Chapter 65: Final Fight Part 1

- General POV -

For those unaware or unwilling to believe in demons, the night seemed eerily quiet. Darkness had fallen swiftly for the farmers, and just as quickly for those working in the red-light district. But for the Demon Slayers, the ones who knew the truth and sensed the impending attack, time dragged on agonizingly slow.

Some of the Hashira busied themselves checking their weapons at home, others spent their precious moments with family. One man, however, neither a Hashira nor a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, was far from preparing for war. Ryou Sasaki, alongside his adopted daughter Eri, was leaping off a waterfall, their laughter echoing through the forest.

Within the Ubuyashiki household, final plans were being made. The original strategy had changed. Initially, the head of the Ubuyashiki family was prepared to sacrifice himself and his children, hoping to lure Muzan into a false sense of security. But everything shifted when Ryou Sasaki had cured the family head of the generational curse that had plagued them for years.

As nightfall settled, the atmosphere grew heavy, signaling the beginning of the end. Through the mist, a figure approached the front gate of the Ubuyashiki compound. His stride was calm and casual, almost deceptive in its ease. When he emerged from the fog, his appearance was revealed. Pale sickly skin, and black hair with a subtle curl. His eyes, a shade of crimson, pupils like a cat and unsettling. He was dressed sharply, wearing a three-piece suit,a crisp white collared shirt, a tie the color of his hair, a black and gray waistcoat, and white trousers that matched his formal coat.

At a glance, no one would suspect him of malice. But he was far more than he appeared. He was the Demon King.

Muzan approached the Ubuyashiki compound, where Kagaya sat calmly with his wife, Amane, by his side. Muzan noted the absence of the usual curse markings on Kagaya, save for a small black tomoe just below his neck. His red eyes narrowed slightly as he stepped forward.

"You finally came to my home." Kagaya said softly, his gaze steady. "Right in front of me, Kibutsuji Muzan."

Muzan did not reply immediately. Instead, he slowly raised his palm toward the couple. "I am truly disappointed, Ubuyashiki." he spoke clear and slow. "I've lived thousands of years without aging, and the family that has opposed me all this time has only managed this much?" His lip curled in disdain as he took another step forward, his palm still raised. "Repulsive."

Kagaya met Muzan's gaze without fear, without anger, despite the countless lives Muzan had taken and the curse he'd inflicted upon the Ubuyashiki family. "I figured as much." Kagaya said, his voice steady. "Did you know? I dedicated my entire life to defeating you, Muzan."

"And your fleeting dream will go to waste tonight." Muzan calmly spoke.

Kagaya laughed lightly, a sound that seemed to start irritating Muzan. "For generations, we have sacrificed everything to stop you. None of us lived beyond our thirties."

"Now you're reduced to rambling." Muzan scoffed, shifting his palm away and pointing at his own head. "Has the sickness affected your brain? It's of no consequence to me what your family has experienced." He tapped his temple mockingly, leaning forward with a smile that dripped with condescension. "After all, the heavens have never punished me. Despite all the hundreds of thousands I've killed, no God or Buddha has ever shown up."

Kagaya remained unphased, still meeting Muzan's gaze. "Is that so?" he asked, leaning back and embracing his wife. "Muzan, what is your dream?"

Muzan did not respond, his eyes shifting briefly as if searching for something. 'Why do I feel no hatred from him?' he wondered, irritated by the strange sense of calm he felt from the eyesore before him.

Kagaya continued, a smile on his lips. "Let me guess. You dream of eternity, you dream of being indestructible. And you think Nezuko will give you that."

The veins in Muzan's forehead pulsed with anger, but Kagaya continued undeterred. "You won't achieve it. No matter how long you try... you will never achieve it."

Muzan's fury grew, his control slipping slightly as Kagaya continued. "You've stepped on the tiger's tail too many times, Muzan. You've now incurred the wrath of a dragon."

Kagaya smiled kindly, a gesture that only served to further enrage Muzan. "In essence, you've awoken beings who despise you. They won't be sad or hurt when I die."

"You done talking, worm?" Muzan growled, stepping right in front of the Ubuyashiki couple.

Kagaya simply nodded and smiled.

In the next instant, the Ubuyashiki compound exploded. Trees were obliterated, and the force of the blast rippled outward, shocking the approaching Hashira, who had been racing toward the compound.

The same thought echoed through each of their minds. 'NO!'

- Muzan's POV -

Muzan was furious, beyond anything he had felt in centuries. 'Ubuyashiki!' The man's final smile, that infuriating, happy smile, played in Muzan's mind. 'I made a mistake!'

As his body regenerated, Muzan cursed the explosion that had been laced with wisteria and hidden spike traps. His limbs were reforming slower than usual. 'Something else is coming.' he realized.

And then, he sensed them. 'They're still alive? How?!'

Before he could react, small balls shot up from the ground, which created spikes pinning him in place. "Flesh Seeds" and the spikes, crafted from a Blood Demon Technique, burrowed deep into his flesh, immobilizing him.

'I've been immobilized... by a blood demon technique? These spikes are branching into my body, stopping my movements.' He started to absorb them, but before he could, a small figure appeared in front him.

"Tamayo!" Muzan hissed as her hand plunged into his stomach. "Why are you here?!"

Tamayo smirked. "You just absorbed my fist, Muzan. Do you know what's inside? A drug. One to turn demons back into humans. So, is it working?"

"You—!" Muzan began, but before he could finish, she called out.

"Ryou-san, now!" 'Who?' as all Muzan could think as for a brief period the world lost it's color and bloodlust so potent some of the flames that the bloodlust was radiating from had been extinguished. 

- Ryou's POV -

I arrived just in time to witness Muzan, regenerating after the explosion. Tamayo had her hand lodged in his gut, delivering whatever drug she'd concocted.

I didn't care about any of that.

'Kagaya's plan had been to blow himself up? I healed the bastard! And now this?'

Bloodlust filled me. I had never felt such rage, but Kagaya's final act had ignited something in me. I dashed forward, severing Muzan's arm as he tried to crush Tamayo's head.

Muzan froze, his crimson eyes locking onto me. I met his gaze and growled. "I'm going to fucking kill you, Muzan."

As Ryou charged toward him, Muzan regenerated his arm with startling speed, though not as fast as it should have been. 'Seems like Muzan can still regenerate even when cut by Muzan, I'll just have to wear it down long enough.' Ryou noted, gripping the bloodstained katana in his hand.

The battle had truly begun.