Chapter 73: Till The Sun Rises Part 3

-General POV-

The Demon Slayers watched as Ryou Sasaki was engulfed by Muzan's flesh, which expanded into a grotesque, giant baby form towering as high as a three-story building. Sharp fangs filled its monstrous mouth, and clawed hands reached outward. Muzan let out a terrible cry as his flesh began to burn in the approaching sunlight. He tried to escape, and Gyomei's voice boomed out, snapping everyone back into action.

"Don't let him reach the shade!"

The Demon Slayers launched into motion, blocking Muzan's path however they could. Some drove cars directly in front of him, while others threw rubble to hinder his movement. When Muzan reached out to smash through a bus that had been moved into his path, Sanemi and Kyojuro darted forward, slicing off his right hand before it could crush the defenders. Someone in the crowd shouted. "He's trying to climb over!"

Just as Muzan started to lift himself, a thick chain flew over his fat neck, Gyomei and Mitsuri heaved with all their strength, toppling Muzan backward. He crashed onto his back with a resounding thud. The moment Muzan hit the ground, Gyomei heard him burrowing into the earth and urgently yelled. "He's trying to dig underground! Attack him, don't let up!"

The remaining Hashira launched their most powerful attacks. Giyu and Tanjiro combined techniques, shouting. "Tenth Form: Constant Flux!" while Sanemi joined in with "Fifth Form: Cold Mountain Wind!" Even the wounded Zenitsu and Inosuke pushed forward, slicing into Muzan's failing body, little by little slowing him down.

Suddenly, a chilling, familiar bloodlust flared up from within Muzan. Then, with a sickening eruption of blood, his form began to crumble, his body slowly disintegrating in the sunlight. The Demon Slayers watched, holding their breaths, as Muzan's final fragments turned to ash and vanished. After a long, stunned moment, someone in the crowd shouted in joy, and a wave of cheers, shouts, and relieved tears swept through the exhausted fighters.

-Tanjiro's POV-

'We did it.' I thought, hardly able to believe it. Just then, a familiar scent hit my nose, and I turned to see Nezuko running toward me. "Nezuko! What are you doing here?" She put my arm around her shoulders to help me stand, her eyes full of relief. But before I could say another word, a medic's voice pierced through the crowd.

"He isn't breathing! There's no pulse!"

I turned to see the medics crowding around Ryou-sensei. Nezuko gasped, and we moved closer, joining the other Hashira who had knelt down in front of him. His eyes were open, but there was no life in them. I dropped to my knees, clutching the worn fabric of his red haori as tears spilled over my face.

"I'm so sorry, Ryou-sensei. I'm sorry…" The other Hashira lowered their heads in thanks and grief, whispering apologies for being unable to protect Eri.

Then, a scent pricked at my senses again, a scent I couldn't ignore. It was close, as if right in front of me… I turned sharply, realizing it was coming from Ryou. Suddenly, I grabbed a nearby medic, just as Ryou-sensei's hand struck out with his katana, narrowly missing his target. The shock spread across everyone's faces as we scrambled back.

"Sasaki Ryou has turned into a demon!" I shouted, barely processing the words as they left my mouth.

He blurred forward, moving faster than I'd ever seen, and appeared in front of Himejima, who raised his weapon to defend himself. I barely even see his movements. Ryou-sensei's blade swung, aiming for Himejima's arm, but Sanemi dashed in, severing the makeshift wooden leg Ryou had been using, which threw off his balance and deflected the blow.

"He's not burning in the sunlight! We have to decapitate him now!" Gyomei shouted, kicking Ryou backward into a pile of rubble.

"Gyomei-san!" I called out, quickly preparing myself. "Can you tell if he's healing?"

Gyomei focused, then shook his head. "I can't hear any regeneration. He may still be fighting it off."

Relief and hope surged through me. "Then we might be able to bring him back." I looked at Ryou-sensei, whose once purple eyes had transformed into narrow, red slits with vertical pupils, like a cat's. 'Ryou-sensei, we'll save you. I promise.' But then he moved again, blitzing toward us with terrifying speed, even as he stumbled from his missing leg.

-Ryou's POV-

In my mind, Muzan and I stood before each other on the edge of the Blood River. It was strangely quiet. I stood with how I was before the fight, no wound on my body, Muzan was the same.

"You certainly have surprises left, Ryou." Muzan said, his voice smooth as he stepped closer. I gave him a cold smile.

"And you seem to be far more foolish than I thought." I replied, matching his steps. We stood half a foot apart, his dark eyes locked on mine. Muzan placed his hand on my chest, his smile stretching wider.

"Your mind may be empty, but this place? It belongs to you. So I'll wipe it clean, along with the rest of you."

I tilted my head, unfazed, leaning in just slightly. "Want to know something?"

He only hummed, clearly amused..

"This place?" I gestured around the Blood River. "I'm not its owner."

I saw the realization hit his eyes the moment he began to sink into the Blood River.

"What? What's happening? Why…why am I burning?!" He clawed at the liquid, panic seizing him, but he was already up to his chest in the river. I crouched down, meeting his widening gaze as I placed a hand on his head, pushing him farther into the depths.

"Consider this payment for all you've done to me… and to Eri." I whispered, as his voice dissolved into screams, his pleas silenced beneath the Blood River's merciless pull. "I gave everything to destroy you. You took the only light in my life."

With that, he disappeared, leaving only ripples in his place. I straightened, looking up to the dark, eternal river above me, feeling its quiet, pulsing presence. Somehow, I knew this place, the Blood River had chosen me over him. Muzan's existence offered it nothing of worth, nothing compared to my own sacrifices.

For the first time in what felt like years, I allowed myself to breathe. Then, in the silence of this place, I asked the question that I should've asked since Buddha mentioned it to me.

"How many years do I have left?" I asked, letting the silence settle.

At first, nothing responded. Then, seven faint ripples formed in the blood. 'Seven years.' I thought, feeling the weight of the answer.

"One ripple for yes, two for no," I continued, choosing each word carefully. "Can I bring Eri back?"

One ripple formed. I felt a surge of hope, but it was quickly followed by fourteen more. 'I don't have enough.'

I thought hard. "Alright then... what about preserving her body, keeping her as she was?" Maybe I could find someone back home with the power to bring her back, someone with the right magic or have someone use an Evil Piece.

Six ripples answered me. A faint smile tugged at my lips. 'At least, there's a chance.'

I took a deep breath, one last question pressing on me. "When I get home… will this even be possible?"

Two ripples broke the surface, and I clicked my tongue in frustration. Running a hand through my hair, I took a moment, letting the answers settle in.