Chapter 140

The Final Battle Begins
The Final Battle Begins
Japanese	決戦の火蓋を切る
Rōmaji	Kessen no hibuta wo kiru
Chapter Information
Volume	16
Pages	22
Date Released	December 22nd, 2018
WSJ Issue	4/5, 2019
Arc	Infinity Castle Arc
Chapter Guide
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The Final Battle Begins (決 (けっ) 戦 (せん) の火 (ひ) 蓋 (ぶた) を切 (き) る, Kessen no hibuta wo kiru^?) is the one hundred and fortieth chapter of Koyoharu Gotoge's Kimetsu no Yaiba.

Summary

Giyu catches Tanjiro to save him from falling.

As he falls into the Infinity Castle, Tanjiro is confused by his surroundings; directions and gravity are mixed around and he wonders if the place is Muzan's Blood Demon Art. Knowing Tamayo will not be able to resist him for long, he resolves to take down Muzan as quickly as possible. He quickly sees the bottom of where he is falling and attempts to grab a ledge to save himself; though he fails, an arm successfully reaches him and pulls Tanjiro to safety, revealed to be Giyu. As he thanks his friend, a demon suddenly attempts to attack him, killed when he uses Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash.

Doors open from behind Tanjiro and a large horde of demons converges on them. As Tanjiro uses Water Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirlpool, Giyu uses Fourth Form: Striking Tide; together, they slaughter all the attacking demons in rapid succession. Afterwards, an unnerved Tanjiro remarks that Giyu is incredible, quickly knowing what form he would use just from his slight movement and coordinating an attack that wouldn't accidentally hit him, as Giyu regards him with an unimpressed expression. The two make their way through the castle.

Obanai lands down and is attacked by numerous demons, which he kills using Serpent Breathing, Fifth Form: Slithering Serpent; he demands they all stay away from Mitsuri, who is ecstatic to see him save her. When he asks if she is alright, Mitsuri can barely contain her joy when she answers, before they proceed through the Infinity Castle together. As Gyomei and Muichiro make their path, quickly cutting down any demon in their wake, Muichiro makes note of the sheer number of demons. Gyomei believes each demon is as powerful as a Lower Rank; the job of the numerous demons is to wear them down.

When Muichiro asks for Kagaya's status, Gyomei only tells him he had met a dignified end. Knowing Kagaya would have never let a demon get close, he asks the Stone Hashira if he had used himself as bait, to which Gyomei confirms he had. Accepting he knew he did not have long to live, the Mist Hashira remembers when Kagaya had visited him as he lay in bed following a demon's attack, never leaving his side; he had also done the same to other members of the Corps. Muichiro becomes enraged that Muzan not only took his brother but their father figure, promising to make him suffer before killing him, a sentiment the equally angry Gyomei agrees with.

A furious Sanemi grieves Kagaya's death.

Sitting by himself on a wooden platform, Sanemi laments his inability to save Kagaya; when a demon attacks him, he easily slashes it to pieces without looking. Numerous more appear and converge on him, but the tearful and furious Sanemi, grieving his master's death, demands they all come to him, promising to kill each one of them. Elsewhere, Inosuke makes his way through the castle, slaughtering any demon he encounters, which he sees as the perfect way to test his training. Genya makes his way through the endless halls, confused by his surroundings and wondering if everyone else and Sanemi is alright.

Zenitsu, after hearing something in the distance, wonders if Muzan is close by, promising to never forgive him. Shinobu, after walking through a hallway, suddenly smells blood. She opens a door and sees a demon surrounded by numerous bloody corpses. Doma, upon noticing he has a visitor, remarks that Shinobu appears young and tasty, promising to thank Nakime for making his night.

Characters in Order of Appearance

• Tanjiro Kamado
• Muzan Kibutsuji
• Tamayo
• Giyu Tomioka
• Obanai Iguro
• Mitsuri Kanroji
• Muichiro Tokito
• Gyomei Himejima
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki (Flashback)
• Amane Ubuyashiki (Flashback)
• Sanemi Shinazugawa
• Inosuke Hashibira
• Genya Shinazugawa
• Zenitsu Agatsuma
• Shinobu Kocho
• Doma

Events

• Tanjiro is accompanied by Giyu in the Infinity Castle.
• Obanai is accompanied by Mitsuri.
• Muichiro is accompanied by Gyomei.
• Inosuke, Genya, and Zenitsu all enter the Infinity Castle by themselves.
• Shinobu encounters Doma.