The battlefield lay in near silence, save for the crackling of the dying flames that had failed to end Muzan's reign of terror. His body, though scorched and weakened, was still regenerating. The flicker of hope that had sparked in the hearts of Tanjiro, Gon, Killua, and the others was quickly fading as Muzan's twisted form slowly reassembled itself, piece by piece.
His cold, blood-red eyes opened, locking onto the group with a hatred so deep, it sent chills down their spines. "You… dare defy me?" Muzan's voice was a low, dangerous growl, his aura expanding with every word. "You will pay for this."
Tanjiro, his body battered and bruised, forced himself to stand. Every muscle ached, and his breathing was labored, but he couldn't let his resolve falter. Not now. They had come so close—so close to stopping Muzan, if only for a moment. But the sight of the Demon King's regeneration sent a wave of despair through him. How could they possibly defeat a being like this?
Nezuko, standing protectively beside her brother, growled, her demonic aura flaring as she prepared for Muzan's next attack. Her eyes burned with determination—she would fight to the death to protect Tanjiro, no matter how overwhelming the enemy.
"Everyone, don't give up!" Gon shouted, his voice trembling with both exhaustion and determination. "We can still do this! We just need to keep going!"
Killua, still crackling with electricity from Godspeed, wiped sweat from his brow, his silver eyes sharp with focus. "We're not done yet," he muttered, though even he was starting to feel the weight of their seemingly impossible task. "We just have to find another opening…"
But Muzan wasn't waiting for them to recover. His form had fully regenerated, his black hair falling around his pale face as he towered over them like a shadow of death. His claws extended, dripping with blood, and his aura—darker than ever—radiated a murderous intent that was suffocating.
"You're insects… all of you," Muzan hissed, his voice dripping with contempt. "No matter how many times you try, I will always rise. This world is mine to devour, and you—are nothing."
Without warning, Muzan lunged forward, his speed beyond anything they had seen before. In a blur of motion, he was upon them. His claws slashed through the air, aiming directly for Tanjiro.
Rengoku, moving faster than anyone else, intercepted Muzan's attack. His blade ignited with flames as he blocked the strike, the force of the impact sending a shockwave across the battlefield. "Flame Breathing, Ninth Form: Rengoku!" His flames roared to life as he pushed Muzan back, but the Demon King was relentless, his eyes narrowing with fury.
"You've become a nuisance, Hashira," Muzan growled, his claws crackling with dark energy as he countered Rengoku's attack. "I'll deal with you first."
Rengoku's eyes blazed with determination. "I won't let you harm anyone else," he said, his voice strong. "Not while I'm still standing!"
The two clashed again, flames and darkness intertwining as their battle shook the very ground beneath them. Rengoku's fiery strikes came fast and furious, each one aimed at cutting down the Demon King, but Muzan's regeneration was instant. Each time Rengoku's blade made contact, the damage healed as if nothing had happened.
"Rengoku-san!" Tanjiro called out, his voice filled with urgency. He could see that Rengoku was giving everything he had, but Muzan's power was overwhelming.
At that moment, Gon and Killua rushed back into the fight. Gon's fists were glowing with nen, his energy flaring wildly as he charged toward Muzan. "Jajanken: Rock!" he shouted, his fist slamming into Muzan with a force that shook the ground.
Muzan was thrown back, but the damage was minimal—his body already healing from the attack. His eyes snapped toward Gon, his expression filled with murderous rage. "You're beginning to irritate me," Muzan spat, his voice filled with venom.
Killua, moving with blinding speed, zipped around Muzan, his body crackling with electricity. "Thunderbolt!" he shouted, his claws aiming for Muzan's neck. But even as Killua struck, Muzan's body twisted unnaturally, his form contorting to avoid the lethal blow.
"You cannot escape me!" Muzan roared, his tendrils lashing out like whips, aiming for Killua and Gon. Both boys dodged the attack, but the sheer force behind Muzan's strike sent them skidding across the ground.
A New Threat
From the shadows, Nakime—one of the remaining Upper Moons—watched with cold, calculating eyes. She had retreated into the background as Muzan fought, but now, seeing her master's wrath intensify, she made her move. Her biwa, clutched tightly in her hands, echoed with a haunting note as the ground beneath the group shifted.
Without warning, the battlefield began to warp. The trees twisted, the mountains bent, and the ground beneath them seemed to stretch and distort as Nakime's power warped reality itself. The disorienting effect made it almost impossible for anyone to keep their footing, the very landscape shifting and changing beneath their feet.
"This place…!" Gon shouted, his eyes widening as the ground twisted beneath him. "It's moving!"
Killua gritted his teeth, trying to stay upright as the ground swayed. "It's that demon," he growled. "She's warping everything!"
Tanjiro's heart pounded in his chest. Nakime's power wasn't just dangerous—it was terrifying. The battlefield had become a living maze, constantly changing and shifting with every note of her biwa. They were losing control of the fight.
Nezuko, sensing the danger, growled, her claws digging into the earth to stabilize herself as the ground beneath her moved. Her eyes burned with fury as she looked toward Nakime, the demon responsible for the chaos.
"We need to stop her," Tanjiro said, his voice filled with urgency. "If Nakime keeps warping the battlefield, we won't be able to fight Muzan!"
But before anyone could act, Muzan's form appeared in front of them once again, his eyes blazing with rage. "You won't escape," he hissed, his voice filled with hatred. "I'll kill you all here and now."
The Abyss Unleashed
As Nakime continued to warp the battlefield, Muzan's aura flared even darker, his rage building as he prepared to unleash the full extent of his power. The blood-red energy that surrounded him intensified, swirling around him like a storm of pure malice.
Tanjiro, his heart pounding, realized what was coming. Muzan was no longer playing with them—he was preparing to end this fight, once and for all.
"We have to move—now!" Tanjiro shouted, his voice filled with desperation.
But Muzan's attack came too fast. With a roar of fury, Muzan unleashed a massive wave of blood-red energy, more powerful than anything they had seen before. The wave crashed over the battlefield, tearing through trees, mountains, and the very earth itself as it surged toward them.
Gon, Killua, and Tanjiro braced themselves, their bodies instinctively reacting to the oncoming wave of destruction. "Jajanken: Scissors!" Gon shouted, his nen-infused hand slicing through the wave, but the sheer power behind Muzan's attack was too much. It pushed him back, forcing him to dig his heels into the ground.
Killua activated Godspeed, darting around the edges of the wave, trying to find an opening to strike, but the energy was everywhere—there was no escape.
Rengoku, still locked in combat with Muzan, raised his blade, flames roaring to life as he unleashed another attack. "Flame Breathing, Ninth Form: Rengoku!" His fiery strike cut through the wave, but it wasn't enough to stop the full force of Muzan's attack.
The group was thrown back, the sheer power of Muzan's assault leaving them battered and broken.
As the dust settled, Muzan stood tall, his body radiating dark energy as his cold eyes gazed down at the group. "You should have never challenged me," he said, his voice cold and final. "Now you will die."
A Glimmer of Hope
Just when all seemed lost, a figure appeared at the edge of the battlefield, standing tall amidst the chaos.
"Enough."
The voice, calm yet filled with authority, cut through the air like a knife. The figure stepped forward, their aura radiating a quiet but undeniable power. Muzan's eyes flicked toward the newcomer, his expression darkening with recognition.
Ubuyashiki, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, stood before them, his presence commanding despite his frail appearance. His voice was calm, yet there was an unmistakable intensity in his eyes. "Muzan," he said softly, "your reign ends here."