Demon Slayer’s Finale Outshines Most Shonen in One Key Way & It’s Often Overlooked

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Warning: This article contains spoilers from the Demon Slayer manga! It’s been more than five years since Koyoharu Gotouge’s Weekly Shonen Jump series, Demon Slayer, finished. The manga was already quite popular, but it became even more so after the anime adaptation came out in 2019. In 2020, at the height of its success, it reached its ending, which proved to be divisive. Although the initial negative reactions have faded, many fans don’t feel the ending lived up to the series’ potential. The story concluded with the Infinity Castle Arc, which Ufotable is now adapting into a three-part movie. The first movie has already been released worldwide and has become the highest-grossing anime film ever, surpassing the previous Infinity Train film’s record.

The Infinity Castle Arc has many exciting and sad scenes, but the biggest disagreements among fans start in the Sunrise Countdown Arc, when the Demon Slayers finally battle Muzan Kibutsuji. This demon leader has been frightening people in Japan for over a thousand years, and the Corps sacrifices everything to try and defeat him. The Demon Slayers who made it through the tough fights in the Infinity Castle were already tired and hurt, but they found the strength to keep going and finally stop Muzan. Although the ending isn’t flawless, it’s definitely not disappointing, and there’s one often overlooked detail about the villain that proves why.

Muzan’s Defeat Was Thanks to an Ancient Demon

Shonen series often follow a predictable formula when dealing with the main villain. Villains typically get defeated through sudden power boosts fueled by anger, the strength of friendship, or anything that highlights the protagonist’s abilities. It’s common for Shonen protagonists to be young, yet they consistently overcome villains who have lived for decades, or even centuries. For instance, in Bleach, Ichigo Kurosaki unlocked his hidden potential with help from his father, which was enough to weaken Sosuke Aizen so that Kisuke Urahara could contain him. This happened even though Aizen was essentially invincible to the members of the 13 Court Guard Squads, many of whom had lived for centuries.

However, Demon Slayer takes a unique approach to dealing with its incredibly powerful final villain. The true hero of the main battle wasn’t the Demon Slayers themselves, but an ancient demon named Tamayo. Working with Shinobu Kocho and Yushiro, she developed a four-part drug intended to weaken him sufficiently for the Demon Slayers to finish him off. Each of the four stages was specifically created to negate the villain’s powers. The first stage, designed to turn him human, didn’t work because Muzan managed to counteract it by stalling for time throughout the Infinity Castle Arc. This failure activated the remaining three stages, including the biological aging stage, which caused him to age at an accelerated rate. In just three hours, Muzan aged 9,000 years, significantly diminishing his abilities.

The third stage stopped him from falling apart and escaping, something he’d done when he fought Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Tamayo watched everything happen, and it allowed her to break free from Muzan’s control. She then spent five hundred years trying to destroy him. The fourth and last stage activated once the first three stages had weakened him. This stage broke down his body at a cellular level, severely limiting his ability to heal and making him vulnerable to damage from Nichirin swords. This was the crucial final step in defeating Muzan, allowing the Demon Slayers to finally restrain him until sunrise. While the Demon Slayers’ bravery and sacrifices were vital, none of it would have been possible without the drug Tamayo created.

Demon Slayer’s Strongest Character Had a Profound Impact in the Main Fight

Yoriichi Tsugikuni was a swordsman from the Sengoku Era, and his actions significantly impacted the Demon Slayer Corps. His battle with Muzan led to Tamayo’s freedom and the creation of a vital drug. Furthermore, the injuries Yoriichi inflicted on Muzan continued to bother him, eventually becoming his vulnerabilities. Muzan, a powerful demon with five brains and seven hearts, was nearly impossible to defeat – even decapitation with a Nichirin sword wouldn’t kill him. Therefore, Tanjiro utilized his Transparent World ability to exploit these weaknesses and harm Muzan. Yoriichi spent his life regretting his inability to kill Muzan, unaware that his efforts would one day be so crucial to the Demon Slayer Corps.

Demon Slayer Has Some of the Best Side Characters in Shonen

Thanks to the combined work of Tamayo, Yushiro, and Yoriichi, along with the sacrifices of the Demon Slayer Corps, everyone was able to enjoy a brighter, more peaceful future. The story’s ending wasn’t about showcasing the main character, but rather the outcome of a team effort that finally stopped the demons’ reign of terror. From the Hashira and Tanjiro’s friends, to the Ubuyashiki family and even the lesser-known members of the Demon Slayer Corps, everyone made a memorable impact on the audience.

Besides the main characters and the Hashira, the lower-ranked Demon Slayers weren’t powerful enough to effectively fight the Upper Moons or Muzan. Therefore, they bravely used themselves as shields to protect the Hashira, allowing the stronger Slayers to continue battling. At the same time, the Hashira each engaged at least one Upper Moon before confronting Muzan. Many, including Tamayo and Kagaya Ubuyashiki, willingly sacrificed themselves for the sake of others.

The characters’ teamwork and resolve allowed them to achieve what seemed impossible. Throughout the intense battles in Demon Slayer, the story didn’t solely focus on the main character; it gave attention to all characters, no matter how big or small their part. Though the manga’s ending wasn’t perfect, it’s these small details that make it stand out among other Shonen series. Often missed, the finale’s greatest strength will probably be more fully understood once the anime completes its adaptation of the manga.

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2025-10-05 21:12