Chapter Summaries

Aizen tested the Demon Slayer Breathing Style on Hiraga Ichirō and learned to reproduce its principles after observing his techniques. When Aizen staged a lethal attack, Hiraga Ichirō’s desperate will to live triggered his transformation into a Shinigami.

• Aizen attempted to use Breathing Style principles with Kyōka Suigetsu while Hiraga Ichirō explained the techniques and asked for power.
• Aizen used the Hōgyoku to alter Hiraga Ichirō, then tested his strength as Hiraga Ichirō attacked with Swamp Breathing.
• Hiraga Ichirō trapped Aizen in Drowning Heavy Mist, but Aizen analyzed the technique and dispersed the mist with a breath and sword swing.
• Aizen mastered the Breathing Style’s basic principles and appeared beside Hiraga Ichirō with a sudden sword strike.
• Hiraga Ichirō’s terror and desire to survive awakened another power, and Aizen stopped his blade as Hiraga Ichirō transformed into a Shinigami.

Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko met Aizen while sheltering in an abandoned mountain temple, where they spoke about demons late into the night. Tanjiro left at dawn, and Aizen decided not to take the siblings in, expecting they would meet again.

• Tanjiro Kamado reprimanded Nezuko for nearly toppling a temple statue, then comforted her.
• Aizen arrived seeking shelter, introduced himself to Tanjiro and Nezuko, and learned that Tanjiro belonged to the Demon Slayer Corps.
• Tanjiro and Aizen talked about demons by candlelight while Nezuko fell asleep nearby.
• At dawn, Tanjiro left with Nezuko hidden in her box while Aizen pretended to sleep.
• Hiraga Ichirō asked whether Aizen would take the siblings in, and Aizen declined, saying he might help Tanjiro if they met again and he had grown stronger.

Fujiwara Makoto slaughtered a mob of demons that had gathered to hunt him, using spiritual power to overcome their regeneration. He kept ten demons alive to test the Orb Lord Aizen had given him.

• Fujiwara Makoto killed a demon that had attacked him and taunted the fifty-seven demons surrounding him.
• Fujiwara Makoto destroyed another demon with spiritual power, preventing it from regenerating.
• The demons charged together, but Fujiwara Makoto pinned them down with spiritual pressure and killed forty-seven of them.
• Fujiwara Makoto produced the Orb Lord Aizen had bestowed on him and prepared to test it on the ten surviving demons.

Kaneda Yūichirō used his new Hollow powers to devastate Lantian City, killing thousands and dismissing Aizen’s warning as the only thing restraining his ambitions. After photographs of the destruction reached the Demon Slayer Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki told the Hashira that government pressure had forced them to confront the monster, despite the danger.

• Kaneda Yūichirō reflected on his desire to seize the Hōgyoku from Aizen and rule the world.
• Kaneda Yūichirō ignored gunfire from the security force, then destroyed them with a blast and took pleasure in the carnage.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki informed the nine Hashira that a monster had devastated Lantian City and killed nearly ten thousand people in one day.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki showed the Hashira photographs of Kaneda Yūichirō’s destruction, leaving them stunned by his power.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki explained that the authorities had threatened to cut off support unless the Demon Slayer Corps dealt with Kaneda Yūichirō.

Aizen experimented on a village by using the Hōgyoku to transform its people with both Shinigami and Hollow powers, hoping to create beings that could overcome this world’s limits. The experiment ended in a massacre, and Matsushita Akihiko awoke to find he had killed his family and neighbors.

• Aizen explained to Hiraga Ichirō that he wanted to reshape the world and strengthen humanity through a new environment governed by survival of the fittest.
• Aizen used the Hōgyoku to transform the villagers, but they awoke in a frenzy and began killing one another.
• Aizen concluded that the villagers could not control the combined Shinigami and Hollow powers and continued to pursue his plan to create Arrancars and Visoreds.
• Matsushita Akihiko regained his senses amid the bloodied corpses and realized he had killed his parents and the other villagers.

The nine Hashira entered a blood-soaked village and confronted Matsushita Akihiko, who transformed into a berserk Adjuchas-level being. He overwhelmed several Hashira in succession, leaving Shinobu Kocho alive after Giyu Tomioka took a blow meant for her.

• The Hashira found hundreds of mangled corpses and discovered Matsushita Akihiko standing among them.
• Giyu Tomioka attacked Matsushita Akihiko, but his blade could not pierce Akihiko's skin, and Akihiko hurled him away.
• Matsushita Akihiko lost control, gained a bone half-mask and a Tachi, and released Adjuchas-level spiritual pressure as Aizen watched from concealment.
• Matsushita Akihiko struck Sanemi Shinazugawa down and broke Kyojuro Rengoku's back when Rengoku tried to intervene.
• Matsushita Akihiko shattered Shinobu Kocho's sword and attacked her, but Giyu Tomioka took the blow for her and was sent flying.

Matsushita Akihiko overwhelmed the Hashira until Aizen appeared and subdued him. Aizen revealed that he had saved them under a contract with Kanae Kocho, whose soul appeared to Shinobu.

• Matsushita Akihiko cut a huge ravine through the village and drove Tengen Uzui, Mitsuri Kanroji, Muichiro Tokito, and Obanai Iguro into battle while Shinobu Kocho watched without her broken Nichirin Blade.
• Matsushita Akihiko unleashed his spiritual pressure, collapsing the four Hashira and leaving Shinobu Kocho helpless before him.
• Aizen blocked Matsushita Akihiko's strike, knocked him unconscious, and let Hiraga Ichirō carry him away.
• Aizen told Shinobu Kocho that their contract made Kanae Kocho's body and mind his in exchange for saving the others.
• Kanae Kocho's soul appeared, apologized to Shinobu Kocho, and embraced her.

Aizen took Kanae Kocho’s soul and left Shinobu and the other Hashira alive, offering them Orbs that could transform them as part of his plan to reshape the world. As he departed with Hiraga Ichirō, Aizen explained that he welcomed betrayal and would keep only the strongest survivors as his subordinates.

• Kanae Kocho comforted Shinobu before Aizen drew her soul into the Hōgyoku and took her away.
• Aizen revealed that he had created the monster that slaughtered the village, then left nine blue Orbs before Shinobu and the unconscious Hashira.
• Aizen told Shinobu that the Orbs could break humanity’s limits, and he departed with Hiraga Ichirō and Matsushita Akihiko.
• Shinobu collected the Orbs and sent up Demon Slayer Corps smoke signals to summon help.
• Hiraga Ichirō questioned Aizen about empowering potential enemies, and Aizen said he would let them compete and keep only the strongest survivors.

Aono Kōji invaded the Infinity Castle and overwhelmed Muzan Kibutsuji and the Twelve Kizuki, then declared that they belonged to Lord Aizen and Las Noches. Surrounded by Shinigami and Hollows whose spiritual pressure crushed the demons, Muzan faced the threat of being taken by force.

• Muzan Kibutsuji considered the threat posed by Hollows and Shinigami, whose origins and strength troubled him.
• Aono Kōji burst into the Infinity Castle and revealed himself as Muzan’s former Lower Rank Five, now serving Lord Aizen.
• Kokushibo attacked Aono, who caught his sword and blasted him apart with a Cero; Kokushibo began regenerating.
• Aono announced that Muzan and the Twelve Kizuki belonged to Las Noches and challenged anyone who objected to step forward.
• Twenty or thirty Shinigami and Hollows appeared, overwhelming the demons with spiritual pressure as Aono threatened to cripple them and take Muzan back.

Aono Kōji tried to capture Muzan Kibutsuji, but Kaneda Yūichirō intervened and challenged him with his released Zanpakutō. As Kaneda gained the upper hand, the story left their clash unresolved, with Muzan abandoning any thought of resisting.

• Aono Kōji blasted Kokushibo into scraps again and demanded that Muzan Kibutsuji come with him.
• Kaneda Yūichirō arrived, drove Aono back with a sword strike, and declared that he intended to take Muzan for a visit.
• Aono and Kaneda released their Zanpakutō, and their spiritual pressure wrecked the nearby buildings.
• The Shinigami and Hollows guarding Muzan discussed how Aizen had used the Hōgyoku to give his followers Asauchi, prompting many to defect and form independent factions.
• Kaneda's Taotie devoured Aono's spiritual power as they fought, leaving Aono weakened; Kaneda told him to back off.
• Kaneda's confidence rested on Aizen's interest in his talent, but he knew Aizen could kill him if he ever lost interest.

Kaneda Yūichirō took Muzan Kibutsuji from Aono Kōji’s group and proposed an alliance against Sōsuke Aizen. After learning how deeply Kaneda feared Aizen, Muzan accepted, and the two began planning to oppose Las Noches together.

• Kaneda Yūichirō restrained himself from killing Aono Kōji, who withdrew with his Shinigami and Hollows under Lord Aizen’s orders.
• Kaneda Yūichirō led Muzan Kibutsuji and the Twelve Kizuki through a Garganta passage to his territory.
• Kaneda Yūichirō offered Muzan an alliance and proposed using Muzan’s blood and the Orb to create and train an army of Hollows.
• Kaneda Yūichirō told Muzan that Aizen had overwhelmed him with a glance and warned that Aizen viewed them both as prey.
• Muzan Kibutsuji agreed to ally with Kaneda Yūichirō, hoping their combined forces could resist Aizen.

Tanjiro Kamado fought and killed Seven Four Nine, a Menos Grande who had attacked Higashino City and devoured its human residents. Tanjiro gained more spiritual power from the victory but continued onward with the burden of fighting in a world torn apart by Hollows and Shinigami.

• Seven Four Nine searched Higashino City for more souls to devour so he could survive the Mutual Cannibalism Hunt.
• Tanjiro Kamado confronted Seven Four Nine and accused him of slaughtering people despite having once been human.
• Seven Four Nine fired a Cero at Tanjiro, who cut the blast in half and dodged the Menos Grande's attack.
• Tanjiro combined Shinigami power with his Breathing Styles and severed Seven Four Nine's neck, causing him to dissolve into dust.
• Tanjiro felt his spiritual power increase and resolved to keep striking down Hollows and Shinigami who threatened humanity.

Nezuko slaughtered the Menos Grande invading the city while the Demon Slayer Corps trapped and pursued the survivors. Afterward, Tanjiro reunited with his unharmed sister and reaffirmed that he would protect her, despite her being stronger than him.

• Nezuko destroyed fleeing Menos Grande as the Hollows panicked and tried to escape the city.
• The Demon Slayer Corps' Reishi Barrier blocked the Hollows' escape, and Nezuko routed the remaining Menos Grande.
• Demon Slayer Corps Shinigami admired Nezuko's strength before their squad leader sent them to pursue the fleeing Hollows.
• Tanjiro Kamado found Nezuko, worried over the blood on her clothes, and learned it belonged to the Menos Grande she had killed.
• Tanjiro recalled that Nezuko had become stronger than him and silently vowed to protect her.

Aizen ordered Matsushita Akihiko to destroy the Heavenly Path Palace and assigned Kanae Kocho to bring Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado to Las Noches. As Akihiko departed and Hiraga Ichirō prepared the defenses, Kanae Kocho left to carry out Aizen’s request despite fearing for her younger sister’s safety.

• Hiraga Ichirō reported that Hollows and Shinigami had transformed one-tenth of Japan’s population, millions had accepted Las Noches’s protection, and twenty-three Western supernatural forces had pledged allegiance.
• Aizen ordered Matsushita Akihiko to destroy the Heavenly Path Palace, testing whether Kaneda Yūichirō could survive the attack.
• Matsushita Akihiko tore open a Garganta and left, while Aizen tasked Hiraga Ichirō with preparing Las Noches’s defenses.
• Aizen asked Kanae Kocho to visit the Demon Slayer Corps and bring him Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado.
• Kanae Kocho accepted Aizen’s order, hoping her younger sister would remain safe as Aizen sent her to reunite with her loved ones.

Kaneda Yūichirō and Muzan Kibutsuji discussed Aizen’s growing power and plans to create a hundred Hollow Demons, but a report revealed that an enemy had destroyed the Heavenly Path Palace. Matsushita Akihiko wiped out the remaining Menos Grande and left after obliterating the base.

• Muzan Kibutsuji warned Kaneda Yūichirō that Aizen was building armies and gaining vassal states overseas.
• Muzan Kibutsuji said the Twelve Kizuki had become Hollow Demons, and Kaneda Yūichirō demanded that they create a hundred using human souls.
• A subordinate reported that a powerful enemy had killed the officers at the Heavenly Path Palace, and Kaneda Yūichirō erupted in fury.
• Matsushita Akihiko stood among the ruins, swallowed over a thousand Menos Grande with his Zanpakutō, and destroyed the area with a full-power Cero.
• Matsushita Akihiko confirmed that no Hollows remained nearby, opened a Garganta, and departed.

Kanae Kocho reunited with Shinobu Kocho at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters and declared that they were now opponents. To keep Shinobu from fighting in the coming conflict with Aizen, Kanae stripped away her spiritual power and left her unconscious.

• After treating the wounded, Shinobu Kocho found Kanae Kocho waiting for her in the courtyard and learned that her sister had joined Las Noches.
• Shinobu Kocho attacked Kanae Kocho, but Kanae transformed into butterflies with her Zanpakutō’s Shikai and evaded the strike.
• Shinobu Kocho said she wanted to avenge Kanae, and Kanae broke Shinobu’s blade before knocking her unconscious.
• Kanae Kocho carried Shinobu to their former room and used Spirit-Devouring Butterflies to permanently drain her spiritual power.
• Kanae Kocho left Shinobu unconscious, believing that removing her ability to become a Shinigami would keep her safe from Aizen.

Kanae Kocho left Shinobu behind and went to capture Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko for Aizen. After Nezuko transformed into a Hollow and attacked her, Kanae realized the siblings’ unusual nature might be part of Aizen’s plan.

• Kanae Kocho stripped Shinobu of her spiritual power, left her unconscious, and headed west to find Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko.
• Kanae Kocho found Tanjiro and Nezuko training and told them they had to come with her.
• Nezuko attacked Kanae, who struck her into a tree, prompting Tanjiro to draw his Zanpakutō and activate Shikai.
• Nezuko transformed into a Hollow and wounded Kanae, who recognized her as an anomaly like Matsushita Akihiko.
• Kanae understood why Aizen had ordered her to capture the siblings and wondered whether their opposing natures were part of his plan.

Kanae Kocho used her Spirit-Devouring Butterflies to overwhelm Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko, then clashed with Giyu Tomioka when he tried to stop her. She escaped with Nezuko and warned Giyu to stay away from Las Noches and beware of Aizen.

• Tanjiro Kamado had Nezuko lead their fight against Kanae Kocho, but Kanae’s Spirit-Devouring Butterflies drained their spiritual power and trapped them in an illusion.
• Giyu Tomioka arrived and recognized Kanae Kocho, who teased him about his distant manner.
• Giyu tried to protect Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko from being taken, but Kanae escaped with Nezuko after warning him about Las Noches and Aizen.
• Kyojuro Rengoku, Tengen Uzui, and Sanemi Shinazugawa arrived, and Giyu told them Kanae Kocho had abducted Nezuko.

Nezuko woke in Aizen’s palace after dreaming of her family, and Aizen subdued and hypnotized her. He planned to use her abduction to draw Tanjiro and his companions to his castle as part of a staged confrontation, while he waited for the hero to arrive.

• Nezuko awoke in Aizen’s palace and lunged at him, but Matsushita Akihiko’s spiritual pressure stopped her.
• Aizen reminded Nezuko of their earlier meeting and said he wanted to see how Tanjiro had grown.
• Nezuko attacked Aizen when she realized he intended to capture her brother, but he blocked her and put her to sleep.
• Kanae Kocho asked Aizen what he planned to do with Nezuko, and he said she still had an important role in his script.
• Aizen handed the sleeping Nezuko to Kanae Kocho and waited for Tanjiro, whom he expected to come to the castle to rescue her.

The Demon Slayer Corps and the Heavenly Path Palace joined forces to attack Las Noches, though each side distrusted the other and planned to deal with its allies later. As their forces approached the palace, Hiraga Ichirō ordered the barrier raised and instructed his troops to let the strongest fighters through.

• Tanjiro Kamado focused on rescuing Nezuko from Las Noches before taking revenge on Muzan Kibutsuji for killing his family.
• Gyomei Himejima mourned Kanae Kocho's choice to join Las Noches, while Giyu Tomioka suggested she might have had no choice; Shinobu Kocho remained unconscious and had lost her spiritual power.
• Mitsuri Kanroji questioned the alliance with Muzan Kibutsuji, and Tengen Uzui and Gyomei Himejima warned the Hashira to expect betrayal and stay alert.
• Kaneda Yūichirō noted that the Demon Slayer Corps distrusted them, and Muzan Kibutsuji said he intended to kill them after Las Noches was defeated.
• Hiraga Ichirō saw the approaching forces, ordered the barrier raised, and told his troops to stop the weak while allowing powerful fighters through.