Even though they were both demons,
From the very beginning, Soma had never considered himself the same as a demon like Muzan Kibutsuji.
How could he possibly be the same as such a pitiful creature?
He had never once considered Muzan Kibutsuji his so-called kin.
So—
Soma did not answer.
He simply slashed at Muzan Kibutsuji without hesitation.
But Muzan avoided the strike with ease.
As the progenitor of demons, the first demon, and the absolute ruler of all demons, Muzan Kibutsuji's strength stood above every other demon. Even though Soma's power had increased greatly through Devour, he still could not be Muzan Kibutsuji's match at this moment.
That unanswered slash clearly expressed Soma's will.
And it plunged Muzan Kibutsuji into extreme fury.
He could not understand it.
They were clearly the same kind. They were clearly the same sort of creature. Yet instead of standing with him, Soma had chosen to stand on the side of their food.
It was just like the demons who had become what they were through his blood.
Clearly, they had relied on him to gain long life and powerful strength. Yet instead of loyalty or gratitude, their hearts were filled only with the constant desire for more of his blood and more of his flesh.
Every one of them was an ungrateful wretch.
Every one of them was a parasite trying to suck blood from his body.
"It seems you are truly determined to stand with these so-called short-lived humans."
Muzan Kibutsuji raised his head, his plum-red eyes full of brutality.
At that moment, Soma only brushed his fingers over the Nichirin Sword in his hand, then swung it at Muzan Kibutsuji once more.
Clang!
The blade struck Muzan Kibutsuji's raised arm, sending blinding sparks bursting outward.
Muzan Kibutsuji's arm had clearly become as hard as steel.
The battle erupted in an instant.
The blade slashed out, cold light flashing. Their figures flickered through the streets of Yoshiwara, moving so fast that ordinary human eyes could hardly follow them. From time to time, dull explosive sounds rang through the air, followed by the clang of metal striking metal.
Ordinary people could not see their battle clearly, but the Hashira still could.
Gyomei Himejima gripped the chain in his hand and watched the battle unfold. From the very beginning, Soma and Muzan Kibutsuji's fight had already become fierce.
Gyomei Himejima had personally fought Muzan Kibutsuji before, so he naturally understood just how powerful Muzan was.
And during that battle, the Muzan Kibutsuji he had faced had already been severely weakened by the massive explosion. Countless swordsmen had also risked their lives to create opportunities for him.
Even so, they had still been unable to threaten Muzan Kibutsuji.
Even now, the shadow of that battle lingered in Gyomei Himejima's heart.
Now, through his Mind's Eye, Soma displayed astonishing strength, far beyond Gyomei's imagination. During their previous spar, Gyomei had only felt that Soma was perhaps slightly stronger than him.
Now, he realized how wrong he had been.
Soma's power was far greater than he had imagined.
But what did that matter?
He was facing Muzan Kibutsuji.
No matter how strong Soma had become, the gap between them remained far too vast.
BOOM!
Soma's body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, smashing through countless walls before crashing to the ground amid a cloud of dust and shattered stone.
His body was covered in wounds, and blood spread across the ground.
In the end, there was still a difference in strength.
Muzan Kibutsuji's plum-red eyes stared at Soma, whom he had sent flying, then swept across the surroundings. The wariness in his heart gradually eased.
Even now, Muzan Kibutsuji remained cautious of a possible ambush aimed at him. But from the current situation, it did not seem to be one.
He raised his head and looked at the sky.
The bright moon hung high above.
There was still plenty of time before dawn.
"I hate betrayal. I hate it. I hate it so much. Tamayo was like this back then, and now you are the same. Both of you disgust me."
Muzan Kibutsuji clenched his fist slightly, his plum-red eyes turning a deep crimson.
"You became a demon because of my blood. After overcoming the demon's weaknesses, you escaped my control. Why? Why didn't you tell me the method to overcome those weaknesses? Why?"
As he spoke, Muzan Kibutsuji vanished from where he stood.
When he appeared again, he was already beside Soma, who had crashed to the ground. His sharp claws extended, reaching for Soma's neck.
Clang!
Soma raised his blade and blocked the incoming claws.
Blade and claws collided, sending sparks flying.
BOOM!
At the very moment their weapons met, Muzan Kibutsuji's right foot struck Soma's abdomen like a venomous dragon.
In that instant, Soma felt as though his organs had been hit head-on by a speeding train.
It was pure, overwhelmingly brutal blunt force. It passed through flesh, through bone, and shook every nerve ending in his body.
"Guh—!"
Blood sprayed from Soma's mouth, drawing a crimson arc through the air.
His body flew backward like a stone hurled away, moving so fast that the air itself split with a sharp whistle.
The streets of Yoshiwara blurred before his eyes.
Walls, lanterns, wooden doors—everything became nothing more than a backdrop as he was thrown back.
But Muzan Kibutsuji gave him no chance to breathe.
While Soma was still in midair, before he could even regain his balance, the moonlight above him was blocked by a shadow.
Muzan Kibutsuji had leapt into the air like a specter. From above, his plum-red eyes held only cold killing intent.
"Too slow."
The moment Muzan's voice sounded beside his ear, one leg had already come chopping down.
Boom!
The kick smashed into Soma's crossed blade. Under the force of the impact, Soma's body accelerated downward like a falling meteor.
But Muzan's assault was far from over. His figure twisted in midair, and a second kick followed immediately, sweeping viciously into Soma's side.
Bone gave a dull, grating crack. Soma felt at least two ribs fracture beneath that strike.
Pain coursed through his body like lightning, but he did not even have time to feel it before the third attack arrived.
Muzan spread both arms, his ten fingers hooked like claws, and slashed repeatedly at Soma while he was still flying back.
Every swing carried a shriek that tore through the air. Soma could only rely on instinct to raise his blade and barely block.
But how much could blocking truly stop?
One claw tore open his left shoulder.
Another pierced through his right arm.
Another left four bloody gashes across his chest, deep enough to reveal bone.
Blood scattered through the air and splashed across the streets of Yoshiwara.
At last, Soma crashed to the ground. His body carved a long trench through the stone pavement, sending broken rocks flying.
He did not even have time to stand before Muzan Kibutsuji descended from above, stomping toward his head.
Crack!
The ground split apart, and spiderweb-like fractures spread in every direction.
At the final moment, Soma rolled aside and avoided it. The foot scraped past his cheek and struck the ground, the fierce wind stinging his skin.
But he had only rolled halfway away when Muzan's fist came after him, smashing solidly into the hollow of his shoulder.
Another crack of bone.
Another figure sent flying.
Another trail of blood splashing through the air.
This was the gap between them.
Before absolute power, any technique appeared pale and powerless.
This was Muzan Kibutsuji.
The demon closest to a perfect life.
The target the Demon Slayer Corps had sought to end for more than a thousand years.
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