The man's eyes gleamed like crimson spider lilies, dazzling and radiant. His every word and gesture exuded elegance, with no trace of a demon's nature.
Yet this seemingly ordinary man filled Ren with unprecedented dread. His human-like form harbored boundless power, as if a legion of demons had descended, devouring everything around them.
One glance, and Ren knew this was the progenitor of demons, Muzan Kibutsuji. Such terrifying oppression he'd only felt once before—from his master, Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
The woman beside the man glanced at Ren. Unlike his dismissive gaze, hers held sorrow, as if she were looking at someone doomed to die.
But Ren ignored her completely. Compared to the man, her demonic aura was insignificant.
Taking a deep breath, Ren vanished from his spot. In an instant, his breathing fueled his Nichirin Blade, slashing toward the man's neck.
"Sun Breathing, Sixth Form: Burning Bones, Summer Sun!"
Facing the attack from above, the man didn't even look up. With a casual wave, his hand morphed into a whip, slicing through the air too fast for the eye to follow.
Ren's pupils contracted. He shifted his stance mid-air, slashing downward. The flames' force let him redirect his body, sending him flying back.
Crack!
Nearby trees collapsed, sliced cleanly in half.
Such terrifying power, yet Ren's eyes held no fear.
"Such strength—worthy of the Demon King. If I kill you, all demons vanish, right?"
The man's face remained expressionless, neither confirming nor denying.
Ren inhaled deeply, his expression graver than ever. That attack was horrifying; a single graze could have killed him.
He knew he had to give everything, even burn out his body's potential.
The moment this thought struck, a scar like a burn appeared on his forehead. He didn't notice, but the man did.
"A marked swordsman," Muzan said, a faint smirk curling his lips, laced with disdain.
"Muzan!"
Ren's focus sharpened like never before. His body felt light, his breathing smoother than ever. Countless whip strikes came from all directions, but to Ren, they moved in slow motion.
He saw it!
This fearsome man had five brains and seven hearts!
What a monstrous body. Despite slaying countless demons, Ren felt a chill at the sight.
Closing in on Muzan, each surrounding attack could end him. Like a dancer on a knife's edge, he dodged death countless times, finally reaching Muzan.
"Muzan!"
His Nichirin Blade glowed red-hot. A breath of turbid air escaped Ren's lips, his eyes blazing crimson, as if their flames could burn the world.
In that moment, the world grew silent. His heart calmed.
He wondered: if everyone's life has purpose, was his to slay the man before him?
All twelve Sun Breathing forms struck Muzan in a single second, targeting his head, hearts, and brains.
It happened in a flash. As the flames faded, Muzan's body was riddled with cuts, his arms and legs severed.
Muzan's expression betrayed shock. Even he hadn't processed what happened.
He was struck by this swordsman?
A mere insect had wounded him?
Shock turned to rage.
A suppressed volcano was about to erupt, ready to annihilate everything.
Muzan's wounds began to heal, his limbs regrowing. But the dying flames reignited, as if mirroring an unquenchable wildfire.
The twelve forms struck again, leaving Muzan's body in tatters.
His face twisted in fury. Focusing his power, he regrew an arm and seized Ren's throat.
Ren spat blood. The instant the blood sprayed, Muzan's newly formed arm was severed again.
Familiar pain returned, and Muzan teetered on the edge of collapse. This human, weak as a fly, had bitten him repeatedly, making him, a titan, feel threatened.
Worse, Muzan realized his severed body wasn't healing instantly.
Enduring agony, Ren glared at the man. He held back, seeing Muzan's body at its limit.
In his mind, he saw families torn apart by demons, the boy carrying his brother at night, his and Chitoshi's struggles before joining the Corps, and finally, Yoriichi's calm gaze.
"What do you take life for?"
Muzan didn't answer. His face contorted, veins bulging, forehead pulsing with rage.
Slash!
Two thorny tendrils pierced Ren's arms, blood dripping down his clothes.
Muzan sneered. "You didn't think you could kill me, did you?"
Ren gritted his teeth, enduring the searing pain. He swung his blade again, the tendrils grinding against his flesh, each movement agonizing.
But then, Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King, exploded into over 1,800 fragments, scattering in all directions!
Ren, too weak to swing again, could only watch the fragments disperse.
Suddenly, rapid footsteps approached.
"Master!" Ren shouted hoarsely. "Don't let him escape!"
Yoriichi said nothing, slashing relentlessly.
Though swift, he couldn't stop a few fragments from slipping into the ground, vanishing.
Ren froze, lips trembling, eyes wide with disbelief.
He had failed to kill Muzan Kibutsuji. Muzan had escaped…