One Minute

A colossal stretch of muscle formed on Muzan's right arm, a syringe shaped object with a metal but thin skewer objects attached to the end to create a hole in one's skin. Inside this contraption was a tube, a decently long one that attached to the King's deformed arm, allowing him to transfer his pureblood into a victim with ease.

The Upper moon once holding Inosuke down backed away, as well as the other demons who were not holding down any human. They did their own gossips here and there, watching the scene unfold from afar.

Blood that felt like poisonous venom was pumping into his very body at a rapid rate, way too much at once made him want to burst, his insides feeling like they were burning in molten lava, trickling them. When he was let go, he went onto his knees and could only stay frozen in a position, barely stuttering his torso in sync to the pumps coming in. Panting, his veins were visible from the outside of his skin, the transformation into becoming a demon. Gasping for air, he was desperate, screaming desperately for the prickling, aflame feeling inside to end. This would never end, his skin ready to tear apart if he made one discrete move, fragile as graphite on the tip of an HD Pencil.

Zenitsu's eyes widened, he shrieked at the sight near him. Watching with tears brimming his eyes as Inosuke began to scream in pain, the urge to look away remained. He didn't want to see his close friend suffering, screaming and beginning to writhe in Kokushibou's grasp. Tears were blurring his vision and stinging at his eyes; he couldn't bear to hear Inosuke's screams of agony. To put it into words, he didn't want that to happen to him.

"Leave him alone! Leave him alone!"

Zenitsu shouted through broken sobs. His shoulders were shaking as he continued to shout and squirm in the demon's clutch. Face drenched, his golden locks got in the way of his face, he would do anything for Inosuke to be left alone, anything. Considering him as a best friend and an idol like Tanjiro, he couldn't handle watching this, he couldn't handle this happening to him and Kamado as well.

Tanjiro was speechless.

Eyes widened and his mouth left agape, he purely couldn't believe it. Zenitsu's screaming caused him to snap out of his thoughts, his expression darkened as he lifted his head off the ground.

"You bastard! Stop whatever you're doing to him!"

Shouting to the top of his lungs, trying to escape the demon's grasp.

Clearly, he knew very well that it was inevitable, but that didn't mean that he couldn't try. Various smells filled his senses, causing his eyes to water as he shook his head vigorously.

"Muzan, leave him alone!"

Yelling once more, he continuously blinked away the tears; he didn't want to watch Inosuke struggle but he had to do something, he just had to.

"Inosuke! Fight back! Don't s-"

Muffles. His words began to be muffled from the demon slamming his head against the ground forcefully, not allowing him to intervene. Even still, Tanjiro wouldn't allow his words of encouragement to be silenced, jerking his body riotously despite his recent energy drain.

Inosuke's nails were tugging at his skin, crumpled as they outstretched across his head, eyes widening at every waking moment. Screams that were fueling the air were silent to him, only the crackling embers and his hear rate rung in his ears. What was this? Eyes were flickering in and out of consciousness, fighting to stay awake and not give in to whatever this crap was. Staring down at the ground with his tense body ready to snap, he felt the flesh on his arms begin to tear apart entirely, blood leaking out. For someone as prideful as him, he could not put on that faced entirely at all, helpless in this situation. Nobody was coming to save him nor his friends, nobody.

After evacuating, the Hashira guided the remains of the Corps that survived the attack, most by a hair. Everything was a mess, nobody knew if everyone was accounted for but one thing that all knew was that innocent lives were lost. Innocent lives lost only because they didn't react in time. Maybe another second or more could have saved a life, probably everyone's. While the organisation was being put into place, the water pillar, Giyuu Tomioka sensed someone was, missing if one should say.

Giyuu leaned against a tree, his forehead was bleeding, and the blood ran down his face, causing him to close his left eye. Clutching onto his sword weakly, he gazed up at the midnight sky, the stars seeming unaffected entirely. Dark lapis eyes that belonged to him were dulled from nausea that encased his mind. Blood matted down his black unruly hair to his scalp and the uneven ends were more tufted out. With his free hand, he held his side, trying to put pressure on the wound he was given. His half-and-half haori was ripped but still wrapped around his shoulders. His dark cyan-tinted uniform was torn in various places and some parts were darkened with blood.

Other members of the top 9 demon slayers in the corps gathered the people together, counting them up. Though, before they could even finish, their minds clicked; three Kanoe Slayers were missing. Before anyone could realise, Tomioka, with widened eyes, began to rush back to the scene of the crime; the Demon Corps Headquarters, or what remained of it at least.

Now noticing the situation, a cold chill ran down everyone's spine, three soon to be made pillar demon slayers were missing, probably left behind. Nobody had to speak to know what had to be done, the insect and snake pillar staying behind to treat the wounded while the other pillars fled the area, back towards the very place they escaped.

A path of flames awaited the Water Pillar, him strolling down it cautiously. At this point and further, he knew very well he couldn't rush his rescue otherwise he could be among the dead as well. Who knew if demons still lerked? Eyes traced the ruined walkway, all crumbled with ashes and dead remains of clothing and human corpses alike. Horrid scents fueled his nose, him not being fazed physically. Smells of burning corpses and raw flesh were the awful stench in the air, it is toxic against a mere mortals tongue.

Finally reaching the main plaza, Tomioka's eyes widened at the sight. The entire region of land had been flattened to the ground, burst into a bonfire of several infernos. Once human corpses, now burnt ashes; not even bones remained. This was gruesome, horrid, reminding him of something he always wished to forget. Shaking the feeling off, he knew very well that he couldn't look back now, he had to know if there were any survivors. Investigating the area was difficult, the vibrant flames rupturing at every crevasse.

During his search, the Hashira that volunteered to go after he randomly fled, though, they would not scold Giyu currently. Mainly, the objective was to search for the missing Kanoe Slayers, not argue with each other. Though, this wasn't the case for the Wind Pillar, grabbing his ally by the collar, lifting him up while gritting his teeth.

"What the hell! You fucking left without telling us shit!"

Everyone turned their attention to the two, Giyu, unfazed by his attempted attack, only to peer his eyes at his opposed attacker.

Mitsuri Kanroji, the Pillar of Love, gasped, covering her mouth with her two soft and gentle hands, shocked by what he was doing.

"Oh my! Why are you strangling him Shinazugawa!"

The Stone Pillar, Gyomei Himejima, immediately split the two up, not wanting them to argue in a crisis like this for clear reasons.

"We shall deal with this when everyone is safe, now we must search my friends."

Fortunately, everyone agreed, though, Sanemi Shinazugawa wasn't the happiest about his fight being intruded on, he had a bone to pick with Giyu. Even so, everyone split in their own directions to search, scanning their eyes at every destroyed piece of derby, lifting object after object with no luck.

There.

Right there.

The sound pillar called out to his comrades, considering if he found evidence for, the missing Demon Slayer. Everyone gathered around, staring down at what was left behind.

Three things.

A burnt, golden yellow tear of fabric with white triangle shapes on it.

A plastic blue eyeball.

A broken hanafuda earing.

They were a minute too late, they were gone.