Demon Slayer: I am a Demon.

Tears welled up in Hisamei Gyomei's eyes as he involuntarily thought of the sacrifices made during the last siege. So many swordsmen had sacrificed their lives, all in an effort to eradicate the evil spirits from this world, yet Muzan Kibutsuji, the source of all evil, remained alive and well.

Their sacrifice was completely meaningless.

No, it's not meaningless.

It was because of their sacrifice that more people became determined to eradicate evil spirits.

"Die, you evil spirit."

Even though he was seriously injured, Shinazugawa Sanemi gripped his Nichirin Blade tightly and launched a desperate attack on Kibutsuji Muzan.

Not only Sanemi Shinazugawa, but also Kyojuro Rengoku, and many other ordinary swordsmen who had previously been able to rest under Su Mu's protection, were now joining the siege of Muzan Kibutsuji.

However, most of the swordsmen's attacks had little effect on Muzan Kibutsuji; any wounds they occasionally inflicted would heal completely in a short time.

With a single punch, Muzan Kibutsuji blasted several swordsmen apart, their blood splattering and dripping onto countless other surviving swordsmen.

Upon witnessing this scene, the swordsmen's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, their gazes filled with rage and pain.

"You swordsmen are so annoying, so annoying."

Muzan Kibutsuji's crimson eyes were fixed on the charging swordsmen. He struck again in an instant, killing several more swordsmen on the spot. Even so, these swordsmen did not hesitate to risk their lives, wielding their Nichirin Blades and rushing forward, just to inflict some wounds on Muzan Kibutsuji, even if it was just a little.

"She's so clingy, so clingy."

Feeling this outcome, Muzan Kibutsuji was furious: "Aren't you all good to be alive? Why do you do this? Don't you know you'll lose your lives? You've already survived, why don't you just live properly?"

"As long as you survive, that's all that matters. Why can't you accept that your happiness has been ruined by ghosts? As long as you are content with your own happiness, you can continue living as usual. So what if your family members are killed?"

Muzan Kibutsuji finds it difficult to understand these swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps who have haunted him for centuries.

"How can everything be the same as before? So what if family members were killed? What are you talking about?"

Tanjiro gripped the hilt of his sword, his eyes filled with anger as he loudly questioned him.

Muzan Kibutsuji raised his crimson eyes and noticed the boy wearing sun-shaped earrings. The unique style of the earrings reminded Muzan of someone from long ago, someone he still felt fear towards, a man named Yoriichi Tsugikuni. The sword that Yoriichi had swung at him back then still haunted him with fear.

Suppressing the shadow that suddenly rose in his heart, Muzan Kibutsuji looked at Tanjiro with disdain: "The people I kill are no different from those who have perished in a natural disaster. There is no need to delve into it. After all, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Isn't it enough to live a peaceful life? Why bother to seek revenge against me?"

As he spoke, a cold glint flashed in Muzan Kibutsuji's eyes: "No ordinary person would be stupid enough to seek revenge against me. Only madmen like your Demon Slayer Corps would choose to sacrifice their lives for so-called 'family' and 'friends.' Fighting an organization like yours really annoys me."

As he spoke, a smile appeared in Muzan Kibutsuji's eyes. He glanced at Su Mu, who was hanging his head in the distance, seemingly deep in thought, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes:

"Let's just settle everything today."

"The so-called destiny of thousands of years will come to an end today."

Tanjiro couldn't understand Muzan's way of thinking. He couldn't comprehend the idea that being killed by Muzan was no different from encountering a natural disaster, and how could the deaths of his family members not be investigated in depth? What was this about just living a peaceful life...?

Were these...ghosts really once human?

This kind of ghost is completely different from the gentleman.

Such a ghost...

Tanjiro looked up at Muzan Kibutsuji:

"You are... a creature unworthy of existing in this world!"

"They don't deserve to live at all."

Muzan Kibutsuji tilted his head back, completely unconcerned: "For you crazy swordsmen, all the demons should probably be dead by now."

"Do not……"

Tanjiro gripped the hilt of his Nichirin Blade, staring at Muzan Kibutsuji with a furious yet resolute gaze: "It is demons like you who deserve to die. Some demons, like you, will never understand."

Chapter 286 places its hopes on a ghost. It hopes this ghost will purge the evil spirits from this world.

Tanjiro couldn't understand Muzan Kibutsuji's thoughts, and no swordsman could understand Muzan Kibutsuji's thoughts either, because it was simply not the way a normal person thought.

Family members were murdered, happiness was shattered amidst the smell of blood, and those you cherished were gone...

Such a thing.

For any normal person, it's impossible to pretend nothing happened and then... life goes on as usual.

How can the happiness destroyed by the people killed by Muzan Kibutsuji be considered as suffering caused by a natural disaster, as Muzan Kibutsuji claims?

Once you have a grudge, how could you not seek revenge?

Once hatred arises, how can one not try to eliminate it?

Fueled by hatred for demons, resentment towards Muzan Kibutsuji, a desire to eradicate evil spirits from the world, and a determination to protect humanity, the swordsmen launched a desperate charge against Muzan Kibutsuji.

However, as the first demon and the absolute controller of demons, Muzan Kibutsuji's strength is undoubtedly extremely powerful. These swordsmen are no match for him. Furthermore, Muzan Kibutsuji is not fighting alone. Those demons who were previously terrified by Su Mu regained their confidence after witnessing Muzan Kibutsuji's power.

Although these ghosts were terrified of Su Mu and dared not cause him any trouble, they had no problem dealing with these swordsmen, who were their prey.

Thus, a fierce battle ensued.

Every second, swordsmen lose their lives, and every second, demons are beheaded. However, the situation is becoming increasingly unfavorable for the Demon Slayer Corps.

Fierce battles are taking place everywhere.

Every swordsman is fighting for their lives.

Strangely, Su Mu's side was completely calm. No ghosts or swordsmen passed by, and the surroundings seemed to be in a vacuum.

Muzan Kibutsuji struck again, killing several swordsmen who were attacking him. But soon, new swordsmen surged up from where they had fallen, continuing their attack on him.

Knowing full well that they were no match for their opponents, knowing full well that they would die, knowing full well that their sacrifice was meaningless, these swordsmen still went forward one after another.

Just like for thousands of years, these swordsmen have been searching for trouble with him like madmen.

"So clingy! So really clingy!"

Muzan Kibutsuji threw another punch, this time hitting Gyomei Himejima, the "Stone Pillar." Even though Gyomei Himejima had trained his body to the limits of human potential, he was sent flying like a rag doll by this punch. But even so, Gyomei Himejima still managed to stand up and continue to participate in the attack against Muzan Kibutsuji.

The 'Pillars' are like this, and so are the other swordsmen; for thousands of years, these madmen of the Demon Slayer Corps have been like this.

Although Muzan Kibutsuji was annoyed, he had long been used to the presence of these madmen, but he was still angry. What angered Muzan even more was that they were all demons, so why didn't they deal with Su Mu?

So many swordsmen risked their lives, just to end their own lives.

But in the distance, Su Mu was also a ghost.

Even though some swordsmen harbored hatred for Su Mu, why were they targeting him so fiercely, with not a single swordsman drawing their swords to fight him?

"How awful!"

Enraged, Muzan Kibutsuji's arm immediately transformed into the shape of a whip, which he swung wildly in all directions.

A cold light gleamed in the darkness.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

The whip lashed out at the swordsman, instantly shattering his body, sending blood and flesh flying everywhere, turning the scene into a blood grinder.

Swordsmen perished one after another.

One swordsman after another died.

Meanwhile, Muzan Kibutsuji remains unharmed, and there seems to be no hope of an end for him.

Despair, sorrow, and pain welled up in the hearts of every swordsman. Knowing that death was inevitable, they still pressed on one after another. They were not afraid of death, but they were afraid that they could not change anything.

"Let this entanglement of thousands of years come to a complete end today."

Muzan Kibutsuji muttered to himself, brandishing the spiked whip in his hand.

In an instant, the lives of several swordsmen were ended, their blood still blooming in the air, as the whip was already swung to the next swordsman, piercing through his heart.

Death became a melody at this moment.

Hisokai Gyomei's blind eyes were filled with sorrow and pain. The current situation was just like the last time when he besieged Muzan Kibutsuji at headquarters. So many sacrifices had been made, but in the end, all the sacrifices had been meaningless.

All the deaths had no effect.

"boom……"

A swordsman's body fell from the sky and crashed to the ground, landing in front of Su Mu, who was all alone.

The swordsman's heart had been pierced through his chest, and blood was flowing freely, but he still tried to stand up and struggle to grip his Nichirin Blade to continue fighting.

But as his strength gradually diminished, the swordsman could not do it no matter how hard he tried, and his consciousness became increasingly blurred.

"You're going to die."

Su Mu, who had been standing still, pondering whether to leave now and whether it was worth risking his life for such a group of people, was startled awake by the swordsman who had crashed down in front of him. Looking at the swordsman whose heart had been pierced, he spoke softly.

"dying!"

A very soft yet heavy voice came to the swordsman's ear, causing him to look down and notice the wound on his chest.

"I'm going to die!"

The swordsman murmured, realizing his own fate.

I'm so unwilling to accept this! There are so many things I didn't accomplish, so many regrets. The happiness I once had was destroyed by demons. I joined the Demon Slayer Corps to seek revenge, to eradicate evil demons, and to prevent others from suffering the same fate as me.

I tried my best and worked my hardest, but even at the cost of my life, I still accomplished nothing.

All the efforts came to nothing.

The sacrifice of lives made no difference.

Even so, it did not hinder Muzan Kibutsuji's progress. Not only was he going to die, but his comrades, the other swordsmen, and the respected 'Pillars' were all going to die at Muzan Kibutsuji's hands.

This ending is so unfair.

I'm so unhappy!

At this moment, the swordsman, who was indifferent to death, let out a painful and desperate cry.

"Is it really true that nothing can be changed? Is it really true that the evil spirits of this world cannot be eradicated?"

The swordsman's desperate murmur.

"You have done enough."

Su Mu crouched down slightly and looked at the swordsman whose breath was gradually weakening, speaking softly.

But still, nothing changes.

The swordsman cried out in anguish, "Sir, is it truly impossible to rid this world of evil spirits? Is it really impossible to rid it of them?"