Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Must Solve This Mystery from the Manga

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Warning: This article contains spoilers from the Demon Slayer manga!

The manga series “Demon Slayer” reached its poignant end in 2020 following several emotionally charged scenes throughout the final storyline. Even though readers were aware of the outcome, it’s only now that the final arc is being unfolded, starting with the theatrical release of “Infinity Castle“. The battle against the Upper Moons and Muzan Kibutsuji was fierce, causing heavy casualties within the Demon Slayer Corps, nearing their total annihilation. Frustrated by the deaths of several Upper Moons, Muzan decided to eliminate the Corps completely. Following Kagaya’s explosion of his mansion, the Demon Slayers managed to corner the demon. However, little did they know that Nakime, the Biwa demon, would call upon all members within the Infinity Castle, trapping them without an escape route.

In the Sunrise Countdown Arc, the long-standing conflict of over a millennium between the Demon Slayer Corps and demons concluded with Muzan Kibutsuji’s demise. Although this brought about a more serene world to inhabit, it was at an immense cost as many Corps members made sacrifices to strive for a brighter tomorrow. Sadly, they didn’t get to witness the dawn of a demon-free world, as the fierce battle claimed nearly everyone, including most of the Hashira. Only Giyu Tomioka and Sanemi Shinazugawa survived, but their ultimate fate remained unanswered in the manga ending – an opening for the anime to fill in some blanks.

The Curse of the Demon Slayer Mark Is Still Unresolved

In the realm of Demon Slayer, there are mysterious powers bestowed upon demons and exceptional human abilities that often lack clear origins. It’s no wonder, then, that afflictions such as curses exist in this strange world. However, these curses unfortunately tend to strike those who are battling the demonic forces. For instance, the Hashira Training Arc revealed that the Ubuyashiki lineage is cursed due to their connection to Muzan. This curse causes the children of the family to pass away prematurely before they reach thirty years old.

Although the girls can avoid a tragic outcome by getting married and adopting their husband’s last names, the boys are destined for a prolonged suffering from an unusual sickness. However, it’s not only the Ubuyashiki family that is cursed, but Demon Slayers who have activated their mark, also face a dreadful affliction. The Hashira Training Arc didn’t delve into this aspect, yet Gyomei Himejima’s question at the meeting, “What awaits me?”, hinted at his awareness of this impending fate.

In the historical records, the true nature of the Demon Slayer‘s Marks has been shrouded in mystery, as anyone who activated it wouldn’t survive past the age of 25. When a person with such a mark emerges, it seems to trigger a domino effect, causing others around them to also awaken their marks. During the Sengoku period, there lived a man named Yoriichi Tsugikini, who was born with a mark. This, in turn, led everyone close to him to awaken their own marks. Remarkably, Yoriichi created the Sun Breathing Technique, and others developed their own variations, offering humans an unprecedented means of combat against demons.

Giyu and Sanemi Awakened Their Marks, But the Manga Never Revealed Their Fates

During the Sengoku period, often referred to as the Corps’ golden age, no one had awakened their Marks for approximately 500 years, until Tanjiro Kamado, a practitioner of the Sun Breathing Technique, re-joined the Corps. Consequently, all Hashira except Kyojuro Rengoku and Tengen Uzui experienced their Mark’s awakening. However, only Giyu and Sanemi managed to survive the ensuing battle. Interestingly, even though Gyomei was older than 25 when his Mark awoke, offering a glimmer of hope that the curse might be lifted, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries during the Sunrise Countdown Arc and took his last breath.

Although Giyu and Sanemi emerged victorious from the final battle, they were both 21 years old at that time. If the curse had persisted, they would have only four more years to live. Following Muzan’s demise, there was no need for the remaining Demon Slayers to continue wielding swords, so they parted ways once the Corps was disbanded and settled into ordinary lives. Tanjiro ultimately married Kanao Tsuyuri as he wouldn’t have been affected by the curse. However, we never got insight into Giyu and Sanemi’s later life events. Since the narrative skipped ahead to the epilogue in a future setting without depicting their deaths, this mystery remained unresolved.

Even though it seemed they wouldn’t survive, we can presume they died at age 25. However, Muzan’s death might have lifted the curse on the Ubuyashiki family, suggesting that the Mark’s curse may also have certain conditions. Although the curses differ in nature, there’s a possibility that Giyu and Sanemi could have broken it. Furthermore, Gyomei awakening his Mark implies that not everything we thought about it is accurate. The manga hasn’t explored this curse or its reasons in detail. The Infinity Castle trilogy is set to conclude the story, offering a chance to address these unresolved questions.

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2025-09-09 20:46