've mastered the three abilities you mentioned?"
Kyoujurou asked hastily, causing the eyes of every Hashira present to burn with intensity.
If Riezel was strong because he possessed these three abilities, did that mean they could become just as strong if they also acquired them?
Thoughts couldn't help but arise in the minds of the Hashira.
Unfortunately, Riezel dashed their hopes.
"I did awaken the Transparent World, but that's all. I haven't awakened the Mark or the Bright Red Nichirin Sword."
His words shocked everyone.
"Just one ability made you this strong?" Mitsuri covered her mouth, looking incredulous.
"No, my strength has nothing to do with how many abilities I've unlocked." Riezel shook his head. "Although the Mark and the Bright Red Nichirin Sword are indeed impressive, to me, they're just that, decent. Especially the Mark, it comes with a terrifying price after awakening it. I know how to awaken it, but I don't plan to."
"Price?" Sanemi seemed particularly concerned about this. "What price?"
Riezel glanced at him for a second, then answered calmly.
"The Mark is an ability that boosts strength by overdrawing one's life force. In other words, using the Mark shortens your lifespan. Everyone who has awakened the Mark rarely lived past twenty-five years old."
As soon as Riezel finished saying this, everyone fell silent.
It was because of this side effect that Riezel didn't plan to awaken the Demon Slayer Mark. In his view, the Demon Slayer Mark might be good, but it was just that.
Among the Hashira, the weakest one had strength equivalent to lower Level 4, while the weakest among the Upper Ranks was about upper Level 4. In other words, if a Hashira used the Demon Slayer Mark, even the weakest one would have the power to directly confront the weakest among the Upper Ranks.
It might sound impressive, but just increasing strength from lower Level 4 to upper Level 4 wasn't that amazing.
In this world, the Demon Slayer Mark was undoubtedly a strong ability, but to Riezel, it seemed just average.
With an overpowered enchant magic like Ariel that allowed one to challenge opponents with a higher level, an ability that only allowed one to challenge opponents half a level wasn't that appealing. Without any side effects, it might be worth trying, but with a side effect as severe as reducing one's lifespan, it was better left alone.
Considering this, Riezel never thought about awakening the Demon Slayer Mark from the beginning.
As for the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, he had some interest at first, but now, this ability was redundant for someone who had the Pioneer of the Sun.
Against demons, the Pioneer of the Sun's special attack capability against evil entities was certainly more lethal than the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, not to mention, his Nichirin Sword, Hermit, also had a massively damaging effect on demons.
Moreover, Sun Breathing, as the first and origin of breathing styles, has a sunlight-like restraining effect on demons, like his previous use of 'Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance', which could temporarily suppress a demon's regenerative ability, even causing them intense pain.
Because of this, the Bright Red Nichirin Sword was no longer important to Riezel.
Among the three abilities, only Transparent World had significant usefulness to him, while the other two were either unacceptable due to their side effects or had become redundant.
Given this, Riezel neither planned to awaken the Demon Slayer Mark nor to delve into the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, as having the Transparent World was already enough for him.
Of course, this was a different matter for the Hashira.
"As long as we awaken the Mark and the other two abilities, we can defeat the Upper Ranks?"
Shinobu, speaking on behalf of all the Hashira, made the final confirmation.
To her question, Riezel gave a straightforward answer.
"Let's not talk about the strongest Upper One right now. That guy's on a whole different level compared to the other Upper Ranks. But aside from him, as long as you all can use all three abilities, you'll at least have a chance of defeating the other Upper Ranks in a one-on-one fight."
In Riezel's view, the strength of the Hashira could be divided into three tiers.
Firstly, there were the Insect Hashira, Kochou Shinobu, the Love Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri, and the Mist Hashira, Tokitou Muichirou. Since these three were relatively the youngest among the Hashira, their strength was comparatively weaker. They were at the bottom tier of the Hashira, equivalent to lower Level 4.
Next, there were the Flame Hashira, Rengoku Kyoujurou, the Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyuu, the Wind Hashira, Shinazugawa Sanemi, the Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen, and the Serpent Hashira, Iguro Obanai. Since these five were the backbones of the Hashira, they possessed relatively stronger strength, equivalent to middle Level 4.
Finally, there was the Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyoumei.
Riezel glanced at the monk who was silently weeping with his hands clasped together.
Gyoumei was the oldest among the Hashira, already twenty-seven years old. Yet, it was precisely because he was the oldest that he was also the strongest.
As such, the strongest of the Twelve Kizuki was the Upper One and the strongest in the Demon Slayer Corps was this Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyoumei.
Gyoumei's strength was approximately equivalent to upper Level 4, making him the only one among the current Hashira who could confront an Upper Rank head-on without the three abilities.
Even so, upper Level 4 was still the weakest strength among the Upper Ranks.
For instance, Gyuutarou, the Upper Six, was roughly at upper Level 4.
Gyokko, the Upper Five, was about the same.
As for the Upper Four, Hantengu, though his ability was tricky, Gyoumei wouldn't struggle too much if he knew the right strategy.
Gyoumei could even hold his own against the Upper Three, Akaza.
Unfortunately, this was probably his limit.
Going beyond that, without using any of the three abilities, it would become very difficult for him to win.
Especially the Upper One—he was on a whole other level.
Riezel suspected the Upper One had the strength equivalent to Level 5, so even if Gyoumei used all three abilities, he wouldn't be able to defeat the Upper One one-on-one.
However, excluding the Upper One, if the Hashira could awaken all three abilities, they would have some chance of victory against the other Upper Ranks in one-on-one—especially Gyoumei.
If Gyoumei used the Demon Slayer Mark, the Transparent World, and the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, he would be at least at the limit of Level 4, possibly even reaching middle Level 5. Such strength would give him a good chance of victory, even against the Upper Two.
As Riezel provided the answer, all the Hashira exchanged glances with each other.
"Hmph." Tengen held his forehead. "Since that's the case, isn't the solution already laid out brilliantly before us?"
Every Hashira's eyes ignited with flames.
Seeing this, Riezel understood that these people were really ready to go all out.
"You know the way to awaken those three abilities, right?" Obanai asked with a serious expression. "Please, tell us."
Without a doubt, all the Hashira present were willing to bear the consequence of using the Demon Slayer Mark.
"As long as we can kill the Upper Ranks, kill Kibutsuji Muzan, dying instantly wouldn't matter, let alone living until twenty-five." Sanemi's eyes gleamed fiercely.
"Umu, that's right!" Kyoujurou crossed his arms, a cheerful smile still on his face.
"Amitabha." Gyoumei chanted the Buddha's name again, tears streaming down even more than before.
Shinobu, Giyuu, and Muichirou remained silent but their expression clearly expressed their intentions.
Even the seemingly weakest and clumsy Mitsuri was the same.
Seeing the Hashira with eyes full of a readiness to die, Riezel fell silent. He understood that saying more would be useless.
"If none of you are really afraid of death, I can grant your wish."
Riezel's indifferent words seemed quite heartless, but even so, many people in the room cast grateful glances at him, even bowing their heads to him in respect.
Kagaya silently observed everything, neither stopping nor saying more, merely announcing one thing.
"From today onward, the Demon Slayer Corps will establish a head instructor position, to be held by His Excellency, Tsugikuni Yoriichi."
"Moreover, the status of head instructor is above the Hashira and equal to mine."
"Everyone must obey Head Instructor Tsugikuni Yoriichi's orders and prepare for the final battle with the demons."
To Kagaya's announcement, all the Hashira had only one response.