The Boys: Ultimate Multiversal Lifeform

"A mark… that's a strange word. I've never heard it before."

Mitsuri Kanroji's big eyes were full of curiosity.

"You only just joined the Demon Slayer Corps, so it's normal that you don't know," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said, looking at the Hashira.

"It's a special phenomenon recorded in ancient texts. It goes all the way back to the first generation of demon slayers, when Sun Breathing was still being passed down. Some swordsmen awakened the Mark by accident and gained strength far beyond normal.

With that power, they could easily cut down demons — even Upper Ranks weren't safe.

But as time went on and Sun Breathing died out completely, the swordsmen who could awaken the Mark disappeared into history along with it. That's exactly why none of the Upper Ranks have died in hundreds of years. Without that kind of power, even the Hashira can't stand against the Upper Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki."

As he spoke, a trace of nostalgia appeared in Kagaya's eyes.

Without a doubt, that era had been the golden age of the Demon Slayer Corps. Countless geniuses and powerhouses emerged one after another. Especially the existence of that one man — he forced Muzan and all his demons to hide in the mountains like rats, barely surviving.

Even after that man died, the Sun Breathing he left behind gave birth to the five fundamental Breathing Styles: Water, Stone, Flame, Wind, and Thunder.

But his death also meant the dawn of the Demon Slayer Corps was coming to an end.

Now, not only had the Sun Breathing lineage vanished, but the Corps' strength had weakened to its lowest point. It was hard to believe the Thunder Hashira position was even vacant — something that had never happened before.

Thankfully, he had found Ivan. Ivan had appeared like Yoriichi Tsugikuni from hundreds of years ago, showing up with overwhelming strength.

It made Kagaya wonder if Ivan was the chosen one of this era.

Good thing Ivan couldn't hear what he was thinking, or he probably would've flashed that same smug, sun-like grin Homelander always wore.

"So you're saying that if we awaken the Mark, we can gain the power to kill Upper Ranks?" Sanemi Shinazugawa said excitedly.

The next second, Kagaya dumped a bucket of cold water on his head.

"According to the ancient texts, anyone who awakens the Mark dies before the age of twenty-five. There's only one exception — the creator of Sun Breathing, Lord Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

While the Mark grants incredible power, that power comes at the cost of burning through your lifespan. If possible, I hope all of you think this through carefully."

"Then what are we waiting for? Mr. Ivan, please tell me how to awaken the Mark."

Kyojuro Rengoku looked at Ivan with complete sincerity.

"To awaken the Mark, you need to meet two conditions. First, your body temperature has to reach thirty-nine degrees. Second, your pulse has to stay above two hundred," Ivan said flatly.

"Thirty-nine degrees? It's already hard enough to stay conscious at that temperature, let alone fight."

Shinobu Kocho looked genuinely surprised. She knew normal body temperature was between thirty-six and thirty-seven degrees.

Anything over thirty-seven caused discomfort, and thirty-nine was dangerous territory. Usually you'd need immediate treatment or it could become life-threatening.

"As long as you can push through it, there's a high chance you'll awaken the Mark. If you can't, that's your problem. Alright, Kagaya, come with me for a moment."

Ivan turned and led Kagaya under a nearby tree.

"Kagaya, I need you to do me a favor."

"Please speak," Kagaya said with a small nod.

"Help me find the blue spider lily. It grows at the place where Yoriichi Tsugikuni buried his wife. It only blooms two or three times during the day each year, and its growing conditions are extremely strict. Even the smallest change in the environment can kill off entire clusters."

After all, only the Ubuyashiki family knew the exact location of Yoriichi and his wife's graves.

Maybe Tanjiro's father and mother had known too — their ancestors, Tanjuro and Kie, had been friends with Yoriichi. It was possible Yoriichi had told them where his wife was buried. But they were dead now.

Right now, the only people who knew the location were the Ubuyashiki family.

"No wonder Muzan couldn't find the blue spider lily. It only blooms during the day." Kagaya then named a specific mountain.

That mountain happened to be the one where Tanjiro's family lived.

In other words, when Muzan attacked Tanjiro's family, he had missed the one thing he wanted most. Too bad it had been winter back then, buried under snow.

Completely normal that he missed it.

But if Muzan ever found out he had been that close to the blue spider lily, he'd probably die of rage.

"I'll send Kasugai Crows there right away to search. Hopefully we'll find something." Kagaya decided to keep it secret and only use crows that could never betray or leak information.

"Once you get the blue spider lily, save one for me." Ivan glanced at Lady Tamayo, who was standing in the distance holding an umbrella to avoid the sunlight. Then he followed the logistics personnel toward the room Kagaya had prepared for him.

Elsewhere.

Sanemi Shinazugawa clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Doesn't sound that hard."

At that moment, Giyu Tomioka spoke up.

"With conditions that strict, you actually think it's easy? I really envy how simple your brain is."

"Say that again if you've got the balls," Sanemi snapped, clearly pissed off.

Seeing the tension, Mitsuri Kanroji quickly stepped in to change the subject. "Alright, alright, don't get mad. Let's just talk about how we're going to train to awaken the Mark instead."

"Exactly. We don't have much time left." Gyomei Himejima's pale eyes welled up with tears again. "Even if Mitsuri's plan works, we won't stand a chance against Muzan without real power. And the second he realizes the blue spider lily we gave him is fake, he'll launch an even more brutal counterattack."

"Hmph. I'll let it slide this time, for your sakes." Sanemi Shinazugawa snorted coldly and turned away, heading toward the training grounds by himself.

"Giyu, you shouldn't have said that."

Kyojuro Rengoku didn't want any bad blood between the Hashira, especially not at a time like this.

Giyu Tomioka stayed quiet for a moment, then silently walked off as well.

...

The next day, bad news kept pouring in nonstop.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki watched the constant stream of Kasugai Crows flying toward the window, his mood growing heavier with each one.

Those black shadows felt like messengers from death itself. Every time one arrived, it meant another group of people had been slaughtered by demons.

The atmosphere on the training grounds was suffocating.

Finally, Sanemi couldn't hold it in anymore. He slammed his sword into the ground with a vicious expression and roared, "Why the hell are we still just sitting here?! Are we really going to act like cowards and watch those demons butcher humans however they want?!"

"How's Shinobu's side progressing?"

Kyojuro asked Mitsuri beside him.

"I heard they're working on a drug that can turn demons back into humans. It should work on Muzan too."

Suddenly, Ivan stepped out of his room and exhaled a long breath of waste air.

[Five Brains Seven Hearts fusion in progress. Current progress: 78%]

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Read 12 Advance Chapters—P@t- Captain69