Muzan froze when he sensed the aura radiating from Raiden. A trace of fear flickered in his eyes.
Raiden had broken through. He had reached the same realm.
Muzan's strength was already weakened, while Raiden remained close to his peak. There was no need to think further. If he continued this fight, the outcome was obvious.
He had to retreat, recover, and settle this later.
Raiden's current state was not just a simple breakthrough. There was also something unusual about his demonization, something unclear and dangerous, making him far harder to deal with.
Raiden paid no attention to Muzan's thoughts. His own condition felt exceptional.
It made sense now. Even after being severely wounded by Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Tamayo, Muzan in the original story could still suppress multiple Hashira. This level beyond Hashira was essential to that feat.
Only after reaching it himself did Raiden truly understand the difference between a Hashira and something beyond it.
It was only a single step forward, yet the gap was enormous.
His speed alone was now nearly instantaneous.
And this was without using any breathing technique, relying purely on his body.
Such speed would have been unimaginable to him before. Achieving it demanded an incredibly strong body. Without that, forcing such speed would only destroy oneself.
Muzan's eyes narrowed as Raiden approached.
Raiden's figure blurred in his vision. Any doubt Muzan had before was gone. This was real.
Without breaking through, such speed would be impossible.
The nine whip-like appendages on Muzan's back lashed out, striking like massive serpents.
Each one pulsed with grotesque vitality and immense power. The air shrieked as they cut through it.
These were Muzan's pride, weapons that had torn apart countless enemies.
Raiden remained calm.
His Nichirin blade traced a clean arc.
In the instant the blade flashed, the whips were severed as if they were nothing more than paper.
The cuts were precise and effortless.
The moment they were sliced, the appendages lost all vitality and dropped to the ground with dull thuds.
Raiden did not pause.
His blade moved straight toward Muzan.
A wet, sharp sound followed.
Muzan's body exploded into countless fragments, scattering in every direction across the Infinity Castle.
Each piece carried a foul aura, darting away at high speed.
The air filled with a sickening stench of blood.
Raiden frowned slightly.
The moment his blade made contact, he knew something was wrong.
Muzan had not been cleanly severed. Instead, he had split himself into countless fragments.
Each piece carried his essence. As long as one survived, Muzan could regenerate.
This was the same reason Yoriichi Tsugikuni failed to kill him in the past.
Even so, Raiden was not concerned.
The Infinity Castle was under his control now. No matter where those fragments fled, he could retrieve them. It would only take time.
His gaze swept across the scattered flesh.
Power surged through him as he inhaled. The entire space of the Infinity Castle seemed to respond.
Every fragment of Muzan was clearly within his perception.
Nowhere to hide.
"The Infinity Castle in my hands is not the same as when Nakime controlled it."
Raiden snapped his fingers.
Fragments of flesh suddenly gathered before him.
His blade rose and fell.
Nakime could control the castle, but her strength limited her. She could only manipulate a small portion of the space at once.
Raiden was different.
His power allowed him far greater control. If he wished, he could shift vast sections of the castle at once.
For Muzan to escape now was nearly impossible.
Another strike shattered the gathered flesh.
Yet smaller pieces regenerated again, slipping away into different rooms.
Raiden clicked his tongue.
"Annoying."
Muzan's resistance was futile, but he did not see it that way.
He had lived for centuries. The deaths of others meant nothing to him.
But now that death approached him, he felt fear.
He was the Demon King. He could not fall here.
As long as he escaped and recovered, even if he could not defeat Raiden, he could outlive him.
Just as he had outlived Yoriichi.
Human lives were short. To Muzan, they were nothing more than a brief wait.
Raiden snapped his fingers again and again.
His patience began to wear thin.
Muzan's regeneration was absurd. Though the fragments were steadily decreasing, it was too slow.
At this rate, it would last until dawn.
By then, simply opening the Infinity Castle to sunlight would end it.
But that was not the point.
Why break through to this level, only to rely on the sun?
Behind him, Nezuko tugged at Tanjiro's pants, watching Raiden with a tilted head.
After a moment of thought, she let go and ran toward him.
Her oversized kimono dragged behind her as she hurried forward, looking like a small rolling ball.
"Nezuko!"
Tanjiro froze for a moment before trying to stop her.
Raiden was fighting Muzan. She could not interfere.
Raiden noticed her approaching and stopped.
He crouched down, slightly puzzled.
Why was she coming here?
For a moment, a thought crossed his mind.
Was she being controlled by Muzan again?
No. That should not be possible.
Nezuko had already broken free long ago.
Her bright pink eyes were clear.
There was no sign of control.
If that was the case, then why was she running toward him?