Demon Slayer : The Silent Journey-Chapter 172: The attack on the Butterfly Mansion (3)

[3rd POV]

The Butterfly Mansion was suffocating.

The once serene air was now thick with tension. The oppressive aura of demons slithered in the shadows, tainting the atmosphere.

Kanae stood silently on the roof of the mansion, her sharp eyes sweeping over the sprawling forest with unnerving calm. The sweet scent of blooming wisteria and cherry blossoms was drowned out by other smells.

The scent of blood, decay, ash, fire, thunder.

Demons.

"They're here..." her voice was a whisper carried by the wind.

On the left, a shimmer of heat distorted the air near the northern edge of the mansion.

The demon's mere presence scorched the ground beneath his feet. The grass had already withered, leaving a trail of charred remains in his footsteps. The air vibrated with the dangerous hum of rising temperatures.

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On the right, flickers of corrupted lightning danced between the trees. It came from the far east and was approaching fast.

The demon's electric aura buzzed with deadly intensity, and Kanae saw the familiar pattern of Thunder Breathing. She didn't have time to question how.

Her eyes looked deeper into the forest. Thin, silken threads stretched across the treetops, barely visible under the moonlight. The spider demon was running around the compound, and he left intricate webs that were slowly fencing off the compound.

Kanae's eyes followed the near-invisible lines glinting in the dim moonlight, forming an inescapable barrier around the mansion.

A chilling mist crept in from the western perimeter, slithering as if the smoke had life. Kanae did not know what it was, whether it was just a way to make a smokescreen or if the mist was demonic.

The only thing she knew was that it acted as another layer of barrier around the Butterfly Compound.

"They've sealed us in," Kanae's expression darkened. "No one gets in... and no one gets out."

The demon's plan was clear, this wasn't just another attack. This was an extermination.

"Those demons are strong too, likely the Twelve Kizuki," she bit her lips, "You finally made a move huh, Muzan,"

Kanae did not panic. God knows panic was the last thing she should do in this situation. There were many things she had to do first but the priority became clear after a moment of consideration.

"The lab,"

Her body blurred as she leapt from the roof, her feet barely touching the ground as she moved with surgical precision toward the southernmost section of the mansion.

The wisteria around the mansion should slow the demons down for a while. They still had time but it was limited, so she had to use it wisely.

"Mr Takgashi! It's an emergency! Sound the bells, it's an attack!!" Kanae said as she met the old man while running towards the lab.

"An attack from who?!" the old man screamed in worry.

"Demons!!' that was all Kanae could say before she blurred again. By the time she reached the southernmost part of the mansion, she heard the bell ringing throughout the mansion.

'It's fine, they've trained for this.' Kanae soothes her worries. All the residents of the mansion should know what to do when they hear the bell.

...

..

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The building stood at the edge of the mansion's grounds, along with water tanks and old storage. The lab itself had once been a storage facility for medical equipment but had been carefully repurposed over the past few months.

Rows of shelves lined the walls, filled with scrolls, vials, and formulas that all contributed to the discoveries that led to the cure for demonification.

At the side of the room was a bed where Rengoku lay, still in his demon form. They had not given the Flame Hashira the cure for fear that something might go wrong. If they were going to turn him back into a human, none of them wanted to take a chance.

Lady Tamayo and Shinobu were inside the lab doing their own things. Yushiro sat beside Rengoku's bed, reading a book to pass the time. The sound of the emergency bell immediately caught their attention but before they could even react, the door slammed open and Kanae barged in.

"Sis?" Shinobu asked with a worried tilt of her head, "What's going on?"

"No time to explain, we're out of time." Kanae's tone was grim, "The mansion is under attack."

Yushiro's expression hardened instantly, his senses reaching outward. "What? But... how? My invisibility charm-"

"It's not working." Kanae cut him off, her voice clipped. "The demons are quickly sealing off the compound, and they are coming from all directions,"

"We are trapped and surrounded,"

"Then we must leave, this place will be the first to be attacked after the demons penetrate the wisteria barrier and the walls," Shinobu said immediately, a bead of sweat fell from her face but she remained calm and collected.

"Sister, you should take Tamayo and Yushiro somewhere safer, to the centre of the mansion. I'll stay here and secure the research materials," Shinobu added with a firm voice.

"Absolutely not!! You must come with us!," Kanae all but screamed, trying to use authority.

"Whatever happens today, those research must survive. Don't worry, I can protect myself and I'll follow you soon," Shinobu said with eyes of stone.

Kanae saw that her sister would not budge, especially when logic was on her side. There was no time to waste to argue.

Kanae clicked her tongue and grabbed Tamayo and Yushio by their hand before she ran out of the lab with them. Both of them did not protest, realising the gravity of the situation.

"No need to panic," Shinobu told herself after everyone left, "You always have plan B,"

Her eyes locked on Rengoku who remained lying in bed for a few seconds before she moved to secure every important research material, especially Muzan's remaining blood and tissue.

They always took precautions in case of an attack. So she opened the hatch on the floor that revealed a place to hide them underground. She immediately went to work.

...

...

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[3rd POV]

Tanjiro's breath was ragged. His footsteps pounded against the ground as he ran alongside Kanao. Their movement was swift as they made their way to the centre of the compound where the thick walls of the mansion offer better protection.

"This way!" Tanjiro called out to the people behind him.

The Butterfly Mansion did not have many residents but what it had many were patients. Especially after the explosion of demon activity after the failed purge, many Demon Slayers were injured on a daily basis so the mansion was packed.

The patients shuffled and scrambled to safety. Some of the patients who were mostly healed carried the heavily injured ones inside.

"Tanjiro..." Kanao's voice was calm, but there was an uncharacteristic urgency in her tone. "You're also injured."

"It's nothing." Tanjiro forced a smile, his expression soft but resolute. "I can still move. I'm fine, Kanao."

"You're not fine."

"I'll be fine." His grip on his sword tightened, he picked it up while coming here. "Right now, we need to protect the others,"

Kanao opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself. The look in Tanjiro's eyes was one she had seen before, unwavering determination.

"Alright." She gave a small nod, her lips pressed into a thin line. "But stay close to me."

They moved in perfect sync as they guided the remaining patients and helpers deeper into the mansion. Every second counted now.

They were running around the compound, searching for patients who had wandered a little too far while at the same time scouting for demons. The bell that rang throughout the mansion was a constant reminder of the attack.

They were sprinting at full speed.

But something was faster.

Tanjiro caught a sharp scent. Ozone. Burning Flesh. Lightning!!

"LOOK OUT!!!" Tanjiro screamed and pushed Kanao aside.

A flash.

Then jagged streak of blue lightning tore through the walls around the compound and made a line straight to them. Thunder roared, loud enough to deaf the ears but they got down just in time.

Silence followed the explosion and they quickly got back to their feet. They pulled out their swords and stared at the demon half hidden by the smoke.

When the demon turned, Tanjiro's face dropped.

"Kaigaku..." Tanjiro named the demon.

The corrupted Thunder Breather was all smiles as he turned towards them. His aura crackled like lighting. His blood demon art = electrokinesis allowed him to make lighting become real with each form of Thunder Breathing he used.

For him, the elements were not just an imagination. They were real.

"Funny seeing you here Tanjiro," Kaigaku said with disdain in his eyes for the boy whom he deemed more talented than him long ago

"How did you get in so quickly?" Kanao asked, her eyes narrowing.

Kaigaku chuckled, the sound echoing unnervingly through the air.

"You think those wisteria trees would slow me down?" He scoffed, arcs of electricity dancing around his body. "If you move fast enough nothing can stop you,"

"He knows where to get in, he knows the layout of the mansion because he has been here before, many times," Tanjiro answered with rage in his eyes.

"What?" Kanao was confused.

"Kaigaku, he used to be a Demon Slayer before. In fact, he trained alongside Zenitu, I've met him before," Tanjiro said, "But now....."

The silence hung in the air.

Tanjiro's jaw clenched. "Kaigaku... why?"

"Why?" Kaigaku's eyes flashed with anger, the air around him vibrating with unstable energy. "Because strength is the only thing that matters Tanjiro. I am not talented like you or Zenitsu, I have to look for alternatives,"

"You betrayed your master... and your comrades." Tanjiro's voice was steady but filled with raw anger, "You didn't have to. You could-"

"Don't lecture me kid!" Kaigaku's rage boiled over, the air crackling with electricity as his hand clenched into a fist. "You have no idea what I endured!"

"....." Tanjiro glared stubbornly as if asking to tell him.

"And I have no interest in telling stories to the dead. Muzan gave the orders but I sure am going to enjoy this," Kaigaku said and he brought his sword up.

"Tanjiro," Kanao called softly as she took her position beside him.

"We might have a chance if we fight together,"

Kaigaku iaughed out loud, "Good. I was itching to test my new powers,"

Kaigaku was fast.

So fast.

Faster than Zenitsu.

Faster than old man Jigoro.

Faster than him.

So he struck back with everything he had from the start. That was the bare requirement when faced with one of the Twelve Kizuki.

"Sun Breathing!!"

..

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[3rd POV]

The battle had already begun on the north side of the Butterfly compound. You could hear the crack of Thunder and the clashing of steel from a distance.

Inosuke grunted as he was dragged by Aoi through the corridor of the mansion, her grip surprisingly strong as she pulled him toward the central hall.

"What's going on?!" he barked, his boar mask was absent so you could see his emotion. He was pissed.

"Just move!" Aoi snapped, her face flushed with frustration and worry. "The mansion's under attack by demons!"

"An attack by demons!! Then why are we running away from the demons instead of towards them?!"

"You can't fight, you're still injured," Aoi said firmly, "You'll get yourself killed!"

Inosuke huffed but followed, his instincts on edge. They reached the central hall where several of the patients and mansion's helpers had gathered. Some of them were armed, ready to defend, while others stood by, awaiting orders.

"What should we do next Lord Tomioka?" Aoi turned back and asked the Water Hashira who had told them to go here in the first place.

But-

"Lord Tomioka?"

He was gone.

"Are you asking for the Water guy?" Inoskue asked, "Tomnakachinako left us the moment we entered the mansion,"

Aoi collapsed on the ground.

..

..

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(Outside the Butterfly Compound)

"Are you one of the demons attacking the mansion?" Giyu asked as he casually strode to the demon he found.

The demon of many masks just stared at the Hashira who interrupted him while he was trying to breach the walls and the wisteria trees that surrounded the place.

"That was a dumb question, you don't have to answer that if you don't want to. I don't like answering questions either," Giyu said with a stoic face, serene and calm like still water.

Staying inside the mansion and allowing the enemies to circle them was a stupid plan in his opinion. That was why he came outside the walls to meet the demons head-on.

That way, more people would be safe as well.

"Your face.... it's so plain," the demon finally spoke, his voice sounded weird. You couldn't tell if it was male or female, young or old.

"Your face would make a horrible mask. Why did I have to meet you?" the demon asked.

Giyu stopped, his stoic face dropped a little, "That was kinda rude,"

"Can you just..run away? I would prefer to kill a human with a more expressive face," the demon asked nicely.

"No," Giyu answered and finally, his eyes snapped serious and he got into a stance.

"Tch, I guess I will just hope your face changes when I cut you up," the demon said and then.....

Nothing.

A void.

It wasn't a presence. It was the absence of one.

A chill crawled down Giyu's spine.

"This feeling..."

Why was it so similar to the selfless state?

*Clang!!*

Giyu was able to stop the claw that came from his neck with the sharp edge of his sword. Although his reaction was a bit slower than he would've liked.

"You...." Giyu said as he gazed into the eyes of the demon, "You have no identity,"

The faceless demon. He was no one and everyone at the same time.

Giyu realized then that he had quite a trouble on his hands This wouldn't be a quick fight. And if his senses were to be believed, there were plenty of other demons left.

They need reinforcement.

And they need it fast.

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Author : This is the extra Chapter, sorry it was so late. I'll post the next Chapter a few hours from now at the regular timing