Who Dies in the Battle to Defeat Muzan?

Demon Slayers has fought its way to the big screen.

The hit Japanese anime franchise originated with Koyoharu Gotouge’s popular manga series, which ran from 2016 to 2020 and was compiled into 23 total volumes, according to the Los Angeles Times. It follows a young boy named Tanjiro Kamado who journeys to become a demon slayer after a demon slaughters his family and turns his sister into a fanged beast.

A year before the final chapter in the manga was released, it was adapted into the series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba that ran for four seasons and spawned three movies.

Collider reported in December 2024 that the franchise had announced the final installment of Tanjiro’s story: a three-film trilogy that started with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle.

The film, released on Sept. 12, featured back-to-back bloody battles as Tanjiro and the Demon Slayer Corps fight to defeat the ruthless demon king Muzan Kibutsuji. Sadly, many of these showdowns between demons and demon slayers resulted in the loss of some franchise favorites.

Though a scene continues into the credits, there is no post-credit scene teasing what’s to come.

Here’s everything to know about the ending of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle, including who dies.

How did Demon Slayer end?

Set after the events of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba season 4 finale (which included the devastating loss of Kagaya Ubuyashiki), the demon slayers undergo some of the most intense fights of their lives in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle.

As they work to reach Muzan, who is largely absent from this film, the demon slayers fight in three major battles while navigating the ever-changing layout of the Infinity Castle. Not everyone survives, and both the demon slayers and the powerful team of demons known as the Twelve Kizuki have to say goodbye to some of their strongest fighters.

What happened to Zenitsu?

Kaigaku, a former demon slayer-turned-Twelve Kizuki member, battles one-on-one against Zenitsu. Seeing as how he was once Zenitsu’s senior disciple, this fight is personal, and the sense of betrayal fuels Zenitsu to take Kaigaku down.

At the end, Zenitsu beheads Kaigaku by using his new Seventh Form, Honoikazuchi no Kami. Though decapitation is not always enough to kill a powerful demon, it works to end Kaigaku in this instance.

What happened to Akaza?

After infamously killing the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, Kizuki demon soldier Akaza faces both Tanjiro and Giyu Tomioka. Unlike Kaigaku, Akaza is still able to fight even after he’s been beheaded, but long-buried memories of when he was a human stop him in his tracks.

Suddenly. Akaza becomes overwhelmed with sorrow and guilt and chooses to sacrifice himself so he can be with his loved ones.

What happened to Shinobu?

Sadly, the Kizukis aren’t the only ones who suffered a loss in Infinity Castle. Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, fights one-on-one with Doma, the demon who killed her sister Kanae, the former Flower Hashira.

Though Shinobu gives it her all in this deeply personal fight, she’s not physically strong enough to take her enemy down. Even her poisonous breathing techniques fail to work as Domo has adapted his body to resist her toxic air. He eventually absorbs her.

Will there be a Demon Slayer sequel?

Yes, there will be a Demon Slayer sequel. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle was the first of three films in this series, and the official release date for the next installment hasn’t been announced.