Ch. 261A postbattle respite and new orders

After defeating Kokushibo, Sasuke forced himself to act despite severe exhaustion and used Kotoamatsukami to take control of Nakime. He ordered her to gather the Demon Slayer Corps and Muzan at his coordinates and prepare to bring them to the surface, setting the stage for the final hunt.

  • Sasuke reflected on Kokushibo’s downfall and wondered whether he might have followed the same path without meeting Tanjiro and the others.
  • Sasuke saw Muzan fleeing through the Infinity Castle while Gyomei Himejima and the other Demon Slayers pursued him.
  • Sasuke used his remaining chakra and Kotoamatsukami to override Muzan’s control of Nakime.
  • Sasuke ordered Nakime to contract the battlefield, gather the Demon Slayer Corps and Muzan at his coordinates, and prepare to ascend.
  • Nakime played her biwa, causing the Infinity Castle to collapse toward a central point.

Ch. 262Convergence, the final encirclement

Uesugi Sasuke used his control of the Infinity Castle to gather the surviving Demon Slayers and force Muzan Kibutsuji onto a sealed arena. With Muzan trapped and the Corps assembled, he began his final transformation as the reckoning started.

  • The Infinity Castle shifted and pulled Gyomei Himejima, Sanemi Shinazugawa, Tanjiro Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Inosuke Hashibira, and Kanao Tsuyuri toward its center.
  • Muzan Kibutsuji realized that Uesugi Sasuke had seized control of Nakime and the Infinity Castle, cutting off every escape route.
  • The castle’s moving spaces collapsed into a vast circular arena, where the surviving Hashira and other Demon Slayers gathered opposite Muzan.
  • Uesugi Sasuke appeared at the Corps’ front, confirmed that everyone was present, and announced the final reckoning as the barrier closed.
  • Muzan rejected the Demon Slayers’ challenge and began his most frenzied transformation.

Ch. 263The king's dying struggle, the beast of flesh and blood

Muzan devoured hundreds of demons and transformed into a colossal mass of flesh and bone, then launched a barrage of tentacles at Sasuke and the Demon Slayer Corps. Sasuke stepped forward to meet the attack as his purple chakra surged into the sky.

  • Muzan swallowed his lesser demons to replenish his strength.
  • Muzan's body mutated into a gigantic flesh-and-bone behemoth covered in faces and limbs.
  • Sasuke reassured the Demon Slayer Corps and Hashira, keeping them from being intimidated by Muzan's new form.
  • Muzan declared that he would devour everyone and unleashed dozens of bladed tentacles from every direction.
  • Sasuke moved in front of the others and raised his purple chakra against the incoming attack.

Ch. 264Majestic Attire: Susanoo! The Final Bulwark!

Uesugi Sasuke summoned Complete Body Susanoo and formed an enormous shield to protect the Demon Slayer Corps from Muzan Kibutsuji’s devastating tentacle barrage. With everyone safe and the Hashira ready to attack, the final battle began in the collapsing Infinity Castle.

  • Muzan Kibutsuji revealed his monstrous final form and launched a barrage of bladed tentacles at the Demon Slayer Corps.
  • Uesugi Sasuke told everyone to hold their ground and summoned Complete Body Susanoo despite his exhaustion from fighting Kokushibo.
  • Sasuke formed a vast energy shield that blocked Muzan’s attacks without letting any impact reach the Corps.
  • Sasuke urged the Hashira to attack while Muzan was occupied, and Kyojuro Rengoku rallied everyone to strike.

Ch. 265When the Stars Shone: The Hashira's Combined Assault!

Uesugi Sasuke protected the Hashira as they unleashed a coordinated assault on Muzan, whose wounds kept regenerating despite their Bright Red Nichirin Swords. Seeing the Hashira tire and Tanjiro Kamado’s Sun Breathing stirring into something new, Sasuke suspected Tanjiro could break the deadlock.

  • Uesugi Sasuke ordered the Hashira to attack and maintained Susanoo’s barrier as they charged Muzan.
  • Kyojuro Rengoku, Sanemi Shinazugawa, Gyomei Himejima, Giyu Tomioka, Mitsuri Kanroji, Obanai Iguro, and Muichiro Tokito struck Muzan with their Breathing techniques, cutting and crushing his flesh.
  • Muzan’s wounds regenerated rapidly, while the Hashira’s breathing grew ragged under the strain of keeping their Demon Slayer Marks active.
  • Uesugi Sasuke judged that Muzan’s shifting hearts and brains made a conventional killing blow difficult and that a battle of attrition would favor Muzan.
  • Uesugi Sasuke noticed Tanjiro Kamado’s Sun Breathing surging as he pushed himself and suspected the boy held the key to breaking the deadlock.

Ch. 266Tanjiro's Sun Breathing, the inheritance of will

Tanjiro Kamado surpassed his exhaustion and linked the twelve forms of Sun Breathing into the Thirteenth Form, grievously wounding Muzan. As Sasuke prepared to exploit the opening, he sensed Nakime’s consciousness being seized and feared Muzan would soon lash out.

  • Sasuke’s purple Susanoo shield protected Tanjiro from Muzan’s attacks as Tanjiro struggled against exhaustion.
  • Tanjiro drew strength from his father Tanjuro Kamado and Kyojuro Rengoku, then sensed Muzan’s fear and resolved to keep fighting.
  • Tanjiro linked the twelve forms of Sun Breathing into a seamless cycle and struck Muzan with the Thirteenth Form.
  • Tanjiro’s circular slash hit Muzan’s seven hearts and five brains, burned his flesh, and made him cry out in agony.
  • Sasuke recognized Tanjiro’s opening, but sensed another mental force interfering with Nakime and realized Muzan was about to lash out.

Ch. 267Prelude to Collapse, Nakime's Death

Wounded and terrified by Tanjiro’s Thirteenth Form, Muzan tried to escape by ordering Nakime to separate the Demon Slayers, but she remained under enemy influence. Muzan killed Nakime, triggering the Infinity Castle’s collapse, and his hope of escaping faltered when Sasuke remained calm.

  • Muzan, tormented by Tanjiro’s Sun Breathing and memories of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, ordered Nakime to send Tanjiro to the farthest reaches of the Infinity Castle.
  • Muzan sensed that Sasuke’s Genjutsu and Yushiro’s Talisman were interfering with Nakime, then decided to kill her for becoming an enemy’s tool.
  • Muzan activated the Curse in Nakime’s blood, and her head burst open as her body fell against her biwa.
  • Sasuke sensed that his link to Nakime had vanished, and the Infinity Castle began collapsing chaotically without its controller.
  • Muzan welcomed the collapse as a chance to escape, but saw that Sasuke remained calm and smiled mockingly.

Ch. 268Rising! The final command!

As the Infinity Castle collapsed, Sasuke activated the final command he had planted in Nakime’s soul, causing her Blood Demon Art to send the entire castle and everyone inside it rising toward the surface. Muzan was dragged along despite his desperate resistance, and Sasuke prepared to finish their battle before dawn.

  • Sasuke shielded the Demon Slayers from the collapsing castle’s space turbulence while Muzan tried to escape into the chaos.
  • Sasuke’s command, “Rise,” activated in Nakime’s lingering instincts after her consciousness died.
  • The castle’s falling fragments abruptly changed course and carried Sasuke, his companions, and Muzan upward toward the real world.
  • Muzan attacked the walls and pleaded for the ascent to stop, but the force continued to sweep him toward the surface.
  • Sasuke calculated that they were nearly at the surface and resolved to confront Muzan before dawn.

Ch. 269The Colossal Castle That Tore Through the Night

Uesugi Sasuke brought the Infinity Castle and Muzan Kibutsuji into the human world, where dawn was beginning to break. Muzan realized Sasuke had forced him into the sunlight’s path and prepared to attack before sunrise.

  • Uesugi Sasuke and the Corps survived the Infinity Castle’s violent impact as it erupted into the city above.
  • Uesugi Sasuke dismissed Susanoo and stood with the Hashira atop the ruined buildings, facing Muzan Kibutsuji.
  • Muzan Kibutsuji recognized the human world and saw the first light of dawn on the horizon.
  • Muzan Kibutsuji understood Sasuke’s plan and roared at the Corps as he prepared to attack.
  • A piercing birdcall split the night sky as Muzan Kibutsuji moved to strike.

Ch. 270The countdown to dawn

A Kasugai Crow announced that sunrise was an hour and a half away, giving the Demon Slayer Corps hope while Muzan Kibutsuji panicked and tried to escape. Sasuke searched for a way to keep Muzan trapped, but Tamayo’s face emerged from Muzan’s body as he lost control of it.

  • A Kasugai Crow announced that sunrise was one and a half hours away.
  • Kyojuro Rengoku, Sanemi Shinazugawa, Gyomei Himejima, and the surviving Corps members renewed their resolve to hold Muzan until dawn.
  • Sasuke assessed his depleted chakra and sought a way to prevent Muzan from fleeing.
  • Muzan tried to split his body into fragments, but an invisible force pulled the pieces back together.
  • Tamayo’s face formed in Muzan’s chest and told him he would not escape.

Ch. 271The Final Barrier, Tamayo's Sacrifice

Tamayo revealed the four medicines she had planted inside Muzan and used her final Blood Demon Art to weaken him from within. She urged Sasuke and the Demon Slayer Corps to strike before Muzan could assimilate her, and Sasuke led their all-out attack.

  • Tamayo emerged from Muzan's chest and explained that her medicine combined a human-restoration drug, rapid-aging drug, fission suppressant, and cellular breakdown drug.
  • Muzan tried to destroy Tamayo and expel the medicines, but her will and Blood Demon Art disrupted his control.
  • Tamayo told Sasuke and the Hashira that Muzan could no longer split apart and that his regeneration had weakened.
  • Tamayo faded into Muzan's flesh after asking the Corps to end the thousand-year nightmare before she was assimilated.
  • Sasuke ordered the Hashira and Corps members to launch an all-out attack on Muzan.

Ch. 272Bodies as shields, lives as swords

The Demon Slayer Corps fought Muzan at the Judgment Platform, with the Hashira sacrificing themselves to pin him down while Sasuke exhausted himself protecting them. As dawn brightened, Sasuke rose above Muzan and told the survivors he would take over.

  • Kyojuro Rengoku wounded Muzan with Flame Breathing, then used his body to pin a bone whip and open a gap for Sanemi Shinazugawa.
  • Sanemi Shinazugawa charged through the opening and shredded a large portion of Muzan's flesh with Wind Breathing.
  • Mitsuri Kanroji was pierced by a bone spike, and Obanai Iguro shielded her from further attacks until bone blades pinned him to the ground.
  • Gyomei Himejima took a tentacle's blow meant for Tanjiro, then trapped it with his weapons and urged Tanjiro to finish Muzan.
  • Uesugi Sasuke used Amenotejikara and Susanoo to protect the corps members until his chakra was depleted, then rose above Muzan as dawn brightened and told the survivors to leave the rest to him.

Ch. 273Samsara: Shackling! Shinra Tensei!

Uesugi Sasuke used his Rinnegan to immobilize Muzan Kibutsuji and crush him deep into the earth before sunrise. After exhausting his life force and ocular power, Sasuke lost consciousness and fell from the sky.

  • Muzan Kibutsuji broke free of the Hashira's weapons and tried to burrow underground before sunrise.
  • Uesugi Sasuke appeared above Muzan and used Samsara: Shackling to stop his body and regeneration completely.
  • Sasuke used Shinra Tensei to press Muzan and the surrounding ruins deep into the earth.
  • Sasuke's power faded, and he lost consciousness as he fell from the sky.

Ch. 274The falling god, the last guardians

As Sasuke fell unconscious after exhausting his power, Giyu Tomioka caught him while Tanjiro Kamado continued attacking Muzan Kibutsuji. Muzan’s flesh began to move beneath the fading restraint, and poisoned bone whips trapped Giyu with Sasuke in his arms.

  • Sasuke’s Susanoo vanished, and he fell from the sky, unconscious and depleted.
  • Giyu abandoned the encirclement and rushed to catch Sasuke while Tanjiro stayed to attack Muzan.
  • Giyu caught Sasuke just before he struck the ground and felt his faint breathing and feverish body.
  • Muzan’s restraint weakened, and his flesh writhed as dozens of poisoned bone whips erupted toward Giyu and Sasuke.
  • Giyu could neither dodge nor block the bone whips while holding Sasuke, and both faced imminent danger.

Ch. 275A shield of flesh: The Water Hashira's resolve

Giyu Tomioka shielded the unconscious Sasuke from the Demon Progenitor's Bone Whips, taking severe wounds before Sanemi Shinazugawa and Gyomei Himejima arrived to defend them. The three Hashira formed a protective line around Sasuke as the Flesh Behemoth began moving again.

  • Giyu Tomioka used Dead Calm to deflect some Bone Whips while holding Sasuke, but the rest pierced his back.
  • Sanemi Shinazugawa and Gyomei Himejima arrived and destroyed the Bone Whips attacking Giyu.
  • Giyu kept Sasuke safe, and Gyomei confirmed that Sasuke was still breathing steadily.
  • Sanemi, Gyomei, and Giyu formed a triangle around Sasuke as they faced the reawakening Flesh Behemoth.

Ch. 276The Aging Demon King, Undying Hatred

Muzan Kibutsuji’s body rapidly aged under Tamayo’s drug while Shinra Tensei weakened, so he sacrificed nearly a third of himself to blast free. He landed before the three Hashira guarding the unconscious Sasuke and vowed to kill them before sunrise.

  • Muzan felt Tamayo’s drug rapidly aging him and draining his life force.
  • Terrified and enraged, Muzan concentrated his remaining strength in the lower half of his body and detonated it.
  • The blast shattered the weakening Shinra Tensei pressure field and propelled Muzan out of the crater.
  • Muzan landed in a smaller, more concentrated monstrous form, still visibly aged, with Bone Whips extending from his back.
  • Muzan confronted the three Hashira guarding Sasuke and vowed to tear them apart before sunrise.

Ch. 277The resonance of the Bright Red Nichirin Swords, the passing of life's flame

Kyojuro Rengoku discovered that Bright Red Nichirin Swords could suppress Muzan’s regeneration, and the Hashira learned to pass that power between their weapons through resonance. Their coordinated assault wounded Muzan repeatedly and forced him back as dawn approached.

  • Kyojuro Rengoku struck Muzan with his Bright Red Nichirin Sword, leaving a wound on Muzan’s Bone Whip that failed to regenerate.
  • Kyojuro urged the others to pour their resolve into their blades, and Sanemi Shinazugawa’s sword turned bright red after clashing with Kyojuro’s.
  • Gyomei Himejima recognized that the blades could spread their power through resonance, and Giyu Tomioka passed the red heat to his sword by tapping it against Sanemi’s.
  • Gyomei Himejima’s Iron Ball and chain also became red-hot, giving the four Hashira bright red weapons.
  • Kyojuro led the four Hashira in a renewed attack that suppressed Muzan’s regeneration and forced him back as dawn neared.

Ch. 278Yushiro's Blood Demon Art, Shared Vision!

As Muzan’s chaotic attacks kept the Hashira from reaching his vital organs, Yushiro used his Blood Demon Art to reveal the locations of Muzan’s hearts and brains. Guided by the visions, Kyojuro coordinated a simultaneous strike on one of Muzan’s hearts.

  • Kyojuro and the other Hashira struggled to evade Muzan’s attacks and inflicted only minor wounds because his vital organs kept moving through his body.
  • Yushiro threw rune-covered talismans to Tanjiro, Kyojuro, Giyu Tomioka, Sanemi Shinazugawa, and Gyomei Himejima.
  • Yushiro’s Blood Demon Art let the fighters see Muzan’s seven hearts and twelve brains as glowing red points inside his body.
  • Yushiro urged the fighters to attack the glowing organs and avenge Lady Tamayo.
  • Kyojuro ordered the Hashira to target the third heart at the lower left, and four fighters charged toward it together.

Ch. 279The Shattered Boar's Head, Inosuke's Roar

Yushiro’s talismans revealed Muzan’s hearts and brains to the Demon Slayers, and Inosuke charged in and destroyed one of Muzan’s hearts. Mortally wounded, Inosuke used his final strength to save Kanao before Muzan’s Bone Whip struck him again.

  • Yushiro’s Blood Demon Art talismans shared a vision that marked Muzan’s hearts and brains with glowing red points.
  • Inosuke charged through Muzan’s Bone Whips and shredded one of his hearts with his Nichirin Blades.
  • Muzan struck Inosuke with a Bone Whip, shattering his boar mask and leaving him gravely wounded.
  • Inosuke remembered Shinobu’s words and the warmth of the woman from his past as he saw Kanao threatened by Bone Whips.
  • Inosuke pinned Muzan’s leg with his broken blade and urged Kanao to run before another Bone Whip struck him and he disappeared into the dust.

Ch. 280Zenitsu's resolve, the lightning that no longer slept

Zenitsu overcame his terror and used his awake, self-created Thunder Breathing Seventh Form to save Kanao from Muzan’s Bone Whip. Though injured and still afraid, he stood between his companions and Muzan and vowed to protect them.

  • Kanao froze after Inosuke vanished into the smoke, and Muzan’s Bone Whip rushed toward her.
  • Zenitsu panicked and tried to flee, but memories of his grandfather, Kaigaku, Kyojuro, Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Sasuke reminded him that others had protected him and given his fight meaning.
  • Zenitsu realized he no longer needed to fall asleep to use his Seventh Form and chose to fight despite his fear.
  • Zenitsu unleashed Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form: Fire Thunder God, swept Kanao out of danger, and severed Muzan’s Bone Whip.
  • Bleeding and trembling, Zenitsu shielded Kanao and swore to Muzan that he would not let him touch his companions again.
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