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Dawn had come.
The sun was rising, and demons were about to burn to ash.
For whatever reason, even after being decapitated, Upper Rank Four still hadn't died. But with sunlight spilling over the battlefield, it wouldn't matter—immortal or not, a demon under the sun was doomed.
Normally, dawn should have been a blessing.
But this time…
The problem was that not only the enemy feared the sun. Among the allies stood one who dreaded it just as much.
"Not good! Not good! This time it's really bad! The sun's coming up—Nezuko-chan… Nezuko-chan… no!"
Zenitsu's shrill voice pierced the air once more, panic flooding every word.
And this time, he wasn't the only one unraveling. Even Tanjiro, usually calm in the storm, had lost all composure.
"We don't have time to wonder why that demon isn't dead—what matters now is Nezuko! Nezuko, hurry, find some shade!"
Gintoki shouted, his silver hair glinting in the morning light.
"It's no use! It's too open out here—there's nowhere to hide!"
Shinpachi clutched his head in despair.
"It's over, it's over! Not this again—!"
Utaha pressed her hands over her eyes, too afraid to keep watching.
"It was already cruel enough when Rengoku-san was taken from us. And now they're going to take Tanjiro's sister too? Nezuko—so strong, so kind, so precious… this is just too much!"
Asuna's tears streamed down her cheeks, her voice breaking with grief.
"No! It's not over yet! Tanjiro's still here—he won't let anything happen to her! One of the things that's kept him fighting this whole time is his dream of turning Nezuko back into a human!"
Kyousuke, Yuu, Masamune and every other siscon protagonist echoed with conviction, their faith in Tanjiro unshaken.
"No! You don't get it!"
Zhang Chulan's face was clouded with sorrow.
"This isn't just about Nezuko burning. Right now Tanjiro is facing the ultimate impossible choice!"
"A trolley problem with no solution," Kiritsugu murmured bitterly, a shadow sinking deeper into his lifeless eyes. "On one side, his sister burning alive. On the other, helpless civilians about to be slaughtered by a demon. Which life does he choose? This is what it means to walk the path of 'justice'—the cruel choices you can never escape."
"Tanjiro!"
Across worlds, countless beings held their breath, waiting for his choice.
But there was no choice. His mind was shutting down, torn apart.
His sister on one side. Innocent lives on the other.
If the demon fed on humans and regained strength, all their effort so far would be wasted.
What could he do?
What could he do?
The question rang louder and louder until he couldn't think at all.
Tanjiro's heart pounded, his breathing ragged. There was no world where he could abandon his sister.
So the choice he couldn't make—Nezuko made for him.
She looked at her brother, saw his torment, and with sudden resolve, shoved him away with one decisive kick. Sunlight washed over her small body.
At that moment—
Seeing Nezuko willingly sacrifice herself, people across countless worlds wept openly.
Memories of Tanjiro and Nezuko's journey together, of their bond and all they had endured, rose unbidden in every heart. Anyone who had witnessed the siblings' struggle was moved to tears.
"Ahhh!"
Tanjiro swallowed his grief, forcing himself to charge at the demon.
"This ends now, you vile monster!"
He roared as his blade cut through the creature's body, dragging the demon's true core from its heart.
"Pay for your sins with your life!"
His sword blazed with searing fire, inch by inch slicing through the demon's neck.
With a burst of flame, the head hit the ground and dissolved instantly to ash beneath the morning sun.
Upper Rank Four—destroyed at last!
And yet no one in the Demon Slayer Corps could celebrate.
Because this victory had been bought with Nezuko's sacrifice.
In that moment, as everyone replayed the sight of her stepping into the sunlight, even Sanemi—the Wind Hashira, who had once tried over and over to kill her—tightened his fists in bitter regret.
"I'm the real monster here…" he thought grimly.
"Nezuko-chan!"
Mitsuri, the Love Hashira, collapsed into loud sobs.
"Nezuko!"
Shinobu, Kanao, Aoi, and the other girls' eyes brimmed with tears.
"Nezuko!!!"
Zenitsu wailed so hard he nearly fainted.
"Damn it all!"
Inosuke clawed at his head in rage.
"Nezuko!"
Tanjiro clutched his sister's body, trembling violently.
"Everyone—Nezuko-chan is still alive!"
Rengoku's booming, cheerful voice rang out. But this time, no one paid it any mind.
"Rengoku-san, I know you want to comfort us, but at least for now… let me cry. Nezuko-chan was just too—"
"Wrong!" Rengoku cut her off sharply.
"Nezuko is alive!"
"Mitsuri, open your eyes! Look at the screen—Nezuko hasn't died!"
Iguro's voice followed, firm and certain.
"It's a miracle! Namu Amida Butsu!"
Gyomei pressed his hands together, tears falling as he prayed.
"Incredible…"
Giyu's jaw dropped.
"She… she's overcome the sun?"
Muichiro whispered the words without realizing.
"Another miracle!"
Ubuyashiki Yoya's face shone with relief.
"It's just as I predicted—Nezuko-chan truly had the potential to conquer the sun!"
Tamayo rose to her feet, trembling with excitement.
Bathed in sunlight, Tanjiro and Nezuko clung to each other, laughter and tears mingling.
Joy spread like wildfire, overflowing into every corner of every world.
"Nezuko isn't dead!"
"She's alive!"
"Unbelievable—she actually overcame the sun!"
"The weakness Muzan has hunted for a thousand years… and she conquered it!"
"Hahaha! The true superior being is here at last!"
"Nezuko is the perfect demon!"
The multiverse erupted.
…
And deep within the Infinity Castle, it erupted too.
Gyokko was gone. Hantengu had just been slain.
Everyone expected the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji, to explode with fury.
But instead—
"Ahahahaha… hahahahahaha!"
Muzan pressed a hand to his forehead and laughed, wild and unrestrained, every note dripping with ecstatic delight.
"At last… a demon that can withstand the sun. I no longer need that worthless Blue Spider Lily. For this—this is why I've endured for a thousand years, why I created all those demons I never wanted! She is the chosen one! If I devour that girl and absorb her power, I too will conquer the sun! Nezuko will be mine—and I will become perfect!"
"..."
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