The Upper Ranks' End! Doma!

"He's still alive!"

Akaza stared in shock at the Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka, right before him. Was this man a demon? Surely his blood loss had already reached its limit.

"It's no use, Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. You alone cannot defeat me."

Compass Needle could clearly sense Giyu Tomioka's movements and even predict his next move.

The instant Giyu Tomioka attacked, he had already known how to deal with him and kill him.

"It's almost over. Are you still unwilling to tell me your name, Hashira?"

Akaza's gaze sharpened. He raised his hand, his savage strength enough to shake the air, and smashed through the surrounding currents of water, striking Giyu's Nichirin Blade head-on.

Clang!

At the crisp sound of snapping steel, Giyu stared incredulously at the flying fragments. Gritting his teeth, he tried to dodge the attack hurtling toward him, but alas...

"It's over. Goodbye."

Rip! A piercing shriek rang out as flames swept past like a wheel. Akaza's fist was severed instantly, blood spraying as his pupils contracted.

What was that? I didn't see it?

Hiss... A sound like a train whistle rang in his ears, and Akaza abruptly turned.

He saw a figure drenched in blood, with some parts of his body pierced clean through. The dripping blood had barely stopped, and both hands gripped his Nichirin Blade tightly.

"Tanjiro..."

Giyu's face was pale, but surprise appeared on it.

Tanjiro saved me?

Akaza's attack just now would definitely have broken Giyu in two at the waist. He would have died without question, unable to dodge because his badly wounded body was almost completely exhausted.

But Tanjiro had done it. At the moment his opponent struck, he had saved Giyu with incredible speed.

Once, he had been the child prostrate in the snow, begging for understanding and help, the child standing behind Lu You who could only watch helplessly.

Now, he stood before Giyu, beginning to shield him from the wind and rain.

"Tanjiro, you've... grown."

Tanjiro slowly turned his head. His eyes were bright, and the resolve they revealed sent waves of nausea through Akaza.

"That look in your eyes disgusts me beyond measure. Demon Slayer, why do you persist like this? You'll meet defeat sooner or later anyway, won't you!

"You're just like a weakling now. You clearly can't do anything, yet you still struggle at death's door!"

Akaza's expression twisted with vicious disgust.

He couldn't understand!

Tanjiro looked at him calmly.

"A weakling's dying struggle... But that's exactly who I used to be. I don't find it shameful."

"I see. Then you're another weakling I despise! Weaklings should die!"

Akaza suddenly swung his fist, sending ripples through the surrounding air.

Everything from the past came back to Tanjiro, from being cared for by Lu You to being taught by Master Urokodaki, from Giyu's protection to slaying demons on his own, and then fighting the Upper Ranks.

From weakness, he had moved toward strength.

He couldn't help giving a faint smile.

"Lu You, I've learned the Transparent World."

Finally, he looked at Akaza with pity in his eyes.

"I think you must have been protected by someone strong too, right? You must have come this far from weakness. Everyone has times when they're weak, so why hate the weak?

"Or are you blaming yourself?"

Akaza's pupils suddenly contracted, and he flew into a rage.

"Say. That. Again. If. You. Dare!"

"You're definitely blaming yourself."

Understanding dawned on Tanjiro. He nodded, then held his Nichirin Blade horizontally before him. A stream of fire passed the corner of his mouth, and his presence suddenly vanished.

"I have a reason I must get past you, Akaza. I won't become you, so goodbye."

Boom!!!

The furious Akaza didn't care what he said. He appeared beside Tanjiro as though teleporting, then unleashed a sudden punch with far more surging power than before.

Even the air wailed.

The fierce wind made Tanjiro's clothing snap. His expression remained calm as his figure vanished again, moving too fast for the naked eye to follow.

But that was all right. Akaza had Compass Needle...

Didn't he?

He's gone. His presence has vanished. How is that possible! Calm down. Where will he be? Above, behind, or...

Before his thoughts could reach a conclusion, that brilliant ring of flame had already swept across Akaza's neck.

"Hinokami Kagura-Ninth Form: Setting Sun Turn!"

Spurt!

Blood sprayed from his neck. He touched it in disbelief, and then his veins bulged.

His opponent had actually defeated him head-on...

Could it be that I'm the weakling?

I feel like I'm remembering something.

No, it's not over yet. How could I fall here? I refuse! I have to keep getting stronger!

His hands abruptly clamped down on his falling head and put it back in place. Every bulging vein on Akaza's face trembled, his features hideously contorted.

"Enough already, Akaza!"

Panting heavily, Tanjiro's face was pale. He kept running forward, then raised his hand and threw a fierce punch.

Brilliant red lightning erupted violently in an instant, and the shock wave swept through the surroundings with savage force.

"Black Flash!"

Though it wasn't black, though it wasn't genuine cursed energy, though it was the most stripped-down version Lu You had taught him, this punch, with body and mind focused to their utmost, still blasted Akaza's head off and sent it crashing into the wall.

Rumble...

Akaza's rolling head slowly disintegrated. He felt the force of that punch, its pain piercing him to the core.

It was as though he had once been knocked down by a fist just as powerful.

"Master... Koyuki..."

Oh, I remember now. So that's how it was. What a truly, truly laughable past. What a weak past...

But none of it matters anymore.

This isn't so bad either.

Black Flash, commonly known as the punch that struck the soul directly, brought Akaza, who had still wanted to struggle, straight to a profound realization, and he gave up.

He walked resolutely toward Hell.

Someone was waiting for him there.

"It's over..."

Tanjiro looked at his trembling fist. Back when Lu You taught him, he had never managed to use it even once, yet now he had.

Was death the best way to temper a person?

Thud. He dropped to his knees, utterly weak.

"Tanjiro! Are you all right? Cough, cough."

The equally weakened Giyu Tomioka tried to get up and go to Tanjiro, but before he could rise, he sank back to his knees, supporting himself with his sword as his consciousness blurred.

"I, I... Mr. Giyu, I'm fine. I have to go to Lu You. He must still be fighting Muzan alone..."

Tanjiro coughed incessantly, his lungs feeling as if they were burning. Pale as paper, he shakily rose, then abruptly collapsed and lay motionless.

Both of them were simply at the end of their strength.

Their Kasugai Crows nuzzled their swordsmen, crying mournfully. Crow after crow swept across the sky, carrying the news in every direction before it finally reached the Ubuyashiki Estate.

"I saw it. Tanjiro, Giyu, you did very well. Please hold on."

Tears faintly glimmered at the corners of Kagaya Ubuyashiki's eyes. He felt guiltier than anyone, able only to sit here and watch the children fight to the death...

But now was not the time for sorrow. His attention remained fixed on the two most terrifying, towering, and vast spheres of presence within the Infinity Castle, dazzling like suns.

That was the battlefield of Lu You and Muzan Kibutsuji.

The most terrifying, most crucial, and most brutal battlefield.

"Lu You..."

"Giyu Tomioka and Tanjiro Kamado have slain Upper Rank Three! Giyu Tomioka and Tanjiro Kamado have slain Upper Rank Three! Medical assistance needed!"

Kasugai Crows flew through the Infinity Castle's space, one after another.

The Hashira still rushing toward Lu You's location lit up with joy. "Well done, Tomioka! Well done, Giyu!"

Meanwhile, the largest group in the Demon Slayer Corps had been stopped by a vicious demon.

He had white, glue-like hair and rainbow-colored irises. His golden fans were open, and a smile rested on his face.

Upper Rank Two, Doma!

Opposite him, Shinobu Kocho's gaze was ice-cold.

However, it wasn't just Shinobu Kocho.

Kanao Tsuyuri, the Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, the Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui, and Inosuke Hashibira were all staring at him.

Doma's smile stiffened.

"Oh my, why are there so many of you?"