Kibutsuji's actions once again redefined Musashi's perceived bottom line; even Kaigaku hadn't begged him for mercy like this at the time.
Musashi had nothing to say to Kibutsuji; all he wanted was for him to disappear. Before he could finish his words, Musashi raised his Nichirin Sword.
Sun Breathing, Twelfth Form: Setting Sun Haze
A slightly dim crimson color rose on the Nichirin Sword, and dense slashes, like the glow of the setting sun, enveloped Kibutsuji from above.
Although the slashes were somewhat chaotic, they were extremely dense, as they needed to account for Kibutsuji's strong vitality.
This move was also developed by Musashi specifically for Kibutsuji. After Kibutsuji escaped by self-destructing during their last meeting, Musashi began developing this type of large-scale sword technique, so that even if Kibutsuji turned into fragments, he could still be annihilated.
At this moment, Tanjirou and the others also arrived, just in time to see Kibutsuji, already in many pieces, being once again enveloped by Musashi's attack.
This is Kibutsuji, the progenitor of demons?
Gyoumei, Sanemi, and Genya, who had never seen Kibutsuji, felt somewhat confused by the situation before them. Even Tanjirou was a bit skeptical.
As the most powerful of all demons, he turned and fled immediately upon appearing. After being caught, he was almost minced without much resistance, completely lacking the presence of a demon king.
This time, Kibutsuji couldn't even let out a scream. His strength had already been greatly weakened by the drugs in his body, and his opponent just happened to be a monster.
Damn it… I just needed to last a hundred more years… Why did this happen…
When the last cell of his body was incinerated by the flames, Kibutsuji's consciousness gradually faded. Even at the moment of his death, he remained only unwilling.
...
"Come down… Kibutsuji…"
"Fall into hell… Kibutsuji…"
"Atone for your sins…"
"Kibutsuji, I…"
Countless hands reached out from the darkness, dragging Kibutsuji down. Those who had been forced into hell because of him had been waiting for his arrival.
"You ungrateful insects! It was I who freed you from your frail human bodies, who gave you bodies as strong as mine! You should be thanking me! And now you want to drag me into the same situation as you?!"
Kibutsuji roared, desperately trying to break free and escape, but dead, he no longer possessed his immense power. He could only feel himself falling little by little.
"Shut up, you bastard! Because of you, I personally killed my brother, with whom I depended on! Even in death, I can never see him again! Even if I can never be reborn, I will keep you here forever!!!"
The Hand Demon from the Final Selection extended countless arms, embracing Kibutsuji and dragging him downward.
His words were echoed by countless demons around him. They roared furiously, desperately reaching out their arms, tearing at Kibutsuji, dragging him down. Kibutsuji's face and body were completely covered by countless hands, and then his entire body was submerged…
On the periphery of the demon tide, some demons/humans watched for a while and then turned to leave.
Rui and his parents, Jealous Taro and Ume, the newly arrived Komaji family, and a pair of siblings, the sister wearing a sakura hair ornament.
Because they had each other, they were not lonely or suffering here; they even had smiles on their faces.
No! I am immortal! My body is no longer frail! I am almost the most perfect being in this world! I won't die… I won't…
In the demon tide, Kibutsuji's two arms were finally completely dragged down. His body was even torn beyond recognition, but then it quickly recovered, only to repeat the process…
...
The red haze gradually dissipated, leaving only a few ashes in front of Musashi.
Still not entirely at ease, Musashi continued to use the Twelfth Form several more times until the ground in that area had somewhat crystallized before he stopped.
Even with the Transparent World, he couldn't detect any trace of Kibutsuji's presence, and only then did Musashi feel relieved.
He turned his head to see Tanjirou and the others looking at him with expressions that were hard to describe, seemingly confused, or perhaps questioning reality.
"What's wrong?"
Musashi turned and asked, puzzled.
"Tch."
Sanemi let out a disgruntled "Tch" and then turned his head away, no longer looking at him. The final battle had ended without him even drawing his sword, which greatly displeased him. However, there was nothing he could do; after all, the opponent was indeed too strong. His and Stone Hashira's speed were among the fastest of the Hashiras, yet they still couldn't catch up at all. By the time they arrived, the battle had already ended.
"Amitabha…"
Gyoumei silently put away his weapon, his tense emotions finally relaxing.
"The battle… is over?"
Genya was still a bit dazed at this moment. He arrived a bit later than Sanemi and Gyoumei, only seeing ashes all over the ground.
"Musashi, thank you…"
Tanjirou, on the other hand, stepped forward and hugged Musashi, tears in the corners of his eyes as he spoke.
He didn't care if he personally got his revenge. Musashi had helped him kill the enemy who had murdered his entire family and turned Nezuko into a demon. This was a great debt of gratitude to him.
At this moment, inside the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Kagaya and Kiriya, who had seen the outcome through Yushiro's talismans, were now recovering from their disbelief. Although Kagaya knew Musashi was powerful, he never imagined he could be this strong. When he saw Kibutsuji begging for mercy, he was stunned for a moment.
Coming back to their senses, tears streamed down their faces. Kagaya's heart was filled with indescribable excitement at this moment. When Musashi had first suggested that he would personally witness Kibutsuji's demise, he had never thought that day would come.
Thank you… Musashi…
Whispering this in his heart, Kagaya closed his eyes contentedly. Despite being gravely ill and having to worry about the many affairs of the Demon Slayer Corps, he could finally rest peacefully now.
"Kibutsuji Muzan… has been successfully slain by Musashi! We… have won!!!"
Kiriya, with tears in his eyes, smiled as he delivered the good news to everyone.
At the same time, Nezuko, who had been left at the Headquarters by Tanjirou, also underwent a change. Her fangs and sharp teeth disappeared, and her pupils were no longer vertical slits.
Memories in her mind gradually resurfaced: the death of her parents and younger siblings, Kibutsuji's indifferent expression, the scene of her brother desperately protecting her, and everything they had fought through together afterward—all came back to her.
I'm sorry… Big Brother…
Tears streamed from her eyes, and she sat up from the bed.
"Ah, this little girl is awake!"
Sumo, sitting by the bed, exclaimed in surprise when she saw Nezuko sit up.
Makio and Hinatsuru heard her and rushed over excitedly, surrounding Nezuko.
Because Nezuko had fallen into a coma after being injected with Tamayo's human-transformation medicine, Tanjirou had left her at the Headquarters for safety after his last mission. Conveniently, Tengen's three wives were willing to help look after Nezuko.
"Bro… Brother… Where is he…"
Kibutsuji's cells in her body were rapidly dissolving, and Nezuko was turning back into a human. Although her speech was still a bit unclear, she could already speak.
"This little girl has turned back into a human! It's truly amazing!"
Sumo exclaimed loudly in surprise upon hearing Nezuko's voice, nearly deafening Makio next to her.
"Thud!"
A fist landed on Sumo's head.
"Keep your voice down! We're not deaf or blind!"
Makio scolded Sumo.
Sumo, hit with a punch, clutched her head and turned to look at Makio with tearful, wronged eyes, thinking that she would definitely complain to Master Tengen when he returned.
"Your brother and Master Tengen have gone to the final battle with Kibutsuji. They haven't returned yet.
But don't worry, the powerful Hashiras of the Demon Slayer Corps have all gone, and they will surely win…"
Hinatsuru spoke gently to Nezuko, but despite comforting Nezuko, her own eyes were filled with deep worry.
Just then, a Kakushi burst through the door with a "bang," then, panting but extremely excited, shouted into the room: "We won!!! Kibutsuji has been slain! And all the adults who went to battle survived!"