Chapter 21: The Legend Spreads

The night after Abyssal Moon Zero's defeat, the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters was filled with urgent whispers and frantic reports. Runners, crows, and slayers who had witnessed the battle firsthand all rushed to deliver the news—an unknown bald man, stronger than any Hashira or demon they'd ever seen, had one-punched an ancient Abyssal Moon into oblivion.

The reports were so outrageous that Oyakata-sama himself had to ask multiple times:

"Are you sure this is not a misunderstanding?"

"No, Oyakata-sama," the crow squawked nervously. "The bald man punched the demon once, and the demon… disappeared."

Silence fell over the hall. The assembled Hashira sat in stunned disbelief.

"Who the hell is this guy?" Sanemi slammed his fist into the table. "You're telling me some random bald man wiped out an ancient demon we've never even heard of, and it took him one punch? One?!"

"Impossible," Obanai muttered. "Even Muzan took centuries to reach his level. No human should be capable of that."

Yet the evidence was undeniable. A crater larger than any battlefield in recorded history now scarred the Moonlit Valley. Demonic residue had evaporated entirely—no regeneration, no trace of the curse left behind. Only someone far beyond even Upper Moon One could have caused such destruction.

"Maybe… he's a god," Mitsuri whispered, eyes wide with a strange mixture of fear and admiration.

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Saitama's Side

Meanwhile, Saitama, completely unaware of the chaos he caused within the Corps, was sitting under a tree, chewing on some leftover rice balls Tanjiro gave him.

"Demon Slayer world is pretty weird," he mumbled, looking at the sword Tanjiro had let him hold. "They fight with these tiny swords against giant monsters, and somehow they still survive. Pretty impressive."

Nezuko peeked out of her box again, eyes wide with curiosity. She didn't fully understand who this bald man was, but she liked him. His presence felt… comforting, somehow. Like her brother's, but louder and funnier.

"Nezuko-chan likes you," Tanjiro said with a small smile. "She's usually shy around strangers."

"Probably the bald head," Saitama said dryly. "Kids love shiny things."

Zenitsu, who was still recovering from the trauma of seeing Saitama fight, pointed a trembling finger. "B-b-bald monster… you… w-what are you?"

Saitama blinked at him. "Just a hero for fun."

"That's not a real answer!" Zenitsu shrieked.

Inosuke, meanwhile, had stars in his eyes. "Bald guy! Fight me!"

"No."

"Why not?!"

"Too lazy."

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Muzan Learns the Truth

Deep within his hidden lair, Muzan Kibutsuji sat surrounded by what remained of the Upper Moons. The absence of Abyssal Moon Zero had not gone unnoticed.

A trembling Lower Moon kneeled before him, recounting what the crows had reported.

"…and then… the bald man punched Lord Zero once… and… and he disappeared, my Lord."

Muzan's red eyes narrowed dangerously. "A single punch?"

"Yes, my Lord."

The silence in the chamber was thick enough to suffocate. Muzan's fingers drummed against his throne. For the first time in centuries, he felt something unusual—fear.

"Find this man," Muzan ordered coldly. "No human should possess power beyond my own. I will not tolerate a threat to my reign."

The remaining Upper Moons bowed, though a flicker of uncertainty crossed their faces. If this bald man truly could destroy an Abyssal Moon with a single blow, what chance did they have?

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Meanwhile, Saitama Just Wants Dinner

Back at camp, Saitama stood up and stretched. "Well, I'm hungry again."

Tanjiro offered to cook something, but Saitama waved him off. "Nah, I'll go look around. There's gotta be some food nearby."

As he walked off, the Demon Slayers stared after him.

"Is it just me," Zenitsu whispered, "or is that bald man… the scariest thing in this whole world?"

"It's not just you," Inosuke agreed. "But I still wanna fight him."

"Please don't," Tanjiro sighed.

With the night growing quiet once more, none of them knew that the entire Demon Slayer Corps was now buzzing with rumors of the Bald Hero—some called him a myth, others a curse, and a few began to wonder if he was the secret weapon sent by heaven itself.

Saitama didn't care. He just wanted a decent bowl of ramen.

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End of Chapter 21