Chapter 2: Kokushibo Vs Muzan
In the Infinity Castle, the intense battle between Muzan and the Upper Moons rages on. Nakime, one of Muzan's loyal demons, refrains from participating in the conflict. Her decision stems from the realization that supporting Muzan would put her at risk of being killed by the Upper Moons while opposing Muzan directly would also pose a significant danger to her life.
"If I explode his cells then it would be a lot easier for me to win. That's right, Kokushibo is the biggest threat for me right now. But it's hard to control him since he is so strong. Who cares about the other two demons, I can squeeze them with my index finger alone," Muzan is planning to explode Kokushibo's cells.
"I can't completely control any demon. It's risky and time-consuming, but if I fail here then all the demons will be freed from my control."
As Muzan lifts his hand towards Kokushibo, Kokushibo immediately understands his plan and uses...
MOON BREATHING 9TH FORM: WANING MOONSWATHS
Kokushibo performs multiple curved slashes, all in close proximity, that leave numerous crescent moon blades along its path toward Muzan.
Muzan closes his hand to explode Kokushibo's cells. Kokushibo screams in pain as his cells start destroying.
Despite Kokushibo's crescent moon blades that sliced Muzan's arms, he regenerates them instantly. Douma appears and uses...
BLOOD DEMON TECHNIQUE: SCATTERED LOTUSES
Doma makes several slashes of snowfall and ice to tear through Muzan's flesh.
Muzan immediately dodges his attack but gets hit through the air.
"Argh, what's that?" said Muzan.
That's Akaza's blood demon technique. "DESTRUCTIVE DEATH: AIR TYPE"
Muzan's undivided attention is fixed on Kokushibo, his right hand still poised in the air. With lightning speed, Muzan charges toward Douma, lashing out with his deadly whips.
BLOOD DEMON TECHNIQUE: HOARFROST・WATERLILY BODHISATTVA
Doma unleashes his most formidable Blood Demon Art, conjuring a colossal Bodhisattva ice statue to assail his foes. The statue wields the power to unleash frigid gusts of wind, capable of freezing its victims in an instant.
In a breathtaking display of agility, Muzan vaults into the air to evade the colossal ice statue hurtling towards him.
Just as Muzan jumps into the air, Akaza appears behind him, launching a surprise attack with his own Blood Demon Art. The battle reaches a fever pitch as the fate of these powerful demons hangs in the balance.
DESTRUCTIVE DEATH: ANNIHILATION TYPE
One of Akaza's most powerful techniques. This technique was strong enough to go through Kyojuro's most powerful attack, Rengoku. Akaza targets Muzan's weakened spot, the same vulnerable point where Yoriichi inflicted a fatal blow 400 years ago. The impact of Akaza's attack forces Muzan to recoil, causing his head to be completely crushed. For a brief moment, Muzan struggles to regenerate, a process that normally takes no time, leaving him vulnerable and exposed.
Every demon is now freed from Muzan's control. And Kokushibo is back now.
Muzan would kill both Akaza and Douma if he wasn't focused on Kokushibo and wouldn't underestimate them.
"Did they hit me? No, they didn't just hit me but also gave me a critical attack. I shouldn't underestimate anyone here," thinks Muzan in anger.
Kokushibo believes that they won't be able to keep up with Muzan if they continue fighting like this. However, if they target his weak points, they might have a better chance. Although Kokushibo's Transparent World can't detect Muzan's weak points, Akaza has the ability to do so. Kokushibo can see Muzan's vital points, knowing that he has five brains and seven hearts. Therefore, attacking both weak points and vital points could greatly benefit them.
"Akaza, I'll take the lead. Focus on attacking Muzan-Sama's weak points," said Kokushibo.
"I understand," replied Akaza, showing his surprise.
Everyone then utilized their Blood Demon Art, except for Nakime, who continued to observe the ongoing battle.
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On the other side, in the Ubuyashiki's Mansion.
We see the current Oyakata-Sama who is crying so much along with his supporters.
"How did this happen? Despite all our efforts, we still lost," said Oyakata-Sama with tears and sadness on his face.
"Kyojuro, I'm sorry my son. We couldn't avenge you," said Kyojuro's dad, Shinjuro Rengoku while crying. Even Tengen Uzui doesn't know what to say, his mind is frozen right now.
Everyone lost their loved ones in the battle.
Nezuko who has almost turned into a human is still sleeping in the Ubuyashiki Mansion. While sleeping, her dad, Tanjuro Kamado appears in her dream. He looks gloomy and sad with tears in his eyes, "Nezuko, your brother has lost the battle. He won't come back."
She immediately wakes up and runs toward the Infinity Castle. Nobody, even she doesn't know why she is running away. Sakonji Urokodaki runs after to stop her. Oyakata-Sama tries to approach her but his father's soul, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's soul appears and says, "Don't worry, Nezuko is fine."
After a few minutes, they see a cliff which denotes a dead end. She could see her father's soul at the cliff giving her a hint, "This way."
Nezuko jumps off the cliff and escapes them. Sakonji gives up on her and stops approaching her.
After running continuously for some minutes, she gets her memory back. She remembers every moment when she was a demon. Her brother helped her a lot. She finally becomes a human being again because of him, but unfortunately, he is dead.
She can't accept it, so she decides to keep running until she finds the Infinity Castle and sees him dead with her own eyes.
Suddenly, Yushiro appears in front of her and stops her. "Nezuko, I am glad to see you back as a human. Where are you going?"
"W– Where is Onii-Chan?" sobs Nezuko.
Yushiro remains silent. But then Zenitsu appears from behind and makes a sad face.
"N... Nezuko-Chan... Please calm down yourself. Your brother... Tanjiro... is dead," utters Zenitsu with tears in his eyes.
Yushiro approaches her with regret and says, "Zenitsu is right... Everyone, except two of us, is dead. Even Tamayo-San is dead." By remembering Tamayo, tears start coming from his eyes.
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In the Infinity Castle, Akaza and Douma have been rendered unable to fight, as they have been sliced into countless pieces. And being unable to kill each other, they must either be absorbed by a stronger demon or be unable to regenerate. The process of regenerating from being cut into pieces will still take time.
Kokushibo's gaze is filled with anger as he looks at Muzan. Despite his loyalty to Muzan, he is furious this time. Muzan has now entered his second drug state, causing him to become weaker than before.
"Is this… that man? No, it can't be… Even if they're twins, there's still a huge power gap between them. This is not Michikatsu, or that man, this is my Kokushibo," thinks Muzan while shivering.
The crimson blade of Kokushibo's sword, Kyokokukamusari, radiates a fierce red glow, casting an ominous light on the battlefield. His piercing gaze, filled with malice, is fixed upon Muzan, exuding a palpable aura of menace that could send shivers down the spine of even the most fearless warrior. In this moment, he seems to eclipse even the dread presence of the demon King himself.
"So you're the one who fought Yoriichi, Kibutsuji Muzan," Kokushibo intones.
Muzan is overcome with a sensation akin to icy tendrils trailing down his spine, every fiber of his being quivering with inexplicable dread. It feels as though his very soul is besieged by the force of seven simultaneous heart attacks. In that harrowing instant, he perceives Kokushibo as an embodiment of Yoriichi himself.
"This guy again… is this… a nightmare? I can't even move an inch, it's not Kokushibo. Wait, is that.. the guy?" thinks Muzan.
MOON BREATHING 6TH FORM: PERPETUAL NIGHT LONELY MOON
Kokushibo rapidly performs a multitude of curved slashes several meters in front of him that releases a wild barrage of crescent moon blades capable of slicing up the surroundings.
Muzan didn't dodge the attack. His body, usually capable of instant regeneration, was now unable to heal some of his body parts, including his head.
"What?!! What just happened? He targeted my weak spots," thinks Muzan with fear.
Struggling to regenerate, Muzan hadn't absorbed Akaza or Douma yet due to Kokushibo's interference. Despite this, he managed to grow even deadlier whips from his thighs.
Get ready for an epic showdown as 2nd Drug Muzan and Kokushibo face-off, with Akaza and Douma joining the fray. Akaza's compass needle has undergone a remarkable improvement, allowing him to not only react to Muzan's attacks but also launch counterattacks alongside Kokushibo.
The Compass Needle Technique evolves during the intense battle, boosting defense, reaction time, and precision. Their earth-shattering shockwaves are laying waste to the entire Infinity Castle, but Nakime is working to rebuild it at an incredible speed, even though her pace can barely keep up with the destruction.
One hour later, after a continuous fight, Muzan is now on his 3rd drug. He understands that he can't win against the Upper Moons in this state. He has become much weaker than before.
Muzan is lying on the ground, and Kokushibo is standing in front of him, much like how Yoriichi was standing in front of Muzan.