Hongweilang managed to prop himself up with his Nichirin Blade, watching as the Foul Demon reached out toward him once more.
"(Rainbow Breathing - Third Form: Rainbow Radiance)"
The moment the demon extended its arm, it was severed by Hongweilang.
"Rainbow Breathing - Sixth Form: Brilliant Haze"
The demon instantly shielded itself with the tentacles sprouting from its back, but those tentacles were chopped off one by one by Hongweilang in the middle of their defense.
Just as Hongweilang struck true at the demon's neck, the numbers in the demon's eyes shifted, changing to the kanji for "Four".
Hongweilang successfully severed the demon's neck, only to suddenly discover that the decapitated demon was splitting apart.
"Not bad at all! To think you could actually force me out! This power really isn't well-suited for me after all, but let's consider this a little reward for a dying man like you."
The demon instantly broke free from the previous body, its face radiating arrogance.
Hearing those words, Hongweilang's legs shook uncontrollably, but he quickly calmed himself.
Though trapped within Hongweilang's illusion, Amane watched as this Foul Demon continuously emitted a terrifying power.
Suddenly, the demon grabbed its head, veins bulging fiercely on its temples.
"Why! Centuries have already passed! Why! Why do you remnants of the Demon Slayer Corps, who have sickened me my entire life, still exist!"
"Who on earth are you!"
"Kanyashiki— no! My name is Muzan Kibutsuji."
"I have hidden from you lot like a rat for a lifetime. I thought that after another century, you would have all gone extinct."
"Did you catch my scent? Why won't you just disappear!"
"It's all the fault of that fellow Tanjiro! If only he had succeeded my will, I could have conquered the sun and achieved eternity as an immortal being. I would never have had to transfer my consciousness into this flesh otherwise."
Watching the Foul Demon engage in frantic self-mutilation, Hongweilang could not help feeling a deep sense of disgust.
"And that useless Upper Rank bunch! Why couldn't they wipe out a few more Hashira!"
Seeing Muzan Kibutsuji violently mutilating himself, Hongweilang immediately raised his Nichirin Blade and unleashed his Breathing Style.
Suddenly, Muzan Kibutsuji vanished and reappeared directly behind Hongweilang, speaking in a chilling voice.
"Even though I lack my former strength, finishing you off is more than enough."
A blade-tipped whip lashed down, slicing off Hongweilang's right arm.
Hongweilang grabbed his severed right arm with his remaining hand and screamed in agony.
Amane could not bear to watch any longer, unable to keep staring at this terrifyingly powerful monster.
"In truth, my existence is no different from a natural disaster. Why don't you humans seek revenge on nature instead of me?"
"Compared to nature, the humans I've eaten are nothing; I am being quite merciful."
"Must it only be you madmen of the Demon Slayer Corps? Shouldn't you all vanish the moment I die? Why do you still exist!"
Veins bulged on Hongweilang's forehead, his face painted with fury.
"You beast! Don't you dare act like you've been wronged!"
"What the Demon Slayer Corps has passed down through generations is the duty to protect our loved ones and friends! We swing our blades for the sake of those we wish to guard!"
"What could a beast like you possibly understand!"
"(Rainbow Breathing - First Form: Luminous Flash)"
A surge of energy gathered in Muzan Kibutsuji's chest. A blinding flash of white light cut through the air, and Hongweilang collapsed to the ground.
"Wasted so much time on you."
Muzan Kibutsuji turned to leave, but suddenly spun back around as Hongweilang resolutely forced himself back up to his feet.
"Even if my body... is utterly destroyed, I will surely... purge the Foul Demons from this world! (I'm sorry, little sister, your big brother can't go back.)"
"Still not dead! Why are every last one of you in the Demon Slayer Corps just like unkillable cockroaches? Watching you lot put up such a disfigured, dying struggle is truly... sickening!"
"Take those words of yours and tell them to your dead seniors!"
Energy gathered in Muzan Kibutsuji's chest once more, unleashing a blast straight at Hongweilang. As the white smoke cleared, Hongweilang had completely vanished.
"Big brother, I want to play on the swing! Can you come give me a push?"
The fiery battlefield faded away, replaced by a quiet grove of trees. Amane realized at once that this was the very place where he trained.
Hongweilang walked over to Amane, watching the happy smiles of the two children.
"I want to know the answer in your heart. I have already failed, and from now on, even more people will die because of demons."
"Amane, will you fear the choice you are making now? Will you choose to face it or run away, even if your end is the same as mine?"
"I will choose to face it. I am no longer the Kamishiro Amane who hides behind others."
"Is that so?"
While playing on the swing, the little girl lost her grip and was suddenly flung through the air.
Scraping her knee on the ground, the little girl began to cry. Hongweilang and his older brother hurried over, and the older brother helped her up.
The older brother took a handmade Teru Teru Bozu doll out of his pocket and handed it to his sister as a gift.
"This is a little gift Big Brother made himself. Stop crying, little sister, Big Brother will carry you home on his back."
"When Big Brother isn't around anymore, whenever you think of this Teru Teru Bozu, know that Big Brother will protect you."
The little sister smiled happily, then waved her hand.
"This is Big Brother's."
The older brother pulled out another one.
"I made one for myself, too. Mine won't be given to you—not unless I'm no longer around."
"I don't want Big Brother's. Big Brother has to keep his own right by his side."
The two siblings chatted and laughed together, all of it witnessed by Amane.
"The brother and sister in that memory are you and Nijio Ran, aren't they?"
Hongweilang nodded.
"Yes. This is my dying dream, my memories—the memories I cherish most deeply."
"Amane, I've figured it out. Tell her everything about me. My time has run out; I can only go this far."
Hongweilang took a Teru Teru Bozu doll from his pocket and placed it into Amane's hand.
"Only after weathering wind and rain can one witness the beauty of a rainbow. Whether looking to the future or the past, we must face things head-on."
"Amane, I believe you can inherit the will passed down by the Demon Slayer Corps. On that day during your training, even though your body was completely exhausted, your willpower carried you down the mountain. I know you can do it."
Amane's vision began to blur.
Hongweilang's body was fading away piece by piece. Amane clutched the Teru Teru Bozu doll and collapsed from utter exhaustion.
"Though we've only just met, I truly have to go now. As for the answer, you must find it yourself."
Back to reality.
"Amane! Amane!"
Amane opened his eyes to see Maigo, Nijio Ran, and Senior Buyou all standing there.
"Amane! Why did you pass out up on the mountain? When we saw you weren't in your room this morning, we searched everywhere for you."
"What's that you're holding in your hand, Amane?"
Amane handed the Teru Teru Bozu doll over to Nijio Ran. Tears were visibly shimmering in the corners of Nijio Ran's eyes.
Nijio Ran unhooked the Teru Teru Bozu doll attached to her hair tie and compared them—they were a matching pair belonging to Nijio Ran and Hongweilang.
"Hongweilang has come back. He told me everything. Muzan Kibutsuji is still alive!"
"I will inherit his will and wipe out Muzan Kibutsuji."
Nijio Ran wiped away her tears and forced a composed smile.
"I, too, will carry on my brother's will and become an exceptional head of the family. Thank you, Amane."
The warm rays of the sun shone down upon their faces, radiant and breathtaking.
Several weeks later.
"(Water Breathing - First Form: Water Surface Slash)"
Amane swung his Nichirin Blade. The speed of the blade was blinding, slicing cleanly through several thick logs in a single stroke.
Senior Buyou and Hideharu stood off to the side, watching Amane practice his Breathing Style.
"Amane's learning speed truly astounds me. To master a Breathing Style within a few weeks... if this were the old days, Amane's strength might well have grown to the level of a Hashira."
"That way, Hideharu, you'll be able to share some of the burden."
"Now that the city lockdown has been lifted and things are returning to normal, those demons might start blending in among the crowds again."
"Amane has basically mastered the Breathing Style now, but we still don't know if he can hold his own against a Foul Demon—especially if it's one with multiple Blood Demon Arts. Learning a Breathing Style in such a short time is certainly astonishing, but we can't rush to conclusions yet."
"Hideharu, this is the boy you recommended to me. Now I've acknowledged Amane's potential—don't tell me you're losing faith in him again?"
"That's not what I mean, Senior. I'm just worried about whether Amane and I can actually defeat Muzan Kibutsuji."
"Even family head Hongweilang was no match for Muzan Kibutsuji."
As they spoke, an elderly man dressed in formal wear walked over. Senior Buyou glanced back.
"Qinxiu, why are you here?"
"Why won't my dear little brother Qinmei call out to his older brother when he sees him? Of course I'm here on business."
The man leaned against Senior Buyou's back, causing Senior Buyou to immediately step away.
"If you have something to say, spit it out. Don't waste my time."
"We haven't seen each other in a while, yet my little brother Qinmei still dislikes his big brother, I see."
Senior Buyou drew his Nichirin Blade and pointed it straight at Qinxiu.
"If you call me that again, I'll slice you in half!"
Hideharu watched these two men, nearly sixty years old, bickering by each other's first names, finding it thoroughly revolting.
Amane noticed them as well.
"Amane, I heard you got transferred from the Kakushi to the Demon Slayer Corps to learn Breathing Styles! We haven't seen each other in a year."
Amane looked at the Senior Buyou twins: one was passionate and outgoing, while the other was cold and expressionless. They really seemed like they didn't get along at all.
"Hurry up and state your business, or I swear I'll cut you down!"
Over in the courtyard.
Maigo was scratching his head in frustration, likely because he realized that with the city lockdown lifted, school would be returning to normal.
"What do I do! What if some of those overachieving students spent the whole lockdown studying like crazy?"
Nijio Ran replied, "Now that the lockdown is lifted, can't you just go back? I don't mean anything by it, but you haven't been back to see your family in a whole year."
"I suppose you're right, but what am I going to do about all the homework I've forgotten?"
"Big Sister, I want to play on your computer."
Hideharu's child appeared out of nowhere, standing silently before Maigo and Nijio Ran.
Meeting the innocent gaze of Hideharu's daughter, Maigo was instantly captivated.
"Nijio Ran, she is just so cute."
Nijio Ran wore an expression of sheer terror and panic, instantly shoving her laptop behind her back.
"L-L-Little Demon King."
"Little Demon King?"