The World On His Shoulders | Demon slayer x Male reader

Chapter LI

Kept you waiting huh?

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❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

 Muzan had in his hand the disembodied head of Akaza who now bore a look of resignation.

"Why do you think I'm so close to destroying you, Akaza?" Muzan sneered.

Akaza's head replied almost mechanically, "Is it because I failed to bring Y/N here?"

Muzan's glare was emotionless, his annoyance clear. "Yes, you imbecile. For all I know, Y/N might have broken free from my influence, or worse, been killed by some demon slayer before fully transforming. His absence ruins a lot of things I had planned."

Akaza accepted his fate, "I await your judgment, Muzan-sama."

Muzan tossed Akaza's head aside like a discarded toy. "As much as I'd love to obliterate all of you for these failures," he hissed, "you still have your uses."

He then turned abruptly to Nakime who sat with her instrument. "Gather all the Upper Moons, now," he commanded coldly.

Nakime obediently began to strum her biwa, her melody weaving through the air and altering the castle's very fabric. One by one, the Upper Moons appeared, materializing from the void, their expressions a mix of curiosity and unease.

Muzan surveyed his demons with a critical eye.

 Gyokko peered nervously through his vase. Hantengu knelt, forehead pressed to the floor, trembling in fear. Kokushibo maintained a dignified seiza position, his head bowed.

Muzan turned sharply to Nakime. "Where is Doma?" he demanded angrily.

At that moment, Doma sauntered in nonchalantly, waving cheerfully with a blood-stained mouth. "Hey, Muzan-sama!" he greeted, oblivious to the meeting. As he passed by Akaza's regenerating form, Doma stared mockingly, "Looks like Akaza-dono lost his head over something."

Muzan's fury reached its peak. Without warning, he unleashed his power, causing Doma's body to explode violently, leaving only his head intact.

Doma's head, now separated from his obliterated body, frowned in annoyance. "That was mean, Muzan-sama," he protested, his tone surprisingly casual despite his state.

Doma's severed head lay on the floor, his expression still nonchalant despite the violent reprimand from Muzan.

Muzan's eyes glinted with cold fury as he addressed the remaining demons. "For over a century, the Upper Moons have remained unchanged. That stability was the only reason I could tolerate your... whims. But now, Gyutaro is dead," he announced.

The demons' reactions were varied. Surprise registered on the faces of Gyokko and Hantengu, while Kokushibo remained stoically unmoved, his head still bowed.

Doma sensing a level of responsibility for Gyutaro, attempted to speak. "Muzan-sama, I—"

"Silence!" Muzan snapped, cutting him off abruptly. "I want answers. Why is the blue spider lily still not in my hands? Why does the Ubuyashiki family still draw breath? Why has no Hashira fallen? And most importantly, how did an Upper Moon die?"

 Each demon knew that their failure to provide satisfactory answers could result in a fate similar to Doma's.

Hantengu shifted uncomfortably,  Gyokko still peering through his vase, seemed to shrink further into his shell. Kokushibo finally lifted his head, meeting Muzan's gaze with a calm but cautious expression.