Crossover Anime: Starting with Bankai from Demon Slayer

From the lord's raven, Asuka learned something.

Among the Pillar-level swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps during the Sengoku period, there was a power known as the "Mark".

These markings, resembling the claws of a demon, are menacingly attached to the surface of the human body, yet they can greatly enhance the body's strength and reaction speed.

When Asuka fought Akaza, similar markings appeared on her face, which made the lord very concerned, so he specially dispatched Kasugai to verify it.

The lineage of the Demon Slayer Mark has become blurred after several generations of the Demon Slayer Corps were on the verge of extinction, coupled with previous neglect.

I only remember one saying that has been passed down through generations: "As long as one person awakens, more swordsmen will awaken one after another, as if in resonance."

Now, Asuka has seen a similar statement in the Flame Pillar's records.

The markings... so that burning sensation all over my body was caused by this...

"So Muzan, the Demon King, is this powerful? Even the swordsmen who practiced the first breath technique couldn't..." Kyojuro Rengoku stared blankly at the Book of Flame Pillars before him, lost in thought: "...Sun Breathing, is that the name of the first breath technique...?"

Asuka glanced at Kyojuro, who seemed somewhat lost in thought, and her gaze became more serious.

He was about to say something when he heard Kyojuro laugh: "Haha! That's great! The origin of Flame Breathing—Sun Breathing! That's powerful!"

Kyojuro Rengoku's eyes burned with intensity as he crossed his arms. "Hmm! Asuka, I suddenly have an idea! If we combine the five breathing techniques and look for their commonalities, perhaps we can deduce this powerful Sun Breathing technique!"

"Even if I can't learn it, someone else will! That will make the Demon Slayer Corps even stronger!"

"If one person isn't enough, then ten, a hundred! As long as there are enough swordsmen who have mastered the Breath of the Sun, even the Demon King will be forced to flee in disarray!"

Such a bright and straightforward idea dispelled the slight worry that had just arisen in the bird.

He glanced at the corner of the room; there was someone eavesdropping behind the wall, their breathing noticeably unsteady.

See that? That's the difference between you and him.

Passive avoidance cannot change the fact that you are weak; the only way is to keep moving forward.

Asuka withdrew her senses and focused her attention back on the Book of the Flame Pillar: "Kyojuro, what do you know about the burning sword?"

"A burning sword..." Rengoku Kyojuro thought carefully for a moment, then shook his head: "But speaking of which, when fighting the Upper Moon Demon Moon, why was your sword so hot, Asuka? It even stopped the Demon Moon from regenerating itself."

"I don't know, but I think it might be related to the markings." Asuka pointed to the record about Yoriichi Tsugikuni in the Book of Flame Pillars.

"Stripes?"

Seeing Kyojuro's puzzled look, Asuka then recounted her experiences, drawing upon the Book of the Flame Pillar...

On the other side of time.

Three months ago, in Tokyo, at the Hirota residence.

With a cold expression, Muzan pulled his fingers out of Akaza's head, his mood at its lowest point.

It can't be wrong....

That marking, that burning [Crimson Blade]...

Was he that damned Yoriichi Tsugikuni reincarnated? Or did he miss some other inheritor of the Breath of the Sun?

He thought of the boy who wore Yoriichi Tsugikuni's earring, and a sudden wave of irritation washed over him.

"In the end, it's all because of you useless bunch of good-for-nothings who didn't kill Tanjiro Kamado sooner! That's why this has happened!" He roared, his voice shattering the glass.

Akaza remained silent, kneeling on the ground, awaiting Muzan's judgment.

Aside from his awe of Lord Muzan, he genuinely didn't want to talk.

The bird's knife tore open his neck and also ripped open a corner of his memory.

Koiyuki... Komashi...

The two names kept clashing in his mind, making him feel uneasy, but he just couldn't remember who they were.

He felt that a part of his memories had been taken away by Muzan, but he didn't know how to ask about it, and he was also worried that if he opened his mouth, the other party would erase them again.

Moreover, he knew that Lord Muzan could know the thoughts of the Demon Moons if he wanted to.

He could only keep those two names silently in his heart, trying his best not to think about them again.

"Akasa".

Muzan's rage subsided somewhat after he tore up a few books, and he regained his cold tone: "I'm getting tired of this hiding. At this rate, when will we ever find the Blue Spider Lily?"

He sat in a large velvet armchair, arms crossed, looking down at Akaza:

"I'm going on a hunt."

"Hunting?" Akaza didn't understand the meaning and looked up at Muzan's cold smile.

"That's right, it's a hunt targeting the Demon Slayer Corps." His gaze fell on the words "Upper Moon" in Akaza's eyes, and he continued, "There's no point in denying it. You were defeated by the Demon Slayer Corps, and now their morale is at its peak."

"However, this is also an opportunity for us..."

"I plan to take advantage of the Demon Slayer Corps's laxity and release a few decoys to attract their attention, preferably the attention of the Pillars."

"After all, they just defeated the Upper Moon demon moon, so they probably think the other demon moons are nothing special, heh..."

Muzan counted on his fingers, thinking it over and over, and finally decided on two names:

"Doma, Daki."

"I plan to leak their information so that the Demon Slayer Corps can investigate, then trap them like fish in a barrel and kill the Pillar-level swordsmen who come to their aid! It shouldn't be too difficult for them, as long as they don't run into that swordsman with the Crimson Blade."

He stood up and walked over to Akaza: "As long as both sides can capture enough Pillar-level enemies, the leader of the Ubuyashiki family will definitely be thrown into chaos. Then we can find their main camp by following the subtle clues of personnel movements!"

His crimson eyes flashed with rage, and his gleaming white teeth gleamed from his sneer: "Then, I will lead you all straight into the Demon Slayer Corps' lair!"

"How could a mere demon-slaying swordsman possibly kill us all? This time, we'll make sure the Demon Slayer Corps is completely wiped out!"

Seeing Muzan's confident demeanor, Akaza didn't know what expression to make.

He simply bowed his head and responded heavily, displaying the same high fighting spirit.

He wasn't quite sure if the Demon Slayer Corps would be wiped out, but he really wanted to fight alongside Muzan against the Demon Slayer Corps!

"Black-haired boy, I will definitely win this time!" he thought to himself.

"Alright, you may leave before the order is given."

Muzan waved his hand, indicating that Akaza could leave: "By the way, go search for information related to that black-haired swordsman... He should be a swordsman who uses the Breath of Wind, right? Find out where the Breath of Wind training center is."

He frowned impatiently: "Those two old bastards are always hiding in the deep mountains and forests, ruining my plans. They'd better be all killed!"

Akaza accepted the order and withdrew, his figure quickly disappearing into the night wind, leaving behind only a large, shocking dark red bloodstain on the carpet.

After he left, Muzan sat alone in the empty and luxurious room, his scarlet pupils fixed on the locked ebony cabinet.

"What exactly is this thing...?"

After much deliberation, he still felt uneasy, so he simply opened the cabinet again, took out the flask containing Akaza's flesh and blood, and started fiddling with other colored reagents.

Outside the window, the lights of Tokyo burned all night, a scene of bustling prosperity and noise.

From this point onward, the shadow of the Ghost King is spreading...

It stretches towards the distant snow mountain shrine, and also towards the bright lights and bustling nightlife of Yoshiwara.

The night was deep.