The man stood there with his blade in hand, and every demon across the battlefield stopped where they were.
He was clearly surrounded by demons, yet everything around him was silent.
A tide of demons had surged forward, but now not a single one dared face the edge of his blade.
With only one person, the entire situation had been overturned. The demons, who had held the advantage in numbers, now seemed more like survivors struggling to live, stopped in place by a single man.
They could not fight.
They could not retreat.
...
Muzan Kibutsuji watched this scene from where he hid in the darkness, anger rising in his heart.
These immortal beings had only become what they were because he had granted them his blood. It was he who had given them powerful strength, formidable regeneration, and stamina that would never run dry.
It was because of his gift that they had broken past human limits and become extraordinary.
Yet these demons under his command had no loyalty toward him at all.
Muzan Kibutsuji, who could see into the hearts of demons, could feel their craving for his flesh and blood at every moment. They wished they could devour him alive.
All of this…
He had endured it for so many years.
He only needed them to properly carry out his orders, to help him search for the Blue Spider Lily, and to help him deal with the Demon Slayer Corps.
Yet after all these years, they had accomplished nothing.
And now, they even dared to defy his command.
"Those who retreat will die." A violent voice rang out in the minds of every demon.
Boom, boom, boom!
Along with that voice, demons began exploding one after another. Any demon who had fallen back no longer had any reason to live.
"If retreat means death, then we fight with everything we have." A demon spoke in a low voice.
Immediately, another demon rushed out, roaring through his fear.
Soma drew his blade and slashed. The edge passed easily through the demon's neck, sending its head flying as blood sprayed through the air.
These ordinary demons were no match for Soma at all.
Even the Twelve Kizuki were the same.
No matter how many demons came, it made no difference to Soma. He was not human. He was also a demon. He did not fear having his stamina drained, and there was no fatal wound his body could not endure.
No matter how many demons attacked, it was meaningless.
Another demon charged in.
Soma swung his blade and cut without hesitation.
But the demon dodged.
Soma was slightly stunned, though he did not pay it much mind. He immediately followed up with another slash.
But it dodged again.
In that instant, Soma's heart tightened. His hand gripped the hilt of his blade as he focused and watched carefully.
Then the demon suddenly vanished from his sight.
"Sir, be careful!"
"Mr. Soma, look out!"
Cries of shock and fear rang out from behind him.
Soma's heart jolted. The next moment, pain tore through his chest. A hand pierced through him from behind and seized his beating heart.
Soma turned his head.
The demon had appeared behind him at some point. It had already withdrawn its hand, and in its grasp was a still-beating heart.
The sight stunned everyone.
No one had expected that Soma, who only a moment ago had seemed like a god of war, would be circled behind by a demon and have his heart taken so easily.
"Are you truly strong? I do not feel it. But why are you able to overcome the defects of being a demon?"
The demon spoke in a low voice, his gaze moving over Soma as though he were observing a perfect work of art.
Soma's heart shook.
He had already realized who the demon before him was.
Only that demon could possess such terrifying strength.
Facing Muzan Kibutsuji, Soma was not actually afraid. He felt no terror. Compared with facing Muzan, what worried Soma more right now was that his identity had been completely exposed.
After all, his heart had been pierced through.
For a human, this would already mean certain death.
No matter how strong someone was, losing their heart meant death.
No one would believe Soma could still live after having his heart removed.
"Mr. Soma…?"
Kyojuro Rengoku's eyes widened, those eyes that always burned like flames. Yet at this moment, those flames seemed to be pressed down by an invisible hand, nearly extinguished.
For the first time, his voice trembled.
The heart still beating in the demon's hand was a vivid, piercing red.
And like a needle, it stabbed deep into Rengoku's heart.
How could someone like Soma meet such an end?
"No…"
Sanemi Shinazugawa's pupils suddenly contracted. The scars on his face became even more ferocious as his expression twisted violently. His lips moved several times, but only a single sound escaped.
In the next second, rage exploded from his chest, fierce enough to swallow him whole.
"You bastard—!"
With a roar, Sanemi charged. His Nichirin Sword carved a savage arc through the air, aimed straight for the demon's throat.
The techniques of Wind Breathing surged with unprecedented killing intent. The very air screamed as it was torn apart.
Boom!
A dull, heavy impact rang out.
Sanemi's body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, smashing through three walls before crashing heavily to the ground.
Dust rose, and shattered stones scattered everywhere.
"Sanemi!"
Kyojuro Rengoku's pupils shrank sharply. He turned abruptly toward the demon.
The demon slowly withdrew the arm it had casually swung, as though it had merely brushed away an annoying insect.
And now, the demon's form had completely changed.
The appearance of an ordinary demon was gone, replaced by the figure of a man with snow-white hair.
But that long white hair had been stained dark red by blood, tangled together with dense fur that covered his limbs and lower body.
Even more horrifying were the mouths growing all over his body. From his shoulders to his waist and abdomen, from his arms to his knees, countless mouths had sprouted densely across him. Every mouth was filled with ghastly white teeth, opening and closing again and again, producing an eerie sound like bones grinding together.
A thick stench of blood spread through the air, so heavy it almost seemed to take physical form, pressing down on everyone's breathing.
"Cough—"
Sanemi struggled to prop himself up from the rubble, then spat out a mouthful of blood.
At least three of his ribs were broken. His left arm was bent at a twisted angle, and the terrible pain made his vision go dark again and again. Still, he forced his eyes wide open and stared in that direction.
"What… is that thing…"
His voice was hoarse, filled with disbelief.
"Muzan… Kibutsuji." Gyomei Himejima's hand trembled slightly around his chain.
This strongest Hashira, this blind Stone Hashira who could remain calm no matter what situation or danger he faced, had rarely shown such shock.
He had experienced the brutal scene of the previous siege against Muzan Kibutsuji. He had seen with his own body just how terrifying Muzan truly was.
Although fear filled his heart, Gyomei still tightened his grip around the chain. If sacrificing himself could bring about Muzan Kibutsuji's death, Gyomei Himejima would gladly do it.
But Gyomei knew the more likely outcome.
Even if he sacrificed himself, he might still be unable to drag Muzan Kibutsuji down into hell.
Would today end the same way as last time, when Oyakata-sama had used himself as bait, detonated a massive explosion, and paid the price of countless swordsmen's lives, only for Muzan Kibutsuji to leave unharmed?
So many had been sacrificed, yet it had meant nothing.
Gyomei Himejima did not want that to happen.
But the situation before them was moving in exactly that direction. This hunt, from Upper Rank Six to Kokushibo and now to Muzan Kibutsuji, had all been led by Mr. Soma.
Then did Mr. Soma have some kind of plan?
But even if he had a plan, what use could it be?
Mr. Soma's heart had already been pierced through by Muzan Kibutsuji.
Unconsciously, Gyomei Himejima looked toward Soma.
Through his Mind's Eye, every detail of the scene was clear.
And that clarity left Gyomei completely stunned.
Soma was still standing there.
Even after losing his heart, he had not died.
Was this…
something a human…
could possess?
--------
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