Wearing a fedora and a proper suit, no one would have suspected that Muzan was the legendary Demon King responsible for countless atrocities.
At this moment, Muzan was trembling with excitement across his entire body.
'Marechi, and the rarest of the Marechi—something that is utterly unique and cannot be found in a thousand years. I will turn him into a perfect Demon, no, I will absorb him directly! I can finally become the perfect Demon, the perfect creature that can walk in the sun!'
"Marechi" refers to those possessing an unusual or special bloodline.
For nearly a thousand years, Muzan had been searching for a method to become the perfect creature capable of walking in the sun. There were two highly probable methods: the first was to find the legendary Blue Spider Lily, and the second was to evolve further by absorbing a specific type of rare blood or a Demon immune to sunlight.
After waiting for nearly a millennium, the realization of his dream was right before his eyes. How could Muzan not be excited?
All five of his brains and seven of his hearts were trembling, cheering with joy.
"Subarashii..." Just as he was about to deliver his pre-meal remarks, Muzan saw the handsome young man opposite him pull out two very familiar-looking earrings.
"Muzan! Do you still remember Tsugikuni Yoriichi in the bamboo forest that year?!"
Tsugikuni Yoriichi, the name that brought him endless dread and left indelible scars on his body, how could Muzan possibly forget?
"Yes, those earrings belong to that man, so could it be..." Muzan instantly recalled that painful experience. Overwhelmed by joy and shock, his five brains stalled from the overload.
Now is the time!
'Ittou Shura!'
Facing the Demon King Muzan, Aomori, who had already removed his Heavy Training Gi Set, did not hesitate to use his strongest technique.
Accompanied by intense pain, power surged relentlessly from the depths of his body. His brain felt like it had broken through a certain boundary—bang—and the entire world seemed to stand still.
'All the Holy Light energy and Lightning energy, condense now!' With no time to fully explore this realm, Aomori concentrated, focusing all his energy onto the The Best Sword in the Village in his right hand, which was imbued with Knight of Owner.
Boom!
A powerful aura dispersed the wind and snow and cracked the earth.
This was Aomori's first time going all-out.
'Focus your power to the pinnacle! Lightning Light Breathing • First Form • Heavenly Net, Earthly Mesh • 108 Flashes!'
In that moment, Aomori turned into light.
By the time Muzan reacted, the flash of the sword had sliced through him countless times. Under the Holy Light's purification, Muzan's body began to dissipate. For the second time since his encounter with Tsugikuni Yoriichi, he felt the threat of death.
"What kind of light is this?! Block it, now!" Muzan shrieked in agony. His body violently swelled up, then exploded into 3,600 fragments, scattering in all directions.
The sword light, like a Death God come to claim a soul, chased the fragments as they fled, purifying them one by one.
Thunder and Holy Light permeated the entire forest. Trees were toppled by the shockwaves of the sword light, and the snow was plowed repeatedly, revealing the bare, muddy ground beneath.
The rumbling sound made the door of the wooden house rattle. Tanjiro stared in astonishment at the scene outside, which was bright as day, and murmured, "Such warm light..."
On the other side of the mountain, a certain person traveling through the night seemed to sense something. He looked toward the white light flashing in the distance, and without a word, he significantly increased his running speed.
When the dust settled, Aomori stood alone on the bare ground, his eyes slightly closed. Only the hilt of The Best Sword in the Village remained in his right hand.
"A shame."
In the final moments, The Best Sword in the Village could not sustain the massive energy output, and its blade shattered inch by inch. The attack was incomplete, allowing half of Muzan's fragments to escape.
At this moment, Aomori was in tearing pain across his whole body and had no strength left. If Muzan had turned back, he could have easily counter-killed Aomori.
Unfortunately, Muzan, who had reformed from the remaining half of the fragments, was in frantic flight, protecting his last three brains and four hearts. He was truly and utterly terrified this time. He didn't even dare to consume people to recover his strength as he passed through a village, fleeing all the way back to his lair, the Infinity Castle.
"The Twelve Kizuki, come to me immediately!" Muzan couldn't relax yet and immediately ordered Nakime to summon the Twelve Kizuki to protect him.
The Twelve Kizuki were the twelve strongest Demons under Muzan's command. The Upper Ranks were far superior in strength to the Lower Ranks. When they all gathered in the Infinity Castle, they saw a wriggling ball of flesh the size of a basketball.
"Is that Muzan-sama? Who could have injured Muzan-sama so severely?" The Twelve Kizuki were all terrified; in their eyes, Muzan was a god-like existence.
The spherical Muzan did not reply. He leaped directly onto one of the Lower Rank Demons, enveloping and absorbing him into his body.
"Aah!" A piercing scream rang out as the Lower Rank Demon was gradually melted away.
Muzan needed to retract the blood he had given them to quickly restore his strength.
"Muzan-sama, what are you doing?"
The Lower Rank Demons feared for themselves. When they saw Muzan devour one and then pounce on another, they finally could not withstand the pressure. Two Demons fled, and two resisted.
"Why are you running? Why are you resisting? Everything you possess was granted by me. When I take it back, you should be grateful and proactively offer yourselves."
If he couldn't deal with an outsider, couldn't he deal with his subordinates?
Muzan effortlessly devoured six Lower Rank Demons, one after another.
During this time, Upper Rank Six, Gyutaro/Daki, Upper Rank Five, Gyokko, and Upper Rank Four, Hantengu, trembled on the floor.
Upper Rank Three, Akaza, knelt on one knee, his head bowed.
Upper Rank Two, Doma, fanned himself with a smile that wasn't a smile.
Upper Rank One, Kokushibo, watched with deep, dark eyes, lost in his thoughts.
After Muzan finished absorbing the Lower Rank Demons, the ball of flesh writhed and transformed back into his human form. The authoritative figure had returned.
Muzan, having escaped the shadow of death, recalled every detail of his encounter and battle with Aomori, filled with lingering fear.
'If his sword hadn't shattered, I truly would have died. Damn it! Why did such a powerful human appear? I should be the species favored by God.'
Was he going to give up the chance to become the perfect being just like that?
Muzan was unwilling, but ultimately followed his instinct to recover his injuries first.
"The lot of you, find me all the information you can on this man!" Muzan transmitted Aomori's image to the Upper Rank Demons present, adding, "Avoid direct confrontation."
He didn't want to offer up his own Demons as sacrifices, wasting his precious blood.
"Yes!" The Demons all had their suspicions, believing this impossibly handsome man was the culprit who had injured Muzan so badly.
After all the Upper Rank Demons left, dense, white-glowing scars suddenly appeared on the surface of Muzan's body. Not only were there Yoriichi's old wounds, but Aomori's Holy Light had also left indelible marks.
The burning and sacred energy made him writhe in unimaginable pain.
Muzan's expression gradually lost control: "Tsugikuni Yoriichi... Tsugikuni Yoriichi!"
…
In the early morning, the first ray of sunlight shone into the wooden house. Tanjiro, who hadn't slept all night, let out a breath of white air.
"It's dawn."
He slowly got up, first checking on his sleeping family—Nezuko, who had stayed up with him for a long time, was also asleep. He tightened his grip on the rusty small axe, opened the door, and ran toward the forest.
Sprinting past the fallen trees and stepping on the muddy ground where thick snow had once lain, the panting Tanjiro finally saw Aomori sitting on the ground.
By his side, the great bird and the handsome dog leaned closely together. The sunlight fell upon them, creating the most beautiful scene in the world.
Aomori slowly opened his eyes, a slight curve on his lips, and said to Tanjiro:
"Good morning."