And just like that, Zach and Julia, the two most formidable members of Mark's group, were gone-slain in the blink of an eye. Their bodies lay broken on the wooden platform, blood pooling around them as the realisation of their deaths began to sink in. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the steady drip of blood onto the scorched wood. Ali, the man who had killed them both, stood tall and unflinching amidst the carnage, his gaze now fixed on the remaining Hashira and Mark's group. He looked at them not as opponents or enemies, but as prey-weak, helpless, and next in line.
Mark was stunned, unable to process what had just happened. His mind, always sharp and ready to make split-second decisions, was now clouded with grief and disbelief. He had been through countless battles, faced impossible odds, and led his team to victory many times before, but this... this was too much. Two of his closest companions, his most trusted friends, had been ripped from his life in a matter of seconds, and he hadn't been able to do anything to save them.
Ali, observing Mark's reaction, thought to himself, That expression—I've seen it too many times now. The look of utter despair. He stepped over the massive wolf's body, his boots sinking slightly into the blood-soaked wood. His movements were deliberate, slow, like a predator taking its time to savour the moment before the kill. One second, Ali was walking calmly towards the remaining Hashira and Mark's group, and the next, he was sprinting, the wooden floorboards cracking under the force of his steps.
Ali's eyes were locked onto Tanjiro, his intent unmistakably lethal. Tanjiro stood frozen, his sword gripped tightly in his hand, his knuckles white from the pressure. The boy's mind was racing, unable to comprehend the situation. Ali-this was the same man who had once trained him, someone he had come to respect as a teacher, a mentor, a friend. Now, that same friend was charging at him with the clear intent to kill.
As Ali closed the distance between them, ready to strike, a firm hand grabbed Tanjiro's shoulder, yanking him back just in time. It was Gyomei, the Stone Hashira, whose towering frame stepped into Ali's path. Gyomei's other hand was already gripping his weapon, ready to strike. Flanking him were Giyu, the Water Hashira, and Sanemi, their bodies battered and bruised but their resolve as strong as ever. Together, the three Hashira stood in defence of Tanjiro, ready to face the traitorous ally who now sought their lives.
Gyomei wasted no time, swinging his giant flail toward Ali with all his strength.
The weapon whistled through the air, aiming for Ali's head, but Ali met it head-on with his fist. The impact reverberated through the platform as the flail smashed into the ground, but not where Gyomei had intended. Ali had angled his strike perfectly, forcing the flail down at just the right moment, sending it crashing into the floor where Sanemi had been about to step. Sanemi stumbled, momentarily losing his balance, and that was all the opportunity Ali needed. He twisted on his heel and delivered a powerful kick to Sanemi's abdomen, sending the injured Hashira flying backward, aggravating his already serious injuries.
SWOOSH
Ali narrowly dodged Giyu's blade as it passed mere inches from his face. He raised his hand just in time to block another incoming strike from Gyomei's flail.
What followed was a flurry of intense blows exchanged between the two. Each strike from Gyomei was met with a counter from Ali, whose speed and precision were unmatched. In a swift move, Ali stepped inside Giyu's guard and unleashed a powerful punch. Though Giyu managed to block it with his sword, the force behind the blow was enough to send him skidding backward.
Gyomei seized the moment, unleashing his full strength in a final, devastating blow aimed at Ali's exposed side. 'They always fall for this,' Ali thought as he saw the flail hurtling toward his unprotected left arm. The impact was brutal, tearing the arm clean off at the shoulder. Blood splattered across the platform, and for a brief moment, Gyomei felt a surge of triumph. But that feeling was contradicted by the expression on Ali's face-a smirk. There was no pain, no hesitation. Ali seemed utterly unfazed by the loss of his arm.
Gyomei's eyes widened in horror as he looked down and realised the true danger, he felt something near his chest.
Ali's remaining hand, outstretched and aimed at his chest, was a mere inch away.
BANG
The one-inch punch landed squarely on Gyomei's chest. It wasn't a strike meant to break bones or tear through flesh. No, this was far more devastating. The punch didn't leave a mark on the outside, but internally, it obliterated Gyomei's heart and lungs in an instant. His massive frame went limp, his body collapsing face-first into the wooden floor. The Stone Hashira, the strongest among them, was dead-killed with a single, calculated strike.
The sight left the remaining Hashira and demon slayers in shock. Shinobu and Mitsuri, still being treated at the back by Tsuyuri, couldn't believe what they were seeing. Zenitsu and Inosuke, who had been helping carrying the two Hashira, stopped dead in their tracks. The image before them was too horrific to comprehend. Ali stood amidst the carnage, blood still dripping from the stump where his arm had been severed. Behind him lay the bodies of the Stone Hashira, the giant wolf that had once been Zach, and the scattered remains of Julia.
And there, beyond Ali, Muzan continued feasting on the remains of Lord Ubuyashiki and his wife, oblivious to the chaos surrounding him. The gruesome sight of their fallen lord and his wife's mangled bodies was enough to push Shinobu and Mitsuri over the edge.
"Ali, did you do this?" Shinobu's voice trembled as she spoke, though she already knew the answer. Her heart raced with a mixture of fear and fury.
Sanemi, groaning in pain, managed to pull himself back to his feet. Giyu, despite his injuries, readied his sword once more. The twins, who had remained on the sidelines, suddenly began to glow with an ethereal blue energy, their bodies enveloped in a shimmering aura as they prepared for battle.
CHING CHING CHING
The sound of metal shifting echoed across the platform as Mark's suitcase began transforming, mechanical pieces sliding and locking into place as it slowly enveloped his body. In seconds, he was fully encased in the sleek, red armour of Iron Man's Mark Ill suit. The visor snapped shut, and his eyes locked onto Ali.
Tanjiro, snapping out of his daze, gripped his sword tightly, taking up a stance beside his comrades. Inosuke and Zenitsu joined him, their faces etched with grim determination. These were the same people who had trained with him and looked up to him. Now, they were prepared to fight him, even if it meant risking their lives.
For a brief moment, they saw Ali's injury-the first time any of them had witnessed him wounded. He seemed more human in that instant, and it gave them a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could defeat him.
Ali, noticing their hopeful expressions, let out a chuckle. "Does this give you confidence?" he asked, raising the stump where his arm had been. Then, before their very eyes, his bones began to grow, followed by blood vessels, muscle, and finally skin. Within seconds, his arm had completely regenerated, good as new.
The sight drained the colour from their faces. All the morale they had gathered, the sliver of hope they clung to, evaporated in an instant. How could they possibly win against someone who not only outclassed them in strength, speed, and intelligence but could also regenerate from such grievous wounds?
Ali didn't give them time to think. In a flash, he was sprinting toward Giyu, ready to finish him off. BANG BANG! The sound of energy blasts rang out as Mark fired from his suit, forcing Ali to dodge. Missiles launched from the suit's back, honing in on Ali's position.
Ali smirked as he recognised the design. 'Iron Man, huh? So that's where l've seen this before,' he thought, weaving through the explosions behind him.
Lila, standing at a distance, performed hand signs, her chakra flowing. "Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!" She unleashed a barrage of high-speed water bullets, aiming for Ali as he dodged Mark's attacks.
Ali was now running in a wide circle around them, dodging blasts and projectiles, his movements too fast for any of them to land a hit. But then, with a sharp turn, Ali changed his direction, closing the distance between him and the ranged attackers.
Leo slammed his hands into the ground, summoning stone pillars to block Ali's path. But Ali, using his breathing technique, punched through the stone barriers with ease, sending shards of rock flying toward the group.
"Wind Style: Wind Gale!" Lila shouted, expending a huge amount of chakra as she blew the shards back toward Ali.
The rocks flew through the air toward Ali's position, obscuring him from view as the debris blocked their line of sight. Then, a sudden and eerie twang of a Biwa string rang out, echoing across the battlefield. When the dust settled, the rocks passed through where Ali had stood, hitting nothing but empty space. The twins, startled and confused, began frantically searching for Ali's whereabouts.
"Ugh..."
A low groan cut through the silence.
Their eyes widened in horror as they spotted Sanemi suspended in the air, flailing helplessly. Ali had appeared behind him, his hand impaled deep into Sanemi's chest, effortlessly holding him aloft. Sanemi's body convulsed in agony, blood pouring from the fatal wound. With a cruel and deliberate motion, Ali ripped his arm free, letting Sanemi's lifeless body collapse onto the cold wooden floor.
In Ali's hand, still beating faintly, was Sanemi's heart.
The best is yet to come for the finale, if you guys like the finale please contribute your power stones.
As always five chapters ahead on patreon.com/Rondo312