As Tetsuya's Nichirin Blade fell, Kokushibo crumbled completely to ash.
In the end, Upper Rank One had died with dignity. Surrounded and slain by ten Hashira, he had even witnessed the return of Sun Breathing before his death. It was a send-off of the highest order.
Even Muzan's eventual death in the fate originally laid out for him had not been as grand as this.
With Kokushibo dead, everyone turned to Tetsuya.
After all, what Tetsuya had just used was the legendary Sun Breathing.
Tetsuya sheathed his blade and spoke.
"Whatever you want to ask, save it until everything is over. For now, let's go face the Demon King!"
Everyone nodded and headed straight for Kibutsuji Muzan.
Meanwhile, as Muzan fought Tanjiro and the others, he suddenly sensed a familiar presence.
It was Sun Breathing!
In that instant, Muzan's scalp prickled with dread.
"An opening!"
Tanjiro noticed Muzan's lapse and immediately thrust his Nichirin Blade forward.
"Hinokami Kagura: Sunlit Thrust!"
Flames blossomed as Tanjiro thrust his blade, a ring of fire flaring around him.
The thrust pierced straight through Muzan's left side.
Muzan was ruthless enough to slap the flat of the Nichirin Blade, forcing Tanjiro's weapon to slash outward.
That slash tore a massive wound through Muzan's left side.
"Now's our chance!"
"Take this!"
Tengen Uzui and Inosuke launched a fierce assault on Muzan's wound together.
But once Muzan grew serious, he easily evaded both attacks. At the same time, his arms extended into a pair of barbed flesh whips that lashed toward them.
Nezuko and Tanjiro immediately rushed in to help, blocking the attacks for Inosuke and Tengen Uzui respectively.
Muzan seized the opportunity to sprout eight tubular whips from his legs, thrusting them toward the four at speeds almost invisible to the naked eye.
"Everyone, watch out!"