"Muzan Kibutsuji!!"
As Tanjiro followed Lixing by scent to Muzan's location, he saw a ground littered with severed limbs and was filled with immense rage.
"You will never understand the preciousness of life! You are a creature unworthy of existing in this world!"
Tanjiro's usual gentleness was gone when facing the demon king Muzan, and he could not comprehend Muzan's past actions. All he had was a single thought: to completely annihilate Muzan.
Just as he was about to engage Muzan in battle, the Infinity Castle suddenly underwent a massive transformation. All the structures began to tremble and collapse. The immense pressure of the forced teleportation caused everyone inside the Infinity Castle to spit blood. Some severely injured individuals, unable to resist, died as their blood vessels and internal organs shattered.
Lixing, unable to protect so many people, could only shield Mitsuri and rush towards Tanjiro.
"Tanjiro, come here!"
Lixing held both of them tightly, relying on his powerful physique to endure the pressure.
...
After much turmoil, everyone within the Infinity Castle space was transported to the ground. It was an open field with no cover. (The original work took place within a town, but I felt that fighting in a town would endanger ordinary people, so I moved the setting to a field outside the town. Nezuko passed through here when she was looking for Tanjiro.)
Upon arriving on the ground, Muzan realized there was no cover whatsoever. If he were to be dragged until dawn, it would be extremely dangerous. For safety's sake, it was better to find a place to shield himself from the sun.
Since Lixing and Muzan were in the same location, they were not far from each other after exiting the Infinity Castle. Seeing the "scum boss" attempting to escape, Lixing could no longer afford to be cautious. He immediately drew his sword and charged forward, intending to stop Muzan.
"Muzan! You cannot escape. Tonight, you will die!"
"Snow Breathing, First Form, Drifting Snow!"
As Lixing swung his blade, snow began to fall from the sky. Flurries of snow landed on Muzan, slowing his speed to a certain extent.
"Lixing! Why? You and I are the same kind. Why are you stopping me?" Muzan clearly felt his speed decreasing and turned back, asking angrily.
"Do not equate Lixing-san with yourself. Lixing-san is not the same kind as you!" Tanjiro and Mitsuri charged forward together, speaking up to refute Muzan after hearing his words.
"Love Breathing, Sixth Form, Cat-Foot Love Wind!"
"Sun Breathing, Tenth Form, Radiant Grace!"
The two attacked together, but several thorny whips made of flesh and blood extended from Muzan's arms, stabbing towards them at extreme speed.
"Falling Cherry Blossoms!"
Lixing's eyes could barely keep up with Muzan's speed. He instantly appeared before the two and severed the thorns.
"You two, do not be rash. I will be the main attacker, and you will assist me." To prevent the two from getting hurt, Lixing could only instruct them to assist his offense. If not for them wanting to fight together, Lixing would have even considered a solo battle against Muzan.
"Damn undead! Why don't you just die!" Muzan's eyes fixated on Tanjiro's Sun Breathing, reminding him of the man who had almost killed him years ago. To make matters worse, the two had the same hair color and identical markings.
"The one who is damned is you! Muzan!" Lixing shouted, launching himself forward. His body even seemed to distort, and his Nichirin blade was showing signs of cracking. It wasn't that the Nichirin blade was of poor quality, but rather it was nearing its physical limit.
"Sun Breathing, Twelfth Form, Flaming Dance!"
"Another undead who should have died long ago! However, you have not reached that man's strength! Compared to me, that man is the monster! He is the one who should die!"
Muzan instantly extended several whip-like appendages from his body. These whips were filled with Muzan's blood. Anyone struck by them would die from cellular disintegration rather than becoming a demon.
The moment they collided, Muzan's whip-like appendages decomposed and transformed, blocking the Nichirin blade. Simultaneously, two thorny extensions of flesh and blood stabbed towards Lixing's eyes.
Lixing's attention was focused on the blade's attack. Caught off guard, he had no time to block the thorns, and his head was pierced.
"Hoshi-kun!"
"Lixing-san!"
The previous attack was too fast. Mitsuri and Tanjiro had not even had time to react before they saw Lixing's head being impaled.
"Hoshi-kun, are you alright? You will be alright, won't you? After we defeat Muzan, I promise I will stay with you for as long as you want. Please don't be hurt!" Mitsuri ran behind Lixing, hugged him, and cried.
Tanjiro was also worried about Lixing's condition, but there was still a demon king before them, and he absolutely could not let Muzan escape. He could only apologize silently in his heart.
"Lixing-san, I'm sorry, but there is something more important to do right now."
"Kibutsuji Muzan! Since I've risked my life, I will annihilate you here!" Tanjiro roared, his Nichirin blade gradually turning red.
"Sun Breathing, First Form, Circular Dance!"
"Sun Breathing, Second Form, Sky and Blue!"
...
"I can do it! These techniques are continuous. I can definitely unleash the Thirteenth Form." Tanjiro thought to himself. Lixing-san's words back then were indeed correct.
"Weak humans, you always come out like insects, one by one. No matter how well you use your breathing techniques, you are far from that monster!"
Muzan knew it would be difficult to escape now, so he decided to kill everyone present before leaving. He unleashed the nine whip-like appendages behind him with full force.
"Wind Breathing, Ninth Form, Idaten Taisan!"
"Sound Breathing, First Form, Roar!"
"Stone Breathing, Second Form, Upper Grind!"
"Water Breathing, Tenth Form, Constant Flux!"
"Serpent Breathing, Fifth Form, Slithering Serpent!"
"Mist Breathing, Fourth Form, Eradication by Flowing Slash!"
"Insect Breathing, Dance of the Butterfly: Frenzy!"
"Flame Breathing, Fifth Form, Flame Tiger!"
At this moment, all the Hashira had arrived near Muzan. They simultaneously launched their respective slashes. However, Mitsuri was still frantically trying to staunch Lixing's bleeding.
"Annoying insects!"
Muzan roared. Eight more whip-like appendages emerged from his lower body, moving far faster than those above. He swung all his appendages simultaneously, creating a massive sonic boom and fissures on the ground. In that instant, all the Hashira were struck and sent flying.
No one could withstand that blow. The eight Hashira were all severely injured. If not for the healing potions made by Shinobu Kocho, they would have likely died already.
Tanjiro had half of his head severed and had fallen unconscious. Nezuko, who was in another hidden location of the Ubuyashiki estate, sensed this and immediately got up, rushing towards the battlefield.
"Nezuko! Where are you going? It's dangerous outside!" Sakonji Urokodaki immediately followed Nezuko, as did Kuwajima Jigorō, who had come to protect the young master of the Ubuyashiki family.
...
"Everyone, are you alright?" Mitsuri finally reacted. All the Hashira had arrived, but they were also all severely injured. It seemed she was the only one left to act.
"You big bad guy!"
Mitsuri shouted through tears as she charged towards Muzan.
"Love Breathing, Sixth Form, Cat-Foot Love Wind!"
The moment Mitsuri struck Muzan, a flicker of joy arose within her. She could do it; she could definitely hold off Muzan until dawn.
However, Muzan's body did not bleed. Mitsuri was shocked. She had clearly hit him, so why was there no wound?
"No, this guy's regeneration speed is too fast. The wound healed the instant it was inflicted. Kibutsuji Muzan is a pervert!" This was Mitsuri's last thought before she was sent flying by one of Muzan's whip-like appendages.