Chapter Summaries

Giyu woke while Murata carried him away from the Hand Demon and learned that Sabito had stayed behind to face it. A mysterious system briefly granted Giyu Heaven-Defying Comprehension, and he raced back toward Sabito before seeing something that made his blood run cold.

• Giyu woke on Murata's back and remembered Sabito standing between him and a demon.
• Murata told Giyu that Sabito had nearly cleared the mountain of demons and stayed behind to fight the Hand Demon with a sword close to breaking.
• Giyu struggled free and headed back toward Sabito despite Murata's attempts to stop him.
• A system mistakenly identified Giyu as a transmigrator, granted him Heaven-Defying Comprehension, and then vanished without reclaiming the reward.
• Giyu heard another roar from the Hand Demon, gained an instinctive grasp of Water Breathing, and raced into a clearing where he saw a shocking sight.

Sabito fought the Hand Demon until his Nichirin Blade broke and he was left surrounded. Giyu returned to save him and stood between Sabito and the demon, preparing to fight.

• Sabito battled the Hand Demon with Water Breathing techniques while the demon taunted him about the people it had eaten.
• As his strength and blade failed, Sabito baited the Hand Demon and launched a final strike at its neck, but the blade snapped on impact.
• The Hand Demon closed in on the airborne Sabito, but Giyu arrived and cut away the hands threatening him.
• Giyu carried Sabito to safety and, after Sabito questioned his return and sudden skill, told him to rest and faced the Hand Demon.

Giyu defeated the Hand Demon with a newly mastered Water Breathing Tenth Form after it taunted him about Makomo’s death. He helped the wounded Sabito descend Mount Fujikasane as dawn approached and the Final Selection neared its end.

• The Hand Demon recognized Giyu as Urokodaki’s disciple and attacked him, but Giyu used Water Breathing forms to evade and disrupt its arms.
• The Hand Demon described killing Makomo and taunted Giyu with her final words, making Giyu’s focus deepen.
• Giyu unleashed Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux, and beheaded the Hand Demon with his intact Nichirin Blade.
• Sabito saw Giyu’s wounded shoulder and asked about his sword and final technique, but Giyu said he did not know how he had done it.
• Giyu helped Sabito walk down the mountain, reassuring him that surviving mattered even though his sword had broken.
• The two continued through the Wisteria blossoms as dawn gathered and the seven days of Final Selection drew to a close.

After surviving Final Selection, Sabito and Giyu returned to the plaza, where fifty-two candidates chose their paths in the Demon Slayer Corps and received Kasugai Crows. They selected Tamahagane for their Nichirin Blades and began the journey back to Mount Sagiri, arriving home together at sunset.

• The survivors credited Sabito with saving them, and Murata worried that Giyu had gone back to face the huge demon.
• Sabito and Giyu returned to the plaza, where Giyu told Murata the demon was dead and Sabito's sword had broken.
• The Kakushi announced that fifty-two people had survived Final Selection and offered them a choice between becoming swordsmen or joining the Kakushi; Sabito and Giyu chose to become swordsmen.
• Sabito and Giyu selected Tamahagane and received Kasugai Crows, then learned their Nichirin Blades would be ready after fifteen days of rest.
• Sabito and Giyu walked back to Mount Sagiri, supporting each other along the way, and reached home at sunset.

Sabito and Giyu returned from Mount Fujikasane, giving Urokodaki relief from the grief of losing his former disciples. After Giyu defeated Sabito in a spar and struggled to explain his sudden strength, Urokodaki and Sabito mistook his blunt remark about being different for arrogant boasting.

• Sabito and Giyu returned to the cabin, and Urokodaki removed his mask and embraced them in tears.
• Sabito told Urokodaki that the Hand Demon had killed the eleven fox-mask disciples, and Giyu reassured his teacher that their deaths were not his fault.
• Sabito revealed that Giyu had killed the Hand Demon, and Urokodaki praised both disciples for returning alive.
• During a spar, Giyu calmly evaded Sabito's attacks and defeated him, astonishing Sabito and Urokodaki with his mastery of Water Breathing.
• When asked how he had become so strong, Giyu said he did not know and was different from them, prompting Sabito and Urokodaki to call out his apparent arrogance.
• Urokodaki warned Giyu that his way of speaking would make girls dislike him, leaving Giyu pondering the connection.

Giyu mastered Water Breathing: Total Concentration: Constant and challenged Urokodaki to a long sparring match. Urokodaki acknowledged Giyu’s rapid growth but pointed out that his attacks were too forceful, while Giyu left with a clearer sense of the path ahead.

• Giyu’s breathing synchronized with the mountain stream, and he instinctively mastered Water Breathing: Total Concentration: Constant.
• Giyu asked Urokodaki to spar, and Sabito agreed to referee despite Giyu’s injuries.
• Giyu and Urokodaki fought for hours, impressing Sabito with their skill and teaching him to understand Water Breathing as the essence of water rather than a fixed set of moves.
• Urokodaki ended the bout, said he had lost under different circumstances, and warned Giyu that his sharp, forceful attacks could break against a strong opponent.
• Giyu accepted Urokodaki’s advice and resolved to keep getting stronger as the group returned to the cabin.

Giyu and Sabito received their Nichirin Blades and their first Demon Slayer missions, then left Mount Sagiri to investigate suspected demon attacks in separate villages. Giyu headed toward Inaba Village, resolved to protect the ordinary lives of its people.

• Kanamori delivered Sabito and Giyu their Nichirin Blades, and he noted that Giyu's deep-blue sword was exceptionally well matched to him while explaining the legend of red blades.
• Qingliu and Kanzaburo delivered separate C-rank missions for suspected demon attacks in villages to the southwest and southeast.
• Sabito and Giyu said farewell to Urokodaki, who embraced Sabito and urged both disciples to return alive and protect people.
• Sabito and Giyu checked their supplies and departed Mount Sagiri in different directions as Urokodaki watched them leave.
• Giyu traveled southeast through rice fields, reflected on the peaceful lives he wanted to protect, and continued toward Inaba Village with Kanzaburo on his shoulder.

Giyu Tomioka saved Genzo from a demon that had been abducting villagers in Inaba Village. After killing the demon, Giyu confirmed that his mission was complete and left, while Genzo grappled with the reality of the Demon Slayer Corps.

• Villagers feared a string of nightly disappearances, while Genzo insisted he had seen a monster.
• A demon appeared in an alley and chased Genzo, explaining that it planned to make the village its granary.
• Giyu Tomioka struck the demon twice, killing it before it could reach Genzo.
• Giyu asked whether Genzo had been bitten, learned that three villagers had disappeared over three nights, and told him to lock his doors.
• Giyu left without seeking thanks, and Genzo realized that the Demon Slayer Corps existed.

Giyu Tomioka accepted an emergency mission to investigate Defiled Wood Mountain, where more than ten Demon Slayers had vanished. As he hurried there, Akamatsu Enjirō’s squad entered the poisonous forest domain and was ambushed, leaving Akamatsu alone to face the demon’s attack as Giyu raced toward the battle.

• Giyu completed his mission in Inaba Village and received an urgent order to investigate Defiled Wood Mountain and search for survivors.
• Giyu set out for the mountain, intending to learn more about the suspected demon and aid the Hashira and other Demon Slayers.
• Akamatsu Enjirō led Murata and five other Demon Slayers into the mountain’s green mist to conduct reconnaissance.
• The squad developed dizziness and weakness, and Akamatsu realized that the mist was poisonous.
• The demon revealed its forest domain and attacked with animated trees, roots, and branches, while its poisoned victims lay unconscious.
• Akamatsu drew his glowing Nichirin Blade and braced himself to defend his squad as Giyu raced toward the battle.

Giyu Tomioka joined the poisoned and wounded Akamatsu Enjirō in fighting the Wood Demons on Defiled Wood Mountain. As the demon concealed in the mist coordinated its endless attackers, both swordsmen were injured and the battle turned against them.

• Giyu entered the poisonous forest and found Akamatsu Enjirō guarding six unconscious Corps members amid a clearing wrecked by battle.
• More than twenty Wood Demons attacked, and Giyu used Water Breathing to cut through them and reach Akamatsu.
• Akamatsu told Giyu that the hidden demon controlled the Wood Demons and that poison had left him with only a fraction of his strength.
• The demon mocked the swordsmen from the mist and coordinated the Wood Demons into a tighter assault.
• Giyu and Akamatsu fought back-to-back, but both were wounded and the seemingly endless attackers gained the advantage.

Giyu and Akamatsu Enjirō joined forces to find and destroy the demon controlling Defiled Wood Mountain, ending its Wood Demons and poisonous mist. Both fighters survived but collapsed from their injuries and exhaustion, while Murata and the other squad members remained unconscious and in need of help.

• Giyu pushed his perception beyond its limits and located the demon's core underground, fifteen steps to the northeast.
• Giyu used Boundless Flux to sweep away the Wood Demons and clear a path while Akamatsu Enjirō gathered strength for one final attack.
• Akamatsu Enjirō used Unknowing Fire to pierce the demon's defenses and destroy its core, causing the Wood Demons to die and the poisonous mist to dissipate.
• Akamatsu Enjirō collapsed unconscious, and Giyu checked his condition before finding Murata and the other five squad members still unconscious but recovering from the poison.
• Giyu reached his limit and sat by the scorched crater as the wounded Demon Slayers lay amid the ruined battlefield.

Shinjuro Rengoku arrived after Giyu and Akamatsu defeated the Wood Demon, and recognized Giyu’s skill and courage. With the Kakushi taking over the rescue, Giyu rested and considered how the Flame Hashira’s arrival might change the road ahead.

• Shinjuro Rengoku reached the battlefield and found the Wood Demon dead, Akamatsu unconscious, and Giyu gravely wounded.
• Shinjuro checked Akamatsu and tested Giyu with his Hashira presence, but Giyu remained calm.
• Giyu explained how he and Akamatsu had killed the demon and revealed that he had altered Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux.
• Shinjuro praised Giyu, thanked him for saving Akamatsu, and ordered him to rest while he directed the Kakushi.
• Giyu sat back down as Kanzaburo returned to his shoulder and Shinjuro organized the aftermath.

Giyu recovered at a Wisteria House after the battle and wrestled with unease over his effortless, mysterious growth in strength. The elderly caretaker’s story helped him understand that what mattered most was using his power to protect others.

• The caretaker welcomed Giyu, Akamatsu Enjirō, and the other injured Demon Slayers, arranging medical care and shelter for them.
• Giyu’s wounds nearly healed over three days while Akamatsu Enjirō and the others slowly stabilized.
• Giyu sat awake beneath the moon, troubled by how easily his unusual abilities had advanced him beyond the hard-earned strength of others.
• The caretaker brought Giyu a warm rice ball and told him how her family had founded the Wisteria House to shelter Demon Slayers who protected ordinary people.
• Giyu accepted that the purpose of his power mattered more than where it came from, thanked the caretaker, and returned to his room.

After recovering at Wisteria House, Giyu Tomioka received an urgent kinoe-rank mission to investigate disappearances in Blue Stone Town and eliminate the demon responsible. He left with the old woman’s supplies and blessing, heading northwest.

• Giyu recovered at Wisteria House, trained, helped the household, and grew comforted by its quiet daily life.
• Kanzaburo delivered an urgent mission: more than twenty people had disappeared at night in Blue Stone Town over seven days, and Giyu was ordered to investigate and destroy the demon.
• The old woman prepared food, water, and medicine for Giyu’s journey.
• The old woman and the servants wished Giyu fortune in battle as he departed Wisteria House.
• Giyu set off toward Blue Stone Town with Kanzaburo circling overhead.

At Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Shinjuro Rengoku reported Giyu Tomioka’s victory over a demon, and Kagaya Ubuyashiki ordered preparations for a Nichirin Blade fit for a Hashira while renewing his vow to kill Muzan Kibutsuji. Giyu entered fearful Blue Stone Town and waited at an izakaya for its people to reveal what was happening.

• Shinjuro Rengoku told Kagaya Ubuyashiki that Giyu Tomioka and the poisoned Akamatsu had slain the demon in Defiled Wood Mountain.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki ordered Shinjuro to have the Swordsmith Village prepare Giyu a true Nichirin Blade worthy of a Hashira.
• After Shinjuro left, Kagaya Ubuyashiki vowed to end Muzan Kibutsuji and avenge the Ubuyashiki Clan’s centuries of suffering.
• Giyu Tomioka entered Blue Stone Town and noticed that the villagers feared a demon whose scent lingered faintly in the town.
• Giyu went to Fujino’s izakaya, ordered a meal, and quietly listened to the frightened patrons while searching for information.

Giyu Tomioka learned that Blue Stone Town’s villagers had been forced to offer warriors to a demon living in the Ironfast Fist Dojo. He let them bind him and deliver him to the dojo, then entered alone as its gates closed behind him.

• Fujino told Giyu that a demon had terrorized Blue Stone Town for a year and a half, demanding a warrior every three days and punishing anyone who resisted or sought help.
• Giyu recognized that the demon was intelligent and dangerous, and he chose not to blame the frightened villagers for making him the next offering.
• At the demon’s insistence that its victims bring weapons, the villagers bound Giyu’s hands but left his Nichirin Blade with him.
• Fujino led Giyu and several villagers through the mountain forest to the Ironfast Fist Dojo, where the terrified villagers stopped at the entrance.
• Giyu reassured Fujino that he had come for the demon, then entered the dojo; its gate shut behind him.

Giyu confronted Lower Rank One Tetsusai in Blue Stone Town and fought to hold him off until reinforcements arrived. Though badly outmatched, Giyu kept resisting as the battle reached a stalemate, with Tetsusai still hiding his full strength and Blood Demon Art.

• Giyu recognized Tetsusai as Lower Rank One after the demon revealed his hunger for Giyu and his ambition to grow stronger by eating him.
• Tetsusai struck first, and Giyu deflected the punch but was sent crashing into the training ground’s railing.
• Kanzaburo recognized the danger, flew off to summon reinforcements, and urged Giyu to hold on.
• Giyu attacked with Water Breathing techniques, managed to wound Tetsusai, and continued fighting despite the demon’s overwhelming strength.
• Tetsusai unleashed a barrage of attacks, but Giyu kept evading and deflecting them, leaving the fight in a fierce stalemate.

Giyu Tomioka fought Lower Rank One Tetsusai until the demon paused to recount how he had chosen demonhood to pursue the Transparent World, then abandoned martial arts for the strength gained by eating humans. As Tetsusai prepared to eat Giyu, Giyu recovered enough to launch a decisive attack.

• Tetsusai struck through Giyu Tomioka's defense, sending him crashing into a pillar and leaving him badly wounded.
• Tetsusai praised Giyu's fighting skill, asked his name, and stopped to tell him about his past.
• Tetsusai explained that Upper Rank Three, Lord Akaza, had offered him demonhood and the chance to pursue the Transparent World.
• Tetsusai admitted that eating humans made him stronger faster than training and declared that the weak were food for the strong.
• Giyu condemned Tetsusai's belief and vanished into a sword attack aimed at the demon's chest.

Giyu Tomioka fought Tetsusai’s Steel Fist Seal, but the demon’s overwhelming power shattered his Nichirin Blade and left him gravely wounded. Tetsusai declared that Giyu’s journey was over and prepared to claim his flesh and potential.

• Tetsusai unleashed his Steel Fist Seal, and Giyu dodged his first attack while striking back.
• Tetsusai’s fists overwhelmed Giyu’s Water Breathing defenses, worsening his injuries and cracking his blade.
• Tetsusai’s final blow shattered Giyu’s Nichirin Blade, then struck his stomach and hurled him into a courtyard wall.
• Giyu collapsed, unable to stand, as Tetsusai approached and said he would take Giyu’s flesh, blood, and potential.

Near death, Giyu draws on memories of Tsutako and Makomo and awakens the Transparent World. He severs both of Tetsusai’s arms and challenges the demon to a third round as Tetsusai attacks again.

• Giyu sinks into darkness and sees Tsutako and Makomo, who urge him to live, protect others, and keep going.
• Tetsusai senses that Giyu’s presence has vanished and realizes he may have entered the Supreme Realm, also known as the Transparent World.
• Driven by envy and greed, Tetsusai rushes to devour Giyu, but Giyu disappears and reappears above him.
• Giyu uses his broken sword to cut off both of Tetsusai’s arms, then perceives the demon’s body and movements through the Transparent World.
• Giyu challenges Tetsusai to a third round, and Tetsusai renews his attack despite recognizing Giyu’s changed state.