Kimetsu no Yaiba focuses on Tanjiro Kamado and his quest to return his sister Nezuko to normal. He also shares the goal of assassinating Muzan Kibutsuji with the Demon Hunters, and the fights against Muzan and his Upper Moons are the most relevant in the series. With that in mind, it's time to sort out the most exciting fights in the manga.
Zenitsu Vs. Kaigaku
Both Zenitsu and Kaigaku received training in Lightning Breath by Jigoro Kuwajima and became their potential successors. However, Kaigaku's arrogance and frustration when compared to Zenitsu, whom he considered weaker than him, ends up pushing him to become a demon. The news causes Jigoro to commit suicide because "Lightning Breath has raised a demon," and both events cause a profound change in Zenitsu.
Inside the Infinite Dimensional Fortress, Kaigaku insults the late Jigoro, causing the wrath of Zenitsu, who returns the offense. Quite different from his usual timid demeanor, Zenitsu is confident and determined to fight when he uses his speed in a new move, "Lightning Breath - Seventh Posture: God of Thunder on Fire," which ultimately defeats his old friend. The battle ends with a poignant moment in limbo, where Zenitsu apologizes to Jigoro, who expresses how proud he is of him before Zenitsu is revived.
Shinobu, Kanao and Inosuke Vs. Doma
This two-part fight against Dressage begins with Shinobu Kochou, the Insect Pillar, who attacks using a variety of poisons in an attempt to assassinate the one who in the past killed his sister, Kanae. Although she was defeated and devoured by the demon Dressage, her sacrifice was not in vain at all. Kanao, who arrives just to see Shonobu die, uses her Breath of the Flower, but the Dressage Demonic Arts are too much for her, until Inosuke appears to help.
In addition to having killed Shinobu and his sister, Dressage reveals that he also murdered Inosuke's mother by recognizing the similarities in their looks. Kanao and Inosuke, with their burning desire for revenge and their feelings of loss, which Doma admits not being able to feel. They eventually defeat him, because Shinobu infused his body with poison, which, being devoured by Doma, incapacitated him to fight and he was finally beheaded.
Rengoku Vs. Akaza
The showdown itself is a wonderful exposition of Kyojuro Rengoku's Breath of the Fugue and the Demonic Arts of Akaza, but what makes this match stand out is rather the showdown between two ideals. Akaza acknowledges that Rengoku is powerful and tries to convince him to become a demon instead of being killed. Still, the Pilar del Fugo refuses, mentioning, "getting old and dying is what gives meaning and beauty to the fleeting life of man."
Although the fight ends with the death of Rengoku and Akaza escaping dawn, Tanjiro makes sure to let Akaza know that the victory is, in fact, Rengoku's. The Pillar dared to fight to the end, saving everyone regardless of his inevitable weakness as a human, while Akaza's fear of the sun forced him to retreat. Rengoku's death and his final words deeply affect Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu, which served as a turning point in the lives of young demon hunters.
Yoriichi Vs. Muzan Kibutsuji
The fight between Yoriichi and Muzan takes place hundreds of years before the events of the manga, but it is one of the most shocking in the series, as the most powerful swordsman is seen facing the father of demons. Yoriichi uses his Breath of the Sun and his ability to quickly uncover his weak points, allowing him to see his opponent's blood flow, muscles, and joint movement, to quickly reduce Muzan. However, Muzan breaks his body into pieces small enough to escape.
Although Yoriichi and Muzan survive their confrontation, the impact that was left on each was lasting. Tanjiro experiences an inherited memory, allowing him to learn about Yoriichi's story through the life of his ancestor Sumiyoshi. Yoriichi explains that he believes he was born with exceptional strength to defeat Muzan, and the idea that the demon is still alive bothers him. Moved by Yoriichi's sadness, Tanjiro makes the most of this experience, memorizing everything he can for his next confrontation.
Hunters Vs. Muzan Kibutsuji
As the still-surviving Demon Hunters struggle to keep the Demon Father busy until the sun rises, we see everyone go beyond their limits. In addition to learning from the fight between Yoriichi and Muzan, Tanjiro also inherited the memory of the movements of the Breath of the Sun. Although this improves their use of the technique, both Muzan and Tanjiro realize that it is not at the same level as Yoriichi. Fortunately, as Tanjiro begins to sequence all the positions of the Breath of the Sun in sequence, the Pillars also give their all to defeat Muzan
The waves of attacks by the Demon Hunters, combined with the multiple poisons administered by Tamayo, the demon investigator who fights on the side of humanity, finally begin to affect Muzan. His regenerative abilities slow down considerably and eventually his scars from his confrontation with Yoriichi appear. While the fight brought with it a heavy price to pay as many lost lives and Tanjiro briefly becoming a demon, they were all able to keep Muzan in custody long enough for the sun to finish him off.
Source: CBR
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