Night gradually fell, signaling that the great war between humans and demons was about to begin.
With a calm, resolute voice, Ubuyashiki Kagaya declared,
"May fortune and valor be with you all."
At that command, the entire Demon Slayer Corps set forth toward the Infinity Castle hidden within Ōsumi Village.
At the front of the formation marched Kocho Kanae, Kocho Shinobu, Tsuyuri Kanao, Kokushibō, Hakuji, Gyutaro, Koyuki, and Ume — all of them eager, unable to wait any longer to rescue Yashiki Yosuke.
Following close behind were the Hashira:
the Stone Hashira Himejima Gyōmei,
the Water Hashira Tomioka Giyu,
the Sound Hashira Uzui Tengen,
the Wind Hashira Shinazugawa Sanemi,
the Flame Hashira Rengoku Kyojuro,
the Serpent Hashira Iguro Obanai,
the Love Hashira Kanroji Mitsuri,
and the Mist Hashira Tokito Muichiro.
Behind them came Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Genya Shinazugawa, and Inosuke, his wounds hastily bandaged so he could return to battle — the four Hashira candidates.
After them marched the Corps' main fighting force — nearly a thousand trained demon slayers — and at the rear, the logistics division, responsible for medical aid and battlefield support.
When the Demon Slayer Corps arrived outside the Infinity Castle, they found Kibutsuji Muzan himself standing at the forefront of the demonic host.
Behind him were Dōma and Hantengu, and beyond them stretched an endless, seething mass of demons — their number rivaling that of the Corps.
The Hashira stepped forward, meeting Muzan's gaze head-on.
"Kibutsuji Muzan!" one shouted. "Do you remember the people standing here? Every one of us lost our peaceful lives because of you! Now we've come to settle the score!"
Muzan swept his cold eyes across the ranks of demon slayers and replied, voice utterly calm,
"Tell me — do you remember every ant you've ever stepped on?"
At those words, hatred flared in every human heart.
Muzan went on, his tone dripping with contempt,
"How tiresome. Everyone seeks revenge, as though it will change anything.
If they'd simply chosen to live quietly, to survive, none of this would be necessary.
Those I've killed are no different from those lost to a natural disaster — meaningless deaths, beyond reason or remorse.
The dead do not return. So why waste your lives chasing vengeance against me?"
Then, his crimson eyes gleaming, he added,
"Ordinary humans aren't foolish enough to seek vengeance. Only lunatics like you — willing to throw away your lives for so-called 'family' and 'friends' — would dare to oppose me.
Fighting such fanatics has become tedious.
This time, I'll finish it — I'll wipe your entire Corps from existence!"
With a sweeping gesture of his arm, Muzan roared,
"Now begins the utter annihilation of the Demon Slayer Corps!"
At his command, the demonic army surged forward like a black tide toward the human ranks.
Back at headquarters, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, a talisman of Yushiro's Blood Demon Art affixed to his forehead, could see the battlefield through the eyes of the marked talisman bearers.
Through this link, he could issue orders instantly to every swordsman engaged in combat.
"Attack!" he commanded. "It's time to end this — once and for all!"
At his order, the entire Corps charged.
The decisive battle between humans and demons had officially begun.
Yet from the outset, the difference in power was painfully clear.
Even a single ordinary demon required two or three swordsmen to bring down.
A thousand demon slayers against a thousand demons — the fight was anything but equal.
The Hashira fought with unwavering purpose: their target was Kibutsuji Muzan himself, lurking behind the demonic horde.
If they could slay him, everything would finally end.
Blades flashed and breathing forms roared through the air.
The slayers fought fearlessly, their coordinated breathing techniques gradually turning the tide and stabilizing the battlefield.
Hakuji and his companions had a single goal — to reach the Infinity Castle and rescue Yosuke.
But the demons were relentless; for every group slain, another filled the gap, making it impossible to advance.
Then, through the talismans linked to Yushiro's art, Kagaya's voice reached their ears:
"Do not be impatient. I'll have Kyojuro and Muichiro open a path for you."
As his words fell, Rengoku Kyojuro and Tokito Muichiro appeared before them.
"Flame Breathing, Ninth Form: Rengoku!"
Kyojuro charged forward, his blade engulfed in blazing inferno, carving a searing corridor straight toward the Infinity Castle.
But before Hakuji's group could make it halfway, the demonic ranks closed in once more, filling the gap.
"Moon Breathing, Tenth Form: Slashing Pierce — Chains of the Waning Moon!"
Muichiro's eyes softened with a warm smile as he called out,
"Go!"
Twin crescents of whirling sword energy spun forth, obliterating everything that blocked their way.
Hakuji turned to Koyuki and Ume, his expression resolute.
"Koyuki, Ume — stay here with Kanae and Shinobu. Help the Corps hold back the demons.
Gyutaro and I will enter the castle and rescue Yōsuke-sama!"
"We understand!" Koyuki and Ume replied without hesitation.
They knew their own limits — entering the Infinity Castle would only slow the others down.
Hakuji and Gyutaro then charged into the Infinity Castle.
Watching from above, Dōma asked lightly,
"Muzan-sama, two of Yosuke's subordinate demons have entered the castle. Shall I deal with them?"
Muzan smirked.
"No need. Nakime is guarding the castle — they won't stir up any trouble.
That black coffin can't be broken even by me.
The thought that they could rescue Yashiki Yosuke… laughable.
Go, Dōma. You and Hantengu — have some fun with them."
Dōma and Hantengu grinned with bloodlust.
"As you command, Muzan-sama!"
"Blood Demon Art — Cryokinetic Crystalline Children!"
Dōma created six miniature ice clones, each capable of fighting independently and wielding Blood Demon Arts of their own.
"Blood Demon Art — Embodiment and Division!"
Hantengu likewise split into his four immortal emotion-clones and joined the fray.
With their arrival, the battle — which the Demon Slayer Corps had only just begun to steady — once again plunged into chaos.
And if Muzan himself were to join the fight… the consequences would be catastrophic.
For now, however, Muzan held back.
He feared the strength of the fighting Hashira — and above all, Kamado Tanjiro, the child of destiny.
Muzan had once, with the Priest Master's assistance, glimpsed the threads of fate — and in that vision, it was these very humans he so despised who brought about his death.
Determined not to repeat that future, Muzan chose to remain a silent observer, letting his army of demons exhaust the humans' strength.
Then, once weakened, he would have Nakime's Blood Demon Art swallow them into the Infinity Castle, killing them one by one.
It was, in his mind, the safest and most certain strategy.
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