Just then, a message suddenly popped up in the chat group.
[Ash: Mr. Roy, the Iron Fist you taught me is incredible! I feel like my strength has improved so much!]
Roy smiled and quickly sent back a reply.
[Roy: Good work, keep at it. The potential of Iron Fist goes far beyond this, so you need to keep practicing. I look forward to the day you face off against a Legendary.]
[Ash: Yeah! I'll definitely keep getting stronger!]
Roy closed the chat group and chuckled to himself.
Ash's potential went far beyond what he had shown so far.
As a Super Rookie, Ash's future was filled with limitless possibilities.
'What should I do next?' Roy murmured under his breath.
Eevee seemed to sense his thoughts, gently nuzzled against his hand, and let out a soft cry. "Ee~vee~"
Roy gently stroked Eevee's soft fur while turning his thoughts to his plans going forward.
Suddenly, a private message notification chimed in the chat group.
He opened it and found that it was a message from Tanjiro.
[Mr. Roy, please save this world.]
Tanjiro's tone was anxious.
Roy raised an eyebrow, feeling somewhat surprised inwardly.
According to his original plan, he should have taken Garp with him to conquer the Demon Slayer world some time ago.
However, out of consideration for Tanjiro's feelings, he had held off for the time being.
At that moment, in the Demon Slayer world, Tanjiro's expression was pained.
Ever since he had received the Six Powers and Haki that Roy had passed on to him, he had been tremendously excited.
That power was simply too formidable, and if he could be like Mr. Roy, dealing with Muzan would have been effortless.
However, when he actually began to practice, he found that things were not nearly so simple.
The Demon Slayer world was different from the Ninja World, as there was no Chakra here to nourish the body, and the physical constitution of ordinary people was far inferior to the shinobi of the Ninja World.
Even a swordsman of exceptional talent like Tanjiro found it extraordinarily difficult to fully master the Six Powers and Haki.
To say nothing of the other members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
After discovering that he could not master these powers on his own, Tanjiro had tentatively shared the training methods for the Six Powers and Haki with his comrades in the Demon Slayer Corps.
However, the results left him deeply disappointed.
Even the most powerful Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps could only barely manage some of the basic techniques of the Six Powers, and as for Haki, not a single person was able to master it.
[Mr. Roy, our world... seems unable to bear this kind of power.] Tanjiro's voice was bitter.
[Even with the Six Powers, we can only barely manage to use them, and while they offer some help against the Upper Ranks, the effect is not significant.]
Roy read Tanjiro's messages and his brows furrowed slightly.
He had long anticipated that the people of the Demon Slayer world might not be able to fully master the Six Powers and Haki, but he had not expected the situation to be this dire.
It appeared that the physical constitution of the Demon Slayer world fell far short of the Ninja World, and expecting them to reach a level sufficient to contend with Muzan in a short time was indeed asking too much.
On the other side, within the Demon Slayer world, the atmosphere inside the room was so oppressive it was nearly suffocating.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat in the head seat, maintaining his composure as always, his gaze resting on Tanjiro.
"How did it go, Tanjiro?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked in a soft voice.
Tanjiro raised his head, and a flicker of complicated emotion crossed his eyes.
He could not tell Kagaya Ubuyashiki about the existence of the chat group, yet Kagaya Ubuyashiki's keen intelligence had already deduced some clues from the scattered hints.
Tanjiro knew that Kagaya Ubuyashiki had already sensed that there was a mysterious power at his back.
"Master..." Tanjiro began in a low voice, his tone hesitant. "I have contacted that person, and he... has agreed to help us."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki heard this, and a complicated look crossed his eyes.
He gave a gentle nod, his tone carrying a hint of relief. "That is wonderful, Tanjiro. This is our last hope."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice carried weariness, for he knew that the Demon Slayer Corps had been driven to the edge of ruin.
Not long ago, the Upper Ranks had mobilized collectively and launched a fierce assault on the Demon Slayer Corps.
Although the Demon Slayer Corps had barely managed to repel the Upper Ranks, the cost had been devastating, with several Pillars either killed or gravely wounded, and the combat strength of the Demon Slayer Corps had been greatly diminished.
And Muzan's transformation had made Kagaya Ubuyashiki even more uneasy.
Originally, Muzan had always remained hidden behind the scenes, manipulating everything at his leisure.
However, ever since Akaza had discovered the intricacies of the Six Powers and Haki during combat and reported this intelligence to Muzan, Muzan's attitude had undergone a dramatic change.
"Muzan... seems to have sensed fear from these techniques." Kagaya Ubuyashiki murmured in a low voice, his tone grave.
"He is no longer hiding, and is instead marshaling his full force to exterminate us. The next attack may come very soon."
Tanjiro nodded, a flash of resolve crossing his gaze. "Master, please rest at ease. That person... will definitely help us deal with Muzan."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Tanjiro, and a flicker of complex emotion passed through his eyes.
He let out a quiet sigh. "Tanjiro, I did not originally wish to draw out the power at your back."
"I hoped that the Demon Slayer Corps could put an end to this thousand-year curse through our own strength. But now... we have no choice."
Tanjiro lowered his head, his heart filled with guilt and self-reproach.
If he had been able to master the Six Powers and Haki more quickly, perhaps the Demon Slayer Corps would not have fallen into such desperate straits.
Yet reality was harsh, and he could only barely manage some of the basic techniques of the Six Powers.
"Master, I'm sorry..." Tanjiro said in a low voice, his voice choking.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki shook his head and spoke gently. "No, Tanjiro, this is not your fault. You have already done very well. What we need right now is hope, and you... have brought us that hope."
Yet his heart was not at ease.
For though hope had been brought, it had also brought unknown risks.
The gap in power between the two sides was too vast, and if the other party truly intended to subjugate this world, neither the Demon Slayer Corps nor the entire Demon Slayer world would have any capacity to resist.
'Can we only place our hopes in the other party's mercy?' Kagaya Ubuyashiki sighed silently to himself.
He knew this was a solution born of having no other options, for the Demon Slayer Corps had been driven to the brink, Muzan's threat was pressing in from all sides, and they had no other choice.
Meanwhile, within the Infinity Castle, Muzan's eyes shimmered with a gleam of excitement and greed.
The corner of his mouth curled into a cold and sinister smile.
"That power... is truly captivating." Muzan murmured in a low voice, his tone fervent.
He had learned of the existence of the Six Powers and Haki from Akaza's report, and although the people of the Demon Slayer Corps could not fully master them, Muzan had caught the scent of evolutionary possibility within them.
"If I annihilate this Demon Slayer Corps and obtain that strange power, I may be able to evolve once more, and perhaps even... surpass the limits of a demon."
Muzan was consumed by a frenzy, already burning with impatience to obtain that power.
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