The battle between Tanjiro's trio and Muzan erupted in an instant.
Crimson, golden, and silver-white blade lights met the dark-red thorn whips head-on, and the piercing sounds of their collisions echoed continuously across the ruins.
Tanjiro's Nichirin blade was wreathed in scorching crimson light.
Every swing carried an ancient, solemn rhythm, the steps of the Hinokami Kagura his father had taught him long ago engraved deeply into his memory.
Now, when those movements were combined with his swordsmanship, they unleashed power beyond anything he had ever achieved before.
"Hinokami Kagura: Raging Sun!"
Two smooth arcs of crimson blade light swept through the air, like the blazing sun and its reflection in a mirror striking at the same time.
Four thorn whips blocking Tanjiro's path were severed in a single attack, and he immediately drove forward with a thrust.
"Hinokami Kagura: Sunflower Thrust!"
Rings of flame-like ripples coiled around the Nichirin blade as its point shot straight toward Muzan's face.
Muzan's pupils contracted violently.
A burning pain spread across his face as though flames were licking at his skin, stirring up the fears buried deepest within him—the fear of the sun, and the fear of that man.
Instinctive terror drove Muzan backward so abruptly that he allowed half his neck to be pierced just to escape Tanjiro's attack.
"Sun Breathing!"
The wound healed almost instantly, but Muzan's voice was filled with furious irritation.
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni! Why can't you just stay dead?!"
Tanjiro did not answer.
Flames burned in his eyes as he surged forward again, and the crimson light of his blade flared even hotter and faster.
"Hinokami Kagura: Fake Rainbow!"
His blade light split into several intersecting arcs that slashed toward Muzan from different angles.
The crimson trails twisted and shifted through the air like illusions, every change in direction following an unnatural trajectory that made it difficult for Muzan's thorn whips to determine where the real attack was coming from.
"Annoying brat!"
Muzan roared and tore through the blade light with blood-red claws, reaching coldly for Tanjiro.
Just then—
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
A streak of golden lightning cut in from the side and severed Muzan's wrist with perfect precision.
Zenitsu flashed past within the golden light. His landing was still somewhat unsteady, but his eyes were completely serious.
"You're not hurting Tanjiro!"
"Get lost!"
The thorn whips behind Muzan shot toward Zenitsu, but Zenitsu had already transformed into another bolt of golden lightning and slipped effortlessly out of their path.
"Beast Breathing, Second Fang: Slice!"
Inosuke pounced down from above Muzan like a wild animal, his twin blades crossing as they slashed toward Muzan's neck.
His movements were swift and lethal, no different from a predator hunting its prey.
Caught off guard, Muzan's neck was hacked into a bloody mess.
He quickly flung Inosuke away and regenerated the damage, but even so, the coordination between the three boys had left him noticeably on the back foot.
Zenitsu used the incredible speed of Thunder Breathing to harass and restrain Muzan, preventing him from focusing his attacks.
Inosuke relied on his beastlike instincts to launch surprise strikes from awkward angles, while Tanjiro seized every opening they created to hammer Muzan head-on with the Hinokami Kagura.
Working together, the three of them actually forced the self-proclaimed ultimate life-form onto the defensive for a time.
Crimson blade light repeatedly cut into Muzan's body, and the burning sensation stirred the terror buried in the depths of his heart again and again.
"Get away! Get away! GET AWAY!"
Muzan focused all his attention on the three boys, enraged beyond reason and determined to crush the insects in front of him.
And it was precisely because of that fury that he lowered his guard.
A purple figure shot silently into his blind spot from behind like an arrow.
"Insect Breathing, Dance of the Bee Sting: True Flutter!!"
Shinobu Kocho moved at the absolute limit of her speed.
Her slender Nichirin blade gleamed with a cold violet light beneath the sun, like a venomous bee diving toward its prey.
There was not a single wasted movement.
Pshk!
The narrow blade pierced cleanly into Muzan's back.
Its tip burst through his chest, spraying dark-red blood into the air.
Muzan's pupils widened sharply.
Before he could even react, Shinobu's sword had already been driven deep through his body.
"What?!"
Shinobu did not stop.
She had no intention of pulling the blade out.
Instead, she threw herself forward, forcing the slender Nichirin sword even deeper into Muzan's chest.
Her entire body strained with the effort.
Even her injured left hand closed around the hilt as she leaned all her weight into the thrust.
"Shinobu-san!"
Tanjiro and the others had also noticed her sudden arrival.
"Don't lose focus!"
Shinobu's voice was stern and unwavering, determination flashing through her violet eyes.
"This is our chance to kill him!"
She clenched her teeth and forced the blade farther forward until nearly the entire length disappeared into Muzan's body.
A massive dose of poison stored within the blade poured continuously into him.
Muzan's entire body convulsed.
He let out a roar filled not only with pain, but with boundless rage and humiliation.
"Is that supposed to tickle?!"
Muzan's arm lashed out, his dark-red claws slashing viciously toward Shinobu's hands.
Pshk!
Shinobu was concentrating everything on delivering the poison and made no attempt to evade the incoming claws.
A cold flash swept through the air.
Her right arm was severed at the elbow.
Blood erupted like a fountain.
Shinobu's face went white.
She immediately kicked Muzan hard and used the recoil to throw herself backward.
By the time she opened some distance, she was staggering badly.
Blood poured from the stump of her right arm, staining half of her white butterfly haori crimson.
Her face was as pale as paper, and fine beads of cold sweat covered her forehead, but her eyes remained fixed on Muzan like nails driven into him.
She watched as the wound through his torso rapidly healed.
Then Muzan devoured her severed arm as well.
Instead of showing fear, Shinobu slowly raised the corner of her mouth in a pale, icy smile.
"A powerless little insect, and even your attacks are this feeble."
Muzan casually pulled the slender Nichirin blade from his body, contempt curling across his lips.
But only moments later, his heart suddenly clenched.
An ominous sensation ran through him, and every nerve in Muzan's body seemed to flare in alarm.
Shinobu stared at him while pressing her left hand over the stump of her severed arm.
Blood continued leaking between her fingers.
"My Nichirin blade contains an enormous dose of mixed poisons," she said softly. "And the concentration in the arm you just swallowed is ten times greater than what was on the blade."
Her pale smile became even more mocking.
"Maybe it won't kill you."
She paused.
"But at the very least… it's going to hurt for a very, very long time."
Muzan's expression twisted completely.
He could feel it now.
A burning agony was spreading from his chest throughout his entire body, as though countless ants were gnawing through his blood vessels and nerves.
The poison was not enough to kill him, but the pain made his movements stiff and slowed his reactions.
"AAAAAHHH!!!"