Chapter 126: The Death of Muzan
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Aoki slowly approached Muzan Kibutsuji and looked down at him.
"How miserable."
Muzan Kibutsuji was covered in wounds, with countless holes puncturing his body. The left side of his upper torso and the right side of his head were entirely gone, revealing two hearts and three brains. His flesh and blood squirmed slowly, but the regeneration was almost nonexistent.
"Traitor!" Muzan's eyes were filled with despair.
A monster had appeared before, but why was there another one now? This new monster was his own creation, yet it was far more powerful than he could have ever imagined.
"Ahhh!" Muzan tried to split himself again, but his body stopped just as it began to expand.
Aoki's expression remained indifferent as he slowly lifted his foot.
Snap!
Muzan's right knee shattered.
Kocho Kanae and the others stared in disbelief at the broken figure struggling on the ground. Was this really the ancestor of demons, the one who had wreaked havoc on the world for thousands of years, causing countless deaths and despair? Could this Muzan Kibutsuji be an impostor?
They knew that was impossible. Muzan had truly reached the end of his rope. Realizing this, their hearts pounded wildly, yet none dared to relax, fearing that in an instant, Muzan might recover his former invincible self. Only when Muzan was dead and gone could they truly be at ease.
"No, I can't die here! How could I die here?" Muzan dragged his broken body forward, leaving a trail of blood on the ground.
But the next moment—Bang! Bang! Bang!—all the vital joints in his body exploded, twisting his limbs into grotesque shapes.
"Ah!" Muzan screamed in despair—not from physical pain, but from the overwhelming fear of death.
Aoki grabbed Muzan by the neck and lifted him into the air. Muzan stared at Aoki with his one remaining eye, filled with pain, regret, unwillingness, and fear. A slight change in his thoughts at the beginning had led him to this end. Intense remorse gnawed at his heart, causing his body to twitch.
Aoki suddenly smiled. "Muzan, do you remember when we first met? It was just like this, except the roles were reversed."
Muzan said nothing; he couldn't speak, as Aoki's grip on his neck was too tight. Aoki wasn't interested in hearing Muzan speak. He continued, "Muzan, for all the crimes you've committed, you deserve to be torn apart and tortured before your execution. But after thinking about it, I've decided to give up on that idea. Everyone, including me, probably just wants you to die quickly. So, in a way, you're lucky."
With that, an invisible vortex began to swirl around Aoki's palm.
"No, no, no!" Muzan's body trembled, his eyes filled with terror, but he was utterly powerless against Aoki's grip.
[Kibutsuji Muzan has been killed. The ultimate mission "The Road to the Demon King" is completed, and the reward has been issued.]
["White Walker (★★)" successfully advances to "King of White Walkers (★★☆)".]
Two notifications echoed in Aoki's mind. He paid them no heed and slowly lowered his arm.
It's over.
It's all over.
A whole year had passed since he became a demon due to an accident. In that year, there was hardly any rest. He had sought out demons, honed his combat skills and awareness, gradually increasing his strength. Finally, the "White Walker" had reached its peak, and Muzan Kibutsuji was dead. The long-standing grudge was finally settled.
"I wonder if Master's soul is still here. If it is, he should be able to rest in peace now," Aoki thought as he looked up at the sky. A relaxed smile appeared on his face, and he turned to walk toward where Kanae and the others were gathered.
Everyone stared at him blankly, their eyes tracking his movements. They seemed on the verge of speaking, but hesitated.
Just as Aoki was about to say something, Tamayo suddenly stepped forward.
"Mr. Aoki, did Muzan Kibutsuji die a miserable death?" she asked, her excitement making her forget to conceal Aoki's real name.
No one paid attention to such a small detail at this moment. They all stared at Aoki, waiting for his answer. Some of them had seen Aoki devour demons for the first time and didn't fully understand what had just happened. Those who were more familiar with it hoped to hear something definitive from him.
Aoki didn't keep anyone in suspense. "He's dead! Completely dead! From now on, there will no longer be a creature called Muzan Kibutsuji in this world."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, "Very good!" Mitsuri Kanroji jumped up and down, cheering. Her fair face turned red with excitement, making her look particularly vibrant.
Uzui Tengen didn't hide his excitement either, laughing heartily. "Hahaha, good riddance! Good riddance!"
"Sister!" Shinobu called out, turning to her elder sister.
Kanae smiled and took her sister's hand. "It's over, Shinobu!"
She then looked over at Aoki. Defeating Muzan Kibutsuji without any casualties was something they had never dared to imagine. It was all thanks to Mr. Aoki. When they first met at Mount Natagumo, she never imagined things would turn out like this. Perhaps the best decision she ever made was to keep Mr. Aoki around and give them a chance to work together.
Rengoku Kyojuro was momentarily stunned, then a bright smile spread across his face. Who would have thought that the Demon Slayer Corps' thousand-year dream would be realized in their generation? His father would be thrilled to hear this news.
Tokito Muichiro, still somewhat dazed, felt the inexplicable anger in his heart slowly dissipating as familiar memories resurfaced in his mind.
Himejima Gyomei clasped his hands together, tears streaming down his face. Sanemi Shinazugawa's usual angry expression softened, while a look of relief appeared in the eyes of the stoic Iguro Obanai.
Tomioka Giyuu stood off to the side, his face expressionless but with a gentle look in his eyes. "Sister, Sabito, we've defeated Muzan Kibutsuji. No one will suffer at the hands of demons anymore."
After hearing Aoki's confirmation, Tamayo felt as if all the strength had drained from her body. She slowly collapsed to the ground, laughing and crying, letting go of her usual elegance and composure.
'Hahaha, he's dead—finally dead!'
Hundreds of years of waiting had finally borne fruit. She could die without regrets now.
Just then, a hand appeared before her. Tamayo looked up to see Aoki smiling at her.
She wiped her tears, took Aoki's hand, and stood up.
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