The following contains spoilers from the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba manga and anime.
Solo Levelinghas become one of the most famous animeof the last decade. Perhaps the biggest reason for its incredible popularity is its intense fight scenes that capture Sung Jinwoo’s evolution. But it should not come as a surprise since the most popular anime of the last few decades were driven by high-stakes battles involving protagonists fighting for the greater good.
In the Infinity Castle arc, Tanjiro will walk the same path as he runs into an old rival who killed one of his dear friends. This will set the stage for an epic clash that is set to rival Jinwoo’s battle with the Ant King. While both fights are intense, the former is going to be far more emotionally-charged, and here’s why.
Ant King Versus Sung Jinwoo
Hyperfocusing on Jinwoo Made Other Characters Seem Irrelevant
Sung Jinwoo’s fightwith the Ant Kingwas intense and emotionally charged. Korea and Japan’s future was at stake as the ants were evolving to gain the power to fly. As some of the best hunters headed to the forsaken island to fight for the greater good, they initially thrived with their strategy, which appeared to be perfect for the challenge at hand.
If you guys are hunters, I’m saying you should be ready to become hunted.
However, tragedy struck once the Ant King arrived on the scene and attacked the raid party savagely. As top hunters were killed one after another, it appeared that no one would survive. But Jinwoo arrived just in time to save the day.
The battle on Jeju Island was tragic and led to several deaths. Perhaps the most devastating loss was that of Min Byung-Gyu, the S-rank Korean healer who initially did not even want to be there.Even Goto Ryuji’s end was shocking, considering the hype behind him. However, eventually, all these characters seemed like mere pawns, existing solely to highlight Sung Jinwoo’s heroic actions.
Solo Leveling’s hyperfocus on its protagonist’s character development made tragedies and other characters' lives seem inconsequential. While the fight with Ant King was undoubtedly brilliant, it did not carry thesame emotional weight as Tanjiroversus Akaza.
Tanjiro’s Fight With Akaza Will Be Emotionally-Charged
Fans Might Finally Get the Much-Needed Emotional Resolution
Every character in a story connects with the viewers only if they get the proper development and depth. In the Mugen Train arc, when Tanjiro and his friends were sent to investigate mysterious disappearances on the locomotive,they found Rengoku already involvedin investigating the case. For the viewers, he was no stranger as he had already made his debut. But this arc gave Kyojuro the time to be himself and express his opinions, humanizing him in the process.
Through his brilliant swordsmanship and leadership skills,the Flame Hashira helped his comradesdefeat the Lower Rank One of the Twelve Kuzki. But the battle was far from over. Soon, Akaza arrived at the scene and, staying true to his principles, Rengoku decided to protect his inexperienced comrades by fighting the Upper Moon alone. The battle that followed captured Kyojuro’s heroic spirit beautifully and gave the audience an opportunity to understand the Flame Hashira intimately. This created a bond between Rengoku and the fans, which made his death that much more tragic.
Unlike Solo Leveling, the fans never truly got closure asAkaza escaped and was never confrontedfor his actions. The tension has since lingered, and now that Tanjiro is all set to fight him in the Infinity Castle, the stakes are higher than ever before.
On that unfortunate evening, Tanjiro was the witness to Rengoku’s murder as he was unfit to fight. Flame Hashira’s death had a profound impact on the young demon slayer, and his last words have guided him ever since. For him, avenging Rengoku means a lot, and he is determined to take down Akaza. As memories of Kyojuro rush through his head, Kamado will be emotionally charged as he puts his life on the line in the battle against the Upper Moon.
Everything you’re saying is wrong. Your presence here now is proof. Everyone is a helpless baby when they’re born. Same with you Akaza. You don’t remember it, but when you were a baby… someone protected and helped you too. The strong protect the weak. Then the weak get stronger and help those weaker than themselves. That is the law of nature!
Unlike Solo Leveling, which often uses other characters for Jinwoo’s evolution, Demon Slayer has honored its characters by highlighting their individual journeys filled with trials and tribulations. Because of this, Tanjiro’s battle with Akaza will not only be an emotional experience for the characters involved but also for the viewers who have shed their tears watching Rengoku accept his death and use the last ounce of his energy to spread kindness and love.
The fact that the emotional resolution took so much time makes it more impactful. That’s why Tanjiro’s battle in Infinity Castle will be far more emotionally-charged and exciting than Sung Jinwoo’s fightwith the Ant King on Jeju Island.
The first installment of the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle trilogy is scheduled to be released in the United States on Jul 04, 2025.
