Muzan's thorned whip was indeed terrifying, yet it was shattered outright by Hakuji's death-defying punch.
His figure lunged forward like a tiger descending the mountain, enduring the erosion of Muzan's cells within his body without retreating, clashing head-on with the terrifying Demon King!
Seeing this, Gyomei and Muichiro—already locked in a bitter struggle—exchanged a glance.
Though shock lingered in their hearts, their actions did not hesitate in the slightest.
Even if this man was filled with demonic aura and seemed utterly abnormal…
At this life-and-death moment, even a former enemy was a comrade—as long as his blade was aimed at Muzan.
The two instantly adjusted their breathing, syncing with the mysterious man's rhythm as they joined the battle.
The flail roared as it smashed toward Muzan's head, while Muichiro took advantage of Muzan's attention being drawn to his towering opponents, his body flickering like a phantom, leaving behind multiple afterimages.
Slash! Clang! Boom!!
The three fought with increasing ferocity. Muzan's back exploded once more as several enormous, tooth-lined thorn whips burst forth!
His power was overwhelmingly dominant.
With a mere casual swing, the shockwave infused with corrosive demon blood could forcibly shatter the attacks of the Hashira.
Seizing the moment, Muzan's thorn whip lashed toward Muichiro—but a blue streak cut in!
Rip!
"Hey, don't space out at a time like this, kid."
Hakuji's voice was heavy with ragged breathing. He had taken the attack head-on with his own body.
The sharp whip pierced straight through his waist and ribs, tearing out a large spray of dark red blood.
Muzan's destructive cellular toxin immediately surged, devouring the vitality within Hakuji's body.
"Y-you…!"
Muichiro stared at the man before him in shock.
Clearly born a demon, possessing near-infinite lifespan and regeneration—yet at this moment, beneath the boar-like mask, Hakuji's eyes held a resolve only humans possessed: the determination to face death without regret.
His previously muddled, chaotic memories suddenly began to clear, recalling someone important he had once forgotten.
That day, his elder brother had protected him with the same desperate resolve… allowing him to survive.
"You lowly, traitorous scum," Muzan sneered, attempting to dismantle him from within through the resonance of demon blood. "You think reclaiming your name lets you resist my will? Every second of your life was granted by me!"
"Cough… precisely because this body was given by you… it disgusts me to the core!"
Hakuji spat out a mouthful of black blood. Not only did he not retreat—he grabbed the whip embedded in his body with both hands.
"Swordsmen! Attack!!"
His roar echoed like a dying tiger.
He knew his body was being devoured by Muzan's cells, the pain far surpassing torture by dismemberment.
But he had made his decision.
Today, he would turn this sin-stained body into the strongest shield, buying even a single second for Muzan's execution!
"You bastard—"
Just as Muzan grew irritated by this suicidal restraint, the Hashira arrived one after another!
Sanemi's raging wind pressure!
Giyu's calm, surging water!
Obanai's razor-sharp serpent fangs!
Rengoku's Nichirin blade burned with blazing flames, while Mitsuri's flexible sword danced into countless streaks!
The Hashira, previously scattered across the collapsing space, finally converged on the core battlefield!
From facing three opponents alone, Muzan now fought enemies from all directions.
As the battle intensified, his movements became faster—and stronger.
Minutes passed in this brutal struggle. Members of the Demon Slayer Corps were continuously injured, yet Muzan's stamina seemed endless.
He truly did not fear being killed by these swordsmen—even when Obanai severed his neck, it regenerated instantly.
But their relentless persistence, like swarming flies, was unbearably irritating.
Amid this prolonged clash, Muzan finally saw the two he least wanted to face—
Tanjiro Kamado, whose scent he despised, and the black-haired swordsman who had slain Kokushibo—Asuka!
Without a word, Asuka's figure flickered rapidly through the violently trembling Infinity Castle.
Though he had come from the deepest and most dangerous arena, he was in the best condition among them all.
His blade carved a dark red arc capable of tearing the soul itself, slashing fiercely toward Muzan's neck!
No—this attack cannot be taken!
Even Muzan felt the threat within that strike. He immediately severed his own entangled whips and retreated at full speed!
But Asuka's blade was not so easily escaped.
As it fell, several hounds formed from spiritual pressure burst from the blade, barking as they relentlessly pursued Muzan, biting into his thorn whips lined with teeth!
"Ugh—!! This feeling… this power—it suppresses my regeneration!"
Panic surged within Muzan. He frantically severed his own wounded parts, afraid that the troublesome power would spread further.
This fear—he had once felt it from that man with the earrings.
Now, it returned in a stranger, more voracious form.
"Almost there! Just a little more! Inosuke, hold on!"
Yushiro roared wildly, his eyes nearly bursting from overusing his Blood Demon Art.
"I know! I won't take a single step back! I'll protect you no matter what, demon brat!!"
Inosuke's eyes burned beneath his mask as his serrated dual blades whirled like a storm, cutting down incoming demons and defending Yushiro with everything he had.
At this moment, the entire Infinity Castle had become a massive, erupting fireball.
With a thunderous explosion that shattered the sky, the earth's crust was violently torn apart—soil, rock, and vegetation thrown skyward!
Rumble—!!!
On a village street at the outskirts of Tokyo Prefecture, a colossal wooden fortress burst violently from the ground, engulfed in smoke and flames!
The moonlight was pale. Dawn was approaching.
Across the devastated land, fragments of the Infinity Castle lay scattered.
Muzan stood atop the ruins, his body appearing even more monstrous under the moonlight.
Opposite him stood the elite of the Demon Slayer Corps—
Asuka, Gyomei, Rengoku, Giyu, Sanemi, Muichiro, Obanai, Mitsuri, Tanjiro… and Hakuji, riddled with bloody wounds yet still standing proudly.
Ten warriors at the pinnacle of the Corps faced the thousand-year source of all demons.
"Sunrise is in one and a half hours," Giyu said steadily.
Just hold on. Just hold for one and a half hours!
"You think reaching the surface gives you a chance of victory?"
"Forget whether your stamina will last until sunrise—those Hashira I injured… the poison in your bodies has already begun to take effect."
"In less than ten minutes, you'll all die violently!"
"That… may not be the case."
Before Muzan could finish his forced declaration, a weak yet familiar female voice interrupted.
Asuka's expression changed drastically as he turned back.
Shinobu… and Kanao!
Shinobu's condition was worse than before. She could barely stand, supported by Kanao.
Her injuries—were never healed!
Asuka immediately understood.
The so-called special medicine had been nothing more than a lie to keep him from worrying.
For her to stand here now was already the limit of her strength!
Avoiding Asuka's gaze, Shinobu sneered and had Kanao take out a row of vials—
An anti-toxin serum developed with Tamayo, despite her deep discomfort at cooperating with a demon!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
With Kanao's swift throws, the serums were distributed to the Hashira and injected immediately.
Gyomei, who had been the most severely injured, felt the effects almost instantly.
Muzan's cells were receding.
The swollen, rotting flesh on his face visibly began to heal!