Gyomei Himejima swung the Meteor Hammer, sending its enormous iron ball hurtling toward another barbed whip with a howling rush of wind. The iron ball collided violently with the whip, unleashing a piercing metallic clang.
Gyomei had not fully recovered his stamina after his recent life-and-death struggle with Upper Rank One. Although this strike blocked Muzan's attack, his towering body swayed sharply, and the wound on his chest tore open again, blood seeping through his bandages.
Sanemi Shinazugawa gritted his teeth and charged forward, swinging his Nichirin Blade despite his severe injuries. Slashes of Wind Breathing sword energy crisscrossed as he tried to sever the flailing tentacles.
Muzan's attacks came far too rapidly. The barbs on a whip grazed Sanemi's arm, drawing a spray of blood. Sanemi grunted and had no choice but to retreat and defend.
Kyojuro Rengoku roared, unleashing an unbroken succession of Flame Breathing sword techniques. His blazing blade barely forced back several approaching tentacles, but his breathing had also grown somewhat labored after one grueling battle after another.
Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho worked together, darting and weaving through the gaps between the barbed whips.
Kanae used the gentle swordwork of Flower Breathing to deflect the attacks, while Shinobu tried to find an opening to inject poison into Muzan's body. An immensely powerful repulsive force radiated from Muzan, and his icy killing intent kept them from getting anywhere near him.
For a time, Muzan's sudden, ferocious onslaught forced everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps back, step by step.
Most of the Hashira carried injuries from their earlier battles, and their stamina and mental energy were severely depleted. They simply could not muster their full strength to stop Muzan's reckless, all-out assault.
At the critical moment when their defensive line was about to be torn apart completely,