The Mugen Train whistled loudly as it chugged down the tracks, carrying its four newest passengers—Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and the ever-enthusiastic Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku.
Well, five passengers, actually.
Raja had stealthily boarded the train, disguised with an enchanted cloaking spell, just to observe the chaos unfold in peace. Watching children fight demons was always good entertainment.
And, of course, he brought snacks.
"A METAL BEAST! I KNEW THEY EXISTED!" he roared, startling several passengers.
Before anyone could stop him, Inosuke launched himself onto the seats, shoving his snout into confused passengers' faces.
"HOW DO YOU TAME THIS MONSTER?!" he yelled at an old man.
"Sir, please—" a terrified conductor began, but Inosuke grabbed his collar.
"DOES IT EAT HUMANS OR DEMONS?!"
Zenitsu, practically vibrating with secondhand embarrassment, grabbed Inosuke's cloak and yanked him back.
"STOP HARASSING PEOPLE, YOU WALKING MENACE!"
Inosuke huffed, arms crossed. "Tch! You're just jealous 'cause I figured out its weak spots before you!"
"YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A TRAIN, YOU ABSOLUTE MANIAC!"
Raja, watching from the shadows, munched on his bento.This was already better than expected.
While Zenitsu and Inosuke continued their unhinged debate on train anatomy, Rengoku sat completely unbothered, devouring his bento boxes with godly intensity.
"UMAI! UMAI! UMAI!"
Tanjiro, waiting for the perfect moment, cleared his throat. "Flame Hashira Rengoku-san, I would like to formally introduce—"
"UMAI!"
"—my comrades, Inosuke and Zenitsu—"
"UMAI!"
Tanjiro sighed."—when you're done eating."
Five boxes later, Rengoku turned to him with a bright smile.
"Well then! What a fine group of young warriors! What brings you to this mission?"
Tanjiro's expression became serious."We're investigating demon disappearances. Also… I wanted to ask about the Hinokami Kagura."
Rengoku's eyes flickered with intrigue."Ah! A fire-related breathing technique, is it? We shall discuss this after we purge the train of demons!"
Zenitsu's face went pale."D-did you just say demons?! On this train? Right now?!"
"YES! LET US FIGHT!" Rengoku declared, punching the air in excitement.
Zenitsu collapsed on the floor."Why does this always happen to me?"
Just then, the Train Conductor arrived to collect tickets.
Everything seemed normal.
Until the lights flickered ominously.
The Conductor's face twisted unnaturally, his eyes blank with hidden terror.
And then—
A massive demon emerged, screeching from the shadows!
"HELLO, SNACKS!" the demon howled, lunging toward them.
Before Tanjiro could even draw his sword, Rengoku moved.
"FLAME BREATHING, FIRST FORM… SUN FIRE!"
SHING!
In less than a second, the demon's head flew off its shoulders.
The body twitched, collapsed, and crumbled to ash.
Everyone blinked.
Zenitsu, trembling, pointed at Rengoku. "I… I think I'm in love."
Raja, still hidden, nodded in appreciation.Fast. Precise. No nonsense. This was going to be fun.
The group continued their investigation while Zenitsu refused to stop panicking.
However, unbeknownst to them, the Conductor had already fallen under Enmu's control.
As the Demon Slayers began to feel drowsy, their bodies slumped forward, succumbing to sleep.
Enmu, watching from the shadowy depths of the train, grinned. "Sleep well, children. Your happy dreams shall be your tomb!"
One by one, the Demon Slayers fell into dreams.
Tanjiro opened his eyes—and found himself back home, in the forest.
His family stood before him, alive and well.
"Onii-chan! Let's play!" his siblings cheered.
Tanjiro froze. His breath hitched. "Am I… home?"
Meanwhile, Zenitsu's dream was peak insanity.
He was frolicking through a peach tree forest, carrying Nezuko bridal-style, while a chorus of birds sang his praises.
"Nezuko-chaaan! I WILL PROTECT YOU FOREVER!" he sobbed dramatically.
Inosuke's dream, on the other hand, was pure chaos.
"FORWARD, MY MINIONS! WE SHALL SLAY THE BEAST!" he roared, leading a charge against the train, believing it was a giant demon boar.
Back in reality, Enmu's brainwashed children snuck into their dreams, seeking to destroy their spiritual cores.
But then, something unexpected happened.
Raja decided it was time for them to wake up.
Inside Tanjiro's dream, as he hugged his family, something felt… wrong.
There was someone missing.
A face he couldn't remember.
Then—
BAM!
Tanjiro flew forward, landing face-first in the dirt.
A familiar voice boomed.
"WAKE UP, FOOL! ZENITSU IS MARRYING NEZUKO!"
Tanjiro jerked upright."WHAT?!"
Just like that, the dream shattered.
Inosuke's wake-up call was just as brutal.
Inside his dream, as he prepared to slay the 'Mugen Train Demon,' his Boar Mother Spirit appeared.
She bonked him over the head.
"WAKE UP, YOU STUBBORN CHILD!"
Inosuke shot up in reality, flailing."WHO DARES ATTACK THE KING OF THE MOUNTAIN?!"
Zenitsu's wake-up method was pure genius.
As he gazed lovingly at Dream Nezuko, she suddenly turned and… married another man.
Zenitsu froze.
His entire soul shattered.
Then—
"NOOOOOO!" he screamed, jolting awake.
His face was soaked with tears."It was a nightmare! IT WAS A NIGHTMARE, RIGHT?!"
Raja, watching from a distance stealthily, smirked."Yes, yes. All a nightmare. Or was it?"
Zenitsu screamed.
The train rumbled as Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu shook off their lingering drowsiness.
"A demon did this," Tanjiro growled, gripping his sword.
Inosuke cracked his knuckles."THEN LET'S RIP IT TO SHREDS!"
Zenitsu Fuming with Rage."I KNOW YOU DID SOMETHING DEMON! How dare you show that nightmare" as his body surrounded by thunder and lightning.
Raja just sipped his tea and smirking.
As the train raced forward, the real battle was about to begin.
TO BE CONTINUED… 🚂🔥