Warning: Spoilers for Demon Slayer, Hashira Training Arc Episode #8

The Demon Slayer Hashira Training Arc finale has aired, opening the door for the manga’s final arc to be adapted. Many things happened in the packed episode, so many that some fans may have had trouble keeping it all straight. Here’s everything a fan needs to know about the Demon Slayer season finale.

Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc is the fourth season of the hit anime series, and adapts the penultimate arc of the manga, which focuses on the Hashira and their preparations for the final battle, training the lower-ranked demon slayers to be able to hold their own in battle. The anime expanded on the arc substantially, with a lot of original content that wasn’t in the manga focusing on certain Hashira. The arc also ensured that fans were familiar with each of the Hashira before their big roles in the final battle with Muzan Kibutsuji.

The finale opened with Muzan himself finally confronting Ubuyashiki, the leader and patron of the Demon Slayer Corps, face-to-face.

Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc’s Finale Sets the Stage for the Final Battle with Muzan

The Anime Gets Ready for the Final Arc

Muzan appeared at the Ubuyashiki mansion, having been able to locate it thanks to the demon Nakime, who used tiny little eyeball demons to spy on the demon slayers and find the whereabouts of their hideout. Muzan slowly approached Ubuyashiki, who was bedridden and unable to see him initially. Ubuyashiki had many words for Muzan, but the most important revealed that Muzan was once a member of the Ubuyashiki family himself, and that the family’s curse is derived from the creation of Muzan. Standing against Muzan has, quite literally, been the only thing keeping Ubuyashiki alive.

However, Ubuyashiki was prepared for Muzan to arrive, and laid a trap for him. The entire Ubuyashiki mansion was filled with explosives, and these explosives were lined with spiked caltrops to ensure that they inflicted maximum damage and slowed Muzan’s regeneration as much as possible. Ubuyashiki effectively sacrificed himself and his family to deal a massive blow to Muzan, hoping to weaken the villain before the Hashira showed up so as to give them the greatest shot at defeating him for good.

Following the explosion, Lady Tamayo appeared, carrying with her a special concoction known as the Anti-Kibutsuji drug, which she developed with Shinobu Kocho’s help. Lady Tamayo claims that the drug is capable of turning a demon back into a human, which Muzan claims is ridiculous. At the very least, the drug slowed down Muzan’s regeneration immensely after he absorbed it into himself. The Hashira arrived on the scene, with Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima dealing Muzan a powerful blow, decapitating him in one hit. Unfortunately, even weakened, Muzan was able to survive the decapitation.

Muzan then called on Nakime to open portals to the Infinity Castle, Muzan’s extradimensional base. Muzan, Tanjiro, the Hashira, and many other demon slayers were warped into the Infinity Castle suddenly, falling until they could land on something and regain their footing. The Infinity Castle will be the setting of the final battle, and Muzan ends with a challenge to Tanjiro, urging him to kill him if he can.

Inside the Infinity Castle are many dangerous threats, such as the surviving members of the Twelve Kizuki. The Hashira and Tanjiro will certainly have their hands full dealing with these villains, and they must be prepared for a fight unlike any other. With the stage set, the final battle between Demon Slayer‘s heroes and the demons is ready to begin in earnest when the series returns.