Episode 32

Akaza (猗窩座) is the 32nd episode of the Kimetsu no Yaiba TV anime series, and the 6th episode of its second season.

Synopsis
Tanjiro successfully decapitates Enmu, and despite a final attempt to kill the passengers, he manages to save everyone onboard the Mugen Train. Heavily injured, he attempts to rest and heal. But in the calm after the battle, a new and even more powerful danger arrives, threatening everyone.

Plot
After Tanjiro successfully beheads Enmu, the demon's flesh falls off the cars but the Lower Moon's screams cause the Mugen train to derail at high speed. A sudden impact causes Tanjiro, Inosuke and the unconscious conductor to be flung into the air, Tanjiro desperately attempting to save him. The train flies off the tracks and skids down the ground, as Tanjiro himself rolls helplessly through the dirt. Inosuke safely lands on Enmu's soft flesh and runs to his comrade. Though he answers back, Tanjiro realises the wound to his stomach and from rolling across the ground will stop him from moving.

Tanjiro asks if the conductor and passengers are safe, to which Inosuke responds the conductor is pinned by his legs under the cars, refusing to help while he's still angry at him. Tanjiro begs him, saying he has already atoned for stabbing him by likely never being able to walk again, to which Inosuke finally relents and moves to help the man. As Tanjiro lies down, believing Nezuko, Zenitsu and Kyojuro are safe, a small conscious piece of Enmu's flesh crawls out the wreckage. Slowly disintegrating, he curses himself for being unable to eat even one of the 200 passengers, then pins the blame on the Flame Hashira, having thwarted his plan to devour them while fused with the train. He curses Zenitsu, who held him at bay while still asleep and becomes bewildered at the demon like Nezuko stopping him as well. He crawls towards the Demon Slayer who defeated him, while musing it was Tanjiro in the first place who ruined his plan, as well as Inosuke and his excellent intuition. As his flesh begins to fade, he laments only the Lower Moons get killed whilst the Uppers stay alive for centuries. In his final moments, Enmu begs for another chance while being terrified at the nightmare that is his death, as Lower One finally falls.

Tanjiro is suddenly met by Kyojuro, who commends him for mastering Total Concentration, Constant. He tells him Constant is the first of many steps to being a Hashira and advices him to increase his control and breathing precision. Kyojuro tells him a blood vessel in his abdomen is torn, assisting him in internally stopping the blood. The Hashira tells him he will be stronger than he was yesterday, then adds that none of the passengers are injured, to Tanjiro's relief.

Suddenly, a blast erupts from behind them. As Kyojuro and Tanjiro look behind, a figure emerges from the dust cloud. Tanjiro reads the figure's eyes kanjis and becomes horrified he is staring at Upper Moon Three. The demon looks at Tanjiro and disappears, rushing forward to kill him. Kyojuro reads the attack and slashes the demon's arm with Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun. The demon flips back and heals the slash in moments, while complimenting his blade. Kyojuro asks why the demon would attack the injured first, to which he responds he was worried Tanjiro would get in the middle of their chat. Kyojuro retaliates by stating despite having just met, he already dislikes him. Upper Three states he is simply disgusted by the weak. Upper Three then proposes he transform into a demon too, to which Kyojuro refuses.

He asks for Kyojuro's name, to which he then introduces himself as Akaza. He tries to goad him again, telling him as a demon, he could train and become stronger for centuries to come. Tanjiro notices the scent he emits is by far the strongest of Muzan he's faced thus far. Kyojuro tells Akaza that growing old and dying is part of being human, telling him strength is not just about the body. He retorts that Tanjiro isn't weak and refuses again to become a demon. Angered at his refusal, Akaza activates his Blood Demon Art, a glowing aura called Technique Deployment, Destructive Death: Compass Needle. As he prepares for to fight, Akaza tell Kyojuro his refusal will only lead to his demise.

He rushes forward and strikes, while Kyojuro parries his numerous blows and returns the attacks, the clash can't be followed by Tanjiro, now too slow to see the battle. Akaza taunts him by mentioning none of the Hashira he killed ever took his offer, confused at why. Kyojuro manages to slice his arm but Akaza regrows it in only moments. Akaza leaps into the air and uses Air Type, sending numerous shockwaves at the Hashira. Kyojuro blocks the incoming assault with Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blood Flame Undulation. Realising a battle at range will prove tricky, Kyojuro rushes towards Akaza and narrowly catches his neck. Akaza, unfazed, continues his numerous bloods while taunting Kyojuro that his skills will be wasted if he dies. Inosuke sees the confrontation while Tanjiro attempts to stand, but Kyojuro orders them not to interfere.

Kyojuro knocks Akaza into a nearby forest and manages to slash his arm again, Akaza violently kicks him back in response, sending the Hashira hard into the dirt. He tries again to goad Kyojuro to transform, healing his sliced arm instant. Kyojuro refuses again and leaps into the air, using Flame Breathing, Third Form: Blazing Universe. Akaza dodges and commends him for his spirit, launching another Air Type wave and narrowing missing him. Inosuke, watching the battle, realizes the two are on a different dimension and himself joining the clash will only result in his death. Akaza continues to try and get to Kyojuro but he refuses once again. The Upper Moon starts to make contact, first cutting Kyojuro's forehead with the side of his punch. Kyojuro speeds forward and twist his body into a Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire. The attack slices both of Akaza's arm but he heals instantly and continues his assault. He suddenly strikes the Hashira with a punch directly to the side. Kyojuro staggers back in pain but continues to fight back, using a Rising Sun slash to catch his arms again. Akaza dodges the slice and punches directly at Kyojuro's face. Though his sword blocks his fist, Akaza pushes and his hand slips off and hits Kyojuro's eye, rupturing it.

Kyojuro presses on and uses Flame Breathing: Blazing Universe and Blooming Flame Undulation in succession, in the hope he hits Akaza. The demon steps back to safety and takes another stance. Kyojuro then uses Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger, releasing the fiery strike at the Upper Moon. Akaza responds with Disorder, striking the infernal attack and rushes Kyojuro with another punch. Kyojuro enters the clash and slashes his arm. Once the fire dissipates, Inosuke wonders if Kyojuro had succeeded. Bleeding from his wounds, the Hashira stands and breathes heavily, whereas Akaza instantly heals his sliced arm and rises up. Tanjiro refuses to believe what he sees, a wounded, exhausted and weary Kyojuro Rengoku.

Akaza confront Kyojuro and tells him not to die while they fight, as Tanjiro and Inosuke helplessly look on.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Tanjiro Kamado
 * Inosuke Hashibira
 * Enmu
 * Kyojuro Rengoku
 * Zenitsu Agatsuma
 * Nezuko Kamado
 * Akaza