RANMA VS AKAZA FINALE Location the Demon Slayer-verse, Japan-Mugen Train-wreck Site, Inside a Barrier Dome
It's still the early hours of the morning, in this train-wreck site. Akaza once again was being dominated by Ranma. Whose still attacking the Upper Moon, with his Cat Claw Flurry technique. No matter how much Akaza tried, Ranma's claw coated claws, were slashing through everything that Akaza tried to defend himself. After another swipe, Ranma stopped channeled his ki to make claws. Finishing his onslaught, with a spinning, multiple kick technique. Hitting Akaza with his Tatsumaki Senpu-kyaku. The final kick, knocking back Akaza. As it was clear that his opponent's regeneration is being tasked, not quite a surprise. This is the same way that in the original plotline, that slayer beat Muzan...along with Tamayo's drug, and all the characters jumping Muzan...but Demon Slayer has always stated that slayers are trained to either kill or outlast demons in fights. Perfect examples Sanemi, Gyomei, and Muichiro that crushed and brutalized their first demons, before taking up a sword. Regardless, demons aren't used fighting against equal or stronger opponents. Especially the Upper Moons, that story showed that except for Gyokko, all the Upper Ranks needed more than one slayer to take them down. So for Akaza, that only Doma and Kokushibo are stronger...while Muzan just has a instant-kill against demons...the Upper Three, he's utterly shocked by what's happening to him. As it's obvious to him, that his regeneration is slower than usual. At first he was afraid, but then he started laughing. Standing up straight, resuming his Soryu stance and clearly stating he wants to keep fighting. Ranma saw this and smiled. He remembers all his previous "rivals", and none of them could compare with Akaza, making Ranma think that he should reincarnate Akaza. And with Laharl help, he can reawaken Akaza's memories and reunite with a healthy Koyuki. But that for when this fight ends. Both demonic martial artist rushed forward, with their right fist drew back and ready to swing. Not bothering to block or dodging, both fighters threw a powerful right hook, at the face of the other. Upon connecting, both spat blood. With Akaza suffering much more damage, then Ranma. Forcing back the other, for a brief moment. Just as they returned to throwing punches, and kicks at their opponent. At that opportunity Akaza struck with one of his technique. Delivering a flashing flurry of powerful straight kicks, at Ranma. His kicks are so fast that their creating afterimages, with each kick producing powerful shockwaves. This is the Destructive Death; Leg Type: Explosive Flurry. Then as Akaza threw another power, shockwave causing kick, Ranma caught that leg and with a elbow strike. Right at the side of Akaza's knee, he destroyed the leg, exposing the broken bone. Akaza grunted in pain, as he used a open palm strike on Ranma. Knocking the Saotome heir away, letting Akaza some room to regenerate and ready his next attack. But Ranma pushed back against the ground, and tackled Akaza hard onto the ground. Entering the mount, and start delivering a onslaught of hammer-strikes onto Akaza's head. Actually causing some cracking, and cratering around Akaza's head. Again Akaza felt his brain rattling, as his face and skull get shattered, over and over, only to regenerate again. Making this beatdown even more affective. The constant brain rattling, causing even more damage, until something happened that never happens to demons in this world... Akaza suffered a critical brain concussion, even suffering a nose bleed. As he fully fall unconscious. Which meant that Ranma won, and Akaza is still alive. Gyutaro whistled, he expected either a brutal defeat or fatality, never a knock out. Issei cheered on Ranma, with Rias and Asia joining. Sona adjusted her glasses, and smirks at her friend. Laharl laughed, as he patted Gyutaro and Issei's shoulders, a sign to get up and follow him. As the three devils, leaped off the wrecked train-cart, and walked through the barrier, heading right towards Ranma. Standing victorious, with some clear damage, which surprised Issei and the others. Especially since they know of Ranma's stat levels, which only adds to Akaza's overall strength. Laharl looks down at the unconscious Akaza, and says to Ranma, "Let me guess. You want him, as a new peerage member, right?" Ranma scratched he's head. As he laughed, and confirmed what Laharl was thinking. Saying that Akaza would make a fine addition to his peerage, plus as a fighting maniac, the Rating Game and dungeons will be paradise to him. Especially once he free him from Muzan's grasp like Aya, and restore his memories, promising that he can be reunited with Koyuki, alive and well. Issei, Gyutaro, and Laharl understood...then Laharl sighed, as he said to Ranma, "You want me to find, a living Koyuki in the multiverse and bringer her to be with Akaza, don't you?" Ranma looked at Laharl sheepishly, and said in response, "Hehehe...yeah." Sighing. Laharl, he'd agreed and told the guys, they have one last thing to do, before taking Akaza with them. Reaching over to Akaza's head, Laharl started channeling some devil mind magic, into the fighting demon, specifically edited memories of this battle. Making sure Muzan saw and believed that he isn't the patron of demon, just a pretender. Also showing that Daki and Gyutaro ascend, beyond his level and control. With Muzan's temper and ego, he'll be bound to spread his forces thin, just like the time he learned about Nezuko conquering the Sun. Regardless the bait was sent out, and a small spell to keep Akaza unconscious was placed, as this fight and arc is over.
WIDE REACTION Location Corp Headquarters: Ubuyashiki Mansion
In couple days later, back on the beautiful Ubuyashiki mansion. All the hashira, along with Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke, have gathered. In the white stone garden of their lord, who is also attending with his wife, beside him. This meeting is of great importance, after Rengoku reported the massive shock in the Mugen Train mission. They needed him to explain, and verify that his previous report is true. Rengoku sitting cross-legged with arm cross, without his fiery haori, as it needed repair. He began retelling the events of the mission. Not only that he faced, and was at death's door, in the battle with a Upper Moon. A foreign priestess, came and used her power to fully heal Ranma. Restoring the hole on his chest, broken body, and busted eye. Tanjiro and Inosuke confirmed this. Then as all the hashira watched their comrade, and fellow hashira took a deep breath. And keep explaining, that this demon...no devil, name Laharl took the yellow-haired priestess, and ignored them. Rengoku, not wearing his usual passion filled smile, but instead a very serious expression. He explained what he, Tanjiro, Inosuke...and briefly Zenitsu witnessed and learn. Starting with exclaiming that Mitsuri was right, these devils are more ancient that Muzan. Believing that they are the final stage of a demon's evolution. Unaffected by the Sun, possessing unimaginable powers, even able to shield, weaker demons from the Sun. Remembering the barrier, that kept Akaza alive, as he fought against the devil Ranma. As Rengoku's words sink into everyone, gathered in this meeting. Clear looks of shock, and fear spread across the hashira, and the Ubuyashiki couple. Then Gyomei, after doing his usual prayer to Buddha, he asked, "If this true. Why are these devils, appearing now? Are they with or against Muzan...or worse than him?" The Stone Hashira's questions, sent another chill down, everyone spines, aside Rengoku, Tanjiro, and Inosuke...and only cause he's not fully understanding, what everyone is talking about. Rengoku, he closed his eyes and sighed. As he answered Gyomei's questions. Telling his fellow slayers, that the Upper Moon Three, Akaza, asked something similar, during his fight with Ranma. Ranma answered, that devils are more humans than humans. Stating that devils are able to eat normal food, enjoy family and companionship, basically free to do as they please, as immortal. While Muzan... Muzan has always been a monster, even before becoming a demon. Hence the devils, utterly dislike Muzan. And seems that Muzan has cross a line, that made them come out of hiding, or that's what he, and Tanjiro believe. As Tanjiro gave his own input, stating that these devils...their scent drastically surpass Muzan in power, and blood...but strangely not once had he smelled human blood...well maybe from the devil. The one with blackish green, and lime green hair. As Giyu and Shinobu immediately, remember those traits on the demon wielding sickles in Mt. Natagumo. That explains that demon's unnatural strength and reflexes, he wasn't a demon but a devil. And from what Rengoku has said, this sickle-devil, is a recently ascended. Since in the flame hashira's recounting, he stated that this sickle-devil, personally knew Upper Moon Three. Meaning that the sickle-devil, he could have been apart of Muzan's faction, until recently. Which only add more questions, than answers. As this meeting continues, another group it having...a meeting of their own.
Location the Center of the Infinity Castle
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Deep inside the infinite, gravity and space bending, Japanese styled, Infinity Castle... Muzan is furious!! He received Akaza memories. Not only showing the possibility that his Upper Moon Three is dead. Muzan learn that Gyutaro and Daki are alive, and clearly evolved passed him. As his bone-blade tipped tendrils, shred the area around him. Those blood red tendrils, swipe and slashed apart porches, hallways, stairs, rooms, and more. As Muzan is ballistic, Nakime who is usually the silent assistant of the Demon Lord. Even she was nervous, as her hands were subtlety shaking. Muzan retracted his tendrils, panting in anger. Frowning, as he sorted his memories. Gyutaro so in turn Daki, weren't only stronger, they conquered the Sun, and possess ability that he doesn't know of. Then there's these devil, that confess that they older than him, having evolved to a higher level than him. But was truly sent him over the edge of anger, is that these devils...Laharl, Ranma, and their group... They knew of him, they knew of his illness and becoming a demon. Instead of contacting and including him into the ranks of devils, so he can be free of the Sun, free completely of death... Those bastard let him alone, and lost to gain the attention of that man...the man with the Hanafuda earrings, that cemented the greatest trauma and humiliation to him. He tightened his fists, drawing blood and grind his teeth together. As Muzan yelled, "Nakime!!!" Nakime actually jumped a bit, as she responded in a respectful but clearly intimidated tone, "Yes Lord Muzan." Muzan pause before saying his command, "Gather...the remaining...Upper Moons, at once..." the tone of his voice, clearly showing huge amounts of anger. Nakime immediately did as she was order, strumming her biwa, and summoning Kokushibo, Doma, Hantengu, and Gyokko to the Infinity Castle. In a flash, the purple kimono wearing, burgundy haired, six-eyed demon, Upper Moon One, Kokushibo appeared in a room on the far east of the area. Gyokko the malformed, multi-armed, eye-mouth, eyeball mouth, basin demon, and Upper Moon Five. Appeared in his basin, on a platform in the west of the area. Then the red dressed, pale skinned, and rainbow eyed, ice using demon, Upper Moon Two. Doma was the most confused, as he held a bloody leg of a woman, and his mouth covered in blood, seems he was summoned, during his meal. As he sat cross legged on a porch in the north. Last to appear is Upper Moon Four. The horned, forehead lumped, old man of a demon, the vile emotion demon, Hantengu. As usual Hantengu is fear-stricken and wallowing state. Cowering in a corner, in the south. Doma, taking another bite of his woman leg, he'd noticed that Akaza wasn't with them. He asked, "Ohh dear. Did Akaza die, is this why we're called again?" Gyokko, chuckled and clapped his baby-like hands, as he admitted he doesn't know. Hantengu, peaked from his hiding spot, stating the same of Gyokko. At that moment Muzan spoke, "Quiet. Akaza is most likely dead. Defeated and killed, by a new enemy..." he said the final word with clear hostility. This surprised the Upper Moons. Aside Gyokko, and maybe Doma...no one cares about Akaza, but all the gathered Upper Ranked, they knew that aside Doma and Lord Kokushibo. No one should be able to match, let alone kill Akaza in direct combat. Muzan heard all these thoughts, and scoffed openly. That was exactly how Akaza lost...at least from what he received from the fallen Upper Three's memories. But he calmed himself...with difficulty, as he started telling his remaining Upper Moons, on what has occurred and he has uncovered from Akaza's memories...