บท 14: The Concocted Vision of the Tempest Dragon

I strode into the Demon Slayer headquarters, the tension crackling through the air. After my run-in with Muzan and the relocation of the Kamado family, I knew what was coming. But this time, I had an idea—a bold one. If I was going to unite the Dragons and the Hashira for what lay ahead, I needed something to inspire them. Something more than just logic or a good plan.

I needed a vision.

The grand meeting room was alive with chatter as I entered, but as soon as the door creaked, the room hushed. The atmosphere shifted. The Dragons, Hashira, and Ubuyashiki Kagaya—all of them were seated. Big Bro, Gyomei Himejima, the Earth Dragon, sat quietly to my right, his imposing presence steady as ever. Beside him was Tengen Uzui, the Silent Dragon, his usual flamboyance tempered by a more serious air. Kyojuro Rengoku, the Fire Dragon, greeted me with a broad smile, but I could see the underlying tension. Across from him, Kane Kocho, the Flower Dragon, regarded me with a sharp gaze, her perceptiveness never missing a beat.

Around the long table, the other Hashira—Giyu Tomioka, Mitsuri Kanroji, Sanemi Shinazugawa, Muichiro Tokito, Obanai Iguro, and Shinobu Kocho—all waited in silence.

At the head of the table sat Ubuyashiki, calm as ever, though his illness had visibly worsened. I had my story ready, but I couldn't deny the knot forming in my stomach as I prepared to deliver it. The stakes were high, and I had to make sure this would motivate them.

I took my position at the center of the room. All eyes were on me.

"I've come back with crucial information," I started, my voice carrying through the room. "And something… much more than just information. A vision."

I could feel the weight of their attention sharpen. Even Ubuyashiki leaned forward slightly, intrigued.

"I've had a vision. Granted to me by none other than Lord Shiva."

Tengen raised an eyebrow. Kyojuro tilted his head, intrigued. But no one interrupted. They knew I wouldn't speak lightly about something like this.

"In this vision," I continued, letting my voice drop to a serious tone, "I saw the future—a future where Muzan is defeated. Where the Demon King is no more."

A murmur spread through the room. Eyes widened. Kyojuro's ever-present smile grew larger. For a moment, there was a spark of hope in the air. But I wasn't done.

"I saw the Kamado family slaughtered. Their entire bloodline erased… save for two. Tanjirō Kamado and his sister, Nezuko Kamado—she had been turned into a demon."

Gasps echoed in the room. Mitsuri placed her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. Giyu and Sanemi exchanged a hard look. The room grew heavier with the tension of the revelation.

"And then," I pressed on, "I saw the battle. All of you fought valiantly, giving everything you had to bring down Muzan. You succeeded. Muzan was killed, torn apart by your strength and resolve."

Smiles flickered across faces. Some of the tension eased. They were beginning to believe in the future I was painting for them.

But that was when I raised my hand. "Hold on," I said quietly, and the room fell silent again. "There was more."

The anticipation in the room was palpable.

"In that vision… I did not exist."

The shock rippled across the room instantly. Eyes flicked to me, and I could feel their confusion and alarm. Even Big Bro tensed beside me.

"I wasn't there in the final battle," I said gravely. "But that's not all. In this vision, Ubuyashiki-sama was… weaker. Much sicker than we had ever seen. And in the end… he sacrificed himself, along with his family, to slow down Muzan. Their lives were lost, just to buy you time."

The silence that followed was absolute. No one dared breathe.

Ubuyashiki remained still, though his calm demeanor didn't falter. His eyes, however, glinted with something more profound, a silent understanding.

I continued, letting the impact of my words sink in. "In the vision, you were strong, but not strong enough. You weren't prepared. Muzan's power was overwhelming, and it was only through the ultimate sacrifice of Ubuyashiki-sama that you had a chance."

I could see the flickers of doubt, but also the flickers of resolve. I wasn't done.

"And there's more," I said, locking eyes with the assembled Dragons and Hashira. "Muzan… is searching for something. Something that could make him invincible."

Sanemi slammed a hand on the table. "What is he searching for?" he growled, his impatience bubbling to the surface.

I shook my head. "That's what I haven't fully uncovered yet. But my guess… he's seeking a way to overcome his greatest weakness—the sunlight. If he succeeds, there will be no stopping him. Not even with all our strength."

The atmosphere grew thicker with dread. The thought of Muzan with no vulnerability to the sun was enough to silence even the loudest doubters.

I straightened my posture, letting them digest everything. "But there is hope. In the vision, Tanjirō and Nezuko Kamado are the key. They hold a potential that could turn the tide in our favor. However, they cannot do this alone. We cannot do this alone."

The room was hanging on my every word now.

"Here's what we must do," I said firmly, drawing their focus back to me. "We will train six key children—Tanjirō Kamado, Inosuke Hashibira, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Kanao Tsuyuri, Genya Shinazugawa, and Senjuro Rengoku. These six will be critical in the final battle. Their potential is untapped, and they need to be prepared for what's to come."

Kyojuro beamed at the mention of his brother, though his expression remained serious. Sanemi's eyes hardened at the mention of Genya, his jaw clenched, but he said nothing. Giyu, ever the quiet one, nodded slightly.

"And that's not all," I added. "We also need to prepare the next Dragons. Big Bro, you will teach the method of Mark Manifestation to the next generation. We need them to be stronger than we've ever been."

Big Bro nodded, his voice like the rumble of the earth. "I will teach them all that I know. They will surpass us in every way."

I turned to the assembled group. "The next Dragons will be: Giyu Tomioka, Mitsuri Kanroji, Sanemi Shinazugawa, Muichiro Tokito, Obanai Iguro, and Shinobu Kocho."

Each of them straightened in their seats, a new intensity filling their eyes. They understood now. The path ahead would require more than what they were—it required them to become something greater.

"You will be the future," I said. "The new Dragons, the strongest warriors we have ever seen. Big Bro and I will guide you. But know this—there is no turning back. Muzan will not stop until he has crushed us all. But if we are united, if we train harder than ever before, we can forge a new path. One where we all survive. One where we defeat him without the sacrifices I saw."

For a moment, the room was silent. The weight of my words hung in the air. And then, one by one, they nodded. The resolve in their eyes was unmistakable.

Ubuyashiki, his voice as soft as ever, spoke last. "Tempest Dragon, your vision has given us clarity. We will prepare. We will train. And we will change this fate."

I breathed an inward sigh of relief. The story had worked.

The Dragons were ready. The Hashira were ready. And the battle with Muzan was drawing closer by the day.