Kibutsuji Muzan abruptly lost his connection with Upper Rank Two, Doma. An inexplicable chill crept over him, followed by a surge of dread that he couldn't shake, no matter how hard he tried to calm himself.
Every demon in this world was born from his blood—humans transformed into demons by his own hand.
Through the Blood Curse Binding, he could sense their thoughts, locate them at will, even control their actions or kill them outright with a single thought.
Distance weakened the connection—but it never severed it entirely.
So when a connection suddenly vanished, there were only two possibilities.
Either that demon had rebelled and escaped his control—like that wretched woman Tamayo once did.
Or... they were dead.
Not since over a hundred years ago had a member of the Upper Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki ever fallen!
And now, after sending his minions to investigate, the news he received was that Doma had perished in battle against the Flower Hashira, Kocho Kanae.
The unease in Muzan's heart only grew more chaotic.
The Demon Slayer Corps had gained the strength to slay an Upper Rank?
He couldn't allow this to continue.
They had to be crushed—now, before it was too late.
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
After racing back to headquarters, Kocho Kanae found herself standing before Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the young Master of the Demon Slayer Corps, along with several Pillars—Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira; Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira; and Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira. There, she recounted everything that had happened.
At just nineteen years old, Kagaya hadn't yet developed the calm acceptance that would later define him when constantly brushing shoulders with death.
And yet, when he reached out and gently touched the small divine statue she held, he felt a lightness in his body—a miraculous relief, impossible to describe.
A sacred, soothing power washed over him, pure and radiant, as though it could cleanse all defilement.
There was no way this came from a demon's Blood Art.
Which meant... everything Kanae said was true.
Unlike Gyomei, who no longer believed in gods and treated prayers as mere spiritual practice, or Tengen and Sanemi, who were somewhere between skeptical and indifferent, Kagaya had always held faith.
To him, the curse that doomed every Ubuyashiki to die before thirty wasn't just a genetic affliction—it was divine punishment. A curse from the gods, condemning them for their ancestral ties to Kibutsuji Muzan.
"Kanae," Kagaya asked, barely able to suppress the tremble in his voice, "did the Divine One deliver any sort of revelation?"
"There wasn't an oracle," Kanae replied, eyes tinged with confusion. "I offered to spread faith in the Divine One's name, to praise and worship them... but they declined. They only asked that I use this power well—to grow stronger. Also, the shrine priest Miroku told me that the Divine One favors humans who are resilient and self-reliant."
Kanae's gaze turned inward. The Divine One had given her a gift—strength beyond anything she'd dreamed of. But how was she supposed to repay a god?
"What kind of power... did the Divine One bestow upon you?" Gyomei asked solemnly, palms together in prayer, eyes focused on the small statue.
It wasn't that he doubted Kanae.
In his own moments of despair—when he had prayed with all his soul—no god had ever answered him.
Did gods truly exist?
"Um... the power of repentance, sword techniques far beyond my understanding, and a seed of natural energy. Would you like to experience it yourself, Himejima-san?"
Kanae tactfully softened her description of the "Fourfold Mental Break in One Second" ability.
She had always held an unspoken reverence and gratitude for Gyomei, who had saved her and her sister and guided them into the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Amitābha. To feel it personally would indeed be a blessing."
Gyomei bowed slightly in reverence.
Kanae stepped forward, placed her hand gently on his back, and closed her eyes. Slowly, she transferred a wisp of natural energy—gathered and refined through her own body—into his.
A powerful wave of energy erupted outward.
Gyomei's veins bulged like coiled dragons beneath his skin, his hair stood on end, and his aura skyrocketed.
He grunted in pain, barely able to suppress the groan.
The immense power surged through him, so intense it felt like it would tear him apart. Muscles screamed, tendons burned—it was agony.
But his eyes snapped open, blazing with shock and awe.
Could it be... that a god was finally taking pity on this world, ravaged for centuries by demons?
"Hah... Himejima-san," Kanae said softly, withdrawing her hand. "According to the knowledge the Divine One implanted in me, our world holds seven fundamental forces: water, fire, earth, wind, lightning, yin, and yang. Natural energy is the fusion of all of them."
She watched as Gyomei trembled, soaked in cold sweat, face twisted with pain.
Based on the information in her mind, anyone who endured the baptism of natural energy could open up their chakra pathways and circulate power through them. Once the circulation matched their personal affinity and physical constitution, they could begin absorbing elemental energy.
Which meant that, before long, Gyomei might awaken the power of Earth.
With elemental energy combined with breathing techniques, the strength of the entire Demon Slayer Corps would be elevated to a whole new tier.
"Amitā... How should I praise this Divine One?"
Gyomei's voice broke as tears streamed from his eyes.
He almost finished saying "Amitābha" by habit, but caught himself midway.
"I'm not sure," Kanae said, tilting her head. "The Divine One didn't seem to care about that. All I know is... they are the Sovereign of Chaos, a god beyond dimensions. Their divine light dispels all unreasonable fates."
"Dispels... unreasonable fate?" Gyomei murmured. "Such mercy. Such compassion."
His entire worldview—one rooted in karma, repentance, and redemption—shook.
This was the first time he'd heard of a god who would defy fate, not enforce it.
Oh Divine One... do you happen to need a shrine servant?
Because I've got plenty of experience!
"Tengen-san, Sanemi-san, you both saw what happened. It's painful," Kanae said, turning to the other two Pillars.
"Painful or not, if it's the Divine One's power—radiant and dazzling like the stars—I'll gladly be the blade that cuts through darkness!"
Tengen Uzui wasted no time. He sat cross-legged on the engawa, ready for his turn.
"Kanae," Sanemi said gruffly, his scarred face tightening, "you mentioned earlier... the Divine One gave you the power of 'repentance'? Who's supposed to repent—us? Or the demons?"
His tone was sharp—not with hostility toward Kanae, but from a deep, personal hatred.
He knew too well: demons couldn't be trusted. Nor forgiven.
"Shinazugawa-san... I may not have described it clearly. It's more like a spiritual attack. It doesn't kill directly, but whether it's humans or demons, it's... not exactly gentle."
Kanae bit her lip, unsure how to explain it.
"Then let me try it."
Sanemi volunteered without hesitation, stepping forward for a trial.
"Hey, Gyomei... are you sure Sanemi isn't your long-lost son? That kind of tear production—I've only seen it in you."
Tengen was gritting his teeth, his face contorted in pain.
Compared to Gyomei, Tengen's body wasn't nearly as suited for enduring the natural energy infusion. The process nearly took his life.
Most of his muscles were torn. His internal organs throbbed with every breath.
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Fanfic is finished on (258 chapters in total.)
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