Demon Slayer is famously known for humanizing its demonic characters, which is one of the core strengths of the anime series. It doesn’t just place the emotional burden on Tanjiro and his sister alone but also on the antagonists. This connects viewers to more than just the main characters in the series.
The story of Daki and Gyutaro, two upper-rank demons, is particularly interesting. They were both powerful demons that proved fearsome for Tanjiro, his two comrades, Inosuke and Zenitsu, and a hashira, Tengen Uzui. The strong bond between Daki and Gyutaroand how they protect each other is a true reflection of how Tanjiro also goes to the limit to protect Nezuko from harm. However, Demon Slayer has used a particular demon to show how some demons sought after the very thing they lust for as humans, thus making them a little bit humane.
The Greatest Thorn In Tanjiro's Path So Far
Tanjiro faced a swamp demon in the first season as a result of the missing teenage girls, the demon siblings, Daki and Gyutaro; Enmu, the sleep whisperer, and many others. Rui, a lower-ranking demon, is his most formidable foe. Rui's twisted personality and emotional nuance, which most demons lack, make him formidable. Rui desired something far more important than bloodlust: a family. He has a calm demeanor with a hidden annoyance for humans.
Rui craves a family, so he creates one out of demons, which he abuses and discards when they fail to fulfill their roles. Rui was always sick when he was a kid. His parents brought him to Muzan Kibutsuji (the maker of all demons) for healing, but he instead turned him into a demon. His parents saw him devouring a human and, realizing their error, plan to murder him in his sleep. Rui killed them before they could complete their mission, and Muzan convinced him that he was now a higher power, and humans were the least of his concerns. From there, he became a demon who believes his parents despise him for what he'd become, he formed his own demon family.
What Makes Rui Formidable
Rui was the first demon Tanjiro sympathized with from the start. A demon who hangs on the balance of 'what if?'. Nezuko has her brother, who is a key figure in keeping her bloodlust at bay. Rui's fate might have been different if he had a familial bond with someone. The backstories or rationale of the fighters are one of the few things that add splendor to the fight sequence in almost all shonen anime. The fight between Obito and Kakashi in Naruto is an example of this. Tanjiro and Rui's fight is more intense than any of his battles against other demons. It was a far more emotional fight than Tanjiro's battle with the upper demons.
Tanjiro with Tengen Uzui and his teammates face off against Daki and Gyutaro quickly in the Entertainment District arc, instantly turns into a war. Most viewers would undoubtedly prefer that the siblings be removed from the picture, but Rui appeared to be a more likable character. Tanjiro faced his toughest challenge in the Natagumo Mountain arc at the hands of Rui. If it is the most difficult challenge with his teammates, that would most likely be Daki and Gyutaro. The fight against Daki and Gyutarowas more of a collective effort.
However, Tanjiro's fight against Rui was a one-on-one combat. Rui's attack style, in addition to his flimsy emotion, makes him extremely dangerous. Rui has the spider attribute, being blind as a bat but with enhanced senses. He primarily attacks Tanjiro with a wide-range attack, making it difficult to even get him into close combat. His blood demon art technique allows him to feel the vibrations of his foes in his threads, which aids his swift movement.
Tanjiro unlocks his most important power level yet, the Hinokami Kagura, but it is insufficient to kill Rui, the spider demon. Tanjiro could not defeat Rui until a hashira interfered and finish the battle. Following the developments of the first season, Tanjiro engaged in a lengthy battle with the two siblings, Daki and Gyutaro. The fight against the demon siblings was brutal because they had to kill both simultaneously. Because of their unique abilities, their powers and tricks were unknown—how are there two demons when there should be one? However, once the secret of the demon siblings was revealed, death was only a matter of time.
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