Chapter 60: The Final Stand

**Chapter 60: The Final Stand**

Two and a half hours had passed since Kintaro entered the Infinite Castle. The atmosphere had grown thick with tension and exhaustion. Kintaro, breathing heavily, stood amidst the wreckage of countless battles. His once-crackling electro aura now flickered weakly, fading with each passing second. Blood coated his body, but none of it was his—it was the blood of the Upper Moons.

Despite the fierce combat, Kintaro bore only a single wound, a thin cut across his cheek. The First Upper Moon, Kokushibo, had been the one to land it, nearly ending Kintaro's life had he not narrowly evaded the fatal strike. Yet, for over two hours, Kintaro had faced the Upper Moons and Muzan himself, sustaining minimal damage. His stamina was pushed to its limits, and his breath came in labored gasps.

Before him, the Upper Moons and Muzan stood once again, their forms regenerating from countless wounds. Kintaro had severed their limbs and decapitated them multiple times, yet none had died—not while he lacked a Nichirin blade to deal the killing blow.

Panting, Kintaro locked eyes with the demons, the oppressive silence shattered as Muzan's voice, dripping with superiority, filled the chamber.

"This is the difference between us and a lowly human like you," Muzan taunted. The Upper Moons grinned menacingly, their eyes filled with disdain.

"You humans," one of them sneered, "are weak. You age, you wither, and you die so quickly."

None of the Upper Moons dared to entertain the thought of recruiting Kintaro. They all knew the truth—if Kintaro became a demon, he would surpass even Muzan. Worse still, if he freed himself from Muzan's control, Kintaro could very well rule the world alone. That was the unspoken fear they all shared, the reason no one suggested turning him.

Suddenly, Kintaro's body trembled. The sparks of electricity around him flickered and vanished, his violet aura disappearing entirely. His eyes widened in shock as pain tore through his chest, like a sudden heart attack. He collapsed onto his right knee, desperately struggling to keep himself upright.

The Upper Moons' smiles widened at the sight. This human, who had been untouchable, who had sliced through them with ease for hours, had finally reached his limit. In the end, he was just a human.

Akaza, always eager for a fight, darted forward, his fist ready to deliver the final blow. "I'll end this!" he roared, closing in on Kintaro.

Just as Akaza's attack was about to connect, a fiery meteor descended from the sky, crashing between him and Kintaro. The heat was intense, the flames blinding as Rengoku Kyojuro, the Flame Hashira, appeared in a blaze of glory. In one swift motion, he executed the *Second Form of Flame Breathing* and severed Akaza's arm clean off.

Akaza's eyes widened in shock, stumbling backward as his arm fell to the ground. The Upper Moons looked on in disbelief, their expressions twisted with surprise.

Rengoku stood tall, unwavering like a mountain, his body emitting a warm, protective glow as he placed himself between Kintaro and the demons. He smiled, his usual confident grin returning as he faced the Upper Moons.

"Forgive me for taking so long," Rengoku said, his voice filled with both regret and determination. "I feel ashamed to have left my youngest comrade fighting all these strong foes alone. Let me make it up to you, just a little!"

As Rengoku stood there, shielding Kintaro, a single drop of blood slid down from Kintaro's nose, splashing onto the floor. But with everything happening so quickly, he barely noticed.

Suddenly, the scent of something sweet filled the air. A soft, familiar voice spoke, "Yare yare… I told you to limit your use of your abilities, but it seems you jumped right into the main fight from the start."

The voice belonged to none other than Shinobu Kocho, the graceful Butterfly Hashira. With her usual gentle presence, she wiped the blood from Kintaro's nose with a delicate handkerchief. She wasn't surprised to see his condition, as if she understood his powers and their consequences better than anyone.

Kintaro's eyes shifted, and for the first time in hours, a flicker of hope appeared in his gaze. Surrounding him, the Hashira had arrived in full force, encircling him like a protective ring.

Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira, cracked his knuckles, his usually distant expression focused. "I'll handle the rest," he stated firmly.

Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira, wept openly, his tears streaming down his face. "It's my fault I was late," he sobbed, "but I will atone for my mistake."

Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, beamed with admiration. "Kintaro, you're amazing! You stood against the Upper Moons for so long. I'm so impressed!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira, cracked a wicked grin. "I'll be taking two heads—one for you and one for me, Kintaro."

Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, stood silent but resolute, his hand resting on his blade.

Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, spun his weapons in an impressive display. "Looks like things are about to get flashy."

Even Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Hashira, flicked his tongue with an approving smirk.

Kintaro, now surrounded by the strongest pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps, felt his heartbeat grow weaker, his strength fading. Shinobu, sensing his fatigue, whispered, "Just watch what happens. Let us take it from here." She unsheathed her sword, ready to join the fight.

Originally, Shinobu had planned to hand her blade to Kintaro so he could deal the final blow to the Upper Moons. But seeing his condition now, her heart sank with guilt. She couldn't bear to push this young boy any further toward death.

Across the room, Muzan's crimson eyes gleamed with dark amusement. His voice dripped with malicious intent as he spoke to his Upper Moons, "This is the final game."

The Upper Moons' expressions hardened, their eyes flashing with a predatory hunger. For the first time, the Hashira's presence had shifted the dynamic of the battle.

The Hashira's eyes grew serious, their resolve solidifying as they prepared to face Muzan and his elite demons. Kintaro clenched his fists, his body weak but his mind refusing to give in. *I can't let anyone die… not while I'm still breathing,* he thought, his voice a soft whisper filled with determination.

"I won't forgive myself if anyone dies," Kintaro murmured, his eyes reflecting the fierce will of a warrior who would fight to his last breath.

The final showdown was about to begin.

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