Chapter 854: The Final Battle in Infinity Castle
Chapter 854: The Final Battle in Infinity Castle
Silence befell the realm.
Then, as if from nowhere, the delicate plucking of a pipa broke the quiet.
In an instant, the world transformed. The burning forest faded, replaced by a bizarre landscape of countless rooms, some upright, others sideways or even upside down, all interconnected in a dizzying array.
This was Infinity Castle, the stronghold of the demon lord, Kibutsuji Muzan—a space crafted by the blood demon art of Nakime.
With this spatial shift, gravity twisted, causing Toujou's attack to veer off course, missing the fatal blow to Muzan's body.
Kanro swung her sword, and Higuruma hauled back on his chain, both regaining their balance and lunging once more at the now-shattered body of Kibutsuji Muzan.
But just then...
Shush!
A figure appeared before Kanro, blocking her path with a blade covered in eyes.
With long black hair and clad in the old-fashioned armor of the Sengoku era, he was Iwashiro, the older brother of Yukaku, the first of the Twelve Kizuki's Upper Ranks, and known as Kurozimutsu!
Boom!
On the other side, the heavy hammer aimed at Muzan was also blocked by a fist. Though not large, the fist emanated an extraordinary power that halted Higuruma's mighty blow.
It belonged to the current Upper Rank 2, Upper Moon Daki!
"Oh my, what a gathering of familiar faces. To think you'd dare set such a cruel trap for Lord Muzan. I suppose you're due for a cruel retaliation now."
Doma appeared not far away, his folding fan sending a gust of icy mist to block Toujo's path.
Then came Upper Rank 4, Hantengu, curled up in a corner, muttering to himself, "To injure Lord Muzan so badly... how terrifying. This will surely enrage him, and something dreadful is about to happen..."
Last were Nakime, cradling her pipa, and Upper Rank 5, Gyutaro, standing by her side, with Upper Rank 6, Nakime, having taken the place of the deceased Kokushibo.
All six of the Upper Ranks had assembled!
Surrounded by the demons, Toujo, Higuruma, and Kanro found themselves in a dire situation.
At the heart of it all, Kibutsuji Muzan, his head shattered and his spine broken, writhed as he clutched his severed head, trying in vain to reattach it.
Kibutsuji Muzan's face was icy cold. He had only experienced his head being severed and unable to reattach it a millennium ago, and that memory spurred him to act.
Gulp!
He removed his head from his neck, pushed it into his abdomen, and then his entire body began to writhe and transform. His right arm undulated and sprouted eyes and ears, eventually morphing into a new head.
Having transformed his arm into a new head, Kibutsuji Muzan turned his gaze to Toujo and the others. His eyes passed over the three of them before settling on Toujo, a faint light flickering in his irises.
"Let's play a guessing game. With your current state, if I were to devour you, would it be enough for me to break through that barrier and become invulnerable even to the sun?" Muzan asked slowly.
Never had there been a second Demon King in the world. No matter how powerful the humans Muzan had devoured, their physical strength could not compare to Toujo's. If he devoured Toujo, the fusion of their dual Demon King essences might just make him the 'King of Kings,' overcoming even his weakness to the sun and becoming the true ultimate life form—the ruler of the world.
Chiyu sighed softly as she surveyed their surroundings.
If Plan A had succeeded, they wouldn't be in this predicament, and victory would have been easily within their grasp. But now, although she was still confident in their chances of winning, the battle ahead would undoubtedly be much more challenging.
"What is Plan B?"
Domma looked at Chiyu with a smile on his face. He, too, wanted to devour Chiyu, as she was a beautiful woman. But from Muzan's tone earlier, it seemed that he also had his eye on her, so Domma knew he couldn't compete with Muzan for her.
Chiyu lowered her head slightly, then raised it again. A faint light shone in her eyes, and the crimson vertical pupils reflected a multitude of silken threads that extended into the void.
This was a new Blood Demon Art she had mastered after becoming the Demon Queen.
Whoosh!
In the next moment, the countless threads that had spread into the void retracted, and at the other end of those threads appeared a multitude of different hands, tightly clenching them.
In just an instant, numerous figures appeared around Chiyu and the others.
Their silhouettes were all too familiar.
Insect Hashira, Butterfly Hashira.
Mist Hashira, Tokito Muichirou.
Flame Hashira, Uzui Tengen.
Wind Hashira, Mitsuya Tanjiro is not correct as Tanjiro is a different character, Mitsuri Kanroji
Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyuu.
Snake Hashira, Iguuro Obanai.
Add to that Tanjirou Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Inosuke Hashibira, who had also been pulled over, and the entire elite force of the Demon Slayer Corps was suddenly assembled, with all the Hashira gathered in one place!
The Hashira's eyes blazed with grief and anger as they landed, taking in their surroundings.
"Wow... so many Upper Moons..."
Zenitsu's face was filled with shock.
"It's finally time to show what we're made of!"
Inosuke yelled with enthusiasm.
Ignoring the commotion, Muzan focused solely on Chiyu, his voice cold as ice: "As a demon yourself, how dare you associate with the Demon Slayer Corps? Or should I say, the so-called Demon Slayer Corps is now colluding with demons? And you even killed your master. So, do you believe that even demons can be trusted?"
With just a few words, Muzan sowed seeds of doubt and discord between Chiyu and the others.
But before Chiyu could respond, Gyomei spoke up, his voice deep and resolute: "Everyone here, regardless of who they are, shares only one belief, and that is... to send you straight to hell!"
Indeed, Chiyu's existence had once been questioned by many of the Hashira, even after Kagaya Ubuyashiki had vehemently defended her. It was her encounter with Fengye that ultimately put an end to the doubts.
If it hadn't been for Fengye's intervention, Muzan's words, coupled with Kagaya's death, might have caused genuine suspicion among the group. But because of Fengye's previous involvement, Muzan's attempt at sowing discord fell flat.
As Gyomei spoke, all the Hashira unsheathed their Nichirin Blades.
Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, glared at Muzan and the nearby Upper Moons, his temper already flaring. He leaped high into the air and cried:
"Breath of Wind, Third Form!"
As Sanemi made his move, all the Hashira and Upper Moons also sprang into action almost simultaneously. The decisive battle between the demons and the Demon Slayer Corps had finally erupted within the confines of Infinity Castle!
(End of Chapter)
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