Chapter 198

The Next Thing We Knew... (けば) is the one hundred and ninety eighth chapter of Koyoharu Gotōge's Kimetsu no Yaiba.

Summary
Everyone prays for the success of those fighting Muzan Kibutsuji as Inosuke Hashibira and Zenitsu Agatsuma continue to attempt to hold the demon back. Inosuke performs a Beast Breathing: Fourth Fang - Slice 'n' Dice to chop off some of Muzan's whips as Zenitsu follows it up with a Thunder Breathing: First Form - Thunderclap and Flash Godspeed.

Zenitsu notes that he is losing his strength and he would only be able to muster one more attack with his full strength and unleashes a Thunder Breathing: Seventh Form - Hono Ikazuchi no Kami but it only produces a shallow cut in Muzan. Seeing that only a bright red blade could deal sufficient damage to Muzan, Zenitsu falls to the ground and Muzan slashes at him. Inosuke intercepts this attack with a Beast Breathing: Fifth Form - Crazy Cutting, following it up with a Third Form - Devour in rapid succession.

Muzan is enraged and unleashes a weaker shockwave from the mouth on his torso that flings Inosuke back. Before Muzan is able to do anything else however, Tanjiro Kamado intervenes and performs a Sun Breathing: Burning Bones, Summer Sun and rapidly performing Raging Sun, Fire Wheel, Beneficent Radiance and Dragon Sun Halo Head Dance. Noting that Muzan needs to allow his shockwaves to charge before using them, Tanjiro attempts to use a Solar but coughs up blood before he can attack and is bailed out from Muzan's counterattack by Inosuke who uses a Beast Breathing: Sixth Form - Palisade Bite.

Zenitsu remembers him mentor Jigoro Kuwajima and asks him to give him the kick he needs. Performing another Thunder Breathing: First Form - Thunderclap and Flash Zenitsu attacks Muzan but is aggravated by the fact that he is too slow as Inosuke and Tanjiro continue their combined onslaught on Muzan. Inosuke gets knocked back but Tanjiro is able to continue attacking Muzan with Sun Breathing, with some help from Zenitsu who takes a blow intended for Tanjiro to allow his friend to continue attacking.

Tanjiro manages to use successive forms of Sun Breathing to pin Muzan to a wall with Sun Breathing: Sunflower Thrust. He is unable to perform more techniques as the mouth on Muzan's chest attempts to take his blade. Suddenly, Mitsuri Kanroji grabs Muzan's left arm and rips it clean off his body in anger. Sanemi Shinazugawa appears and quickly chops off Muzan's right arm as well.

Undeterred, Muzan opens his mouth wide, going from his torso to the top of his head and attempts to eat Tanjiro with it. However, Obanai Iguro steps in and takes the bite instead, protecting Tanjiro as dawn begins to break.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Inosuke Hashibira
 * Muzan Kibutsuji
 * Zenitsu Agatsuma
 * Tanjiro Kamado
 * Jigoro Kuwajima (flashback)
 * Mitsuri Kanroji
 * Sanemi Shinazugawa
 * Obanai Iguro

Events

 * Mitsuri, Sanemi, and Obanai return to battle.
 * Dawn begins to break.