Michikatsu Tsugikuni in the Taisho Era

Chapter 16: The Infinity Castle

Muzan was incredibly quick he went to hunt more lower ranked slayers to regain his stamina and strength.  He was standing on where he massacred more slayers, most of them are missing limbs because he already consumed them. "Moon breathing, third form.. Loathsome moon, chains!" Michikatsu managed to land a hit on Muzan but Muzan regeneration is so.. fast.. is this the power of the demon progenitor? "Don't be like you're annoying brother Kokushibo. You're weaker than him. There is no way you can defeat me." Muzan stretched his arms deforming them in a blade like that could kill anything. 

"He is right.. it seems in the future Yoriichi will confront this man..  and the way how he badmouths him and continuously talking about turning me into a demon.. is he trying to spite my brother?! not to mention if Yoriichi can defeat this man then I can at least stall him until the others arrives..!" Michikatsu began piecing things together what will happen in the future. But now's not the time, he took a deep breath and concentrated and entered the 'see through' world which was the transparent world. "What in the world..? Seven hearts? five brains?! what exactly is he?!" It sent Michikatsu down his spine but he knew he must not falter. 

Muzan's attacks were truly fast. But Michikatsu can still manage, he can hear the walls are being sliced nearby as he was trying to get closer. "Moon breathing.. sixth form. Perpetual night, lonely moon!" Most of Muzan's attacks were deflected, it was meant to create an opening so Michikatsu can dash through and go for the neck. Michikatsu managed to get Muzan's neck and quickly sliced it... But the moment he did Muzan regenerated TOO QUICK. 

"I see what you're trying to do now." Muzan quickly used one of his arms to attack Michikatsu. The moon hashira struggled a bit trying to figure out Muzan's weak point until he remembered what Ubuyashiki said. 

"The only way to destroy Muzan.. is the sun. You must stall him until sunrise.."

 But the problem is.. this huge fortress.. can the sunlight even reach here? 

Muzan continued to attack. The range gotten higher now and is more lethal. Michikatsu still have the strength to cut them through but each time he cuts them they regenerate just a second later. "I won't last long.. if no one arrives I'm definitely gonna die here..!" Michikatsu still continued to fight until all of a sudden Muzan finally got the upper hand. He wrapped Michikatsu with his arms very tightly so Michikatsu wouldn't be able to break free.

"Ngghh.." Michikatsu started to feel like hes being squeezed as if being crushed. "Since Kokushibo died recently. And you're here.. maybe you can replace him.." Michikatsu's eyes widened in shock. That doesn't make any sense.. he is from the past but how does this work exactly? "I must thank Kira for bringing his past self but it seems you're not the same as I known him centuries ago..so I assume.. I must erase your memories." Muzan deformed his stretched arm back to normal raising his hand. "This time.. if we fight side by side.. the hashiras will definitly fall."  Michikatsu eyes widened even more and he was overfilled with fear and despair. He tried to struggle but it futile. He couldn't swing his sword it wrapped very tightly.. "You are my biggest treasure Michikatsu. It pains me to know my strongest demon falling by a bunch of weaklings. If only he did not retain his humanity he would've already crushed them." Muzan was about to plant one of his fingers on Michikatsu's neck. 

"MUZAN KIBUTSUJI!" 

Muzan recognized the scream and turned around. Met with the same boy with hanafuda earring and.. a hashira. "Persistent. The way how all of you persist bothers me. Stop with the 'vengeance' or anything because of the death of your loved ones." Muzan knows this will not end so he decided to finish the job by himself. "Shouldn't all of you be lucky and just live on? Like the natural disasters, no one seek vengeance against it. The earthquakes, the hurricanes, the volcano eruptions. No one seek revenge against those natural disasters. and they continued to live on. Shouldn't you do the same?" 

Tanjiro was boiled with anger and hatred. "How could you..? can't you tell the difference of natural disasters AND MURDERS?" Michikatsu yelled. Muzan then realized. "Ah yes I was about to turn you into a demon. Hold still." Muzan raised his hand attempting to plant them on Michikatsu's head until suddenly. "Water breathing!" "Hinokami kagura!"

Muzan quickly jumped away. Irritated the swordsmen continuing to stop him. "I won't let you turn Michikatsu into a demon Muzan!" Tanjiro continued to approach Muzan until suddenly he got hit on one of his eyes. "Tanjiro..!" Michikatsu yelled.

Giyuu quickly dashed to save Tanjiro. "Tsk. Can three pillars do that to keep me until sunrise?" Tanjiro, Giyuu and Michikatsu's eyes widened.. the others died? "The female and the black and white stripped haori hashira. Are both dead. My subordinate killed them."

Muzan chuckled. Tanjiro continued to stand up and fight until he accidently hit his head on a wall. He couldn't focus but suprisingly.. Mitsuri bumped into the wall and.. Iguro! they are safe!.

"What the..? what is the meaning of this Nakime? Nakime?!" Muzan continued to try to speak with Nakime until he realized.. she was controlled by someone else. It Yushiro! Tamayo's helper. "You've done the biggest sin in the world Muzan and this time today is your downfall!" Yushiro still griefs with Tamayo's death. Muzan decided to fight Yushiro's manipulation back in order to get Nakime's conscious back. He was soon interrupted by two hashiras coming at him. "Water Breathing!" "Serpent breathing!"

Thanks to the two hashiras Michikatsu broke free. However the rooms changed again and now everyone began to fall. Muzan clinched his fist as a way to.. kill Nakime. And because of her death the fortress will soon collapse. "Damn it! I have to try to send everyone out safely! I must do this quick before her cells disintegrate." Yushiro continues to manipulate Nakime's powers.

Thankfully everyone got out.. but.. they were transported.. in a city?! 

"This is awful.. They were transported to the city! and Muzan is here! hes on the surface now!"