The storm of battle had passed. Broken temples, frozen lakes, scorched hills—all bore the scars of demonic war. In these scattered, ruined lands stood the Hashira, bruised and bloodied, yet undefeated. Victory came at a cost, but none were prepared for the message carried on the wind.
A cry pierced the dawn sky.
"KRAAA—MESSAGE! MESSAGE!"
The Kasugai Crows flapped toward their assigned masters, feathers matted with fatigue, eyes wet with a sorrow they rarely carried. There was no ceremony this time, no playful squawking. Only trembling voices, raw from delivering the same soul-crushing truth.
First came to Mitsuri Kanroji, resting under the shade of a ruined gate beside Obanai. Her wounds were wrapped, her smile faint, recovering from the harrowing manipulation she endured. The crow landed with a soft thud on her shoulder.
"RENGOKU KYOJURO IS DEAD—FELL IN BATTLE ON MUGEN TRAIN!"
Her smile broke.
Obanai turned sharply, disbelieving. "What…?"
Elsewhere in the mountains, Gyomei Himejima stood in silent prayer. His crow landed before him with tearful urgency. As the news spilled out, the monk's breath hitched. The prayer beads in his hand snapped, one by one, each echo a silent grief.
Farther down, Tengen Uzui sat resting against Muichiro, the mist-haired boy asleep after the brutal fight with the fused demons. Tengen's crow perched beside him.
"RENGOKU HAS FALLEN!"
For a long moment, the Sound Hashira said nothing.
Then, finally, a quiet whisper: "...Flamboyant idiot."
His head lowered, eyes hidden behind his headband.
Sanemi Shinazugawa, still seething from the battle with Douma, looked up as his crow swooped down. "Kyojuro Rengoku…" it began. His fists clenched. The Wind Hashira let out a breathless curse and punched the tree beside him, bark exploding off its trunk.
Shinobu received the news at the Butterfly Mansion. Her fingers curled around the window frame. Behind her, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke froze.
Shinobu closed her eyes, voice barely a whisper.
"He smiled… even at the end, I'm sure."
**