Episode 279: Tanjiro: MY NEZUKO HAS FINALLY TURNED BACK INTO A HUMAN!!
『 At this very moment, Muzan running away in such a pathetic state was completely unexpected for Tanjiro.
He hurriedly notified Obanai that Muzan had escaped.
"What? Muzan has escaped!"
Upon hearing this news, though Obanai was shocked for a moment, he quickly composed himself.
Indeed, Muzan was neither a samurai with immense pride nor someone who made decisions based on emotions; for him, the only thing that mattered was survival.
Seeing the sun about to rise, faced with such a crisis, Muzan naturally chose to flee.
Watching Muzan run further and further away, they couldn't keep up with his pace at all.
In extreme anxiety, Tanjiro shouted in the direction Muzan was leaving:
"Damn it! If we let him get away like this, wouldn't the sacrifices of all our fallen comrades be in vain?"
The lives of his comrades were being mercilessly trampled upon, their bodies torn apart even after death.
Thinking of this, Tanjiro felt his anger burning.
"Muzan!"
He kept picking up the swords dropped by his fallen comrades and throwing them angrily at Muzan.
CLANG—!
Muzan kept dodging the flying blades.
From the current situation, attacks targeting the torso were more threatening than direct slashes.
SWISH—!
Just as Muzan was responding, Obanai suddenly descended from the air, driving his blade deeply through Muzan's neck and pinning him to the ground.
The sudden turn of events caught Muzan off guard, as his attention had been entirely focused on dealing with Tanjiro, and he hadn't noticed Obanai's movements at all.
BANG—!
BANG—!
At the same moment, Tanjiro arrived at the scene, unleashing a wave of flames that intensified the damage Muzan suffered.
Seizing the opportunity, Tanjiro took out a talisman and handed it to Obanai.
"Iguro-san! Please use this!"
"Share your vision with Kaburamaru!"
SWISH—!
SWISH—!
However, the situation did not proceed as smoothly as they had expected. Muzan counterattacked rapidly, and both were struck by the impact, causing the talisman in their hands to fall.
After regaining his senses, Tanjiro immediately instructed Obanai to retrieve the fallen talisman, while he himself blocked Muzan's next wave of attacks.
"How… how can I not find that little thing! It's too small!"
"Kaburamaru! I'm counting on you!"
Hearing the summons, Kaburamaru bit the talisman handed to him and secured it onto Obanai's head.
But Tanjiro was slightly distracted and could no longer dodge Muzan's attack.
"Tanjiro… thank you!"
WHOOSH—!
WHOOSH—!
Obanai stepped in first to block Muzan's attack; with Kaburamaru's help, he returned to his peak state.
Subsequently, the two began a pincer attack on Muzan.
Time inched closer to dawn, and Muzan's state was failing to hold up.
This battle… was finally coming to an end. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "Just a little more time, the sun is about to rise." ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "Once that happens, everything will be over." ]
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "That's true, but…" ]
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "According to the previous scenes, just in case…" ]
[ Rimuru Tempest (Tensura): "Well, well, let's not say such disheartening things at a time like this." ]
[ Rimuru Tempest (Tensura): "Believe in them; this battle will ultimately be successful." ]
[ Kibutsuji Muzan (Demon Slayer): "Boastful." ]
[ Kibutsuji Muzan (Demon Slayer): "Do you think you are that swordsman from the past?" ]
[ Kibutsuji Muzan (Demon Slayer): "In that world on screen, that hateful swordsman did not revive." ]
[ Kamado Tanjiro (Demon Slayer): "The future me has already learned the strongest sword technique of our predecessors. EVERYTHING WILL END IN MY HANDS!!" ]
[ Kibutsuji Muzan (Demon Slayer): "Impossible, absolutely impossible." ]
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "He's broken." ]
[ March 7th (Honkai: Star Rail): "Yeah, he's broken." ]
[ .....]
『 Outside the battle, Nezuko, who had been standing far away, finally arrived at the scene, but her tear-filled eyes seemed to be conveying something.
In the fields not far from the battlefield, Nezuko's footsteps became heavier and heavier.
The destination was right in front of her, but the sweat, both strange and familiar, made it difficult for her to move forward.
Faces deeply hidden in her heart appeared in her mind.
Little brother… little sister… and mother… Now, Nezuko finally remembered; she was a member of such a warm and happy family.
Until that night, when a strange man broke into their home.
Thinking of this, Nezuko subconsciously closed her eyes.
Because at that time, her younger siblings were crying for help, while that terrifying man expressionlessly took her family away.
Those scenes… replayed like a nightmare before her eyes. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Kamado Tanjiro (Demon Slayer): "Nezuko, is this scene…" ]
[ Kocho Shinobu (Demon Slayer): "Is it the incident that happened to your family?" ]
[ Kamado Tanjiro (Demon Slayer): "If only, if only it could have been a little earlier." ]
[ Kocho Shinobu (Demon Slayer): "Not really. If it were earlier, everything in the future wouldn't have happened. After all, you didn't have your current strength back then." ]
[ Xingqiu (Genshin Impact): "One can only say that destiny is arranged in the dark." ]
[ Kamado Tanjiro (Demon Slayer): "….." ]
[ .....]
『 "Dying from just this much blood."
"It seems creating a demon capable of withstanding the sun is not easy."
Muzan's arrogant image appeared in her memory. Every time she recalled this, Nezuko gritted her teeth.
This memory cut off here, but the profound hatred and sorrow from that moment instantly flooded her heart.
Suddenly, another scene appeared—her brother crying in pain.
"Brother?"
Then she remembered the fight on that snowy night, watching her own figure continuously lunging at her brother. Those scenes flooded her mind like a tide.
"...…"
On that snowy night, a swordsman wanted to kill her without a word, but later began to protect her.
That masked person told her that everyone was her family.
There was also a sister and the boy beside her; they radiated the scent of family, making her feel warmth.
Additionally, there was a very noisy guy. Although he was always annoying, everyone seemed at ease when he was around.
And the person was wearing the boar mask, who often gave her strange things, but to that person, they seemed extremely precious.
The images flooding her brain made Nezuko almost unable to breathe, but these scenes kept appearing one after another…
A face full of scars, yet looking so kind.
That fierce-looking person who tested her with blood.
And those young people who could later fight demons to the brink of death.
There were also two friends who were willing to play with her, and three little sisters.
That sister, as gentle as water, even though she detested evil demons, ultimately accepted her.
She also remembered a man who existed like a blazing sun; the light he radiated warmed those around him like a guardian, but she didn't know when she stopped seeing his figure.
Another muscular man, always followed by three tearful young ladies.
Then there was a group of youths wearing strange masks, looking terrifying but actually kind-hearted.
Among them was a young man of her age who fought bravely against demons without fear.
And many other fragmented impressions…
Too many disorganized memories filled her brain, making her feel suffocated.
All the fragments were intertwined like a knot that couldn't be untied.
Just then, a pair of hands slowly approached, repeatedly calling Nezuko's name softly.
The memories in her mind were suddenly drawn out by some power, followed by a splitting headache, as if her head would explode the next second.
A large hand grasped Nezuko's small hand, and a gentle voice whispered in her ear: "Nezuko, don't be afraid… No matter what difficulties we encounter, Brother will always protect you."
Finally, with Tanjiro's help, the intricate memories finally found their place. At this moment, Nezuko fully recovered her memories.
Tears slid silently down her cheeks.
So… all my family members were killed by monsters…
I am…
The daughter of the Kamado family… Kamado Nezuko…
The reflection of a normal person returned to her pupils; her sharp nails and fangs retreated; most importantly, all the lost stories of the past returned to her mind.
These changes undoubtedly signified one thing: Nezuko had turned back into a human. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Kamado Tanjiro (Demon Slayer): "NEZUKO IN THE FUTURE TURNED BACK INTO A HUMAN!!" ]
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "Congratulations, congratulations." ]
[ Tsugikuni Yoriichi (Demon Slayer): "So, it was possible to do this." ]
[ Kocho Shinobu (Demon Slayer): "It's truly incredible. A being that turned into a demon can actually turn back into a human?" ]
[ Kocho Shinobu (Demon Slayer): "Although I thought she was already a bit miraculous before, I didn't expect this." ]
[ Inosuke Hashibira (Demon Slayer): "Great, NEZUKO IS BACK TO NORMAL!!!" ]
[ .....]
『 The battle continued.
"Hold on… drag it out as long as you can!" Tanjiro gritted his teeth tightly, desperately swinging his Nichirin sword at Muzan.
Muzan kept lashing out with his tentacles, attempting to tear the two people in front of him to shreds.
I can feel it… Those guys are recovering rapidly.
I understand. The previous all-out attacks didn't truly finish off those Pillar-level figures. Although they all received fatal wounds, none of them died.
Just as Muzan expected, Yushiro was healing all the Pillars and preparing them to wake up and fight Muzan to the end.
I couldn't finish these people off; it's all because of this brat.
Tanjiro!
No… strictly speaking, it's not just because of him, but because of that damn group called the Demon Slayer Corps.
Everyone is fighting for their lives, pushing me into a corner.
At this moment, a crow delivered a message that the sun would rise in thirty-five minutes.
However… the outcome was actually already decided!
Muzan was very certain in his heart that there was no need to take further risks and continue fighting.
Then Tanjiro noticed something unusual about Muzan's movements, the look in his eyes…
Could it be…
Sure enough, he saw Muzan's arm swell up violently. Seeing this, Tanjiro immediately understood and turned to tell his partner, Obanai.
"Muzan is going to start his self-destruct escape mode, splitting into a bunch of tiny pieces to slip away!"
Tanjiro knew full well that if he succeeded, they would never be able to stop him with their current strength.
Therefore… the timing is now!
They had to hit all twelve weak points on his body simultaneously!
But at this critical moment, Muzan's swelling arm stopped growing and actually began to shrink back to its normal size.
This situation not only stunned Tanjiro but even Muzan himself was dumbfounded.
I actually… can't self-destruct and escape…
In other words… did that woman, Tamayo, secretly put human-returning medicine, aging medicine, and a third poison in my body to prevent me from self-destructing and escaping?
Damned Tamayo.
When Muzan thought this, a voice suddenly echoed in his ear.
"Too bad, you guessed wrong."
Then, Muzan suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
"The correct answer should be four types."
"After the first three doses weakened your constitution, it was the drug's turn to destroy your cellular tissue!"
"Don't be in such a hurry… It won't be long before you meet the destiny you hate most."
"Actually, we don't need to be much stronger than you to eliminate you; we just need to make you weak enough."
"Just like how you would do anything to survive!"
"To deal with an enemy like you, we must use any means necessary."
At this moment, Tamayo was like a cold, ruthless harvester, closing in step by step in the shadows, devouring his last sliver of vitality.
Generally speaking, this situation would have been meaningless.
If it weren't for the Red Blade in that person's hand, other people's attacks… the combined damage of all Demon Slayer Corps members wouldn't equal that of one Tsugikuni Yoriichi. But precisely because of that.
Muzan was careless and didn't notice, even when he became weaker.
Without these drugs, these attacks would have been like tickling to me, and the energy required for regeneration wouldn't even make me feel tired.
However, the four drugs Tamayo prepared turned those otherwise ineffective attacks into threats, forcing him into such a pathetic state.
Wave after wave, Muzan's body was reaching its limit.
The current Muzan indeed hadn't expected that woman to be able to create such terrifying medicine in such a short time, and this time, the one used was completely different from the one given to Doma.
Because this was the first time encountering it, it took Muzan extra time to break down the toxins.
But…
Muzan suddenly stopped moving. Tanjiro immediately thought this might be because of the medicine Tamayo developed.
Tanjiro also seemed to understand something:
We can win! We can definitely win! It's getting closer to dawn!
In just the blink of an eye, a powerful force erupted from within Muzan, and Tanjiro and Obanai didn't have time to dodge and were caught in the blast.
For a moment, dust filled the battlefield, making it impossible to see anything.
After some time, the dust settled, and a gaping hole with sharp fangs appeared on Muzan's chest, from his right shoulder to his left thigh.
Clearly, that violent force just now had erupted from there.
At this moment, Tanjiro lay on the ground trembling, as if struck by lightning, and even breathing was extremely difficult.
Watching Muzan's slowly departing figure, Tanjiro's heart was filled with frustration and anger.
Could it be… that he could only watch Muzan escape?
That last attack covered the entire area, and even the crows used to monitor the battle didn't escape unscathed. Even worse…
Even Kiriya, who was observing the battle through charms, was affected.
Kiriya slumped on the floor, struggling to move his body forward, and the people beside him immediately went to help him up.
He only heard himself muttering:
"Don't worry about me… tell me, how are Obanai and Tanjiro?"
However, at this moment, the charms used to transmit messages had been destroyed, and they could no longer receive news about the scene.
Everyone in the room was injured, and blood kept flowing from their noses.
Only twenty-five minutes remained, and the sun was about to rise.
"Just a little bit more… just the last little bit! Please!"
"Is there anyone else who can continue fighting?"
On the battlefield, Tanjiro tried desperately to stand up and chase after Muzan to stop his escape, but due to the severe impact, his breathing was irregular, and standing up had almost become a pipe dream.
If this continued, the result would only be disastrous.
Muzan's figure was drifting further and further away; was it really going to end like this?
At this critical moment, a figure unexpectedly blocked Muzan's path, surprising everyone.
"Look… look at what you've done… I will never forgive you!"
The person standing before him was none other than the boar-headed boy, Inosuke.
Muzan felt another wave of helplessness in his heart.
The Demon Slayer Corps were practically like indestructible cockroaches. 』
『 .....』