Highlights

  • The death of Upper-Rank demons Gyokko and Hantengu creates a crisis for the Twelve Kizuki and the Demon King, who must find replacements for his trusted subordinates.
  • Nezuko's ability to conquer the sun makes her a target for Muzan, as it could lead to his conquest of immortality.
  • Genya and Sanemi's complicated relationship, stemming from the tragic death of their mother, will be explored further as they meet again in the upcoming installment.

The Swordsmith Village Arc is a pivotal component of the Demon Slayer lore, which primarily focuses on the drama that unfolds when Upper-Rank Five Gyokko and Upper-Rank Four Hantengu attack the fabled village. The battle that unfolds has far-reaching consequences that shape the centuries-old human-demon conflict in complex ways.

Demon Slayer Hantengu
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While there are reasons for the extravaganza, there are also concerns for Tanjiro and the entire Demon Slayer Corps. With Muzan eager to grasp immortality and achieve his dreams of world domination, the stakes have never been so high. Here's how the Swordsmith Village Arc sets things up for the future installments of Demon Slayer.

6 The Void Left Behind By Gyokko And Hantengu

The death of two Upper-Rank demons destabilizes Twelve Kizuki

gyokko-body

Upper-Rank FiveGyokko and Upper-Rank FourHantengu were both important members of the Twelve Kizuki. During the battle in the Swordsmith Village, they are killed by the heroic efforts of Muichiro, Tanjiro, Mitsuri, Genya, and Nezuko. All of a sudden, the Twelve Kizuki face an unexpected crisis. After Gyuutaro and Daki's death, Muzan had called an emergency meeting of the Upper-Rank demons. This illustrates that Gyokko and Hantengu's loss will be even more disappointing for the Demon King.

Muzan will now have to look for someone to replace the two demons. One good candidate for promotion is Nakemi, the biwa-playing demon who controls the Infinity Castle. But as of now, even Gyuutaro and Daki's Upper-Rank Six position has also not been filled. It would be interesting to see how the Demon King will find replacements for three of his trusted subordinates who had served him for decades.

5 The Consequences Of Nezuko Conquering The Sun

Nezuko's triumph could invite trouble

Nezuko Kamado (Demon Slayer)

In the Swordsmith Village arc, Nezuko manages to conquer the sun and can walk outdoors freely during the daytime. She even manages to speak for the first time since she was turned into a demon. Muzan and his subordinates have one common weakness, and that is their inability to withstand sunlight.

Nezuko Muzan Demon Slayer Featured
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Now that Nezuko has displayed resistance to the sun, the Demon King will be excited to finally conquer his weakness and take a consequential step toward immortality.

4 Genya And Sanemi's Complicated Relationship

The Shinazugawa Siblings face an uncertain future

Demon Slayer Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa

Genya and Sanemi Shinazugawa share a complicated relationship. In the Swordsmith Village Arc, it is revealed that the duo had lost their father at a young age. Their mother, Shizu Shinazugawa, made countless sacrifices to raise Genya, Sanemi, and their siblings. Life was tough, but it turned into a nightmare when one evening Shizu returned home turned into a demon by Muzan. She ended up attacking her children, killing everyone on the spot except for Genya and Sanemi. Although the brothers survived, their relationship turned sour as the former denounced the latter as a murderer for killing their mother, only to realize later that Sanemi was trying to protect everyone.

Sanemi was never the same after the tragic night and became bitter and cruel towards Genya. He would go to extreme lengths to avoid calling him his brother. Genya, on the other hand, has realized his mistake and is desperate to make amends. Now that Hashiras are going to train other demon slayers in the upcoming installment, the brothers will finally meet, but knowing the conflicted nature of their relationship, things may not end well for Genya.

3 Muichiro Tokito And Mitsuri Kanroji's Role In Demon Slayer Corps

Mist and Love Hashira must help their peers unlock Demon Slayer Mark

Muichiro-the-Mist-Hashira-Demon-Slayer-Swordsmith-Village-Arc-1

When the Swordsmith Village is suddenly targeted by Gyokko and Hantengu, panic ensues as it is expected to be a perfect hideout for swordsmiths, who are the backbone of the Demon Slayer Corps. Thankfully, Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito and Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji are already there and fight a dangerous battle against the Upper-Rank demons with Tanjiro and Genya's in protecting the villagers. In the process, the duo ends up awakening their Demon Slayer Marks, which gives them access to enhanced strength, vitality, and speed.

Interestingly, Muichiro and Mitsuri are the first Hashiras of their generation to achieve this extraordinary feat. The Demon Slayer Mark allows the users to tap into extraordinary abilities that push even the strongest demons to their limits. These advantages are critical in the context of the centuries-long struggle against Muzan and his underlings.

Now that demon slayers can potentially achieve the pinnacle of their powers during life-threatening situations, the battle against demons suddenly does not seem so hopeless. Therefore, Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito and Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji now have a crucial role to play in helping their peers learn about the Demon Slayer Mark and understanding how to awaken them when the situation arises.

2 Zenitsu And Inosuke's Return

Tanjiro is all set to reunite with his friends

Demon Slayer anime Tanjiro Kamado Nezuko Kamado Zenitsu Agatsuma Inosuke Hashibira

When Tanjiro decided to head to the Swordsmith Village to convince Haganezuka to smith a new Nichrin sword for him, he did not have his friends Inosuke and Zenitsu accompanying him. So far, the trio has embarked on various adventures that have strengthened their bond. This was the first instance where Tanjiro fought a life-threatening battle with the members of the Twelve Kizuki without his friends. While it has allowed Tanjiro to grow as a demon slayer, Inosuke and Zenitsu probably learned a lot as well on their respective missions.

Demon Slayer- INosuke and Zenitsu
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Now that the Hashira training is all organized, the Demon Slayers will be asked to report to the headquarters. This means that the trio will reunite once again. Zenitsu and Inosuke are falling behind as Tanjiro has already awakened his Demon Slayer Mark, so it will be interesting to witness how the duo work to catch up with their friend.

1 Here Comes Upper Moon One

Kokushibo's powerful debut sets things up for the Final Battle Arc

kokushibo-upper-one

When Demon King finally invites his underlings for an emergency meeting after 113 years, fans are finally introduced to the Upper-Rank One Kokushibo. This intimidating demon threatens Akaza and leaves a deep impression on his debut. Kokushibo is one of the most powerful demons in existence, second only to the Demon King, Muzan.

Kokushibo used to be a skilled swordsman in the Sengoku era, and has centuries of combat experience, which makes him very lethal. He is now all set to play a crucial role in the upcoming arcs, and it will be interesting to see how his confrontation with the Demon Slayer Corps transpires.