Chapter Summaries

After Mu Yu refused Shinobu Kocho’s invitation to join the Demon Slayer Corps, Muzan learned that Jubei had exposed a humiliating memory before dying to Mu Yu. Muzan summoned Nakime and ordered her to gather all the Lower Rank demons.

• Mu Yu left Shinobu behind, and her Kasugai Crow, Sachi, failed to find him within twenty li.
• Muzan, posing as Acheng, embraced Kyoko, revealed his demonic nature, and devoured her.
• Muzan reflected that Jubei’s death mattered little to him, but he was enraged that Jubei had seen his hidden humiliating memory.
• Muzan summoned Nakime and ordered her to gather all the Lower Rank demons of the Twelve Kizuki.

Muzan Kibutsuji summoned the Lower Rank demons to the Infinity Castle, stripped Kyogai of his rank, and devoured Mukago while condemning the Lower Ranks’ weakness. He gave the survivors one last chance to grow stronger and kill a Demon Slayer Pillar, then summoned Akaza and Doma.

• Nakime summoned the Lower Rank demons to the Infinity Castle, where they discovered that the disguised boy before them was Muzan Kibutsuji.
• Muzan announced that Jubei had been killed and stripped Kyogai of his Lower Rank Six number because he could no longer eat.
• Muzan rebuked Mukago for fearing Demon Slayer Pillars and devoured her when she failed to answer him.
• Muzan warned that he might disband the Lower Ranks and ordered the survivors to grow stronger and kill a Demon Slayer Pillar to earn more blood.
• Nakime sent the Lower Rank demons out of the Infinity Castle, then summoned Akaza and Doma at Muzan’s request.

Muzan Kibutsuji ordered Akaza and Doma to eliminate the Demon Slayer Corps, assigning Akaza a powerful boy and Doma a female Hashira who used poison. After leaving the Infinity Castle, the two Upper Ranks clashed over Doma’s behavior and his remarks about women.

• Muzan Kibutsuji summoned Akaza and Doma, berated them over the Ubuyashiki clan and the Blue Spider Lily, and ordered them to target the Hashira.
• Muzan Kibutsuji told Doma to pursue the female Hashira with a butterfly Haori and Akaza to confront a strong boy wearing a three-mountain-patterned haori.
• Nakime sent Akaza and Doma from the Infinity Castle to an empty street.
• Doma teased Akaza about working together and eating women, so Akaza punched him and insisted he would never eat women.
• Akaza repeatedly attacked Doma as Doma bragged about his relationships with other Upper Ranks, eventually pulverizing him into ashes.

Mu Yu encountered Inosuke Hashibira in the forest and easily defeated him after Inosuke mistook him for a rival mountain master. Inosuke collapsed after insisting he would not surrender his territory, leaving Mu Yu speechless.

• Kagaya Ubuyashiki read Shinobu Kocho’s letter about Mu Yu and grew curious about meeting him, while Giyu Tomioka remained disappointed that Mu Yu had declined to join the Demon Slayer Corps.
• Mu Yu reviewed his improved abilities and the Identity Generation Card he had earned from exterminating demons.
• Mu Yu welcomed spring in the forest, then heard an animal approaching and prepared to attack it.
• Inosuke Hashibira pounced on Mu Yu, but Mu Yu struck him in the abdomen and sent him rolling away.
• Inosuke challenged Mu Yu for control of the mountain, but Mu Yu dodged his attack and struck the back of his neck.
• Inosuke charged again before finally collapsing, leaving Mu Yu surprised by how long it had taken him to fall unconscious.

Makino waited for Inosuke to wake, then practiced sword swings while Inosuke watched and challenged him over their breathing mist. A week later, Inosuke caught up with Makino, who shared freshly roasted venison with him.

• Makino covered the unconscious Inosuke with clothes and stayed until he woke, then practiced Suburi as Inosuke watched.
• Inosuke showed off his breath mist and challenged Makino for ownership of his mountain, but Makino knocked him and made him put on clothes.
• Makino vanished into the mountains, and Inosuke tracked him down and pursued him.
• A week later, Makino roasted a deer and offered some venison to the hungry Inosuke.
• Inosuke ate the seasoned venison eagerly and praised how delicious it was.

Mu Yu watched Inosuke fight a brown bear and learned how Inosuke had developed Beast Breathing by imitating animals. After Inosuke demonstrated his techniques, Mu Yu grasped the essentials of Beast Breathing, though the system disparaged the style.

• Inosuke changed into clean clothes after Mu Yu beat him in a friendly exchange.
• A brown bear arrived, and Inosuke provoked it into a fight that ended in a draw after nearly half an hour.
• Inosuke explained how he had copied the breathing patterns of wild animals to develop Beast Breathing.
• Mu Yu demonstrated Water Breathing, and Inosuke showed him breathing techniques inspired by a wild horse, wildcat, and tiger.
• The system announced that Mu Yu had mastered the essentials of Beast Breathing and awarded him 5,000,000 energy points, then criticized the technique.

Mu Yu learned from Inosuke’s Beast Breathing and advanced his Water Breathing while considering whether breathing could strengthen Haki. As he fed Inosuke, the boy sensed Mu Yu’s fear and asked whether someone as strong as him could be afraid.

• Mu Yu studied Inosuke’s breathing and used focused breathing to heighten his hearing and eyesight.
• Mu Yu considered maintaining Total Concentration Breathing and using breathing to strengthen his Observation and Armament Haki.
• The system awarded Mu Yu 10,000,000 Energy Points and raised his Water Breathing to the subtle realm.
• Mu Yu thanked Inosuke by sharing grilled meat with him and wondered whether changing the boy’s fate would disrupt the world’s plot.
• Inosuke sensed fear in Mu Yu and asked whether someone as strong as him could be afraid.

Mu Yu resolved to follow what he truly wanted instead of letting fear keep him from changing events. After training with Inosuke, he told him about Demons, prompting Inosuke to head for Final Selection and Mu Yu to receive a new quest to slay Muzan Kibutsuji.

• Mu Yu reflected on his fear of changing the story and concluded that he should act on what he wanted, even if he might later regret it.
• Mu Yu spent a week competing with Inosuke in hunting and eating, pushing Inosuke to become strong enough to defeat a brown bear quickly.
• When Mu Yu said he planned to leave, Inosuke offered to go easier on him, surprising Mu Yu.
• Mu Yu told Inosuke about Demons and the Demon Slayer Corps, then explained that Demons could be killed with Nichirin Blades by cutting off their heads.
• Inosuke decided to go to Wisteria Mountain and take part in Final Selection, and the system raised the Twist Degree and gave Mu Yu a lottery draw.
• The system activated Mu Yu's two-year quest to slay Muzan Kibutsuji, offering Energy, a tree seed, and unique Demon Slayer World items as rewards.

In Ishibashi Town, Hasegawa struggled against a demon whose Blood Demon Art spread epidemics, while the sick villagers begged the Demon Slayer Corps to die. Kyojuro Rengoku arrived and, after learning how the demon’s power worked, embraced a suffering villager to take on his illness.

• A hidden demon’s epidemic left Ishibashi Town’s residents gravely ill and turned them against the Demon Slayers trying to help.
• Hasegawa, weakened and unable to find the demon, urged the villagers not to give up despite their pleas for the Corps to die.
• Kyojuro Rengoku arrived, encouraged Hasegawa, and identified himself as the Flame Hashira.
• Hasegawa explained that contact with the villagers transferred their illnesses to Demon Slayers, allowing the demon to exploit their weakened state.
• Kyojuro Rengoku embraced a sick villager and offered to bear the illness, leaving Hasegawa and the villagers stunned.

Kyojuro Rengoku took the afflicted villagers’ illnesses onto himself and charged to face Lower Rank Three Bingye. He killed Bingye despite the demon triggering the plague inside him, then watched Bingye turn to ash as Upper Rank Three Akaza sped toward Ishibashi Town.

• Kyojuro Rengoku transferred the villagers’ illnesses onto himself and reassured them that protecting the weak was his duty.
• Hasegawa, moved by Kyojuro, took a villager’s illness onto himself and promised to care for the townspeople while Kyojuro fought the demon.
• Bingye unleashed Blood Demon Art: Diseased Bones, Withered Flesh, but Kyojuro used Flame Breathing: First Form: Unknown Fire to behead him in one strike.
• Bingye argued that his plague strengthened humanity through natural selection, and Kyojuro rejected his reasoning as Bingye turned to ash.
• Kyojuro caught his breath after the battle as Upper Rank Three Akaza sped toward Ishibashi Town.

Mu Yu returned to human society and hurried toward Ishibashi Town after noticing the many Kasugai Crows. There, Kyojuro Rengoku defeated the demon tormenting the villagers, but Upper Rank Three Akaza appeared and challenged him, ending by inviting him to become a demon.

• Mu Yu spotted signs of a major demon incident and rushed toward Ishibashi Town.
• Hasegawa and the villagers recovered after Kyojuro Rengoku defeated the demon causing their illnesses.
• Akaza appeared, revealed himself as Upper Rank Three, and threatened the exhausted Hasegawa and villagers.
• Kyojuro Rengoku cut off Akaza's arm with Flame Breathing, Second Form, but Akaza regenerated it immediately.
• Kyojuro Rengoku confronted Akaza, who invited him to become a demon.

Akaza urged Kyojuro Rengoku to become a demon, but Kyojuro refused and fought Upper Rank Three despite his illness and exhaustion. The battle left Kyojuro gravely injured while Akaza regenerated, and Kyojuro prepared to keep fighting to protect everyone.

• Akaza invited Kyojuro Rengoku to become a demon, but Kyojuro rejected the offer and declared that humans’ mortality gave them value.
• Akaza used Compass Needle and attacked Kyojuro, who countered with Unknown Fire and Rising Scorching Flames Whirlwind.
• Kyojuro chose to fight Akaza at close range, and the two traded rapid blows as Akaza repeatedly urged him to become a demon.
• Kyojuro unleashed Fifth Form: Flame Tiger against Akaza’s Barrage, nearly severing Akaza’s upper body while suffering a blind left eye and severe internal injuries.
• Akaza regenerated and urged the exhausted Kyojuro to surrender, but Kyojuro raised his sword and vowed to protect everyone present.

Kyojuro Rengoku fought Akaza with a final, desperate attack, but Akaza pierced his chest. Remembering his mother's teaching to use his strength to protect the weak, Kyojuro held Akaza back and nearly cut off his head before Akaza escaped, leaving Kyojuro mortally wounded.

• Kyojuro Rengoku recognized Akaza's Compass Needle and unleashed Ninth Form: Rengoku against Akaza's Annihilation Type, devastating the battlefield.
• The clash left Akaza with half his head cut away and his left arm severed, while his right hand pierced Kyojuro's chest.
• As Kyojuro saw his life flash before his eyes, he remembered his mother's words that the strong must protect the weak.
• Kyojuro caught Akaza's punch and held him in place while cutting halfway through his neck, refusing to let him reach the villagers.
• Akaza tore free, snapping off Kyojuro's left hand and breaking his Nichirin Blade, then regenerated as Kyojuro lay bleeding and reaffirmed his duty.

Mu Yu arrived in time to save the badly wounded Kyojuro Rengoku from Akaza’s ultimate attack and gave him a Senzu Bean. Mu Yu then faced Akaza in a fierce exchange, leaving Akaza injured and astonished by his speed and swordsmanship.

• Akaza unleashed Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow at Kyojuro, who prepared to hold out until dawn.
• Mu Yu blocked Akaza’s projectiles with Thousand Piles of Snow, reflecting their damage and wounding Akaza.
• Mu Yu carried Kyojuro to safety and gave him a Senzu Bean, then told him to rest while he fought Akaza.
• Akaza activated Compass and mistook Mu Yu for the Water Hashira as Mu Yu attacked with Water Breathing forms.
• Mu Yu evaded Akaza’s detection, cut away half his face, and withdrew from Akaza’s counterattack, stunning Kyojuro and Hasegawa.

Mu Yu overwhelmed Akaza in battle and beheaded him despite Akaza predicting his attacks. As Akaza began to regenerate, forgotten memories of a martial arts teacher surfaced, leaving his identity unclear.

• Akaza attacked Mu Yu with Blood Demon Art: Barrage, but Mu Yu evaded every punch while Kyojuro Rengoku watched in shock.
• Akaza used Compass Needle to predict Mu Yu’s next strike and countered with Flashing Lights, but Mu Yu’s Striking Tide severed Akaza’s leg, arms, and head.
• Akaza questioned whether Mu Yu was truly the Water Hashira, and Mu Yu insisted he was only a humble Tree Planter and not part of the Demon Slayer Corps.
• Akaza refused to accept defeat, spread his Twelve-Pointed Snowflake Array, and began showing signs of growing a new head.
• As Akaza started regenerating, he remembered a martial arts teacher speaking about an unyielding spirit, but he could not identify the man.

As Akaza fought on after losing his head, Koyuki reached him and helped him remember why he had sought strength as a human. His memories ended with Keizo inviting the grieving, homeless Hakuji to care for his sick daughter at the Soryu dojo.

• Koyuki grabbed Akaza's hand and pleaded with him to stop fighting, but he insisted he had to become stronger and kill anyone in his way.
• Akaza remembered that he had stolen to buy medicine for his ill father, who later hanged himself and left a note urging Hakuji to live honestly.
• After his father's death, Hakuji continued stealing and fighting, convinced he had done nothing wrong by trying to save his father.
• Keizo stopped Hakuji from beating a group of thugs and invited him to the Soryu dojo, where Hakuji learned Keizo wanted him to care for his sick daughter.
• Keizo told Hakuji that he had already dealt with the criminal in him, leaving Hakuji stunned.

Hakuji recalled how caring for Koyuki and living with her and Keizo gave him a sense of belonging and hope for a future. After Keizo asked him to inherit the dojo and revealed Koyuki loved him, Hakuji accepted their hopes, unaware that both would soon be poisoned to death.

• Hakuji met Koyuki and patiently cared for her, seeing her apologies for being ill as reminders of his sick father.
• Hakuji promised to take Koyuki to a fireworks festival after she recovered, and she cried with happiness.
• Hakuji grew close to Koyuki and Keizo at the Soryu Dojo, where Keizo explained that Hakuji's name evoked the protective Koma-inu.
• Three years later, Koyuki had recovered enough to live normally, and Keizo asked Hakuji to inherit the dojo, telling him Koyuki loved him.
• Hakuji kowtowed to Keizo and embraced the hope of a life with Koyuki, though both were later poisoned to death.

Akaza’s memories returned as Mu Yu prepared to finish him, revealing how Hakuji lost Koyuki and Keizo and became a demon. With Koyuki, Keizo, and his father urging him toward redemption, Akaza recognized that he had wanted to kill himself and destroyed his own body.

• Hakuji returned to the Soryu Dojo and found Koyuki and Master Keizo poisoned to death.
• Hakuji learned that a rival dojo had poisoned the well, then slaughtered its members in revenge.
• Muzan Kibutsuji found Hakuji, turned him into a demon, and named him Akaza, who lost his memories and pursued strength for over a hundred years.
• Mu Yu’s blade brought Akaza’s memories of Hakuji back, including his losses and his hatred of the weak.
• Koyuki, Keizo, and Hakuji’s father appeared and pleaded for redemption as Akaza admitted he had wanted to kill himself.
• Akaza unleashed Destructive Death: Annihilation Type and blasted his own body into fragments.

Akaza overcame Muzan’s attempt to control him and returned to his human self, Hakuji, reuniting with Koyuki, his father, and Keizo as he faded away. Mu Yu learned that Muzan and Kokushibo had reached powers he had yet to attain, leaving him resolved to keep developing.

• Akaza stopped regenerating and apologized to his father and Keizo, who told him they would not abandon him.
• Muzan tried to force Akaza to keep fighting, but Koyuki’s words and smile helped Akaza reject Muzan and recover his humanity.
• Hakuji reunited with Koyuki, his father, and Keizo before fading away, while Mu Yu asked Kyojuro Rengoku for a favor.
• Hakuji thanked Mu Yu and said he sensed Kokushibo’s strength in him, then warned that Muzan surpassed the Transparent World and Markings.
• Mu Yu reflected that he still had unused abilities and decided he needed to continue developing cautiously.

Mu Yu celebrated Hakuji and Koyuki’s final wish with fireworks, then learned that Doma was hunting Shinobu Kocho and hurried to help find her. As Kyojuro Rengoku arranged a search, he warned Mu Yu that losing comrades was an ordinary part of a demon-slayer’s life.

• Mu Yu gave Hakuji and Koyuki a fireworks display, and they watched their long-awaited wish come true.
• Hakuji told Mu Yu that Doma had gone after the Hashira wearing a butterfly hairpin, and Mu Yu set off to save Shinobu Kocho.
• Hakuji, Koyuki, Keizo, and Hakuji’s father departed, while Hasegawa reflected on Mu Yu’s overwhelming strength.
• Mu Yu received system rewards for defeating Upper Rank Three and helping Hakuji and Koyuki, then found Kyojuro Rengoku and asked him to locate Shinobu Kocho.
• Kyojuro sent a Kasugai Crow to alert the Demon Slayer Corps, and he told Mu Yu to prepare himself for the deaths of comrades.