Chapter Thirty: The Total Annihilation of the Fated

“Lord Illusory Feather, you’re always making that burnt smell and those violent gusts of wind—many people have already mistaken the Chrysanthemum House for the scene of a battle.”
“Please, could you keep it down a bit when you’re training?”
Hearing that this was just a test of power, Little Chrysanthemum tried to persuade him.
“You don’t need to worry. One test is enough,” Chu Fan replied, catching the tone of plea in her voice as he put away the cursed kitchen knife and descended from the rooftop, speaking casually.
“Really? There won’t be any more loud noises?” Little Chrysanthemum asked, skepticism tinging her words.
The one she cared for possessed strength so profound she couldn’t comprehend it, but that was exactly why things were so troublesome.
He was always causing disturbances, and she was often summoned to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to explain.
She had to reason at length before they believed Lord Illusory Feather was merely training, not fighting with anyone.
But because they believed her, she had drifted further from the Hidden Division members.
Others feared Lord Illusory Feather and wouldn’t dare approach.
Even though she had his permission to invite good friends over as guests, no one was willing to come inside—they would only chat with her briefly at the gate, but not cross the threshold.
“Of course it’s true. Go ahead and mind your own business. Don’t worry about me,” Chu Fan nodded slightly and resumed swinging his Nichirin blade.
Mastering this sword technique was undeniably useful—advancing its level would greatly enhance his proficiency with his favored weapon types.
He planned to condense weapons with magic in the future, so diligent sword training was essential. After more than a month of rigorous practice, his Sword Mastery had improved, proving his efforts hadn’t been in vain.
Little Chrysanthemum trusted Lord Illusory Feather implicitly, so she returned inside to cook, heart at ease.
Chu Fan began his training in earnest; each swing of his blade stirred up fierce winds, stripping all the leaves from the trees in the courtyard.
Little Chrysanthemum had once quietly complained behind his back that such a beautiful arrangement was wasted, but Chu Fan, seeing that she always cleaned the courtyard afterward, never took her complaints to heart.
While Zenitsu Agatsuma was out running laps for training at the Butterfly House, he witnessed this display and quickly called over Tanjiro Kamado and Inosuke Hashibira.
All three headed toward the source of the commotion.
“Zenitsu, are you saying this stone was split by Lord Illusory Feather?”
Tanjiro Kamado touched the stone, now halved, feeling the clean break left by a single stroke.
“Yes, I saw him standing on the roof—he swung once, and the sound of the stone shattering reached us.”
“My ears are still ringing,” Zenitsu said wretchedly, patting at his ears.
“Fifty meters away, and a single swing split a giant boulder?”
“Is that guy even human?” Inosuke exclaimed, having felt the tremor through the ground moments before.
“Zenitsu, Inosuke, I have to master Total Concentration—Constant,” Tanjiro said with steely resolve, awed by power beyond his understanding.
After battling several fearsome demons, Tanjiro had realized that killing demons wasn’t something one could accomplish with words alone.
Only by exerting extraordinary effort could a human hope to slay demons and save the innocent.
“I’ll master it too,” Inosuke replied, exhaling deeply.
With such a formidable warrior living next door and witnessing his overwhelming might, Inosuke was determined to grow stronger himself.
“It’s impossible, impossible. That man isn’t human—there’s no way to catch up to him,” Zenitsu protested, shaking his head desperately as his companions’ fighting spirit ignited.
“Zenitsu, it’s not about whether we can catch up,” Tanjiro answered, “Even if we can’t, we have to get as close as we can. Only then, after fighting demon after demon, will we still be able to see each other alive.”
After the Spider Mountain incident, Tanjiro had nearly lost Inosuke and never wanted to feel such fear again.
Lord Illusory Feather had said that once he recovered fully and mastered Total Concentration—Constant, he would personally teach Tanjiro the Sun Breathing technique.
To be taught by such a master was a heavy burden—Tanjiro could only wonder if he possessed the talent to satisfy Lord Illusory Feather.
Yet, no matter the pressure, Tanjiro would not shrink back.
“Come on, let’s get back to training,” Inosuke said, paying Zenitsu’s protests no heed and dragging him back to the Butterfly House for rehabilitation exercises.
After the three left,
Shinobu Kocho arrived at the boulder, her beautiful eyes shimmering as she gazed at the rock, split cleanly in two.
To fell a tree from dozens of meters away with a single swing was not especially surprising for Shinobu—some among the Demon Slayer Corps could do as much.
But to cleave a massive, solid boulder from such a distance—this, even Shinobu had never witnessed before.
Recalling Chu Fan’s recent promise, Shinobu felt true relief settle in her heart and returned to compound her special medicines.
She was determined to help Tanjiro Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Inosuke Hashibira recover as quickly as possible.
Upon returning, Tanjiro glanced at Shinobu.
“The scent of anger that always hung around Miss Shinobu is gone?” he mused in disbelief, having noticed the change.
Since he’d first met her, Shinobu had always carried a faint scent of irritation, though he’d never found a suitable moment to ask her about it.
But now, for some reason, it was gone, as if she had let something go.
Since she was no longer angry, Tanjiro saw no reason to pry.
While the Demon Slayer Corps carried on in peace, each member attending to their duties, things were far less tranquil for Muzan Kibutsuji.
The three Fatebound, transformed into demons, were mercilessly crushed by Muzan himself.
“Mere Lower Moons dare to speak so boldly, imagining they can order me around?”
Muzan laughed coldly at their insolence.
These weak demons had the gall to claim the Blue Spider Lily didn’t exist, to question the purpose he had pursued for all these years.
They suggested he should mobilize all his forces to annihilate the Demon Slayer Corps in one stroke.
Of course he wanted to wipe them out, but they hid deep within the mountains and forests—finding them was no simple matter.
He’d assumed their urgent request for an audience meant they had vital information, and so, for once, he showed patience and inquired.
But these fools had nothing—no concrete location, no intelligence—only ignorance.