|| RIVALS AND ROMANCES || sanegiyuu

Chapter eighteen - the final battle

The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the ancient, sprawling city below. The cobblestone streets, worn smooth by centuries of footsteps, wound their way through the maze of stone buildings, their shadows lengthening as the night deepened. High above, in the heart of the city, a fierce battle raged unseen by the sleeping inhabitants.

Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of all demons, stood in the midst of the chaos, his malevolent presence an abyss of darkness against the serene night. His alabaster skin, now marred by a series of grotesque wounds, strained and rippled as he attempted to heal the damage inflicted upon him. But even as his flesh knitted itself back together, ominous flesh seeds sprouted around him, rapidly bursting into giant, gnarled branches that wrapped around his body, immobilizing him in place.

He sneered, confident in his ability to absorb the intruding branches and regain control. However, his smug assurance was shattered when, out of the shadows, a hidden figure emerged—Tamayo, the demon doctor, whose fierce determination blazed in her eyes. With a swift, precise motion, she thrust her hand through Muzan's stomach, injecting a mysterious substance into his body. Muzan's eyes widened in shock and fury as he realized what she had done.

"You've been injected with a drug," Tamayo declared, her voice steady despite the weight of her actions. "Developed by myself and Shinobu Kocho, it has the power to turn demons back into humans."

Muzan's rage was palpable, his red eyes glowing with a murderous intensity. "You dare defy me, Tamayo?" he roared, his voice echoing through the night. "It was you who killed your family, not I."

Tears welled up in Tamayo's eyes, but she did not falter. "I wanted to live," she cried, her voice breaking. "I wanted to see my children survive." The memories of her past, the lives she had taken to survive, flooded her mind. "But I killed people to survive," she acknowledged, her voice softening. "And for that, we will atone together."

She turned her gaze upward, calling out for assistance. As if summoned by her plea, Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira, appeared with a thunderous presence. His flail swung through the air with deadly precision, and in one swift motion, he decapitated Muzan. The Demon King's head fell to the ground, but Gyomei knew it was not over. True to Kagaya's prediction, Muzan's head began to regenerate almost immediately.

The sound of Muzan's flesh knitting back together was a sickening symphony in the silent night, a testament to his unparalleled power. Gyomei's senses, honed to a razor edge, discerned the unnatural speed and resilience of Muzan's regeneration. This was no ordinary demon. This was a creature that defied the natural order, a being of pure malevolence.

Gyomei recalled his master Kagaya's words: sunlight was their only hope. With dawn still hours away, he resolved to restrain Muzan, no matter the cost. Muzan, sensing the Hashira's determination, unleashed his Blood Demon Art: Black Blood, Brambles, a deadly barrage of razor-sharp tendrils aimed at his foe. Gyomei responded with his Stone Breathing, Third Form: Stone Skin, his body hardening like impenetrable rock to deflect the onslaught.

Amidst the clashing titans, a voice rang out. Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira, arrived, his voice a mixture of fury and desperation. "What did you do to Kagaya?" he screamed, his eyes wild with worry. The other Hashira followed close behind, their faces etched with concern for their fallen leader.

The night air crackled with tension as the Hashira prepared to confront the Demon King. The city around them, blissfully unaware, continued its slumber, but within its heart, a battle for the ages was unfolding. The Hashira knew that they faced an enemy unlike any other, a being whose very existence threatened the delicate balance between life and death. As the moon continued its slow descent, they steeled themselves for the fight to come, hoping against hope that they could hold out until the first light of dawn.