Nezuko's heart trembled at Muzan's words, her eyes widening as she struggled to make sense of his claim. A whirlwind of emotions surged within her, leaving her feeling lost and vulnerable. Why would Muzan say such a thing? What made him believe that she wouldn't want to return to her own world?
As she searched her heart for answers, she recalled the life she had left behind: her family, her friends, and the simple joys of a peaceful existence. The warm embrace of her mother, the laughter of her siblings, and the comfort of their home filled her mind. It was a life she yearned for, a life she had been fighting to reclaim.
The silence that had fallen between them seemed to stretch on indefinitely, each passing moment a reminder of the heartrending doubt that now plagued them all. And in that silence, Nezuko's mind raced, seeking answers to questions she had never dared to ask herself before.
Ijin asked the demon king to explain his words which began to unravel the shocking truth.
"Ah, you see," Muzan said, his voice cold and calculating, "neither Nezuko nor I are the true versions of ourselves. In fact, we are both mere copies of the originals." His words struck like a hammer, sending ripples of disbelief and confusion through the room.
Ijin's brow furrowed as he tried to process this revelation. Muzan continued his explanation. "To use an analogy from your world, the Blood Demon Art that brought us to this world is akin to copying and pasting files from one folder to another, with each folder representing a different world."
He gestured to himself and Nezuko, his eyes gleaming with a malicious intent. "We are simply duplicates, echoes of our original selves. Even if she were to somehow return to our own world, the real Nezuko Kamado would still be there."
The weight of this revelation hung heavily in the air, casting a dark shadow over the room. Nezuko's heart sank, the implications of Muzan's words echoing in her mind like a haunting refrain. She felt as if her entire existence had been called into question, her purpose and sense of identity now shrouded in uncertainty.
Nezuko's eyes widened in shock, her breath hitching as the full force of Muzan's words struck her. A storm of emotions brewed within her, threatening to consume her entirely. Was she truly not the Nezuko she believed herself to be? Was her whole existence nothing more than a shadow of someone else?
Her mind raced, desperately trying to grasp onto something that would anchor her to reality. She thought of her family, her friends, and the life she had lived up until now. If she was merely a copy, did her memories and connections to the people she cared about hold any meaning? Did they even belong to her?
Her hands trembled as she clutched at her chest, feeling as if she were on the verge of unraveling. The very foundations of her world seemed to crumble beneath her, leaving her adrift in a sea of uncertainty. She looked at her own hands, her reflection in a shattered shard of glass, searching for some semblance of the Nezuko she once knew.
Muzan sneered at Ijin, his voice dripping with condescension. "Since you cannot keep your promise to bring Nezuko home, cease your pointless interference."
Ijin's face remained impassive, betraying no hint of emotion. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, dialing a number without breaking eye contact with Muzan. "Echo," he said, his voice steady and clear. "Transfer everything I own over to Nezuko Kamado."
Nezuko's confusion deepened, her eyes darting between Ijin and the phone, trying to comprehend what he meant by this sudden declaration. She couldn't fathom why he would do such a thing, especially now.
With a fluid motion, Ijin tossed the phone through the air towards Nezuko, who reflexively caught it, her grip tightening around the device. She looked at the phone, then back at Ijin, her eyes searching for an explanation she knew she would not find.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy, a somber undercurrent weaving through the chaos. In the space between them, the unspoken words hung in the air like a delicate mist, a farewell that dared not reveal itself. Nezuko's heart clenched as she held the phone, a mixture of gratitude and sorrow washing over her.
"Wait," Nezuko called out, her voice trembling with urgency as she stared at Ijin's back. "What are you doing?" She couldn't shake the sinking feeling that something irreversible was about to happen, and she couldn't bear to see it through.
Ijin turned to face her, his eyes filled with a melancholic sorrow that Nezuko had never seen before. It was as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him, and he had accepted it willingly. He turned his gaze to Dr. Nova and spoke softly, "Please, take care of Nezuko. Help her adjust to this world."
Before anyone could respond, Muzan lunged forward, tendrils snaking through the air in a deadly dance, aiming to strike Ijin down. In an instant, Ijin's hands moved gracefully, summoning a flurry of black orbs that materialized in front of him. The tendrils met the orbs, and like nails hammered into a wall, they were held in place, their lethal momentum halted.
The tension in the air was palpable, as the orbs shimmered ominously, suspending Muzan's deadly tendrils in a state of eerie stillness. Ijin's face remained a calm mask, betraying no emotion, as if the enormity of the moment had not yet reached his heart. Nezuko could only watch, her chest tightening with each passing second, as the scene unfolded before her eyes.
As the orbs rapidly converged towards Muzan, he seemed more prepared this time, agilely evading their deadly grasp. However, Ijin had anticipated Muzan's movements, his eyes following the demon's every step. A determined glint flickered in Ijin's eyes as his hand became enveloped in a veil of darkness.
With a swift, fluid motion, Ijin stroked the air, casting forth a serpentine tube of darkness that wound its way towards the very opening Muzan had used to infiltrate the lab. The shadows danced and swirled like an ethereal snake, its sinister form leaving a trail of foreboding in its wake.
"Blood Demon Art: Negative Space," Ijin murmured, his voice barely audible as the darkness surged with purpose. Unlike before, the darkness didn't vanish all at once. Instead, it dissipated in a sequential manner, the inky void retreating and leaving behind an irresistible suction force. Muzan, caught off-guard by the sudden pull, found himself drawn helplessly towards the path that Ijin had so meticulously crafted.
The powerful vacuum tugged at Muzan, yanking him through the serpentine trail of darkness and hurling him into the outside world. His form disappeared into the night, swallowed by the shadows and the unknown beyond. The lab fell silent as the last remnants of darkness vanished, leaving behind a palpable void where Muzan once stood.
Muzan's body slammed into the cold, unforgiving wall of a dimly lit alleyway, his impact echoing throughout the narrow space. Irritation flared in his eyes as he wasted no time in retaliating, his whip-like appendages lashing out like serpents hungry for a kill.
Ijin, however, deftly maneuvered through the confined area, leaping between the walls of the alleyway with a graceful finesse. He seemed to dance around Muzan's relentless onslaught, his movements so fluid and precise that they resembled an expertly choreographed performance. At times, Ijin ran alongside the walls, his form blurring as he narrowly dodged the havoc Muzan's tendrils wreaked upon the surrounding structures.
Muzan observed Ijin's movements, realizing that the boy was utilizing his vacuum powers to cling to the walls, using the suction force like adhesive cups on his hands and feet. The incredible control and adaptability Ijin displayed over his powers only served to further aggravate Muzan, his frustration mounting as the chase continued through the darkened labyrinth of the alleyways.
With a snarl, Muzan spat out his disdain for their seemingly endless struggle. "This is pointless! Neither of us can deal a lethal blow, as we're both immortal!" His words, however, did not stop their ferocious battle from continuing, spilling out into the heart of the city.
As the two demons clashed, their destructive power laid waste to the surrounding area. Buildings crumbled under the force of their blows, sending debris raining down upon the streets below. Muzan's whip-like appendages carved deep gashes into concrete and metal alike, while Ijin's vacuum-powered attacks tore through the very air, leaving trails of devastation in their wake.
The city, once a vibrant hub of life and activity, now tremored under the weight of their titanic struggle. The panicked cries of people filled the air as they fled from the chaos, desperately trying to escape the whirlwind of destruction that followed in the wake of the two immortal adversaries.
Cars were sent flying, their twisted metal frames a testament to the unimaginable strength that both Ijin and Muzan possessed. Windows shattered under the pressure of their battle, showering the streets with shards of glass that sparkled menacingly in the city's flickering lights.
With each passing moment, the city became a war zone, torn apart by the relentless conflict between these two unstoppable forces. As the night wore on, the scale of destruction only grew, leaving behind a scarred and broken landscape that would forever bear the marks of their immortal struggle.
In a fleeting moment of opportunity, Muzan's tendrils shot forth, snaking around Ijin's body with a sinister grace. The whip-like appendages bit into his flesh, blood oozing from the wounds as they coiled tighter, constricting him like a python's deadly embrace. Ijin strained against the relentless grip, his face contorted in pain as he struggled to break free.
With a cruel smirk, Muzan taunted the trapped Ijin. "Did you truly think you could elude me forever?" His voice dripped with malice, reveling in Ijin's helplessness.
However, before Muzan could savor his apparent victory, a flash of pink light streaked through the air, searing the tendrils that held Ijin captive. Nezuko, her adult form aglow with the intensity of her burning resolve, had arrived. She unleashed a torrent of pink flames from her palm, the heat consuming Muzan's tendrils and reducing them to ash.
Surprise lit up Ijin's eyes at the sight of Nezuko, concern filling his voice. "You shouldn't be here! Muzan is after you!"
Ignoring his protest, Nezuko's fierce determination shone through her eyes as she prepared to join Ijin in their desperate battle against the monstrous demon.
As they squared off, Muzan's face contorted into a snarl. His elongated, whip-like arms desperately reached for Nezuko while his back tendrils writhed in agony, struggling to regenerate under the searing influence of her flames. The pink fire ignited not just fear, but also a deep-rooted hatred within Muzan, reminiscent of Yoriichi's red blade that had left indelible scars on him.
Nezuko, with her keen senses and agility, leaped through the battlefield, narrowly evading Muzan's relentless onslaught. Her speed was just enough to keep her out of his grasp, but the furious demon's attacks left her with no opportunity to engage him in close quarters. She moved through the chaos, constantly seeking an opening to strike back.
Fueled by the memories of his past defeat, his attacks became more ferocious, his rage intensifying. Distracted by his pursuit of Nezuko, he failed to notice Ijin seizing the opportunity. With a swift, fluid motion, Ijin encased Muzan in a large Abyssal Orb, once again trapping the furious demon within its inky depths. Muzan's frustration boiled over as he found himself confined by the vacuum, his movements restricted, and his senses smothered by the unnerving darkness.
Confined once more by Ijin's Blood Demon Art, Muzan cursed at this wretched power. His eyes blazed with resentment, his face contorting with rage and helplessness.
Ijin, his hands trembling as he strained to maintain the massive Abyssal Orb, turned to Nezuko. "You have to run away, Nezuko. I can't hold him for long," he urged her, his voice tense with concern.
Determined, Nezuko shook her head vehemently. "No," she resolutely replied, "I won't leave you to face him alone. We'll fight him together, and we'll protect each other." As Ijin continued to protest about the danger, she approached him, her eyes brimming with tears and anger. "Echo told me the truth about you," she said, her voice quivering with emotion. "You had lost the will to live before you met me. You were just drifting through life, empty and hopeless. But after we met, I gave you a purpose, a reason to keep going. And you knew that once I returned to my world, your purpose would disappear."
Her voice cracked, but she continued, "Now that we know it's not possible for me to go back, you're trying to sacrifice yourself to eliminate Muzan. But I won't let you do this, Ijin. I refuse to let you go down this path. We'll find another way, together."
Her words left Ijin speechless, staring into her tearful eyes. Nezuko, however, wasn't done. Her voice grew stronger as she scolded him, "How can you think so little of your own life? You've always been so kind and caring towards me, but why don't you treat yourself the same way? Have you ever considered how I would feel if you just... ended yourself?"
With her words echoing in his mind, Ijin's face crumpled with guilt.
As Nezuko prepared herself, she channeled her pink flames and unleashed a powerful blast directly at the black orb. To Ijin's astonishment, the black orb suddenly dissolved away, caught in the path of Nezuko's raging inferno. He hadn't even tried to cancel the orb himself, but Nezuko's flames seemed to possess the power to nullify his Blood Demon Art.
An implosion of air, debris, and Nezuko's flames collided with Muzan, leaving him no time to react. His form writhed in agony amidst the pink blaze, consumed by the sheer intensity of the flames. Observing the scene, surprise widened Ijin's eyes. This revelation, that her flames could counter his Blood Demon Art, was stunning.
Without a moment's hesitation, the demon boy charged towards Muzan's flame-engulfed body. He knew that this might be their only chance to defeat Muzan, and he was determined to seize the opportunity. As he plunged his hands into Muzan's fiery form, he felt the intense heat scorching his own flesh. But he gritted his teeth and persevered, using every ounce of his power to absorb Muzan into himself.
Demons may have been immortal, but Muzan's ultimate plan hinged on his ability to absorb Nezuko. It stood to reason that the same principle could be applied to Muzan himself. If Ijin could absorb him, then perhaps they could finally put an end to this.
As Ijin's hands sunk deeper into Muzan's body, the weakened demon found it increasingly difficult to resist. Nezuko's flames had impaired his regeneration, leaving him vulnerable to Ijin's absorption. Muzan's body began to disintegrate, his essence being drawn inexorably into Ijin.
The pain was immense, but his determination held strong. He knew that this was the only way to protect Nezuko, and to prevent Muzan from causing any more destruction. With one final push of his will, Ijin absorbed the last remnants of Muzan's essence, their two beings merging into one.
As the flames began to dissipate, Ijin slumped to the ground, exhausted. He had succeeded in absorbing Muzan, but the process had taken a significant toll on his body. Beside him, Nezuko looked on with a mix of concern and relief. They had won, but at what cost to Ijin?
Ijin's body trembled violently, veins bulging beneath his skin as he struggled to contain the power of Muzan within him. Excruciating pain tore through him, and he coughed up blood, his face twisted in agony. He clutched at the ground, trying to find some semblance of stability in the chaos that wracked his body.
Nezuko's heart ached with concern as she watched Ijin's suffering. She had never imagined that he would do something so recklessly daring as to absorb Muzan himself. She thought that drawing out the battle until sunrise would have been their best bet. But Ijin's drastic solution was far from what she had imagined.
Her hands trembled as she knelt beside him, not knowing what she could do to ease his pain. She wished she had known the full extent of his plan, that perhaps she could have found another way to defeat Muzan without putting Ijin's life at risk. But now, all she could do was to stay by his side and pray that he could overcome the immense power he had taken into himself.
As Ijin continued to convulse, his body seemingly on the brink of being torn apart by the conflicting forces within him, Nezuko whispered words of encouragement. She urged him to fight, to not let Muzan's power consume him.
As the intensity of the situation began to dissipate, Nezuko's body gradually shrank back to her normal, default form. Her once-adult frame returned to that of a young girl, yet she retained the same fierce determination she had displayed just moments before.
The overwhelming force within him finally overcame his resistance and he fell unconscious, his body limp. Nezuko's eyes filled with worry as she looked down at him, but she knew there was no time to waste. With utmost care, she hoisted him onto her back, his weight bearing down on her small frame. As she carried him through the debris-laden streets, a sense of responsibility and resolve surged through her. She was committed to ensuring his safety, no matter the cost.
