Chapter 69: Final Fight Part 5

- Mitsuri POV -

Ryou-san was scary, but he was nice! Like Himejima-san, intimidating on the outside but kind when you got to know him.

I rushed to Eri-chan's body just as Ryou-san shot forward so fast it looked like he teleported, slamming his hand into Muzan's face with a force that shattered everything behind them. I kneeled next to Eri-chan, and just as I took in her pale, motionless form, I heard footsteps approaching fast. Turning, I saw Shinobu-chan, Inosuke-kun, Kanao-chan, and Rengoku-san. "Shinobu-chan, quickly over here!" I called to her, my voice shaking.

Shinobu-chan knelt beside me, her brow furrowing the moment she saw Eri-chan. 'This is bad.' I thought, feeling the tremors of the Infinity Castle as the sounds of Ryou-san's furious yelling and Muzan's taunts clashed in the air.

Shinobu-chan's quiet voice pulled me back. "She's gone."

I felt my heart drop. "A-are you sure? Maybe it's not that bad…" I murmured, a shaky hope in my voice.

But Shinobu-chan only shook her head sadly. A hole was in the middle of Eri-chan's chest, her tear-stained red eyes staring up, lifeless. Gently, Shinobu-chan closed them.

Inosuke-kun walked over quietly, surprising us with his uncharacteristic calm as he lifted Eri's body, wrapping her up and securing her onto his back. "I'll keep her body safe." he said softly, his voice laced with a restrained fury we all shared.

As we rose, another explosion rattled the entire Castle, a wave of killing intent surging over us with it. Rengoku-san, standing resolute, looked towards the destruction. "We need to help Ryou-san."

-Ryou POV-

"Muzan!" The force of my shout shook this damn place to its core. Muzan laughed in response, a cruel, mocking sound that echoed around us as he lashed out with his whip like arms. I severed them cleanly, charging ahead with reckless abandon, pouring half of my remaining cursed magic and a desperate amount of lifeforce into Muramasa. "Soul-Rendering Flash: Twilight Requiem!"

The attack obliterated his upper body and vaporized everything within a hundred foot radius, but I barely registered it as he healed almost instantly. I could sense his regeneration slowing, but I didn't care. He swung again, and instead of dodging, I let his attack collide with the left side of my face, feeling the sting of pain ignite my fury even further. Gripping his appendage tightly, I glared at him through the haze of my bloodlust. "I'm going to fucking kill you for taking my daughter away from me."

With a surge of desperation, I readied Muramasa for an overhead slash, channeling the last remnants of cursed magic through it. The blade thrummed with dark energy as I felt its power build. Just then, Muzan sprouted spikes from the whip arm I held with my left hand, but I pushed forward, unfazed. The pressure from Muramasa's aura felt like it was crushing my body, but I welcomed it. Each step forward fueled my rage, the vision of Eri's lifeless eyes playing relentlessly in my mind. I poured more lifeforce into Muramasa, and its power radiated around me, freezing even Muzan in place for a heartbeat.

Tears streamed down my face, mingling with blood, as I locked eyes with Muzan. "See you in Hell." His eyes widened with surprise, but it quickly morphed into that sickening smile of his, relishing the chaos unfolding before him.

In that moment, I brought Muramasa crashing down in a powerful overhead slash. "Soul-Rendering Flash: Final Requiem!"

As the attack tore through the air, it felt like reality warped and twisted. Everything within my sight was obliterated, it didn't seem to matter what it was it vanished without a trace, not even rubble remained.

Then, the backlash hit me. I doubled over, blood erupting from my mouth as I collapsed to the ground, my hand pressed against my lips to stifle the torrent. My arm was a bloody mess, mutilated from my own attack, and my right side oozed thick blood. I lay there, breathless, consumed by the darkness of my own fury.

The world blurred as I felt Muramasa corrupting me. The curse I had once overpowered was now consuming me from the inside out. I grit my teeth and stumbled to my feet, dragging myself toward where Eri would be waiting for me.

Figures rushed toward me, a flash of pink caught my eye. 'Must be Mitsuri.' I thought wearily. They were shouting, but the words were lost to me, drowned out by the curse's oppressive grip.

Then I spotted another figure, red hair. 'Tanjiro? They must've all beaten the Upper Ranks.' "Ry-" he called, reaching out for me. "Ryo-" I used my left, bloodied hand to lean against the wall, slowly staggering toward them.

Just then, Tanjiro's voice cut through the haze, loud and clear. "RYOU-SENSEI, LOOK OUT!"

'Wha— urgh.' My gaze fell to my chest, where a pale hand pierced through me from behind.

I turned slowly as darkness closed in, only to meet Muzan's gleeful, red eyes. "H-how?" I coughed, the words barely escaping my lips.

"Oh, Ryou-chan." he mocked. "your blood is quite intoxicating. I'll miss it." his grin widened. In one swift motion, he ripped his hand from my chest, and I staggered forward, gasping in pain. As I struggled to regain my footing, Muzan seized my left arm, his grip like iron.

With a powerful throw, he launched me across the wreckage, the force so great that it tore my arm from its socket.

As my world faded to black, the only thought that lingered in my mind was a silent apology. 'I'm so sorry, Kagaya and Eri.'

-Tanjiro POV-

Ryou-sensei was strong; that much I knew. He was stronger than I thought when Shinobu-san revealed just how severely injured he was. He stood as a pillar of unbeatable strength for me.

In that regard, he was like Himejima-san. Both were sources of unwavering support, even if Ryou-sensei refused to see or admit it.

But watching Ryou-sensei stumble toward us, bloodied and broken, felt like a jab to the chest. The sight was even more painful when I realized that Inosuke was carrying Eri's lifeless body. 'I'll end you, Muzan!' I promised myself again, the fire of vengeance igniting within me.

Then it happened in slow motion. It began as a small, almost insignificant piece of flesh, but it grew larger and faster taking form, Muzan was regenerating from whatever Ryou-sensei did. No one was quick enough to warn Ryou-sensei or pull him away. We shouted, desperate to reach him, but it was too late.

Muzan thrust his hand through Ryou-sensei's chest, and I watched in horror as my sensei staggered, blood spilling from his mouth. "Ryou-sensei!" I yelled, my heart pounding as I fought to reach him, but it was futile.

With a cruel laugh, Muzan yanked his hand out, leaving a gaping wound, and then gripped Ryou-sensei's left arm. In one brutal motion, he threw him with such force that it tore Ryou-sensei's arm clean off.

"MUZAN!" I screamed, rage coursing through my veins.

His next words pushed me over the edge. He looked down at the severed arm and back at us as we all assumed our stances. "What a shame. I have no use for this garbage anymore." With a flick of his wrist, he crushed Ryou-sensei's arm into nothing, as though it were mere trash.

Giyu-san's voice cut through the chaos. "Calm down, we need to focus." I opened my mouth to respond, but he continued. "Tanjiro and Inosuke, go where Sasaki-san was thrown. He may still be alive." I frowned but nodded. "The rest of us need to keep Muzan distracted long enough for Yushiro-san to take over the Upper Rank Four's mind." The others nodded, their faces grim as Inosuke and I sprinted toward where Ryou-sensei had been thrown. 'Please be alive, Ryou-sensei.'

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