The Flower and the Butterfly

The Final Battle

The battle then resumed. Muzan attacked everyone with his tentacles; it seemed he had gotten faster. Even Shinobu struggled to get close to him. We needed a strategy... but it was difficult with so many attacks coming our way. His tentacles hit everyone except Shinobu once again. I was struck in the chest. I tried to retreat a little, but it was still difficult. That poison Muzan mentioned... was it in me now? Damn... Even though the others were doing their best to protect me... I stayed on my feet despite the attack. More blows were coming my way, but I managed to dodge them. I focused entirely on defense.

-"So you can still move, pillars...? Well, I guess those marked don't die immediately... Not to mention that girl, you're quick, little butterfly." Muzan said calmly, redirecting all his attacks toward Shinobu. She managed to dodge many strikes, but some were about to hit her... when a huge iron ball appeared, thrown toward the tentacles, destroying them and protecting Shinobu. This was the strongest Hashira...

-"Sorry for the delay." Gyomei appeared to help in the battle. But not only him, Sanemi also arrived, slashing Muzan from behind. It wasn't effective, but right after, he threw a flammable liquid on Muzan and lit it with a match, setting Muzan on fire.

-"That's dirty play."

-"Well, it's perfect for your kind. I'm going to tear you to pieces, you bastard." Sanemi spoke angrily while Giyu ordered a nearby hunter to tend to Tanjiro's wounds. Now, with all the Hashiras alive and gathered, the battle would continue.

Muzan's attacks were now fiercer. Facing so many opponents, he fought seriously, pushing everyone back, and many were injured. Shinobu, already weakened, was hit multiple times. Damn! I have to act! An attack was headed her way... It was about to hit her, but I stepped in front and blocked it with my Nichirin sword.

-"Shinobu, get back! You need to rest!"

-"But... I need to..."

-"I don't want you to die in this fight! So step back!" Shinobu understood what I was saying, but still, she held her Nichirin blade and kept trying.

-"Goko no mai: hyakusoku jabara!" Shinobu launched a series of rapid movements followed by attacks, forcing the tentacles to collide with each other. Then Gyomei, Giyu, and Sanemi seized the opportunity and attacked the tentacles, cutting them all at once. After that, Shinobu retreated from the fight. I went to her... we moved into an alley.

-"You were incredible... But now you really need to rest, Shinobu..."

-"Mitsuri... I was hit... That bastard, his attacks have no logic and... Even when I dodge, it's still so difficult... Promise me you'll be careful... Please..."

-"Of course I will, Shinobu! What kind of talk is that..." I smiled and quickly stood up, gripping my Nichirin sword tightly. Some hunters emerged from the alley to provide aid.

-"Take care of her wounds!" I returned to the fight, more focused. Obanai seemed to have taken the lead while I was away. Thanks to the opening the others created, he managed to strike Muzan more times with his Nichirin. However, he regenerated again. The attacks came back even faster. Giyu was starting to lose strength in the battle due to the poison. Everyone felt it. I slashed as many of Muzan's tentacles as I could, but they always regenerated so quickly... If only there were a way to keep them cut for longer...

We were all so close to Muzan, but even so, it felt like nothing was working. Damn... We can't hold out until dawn... The poison is running through all our veins... With this thought... A cat suddenly appeared out of nowhere, from a little box on its back. The feline threw five injections at us... One for each of us, leaving me stunned.

-"What is this?!" The cat was then killed by Muzan... And right after that, all the poison in our bodies disappeared completely. What the cat had given us was the cure for Muzan's poison! Thanks to this, everyone charged at Muzan again, their strength restored thanks to the antidote.