dmims Page 41
Page 41
She had long, ice-blue hair that reached her waist, and wore a crisp, white officer's uniform that exuded an aura of iron will and authority. Her high-heeled boots trod on the stone slabs of the courtyard without making a sound, yet each step seemed to tread on the hearts of everyone present.
A faint, bloodthirsty, and gleeful smile played on her lips, and her icy blue eyes swept over every pillar present with an aggressive, predatory gaze.
Three distinct temperaments and three distinct styles of clothing, yet they surround the black-haired boy in the center in an incredibly harmonious way, forming a scroll full of divinity and urgency, a worldly scroll.
"Nice to meet you, members of the Demon Slayer Corps."
Gu Chuan spoke calmly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, "I am an observer, entrusted by Insect Pillar Shinobu Kocho to deal with some minor troubles."
Shinobu Kocho immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply to Gu Chuan, her voice filled with heartfelt gratitude: "Observer, thank you so much for your help! If it weren't for you and your two companions, Mr. Rengoku..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but the sentiment behind it was already self-evident.
As a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, she knew better than anyone what a devastating blow it would be to lose a Pillar. Gu Chuan's appearance not only saved the Flame Pillar's life but also slew Upper Moon Three, who had been unmatched for over a hundred years. This debt of gratitude was as heavy as Mount Tai.
[March 7th]: Wow! We met in person! Ms. Shinobu is so beautiful! Just as gentle as I imagined!
[Alicia]: Oh my~ Shinobu has a great figure too~ But, the way she looks at Rin and Esdeath seems a little... wary? Hehe, a woman's intuition is really sharp~
[Jewel Magician]: Hmph! Alicia, what nonsense are you spouting! I was just observing the enemy's situation! The "Pillars" of this world don't seem so impressive after all.
【Ice Queen】: A bunch of weaklings with weak fighting spirit, not even worthy of my attention.
Shinobu Kocho was indeed on guard.
When her gaze fell upon Rin Tohsaka and Esdeath beside Gu Chuan, a sense of crisis, stemming from a woman's instinct, instantly surged into her heart.
Although Shinobu had known Rin and Esdeath in the group chat before, she still felt a sense of pressure meeting them in person.
Especially... as a woman, she could sense the complex and possessive look in Rin's eyes when she looked at Gu Chuan.
Needless to say, Esdeath felt a pang of anxiety, and Shinobu Kocho could feel it too.
From Esdeath's undisguised, chilling killing intent and desire for conquest, as cold as a blizzard, and the almost fanatical look in her eyes when she looked at Gu Chuan, as if he were her only "kindred spirit," Shinobu Kocho understood that this was a more dangerous and incomprehensible being than any other demon.
The Observer is surrounded by more and more women...
Shinobu Kocho felt a slight sense of urgency.
"Thank you all for your help."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gentle voice broke the delicate atmosphere. He tried to stand up, but was supported by Lady Amane beside him.
"My lord!" all the pillars exclaimed in unison.
“It’s alright.” Kagaya Ubuyashiki waved his hand, “looking” in Gu Chuan’s direction with a sincere and gentle smile on his face. “The Demon Slayer Corps will never forget the great kindness of the three of you. However, if I may be so bold, your extraordinary power… is truly perplexing and unsettling to us mere mortals.”
Although his words were polite, his meaning was very clear.
Trust is built on understanding. The Demon Slayer Corps cannot place all its hopes on three completely unknown and incomprehensible beings.
They need proof.
“I understand.” Shinazugawa Sanemi took a step forward, staring intently at Gu Chuan and the other two with his bloodshot, fierce eyes, and said without any politeness, “Although I don’t know what kind of sorcery you used to kill Upper Moon Three, if you want us to believe that you are capable of dealing with Kibutsuji Muzan, then produce convincing evidence!”
“That’s right!” Yuzui Tengen chimed in, “We must thoroughly verify just how strong the three of you truly are!”
"You two... 0.6..."
A tic-tac-toe symbol appeared above Shinobu's head. "Speak properly to the Observer!"
"Hmph! You guys are questioning Gu Chuan's abilities?! Ren, step aside, I'm going to show these country bumpkins what I'm made of!"
Rin Tohsaka immediately lost her temper.
She felt that these people's attitude was an insult to her and Gu Chuan. She stepped forward and proudly raised her chin.
"Hmph, I don't even need Gu Chuan to deal with you! I'll show you what true mystery is!"
Before she finished speaking, she flipped her wrist, and five gems of different colors, each containing immense magical power, floated at her fingertips.
"Alright!"
With a soft shout, the gem at Rin's fingertip, like a living bird, shot towards the five corners of the courtyard, drawing invisible magical lines in the air to form a complex and precise pentagram array!
"—This is... a barrier?!"
71 Sun and Hope
Tears of shock streamed down the face of Kyōmei Himejima's tightly closed eyes. He could "see" an unprecedented, unnatural energy field instantly enveloping the entire courtyard!
"Gem Magic Five Elemental Cannons!"
Rin pressed her hands to the ground and frantically poured her magic power into the array beneath her feet!
"boom--!"
In the center of the courtyard, the four pure elemental energies of earth, water, fire, and wind were generated out of thin air. They intertwined and compressed with each other in a violent manner, eventually converging into a huge magical light cannon with a diameter of more than three meters, flashing with destructive brilliance and mixed with etheric energy!
The light cannon shot into the sky with a piercing shriek that tore through the atmosphere, soaring straight into the clouds and exploding with a deafening roar a thousand meters above the ground, forming a gigantic firework that was both dazzling and filled with the aura of death!
All the pillars stared in stunned silence at the scene, the sheer, irrational destructive power sending chills down their spines. They were certain that if that cannonball had hit them, even the strongest, Mr. Himejima, would have been instantly reduced to ashes!
"Hmph, see? This is just an appetizer." Rin withdrew her hand, her face filled with barely suppressed smugness.
However, in Esdeath's eyes, her performance still seemed so... boring.
"Boring fireworks."
Esdeath spoke coldly, slowly taking a step forward. Her icy blue eyes were filled with absolute domineering and arrogance.
"So-called power is not this kind of fancy trick that requires half a day of preparation."
She didn't even make any unnecessary movements; she simply raised her slender hand, which was wearing a white glove, casually.
"Let me show you, you weaklings."
"What does it mean to...absolute domination?"
In that instant, the whole world seemed to have fallen into an eternal winter!
An indescribable, absolute chill, originating from the level of laws, erupted from her center!
The air seemed to freeze, the light distorted, and time itself seemed to be frozen!
The pond in the courtyard froze solid in an instant. The centuries-old tree, along with all its green leaves, was frozen in the blink of an eye, transformed into a crystal-clear work of art.
But this is just the beginning!
Amidst the utterly incoherent and horrified gazes of everyone, a magnificent, gothic-style "ice mountain" rose from the courtyard ground in a savage manner, defying all the laws of physics!
The towering spires seemed to pierce the sky, and countless sharp and menacing ice spikes, like the fangs of a giant beast, reflected a chilling glint in the sunlight!
The iceberg was so huge that it cast its shadow over the entire Butterfly House!
Everyone felt a chill that came from the depths of their souls! It wasn't just cold; it was a fear and helplessness of having one's life level absolutely suppressed, like an ant looking up at a natural disaster!
"This...this is...Blood Demon Art?" Kanroji Mitsuri's voice trembled.
"No..." Giyuu Tomioka's pupils shrank to pinpoints, "It's more terrifying than any Blood Demon Art..."
“Monster…” Shinazugawa Sanemi squeezed out the two words dryly from his throat.
Esdeath watched with satisfaction as the crowd stood there utterly terrified, a cruel smile playing on her lips. She was about to say something more to demonstrate her power when a calm voice interrupted her.
"Enough, Esdeath."
Gu Chuan slowly walked to the center of the courtyard. He glanced at the huge iceberg that was almost changing the landscape and shook his head helplessly.
"It's noisy."
he said softly.
Then, he raised his right hand and casually waved it lightly towards the magnificent iceberg.
"Wow--"
That icy mountain range, representing absolute zero and enough to terrify the world, silently and rapidly crumbled and melted like a sandcastle blown by a gentle breeze, turning into countless crystal-clear ice crystals that then vanished completely into the air.
It was as if it had never existed.
This seemingly effortless move was even more shocking to Esdeath and all the Pillars than the previous one, which had suddenly appeared out of nowhere!
Esdeath's smile froze on her face. She stared at Gu Chuan's retreating figure, her fervor growing even stronger.
"Alright, since you need proof."
Gu Chuan turned around and looked at the so-called strongest human swordsmen who were completely stunned.
For the first time, a trace of pity appeared on his face.
"Then let me show you the world that you are fighting for, the world that truly belongs to you."
He slowly raised his right hand, palm up.
A golden, warm ray of light, seemingly containing the origin of life and the truth of the world, began to gather in his palm.
It was not dazzling or blinding, yet it instantly attracted everyone's attention, as if it were the center of the universe and the final destination of the soul.
Then, the light began to rise slowly, growing brighter and larger.
A small "sun" radiating endless light and heat appeared in the sky above the courtyard!
"boom--!!!"
At this moment, everyone's mind went completely blank.
What did they see?
It's the sun...
It is a real, warm sun that dispels all darkness and gloom!
The warm light gently shone on everyone. They felt their physical exhaustion, their spiritual pain, and their despair being soothed and healed little by little under the warmth of the light.
In the courtyard, the plants that had been frozen by Esdeath's power miraculously regained their vitality under the sunlight, becoming even greener and more vibrant than before!
Sanemi Shinazugawa stared blankly at the "sun," his heart, hardened by hatred, softening uncontrollably at this moment. He thought of his mother, his deceased younger siblings, and for the first time, his eyes, always filled with violence, shed burning tears.
The mournful islander, already in tears, no longer chanted Buddhist mantras. Instead, he knelt down devoutly in the direction of the sun, choking back sobs, unable to speak.
Giyu Tomioka raised his head, letting the warm sunlight fall on his face. He thought of Sabito, who had died, and of his sister. For the first time, a relieved smile, more painful than a cry, appeared on that usually cold and numb face.
Mitsuri Kanroji, Tengen Uzui, Obanai Iguro, Muichiro Tokito… at this moment, all the Pillars laid down their guard, doubts, and pride. Some stood, some knelt, some cried, some laughed, like the most devout believers, gazing up at that incredible, divine miracle.
A thousand years of darkness, a thousand years of despair, a thousand years of sacrifice...
For the first time, they saw so clearly and vividly... the hope of victory.
That wasn't a weapon, nor was it the power of 553; it was... a promise.
A dawn will eventually break and darkness will be dispelled—an undeniable declaration from a higher dimension!
[March 7th]: Woohoo! It's the sun! Brother Chuan really created a sun! So cool! So cool!
[Alicia]: Hehe, truly... the ultimate in romance and divinity~ Showing absolute power in the gentlest way. Well done, my lovely observer!
[Butterfly Dance]: ...Thank you, Gu Chuan-jun. Really...thank you.
Shinobu Kocho knelt on the ground, her clothes already soaked with tears. Gazing at the calm boy bathed in the "sunlight," all her wariness, unease, and calculations transformed in that moment into the purest, most profound reverence and trust.
She knew that this man would be the only god to end this world that had been cursed for thousands of years.
Gu Chuan slowly withdrew his hand, and the "sun" transformed into countless golden light particles that dissipated into the air. But that warmth and hope remained forever in everyone's heart.
He looked at the group of humanity's strongest warriors, who had been completely conquered, and calmly spoke:
"Now, can we sit down and have a proper discussion about how to hunt down that last mouse lurking in the shadows?"
No one answered.
His answer came from all the pillars, a uniform, soul-deep, and most sublime salute.
From this moment on, they were no longer collaborators.
Rather...believers.
Gu Chuan, Rin Tohsaka, and Esdeath were treated with the highest honors, as honored guests of the Butterfly Mansion… and indeed the entire Demon Slayer Corps.
The Shura Field in the Backyard of 72
Overwhelmed by the miraculous power of the "sun" in the courtyard, the tense interrogation transformed into a high-level reception meeting.
Inside the Butterfly Mansion, in the most elegant and pristine Japanese-style room, the nine Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps, their master Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and the three otherworldly visitors who seemed to have stepped out of mythology sat on either side. A faint aroma of tea filled the air, along with a subtle silence that mingled with awe and curiosity.