Chapter 257: King vs King

"Is it that guy?"

"Never mind, it doesn't matter."

The term "metamorphosis" can describe a process of human transformation or refer to the developmental stages of certain insects, such as the transition from larva to butterfly.

Pupation.

This is Kibutsuji Muzan's current state.

Although he doesn't know when the poison was administered, the dose wasn't enough to kill him. Almost instantly after Nakime's death, he had already purged the toxin that slowed his regeneration.

In fact, Kibutsuji Muzan had also expelled another toxin, one that seemed to induce aging. But now, it was all gone.

Emerging from his cocoon, Kibutsuji Muzan began to observe the entire Infinity City through the eyes of his demons.

A war.

A war between humans and demons.

And...

"A bunch of useless trash."

Kibutsuji Muzan could clearly see that the demons and swordsmen had reached a stalemate. Even the Lower Moons of the Twelve Kizuki were being overwhelmed by the sheer number of swordsmen.

Was defeat inevitable?

As the progenitor of demons, the source of all demons, he began to deeply reflect on why he had created so many demons. How much of his blood had he distributed? Why were they all so utterly useless?

Indeed, the Upper Moons were slightly better... Wait, was that the same Demon Slayer Mark as Yoriichi Tsugikuni's?!

Kibutsuji Muzan's connection with his demons was extremely tight. Within a certain range, he could see what they saw and hear what they heard.

Countless visual scenes flooded his mind.

He saw the Upper Moons being delayed.

Douma seemed to be held back by two women.

Hantengu was being blocked by two people wearing disaster-warding masks.

Gyokko was also being held back by two men, one of whom fought like a ninja, while the other was a rare blood type?

Kokushibo was facing a single tall monk.

"The Upper Moons are also useless."

Kibutsuji Muzan could see it.

The swordsmen blocking the Upper Moons had all activated their Demon Slayer Marks. Distant memories resurfaced in his mind. Hundreds of years ago, there had been a group of marked swordsmen, powerful enough to pose a threat to him.

But only a threat.

In a thousand years, the only one who had truly made him feel danger was Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

From the visions he received, it wasn't just the Upper Moons facing marked swordsmen. Even the Lower Moons were up against swordsmen who had activated their marks. It seemed the Demon Slayer Corps had mastered the technique of awakening the marks?

No, that wasn't important.

What was important was that man. The swordsman who wielded the Sun Breathing? Wait, was that a fox's tail and fox ears? And two tails at that! So, that guy wasn't human, but a yokai?

A yokai.

In his long life, Kibutsuji Muzan had never seen gods or Buddhas. Similarly, he had never encountered yokai.

A part of his hatred diminished.

Being deceived by a yokai sounded better than being deceived by a human.

At least, it wasn't by humans, those "food."

He wondered what yokai flesh would taste like. Would it be different from humans? Would it be more delicious? Or perhaps disgustingly bad?

Kibutsuji Muzan licked his lips.

He could sense a powerful presence approaching him. It was likely that yokai. Good, Kibutsuji Muzan would personally kill him.

His earlier retreat was for this moment.

The opponent's Nichirin blade hurt when it struck him, each slash corresponding to the scars Yoriichi Tsugikuni had left on his body. Back then, he was still recovering from the wounds of the explosion, so he chose to retreat.

Now, he was fully healed.

The scars Yoriichi left on his body didn't matter. The instant he felt the Sun Breathing, he knew the opponent's strength.

Kibutsuji Muzan leaped into the air like a cannonball, heading straight for his opponent.

He would tear this deceiver into pieces!!!

His earlier calm was just a suppressed volcano. Eventually, it would erupt!

Kibutsuji Muzan could sense Li Mo approaching.

Li Mo could also sense Kibutsuji Muzan approaching.

Both were incredibly fast, and the distance between them wasn't far.

In just a few breaths.

They clashed.

Li Mo could clearly see Kibutsuji Muzan's form, his naked body wrapped in blood-red stripes.

"Instead of running, you chose to come closer to me?!" Li Mo muttered under his breath.

He was now certain he could kill Kibutsuji Muzan. Even if the demon king tried to split and escape, Li Mo had the means to instantly lock onto all fragments, ensuring the demon king would never escape again.

"You're the one who should be running!"

Kibutsuji Muzan's flesh began to transform, his arms turning into whip-like tendrils. The air whistled as they lashed out.

Clang—clang—

Li Mo's Nichirin blade swung, severing two of the tendrils.

The strength of carbon-based life forms was ultimately limited. Cutting through the tendrils wasn't difficult, especially with the Nichirin blade enhanced by the Bright Red Blade.

"Your Bright Red Blade isn't as strong as Yoriichi's!"

In the next instant, the flesh regenerated. Kibutsuji Muzan's tendrils regrew in a second. Yes, while carbon-based life forms might be weak, these flesh monsters shared a common trait.

—Extremely fast regeneration.

As for whether this was scientifically possible?

Who knew?

"Hiss—"

Heat escaped through the gaps in his teeth.

Mana flowed, and reinforcement magecraft enhanced his already superhuman physique.

Sun Breathing...

Dance!

The blade arced, and flames resembling the sun severed the attacking tendrils once more.

Yet, the sound of rushing air still reached his ears. The severed tendrils, still imbued with residual life force, hadn't completely died. Driven by this remaining life, the severed ends of the tendrils sprang forward like arrows, aiming straight for Li Mo's head.

Their speed and power were no less than that of a crossbow bolt. But the moment they touched the back of Li Mo's head, the tendril fragments lost all force and fell to the ground.

「Spell of Thororm」!

A magical formula that nullified the sharpness of any attack, theoretically capable of defending against even a nuclear explosion.

From the moment he clashed with Kibutsuji Muzan, Li Mo's senses were heightened. The tendrils he had severed in seconds sprang back to life, attacking. His white fox tails swirled, intercepting the tendril arrows. The moment they made contact, the spell activated.

There was still some distance between him and Kibutsuji Muzan.

Then Li Mo saw nine fleshy tubes emerge from Kibutsuji Muzan's back. Their speed—unbelievably fast!

So fast that Li Mo could barely see them.