The air grew heavy as the moon rose.
A sudden, unnatural stillness settled over the forest near the Butterfly Estate. Even the crickets stopped singing.
Johan stood on the roof, sensing it.
A presence.
Not just demonic—but old, vile, and confident.
[System Alert: High-Level Demon DetectedThreat Level: B+ (Upper Moon Scout)Objective: Eliminate.]
He dropped silently to the ground, Fatecarver materializing in his hand with a flash of light. The scent of blood was already on the wind.
The demon emerged from the trees.
Tall. Pale. A cracked mask covered its jaw. Its limbs were stretched unnaturally, fingers sharpened into claws.
"Strange…" the demon rasped. "You don't smell like the others."
Johan's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not like the others."
The demon's eyes gleamed. "Muzan-sama sensed something… familiar. I thought I'd find a Hashira. But you—"It grinned. "You smell like a memory that should have died centuries ago."
Yoriichi.
Johan didn't reply.
He moved.
Steel clashed with claws.
Fatecarver gleamed in the night, slicing arcs of light through the trees as Johan fought with calm precision. The demon was fast—but Johan was faster.
Every movement was surgical. Every dodge—instinctual.
He wasn't just reacting. He was reading fate itself.
"You're no slayer," the demon snarled, one arm already severed. "What are you?!"
"Your end," Johan whispered—and Fatecarver shone bright.
With a single clean slash, he removed the demon's head.
[Target Eliminated.][Reward: Unique Technique Acquired — Sun Breathing (Hinokami Kagura)][Skill Grade: Mythic][Note: Due to unique bloodline compatibility, user is capable of transcending original form.]
Johan fell to one knee, breathing heavily—but smiling.
"Sun Breathing, huh… This world just gave me its heart."
He closed his eyes. And inside his soul, flames bloomed.
A vision sparked: a man with long hair, standing beneath a red sun, moving through fire like it was part of him.
Yoriichi.
Back at the Butterfly Estate, Kanae met him at the door—eyes wide as she saw his torn haori, blood on his gloves.
"You're hurt—"
He shook his head, already healing. "Not anymore."
She stepped forward, placing a hand on his chest.
"You feel… different again. Like fire, but warm. Like the sun."
Johan looked at her quietly.
"I made a decision tonight," he said. "I'll protect everyone I can. Not just you. Not just this place."
He took her hand gently.
"I'll protect this whole damn world if I have to."
Kanae stared at him—then smiled softly.
"You really are changing."
He looked up at the stars. "Maybe I'm just becoming who I was always meant to be."
Far away, Muzan stood at the edge of a balcony, the night wind curling through his long hair.
His eyes narrowed.
"A memory I can't erase," he whispered. "Why now…?"
But still—he never suspected the truth.
Not an outsider. Not an anomaly.
Just a cursed echo of the one man he could never forget