The following contains spoilers from theDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibamanga and anime.
Demon Slayers have been fighting demonsfor over a millennium. For the majority of the time, members of the Demon Slayer Corps have to resort to innovative techniques to have a chance of surviving an encounter with a demon. But everything changed in the Sengoku era,when Yoriichi Tsugikuni was born with a mysterious mark.
As he went on to become one of the greatest swordsmen of his generation, the powers of the Demon Slayer Mark finally got recognition, and more swordsmen of the era manifested it. Although the mysterious markings are seen as a blessing in the Taisho era, their ugly truth is finally revealed as demon slayers fight the Upper Moons in the Infinity Castle.
The Mysterious Powers of the Demon Slayer Mark
The Mark Gives Swordsmen Access to Incredible Powers But at a Huge Cost
The Demon Slayer Markmanifests under specific conditions and gives the bearer unique powers. It significantly improves physical strength to the point that even a Hashira can overpower Upper Moons, provided the situation is ideal. Along with the superhuman strength, the bearers are also able to move at blinding speeds that were previously not possible for them.
When the marked one arrives, the mark will appear on others around that person as if in resonance.
Demon Slayer Mark can also be used toaccess the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, which significantly slows down a demon’s regenerative capabilities. However, it has been observed that different users have varying levels of regeneration inhibition.
Perhaps the most incredible ability bearers of themark can utilize is called the Transparent World. It allows them to see through an enemy as if their skin were transparent, exposing critical details about their organs, health, and weaknesses. Demon Slayer Mark users transform into frightening combatants once they fully utilize these capabilities. In some cases, they are even able to fight on equal grounds with demons like Kokushibo.
Infinity Castle Trilogy is All Set to Reveal Demon Slayer Mark’s Ugly Truth
The Demon Slayer Mark might sound like a blessing since it gives extraordinary powers to a swordsman. On the surface, it is without a doubt an exceptional gift, but it also comes with a dangerous curse that makes it uncertain if getting one is even worth it.
Once a demon slayer manifests a mark, they gain incredible abilities in exchange for something more precious. Every bearer of the mark dies before the age of 25. If a swordsman awakens his mark after turning 25, they lose their lives within a few hours.
While the manga does not explain why this happens, it is still possible to make an educated guess based on what is known already. Manifesting a Demon Slayer Mark requires that a person maintain a body temperature of over 39° Celsius while simultaneously keeping their heart rate above 200 beats per minute. Doing this has been explained by the bearers of the mark as a near-death experience. It should not come as a surprise that pushing the body to such a degree has long-term consequences.
However, it must be noted that there are two exceptions.Yoriichi Tsugikuni lived well over 80 years of agedespite using the mark all his life. But in his case, it can be argued that he never awakened a mark but was simply born with it. The other exception is Yoriichi’s brother, Michikatsu, who turned into a demon to avoid dying at 25.
So, it seems that it is possible to escape thecurse of the Demon Slayer Mark. A demon slayer needs to be born with the mark, or if they manifest it at some point later in life, they have to turn into a demon to save themselves. These are the only observed cases where the curse has not killed the bearer of the mark.
As Demon Slayer Corp members manifest the mark one after anotherin the Infinity Castle, they will be ignorantly setting themselves up for a premature death. As they cross paths with Kokushibo, they will finally learn the harsh truth about their situation.
The Upper Moon will try to use it to his advantageand psychologically attack them. It remains to be seen how the demon slayers react, provided they will be caught off guard by this haunting reality, especially Gyomei Himejima, who will get the mark after turning 25.
The first installment of the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle trilogy is scheduled to be released in the United States onSeptember 12, 2025.
