Demon Slayer: Hashira training arc

 It's time for the new season of Demon Slayer, and as we already saw in the cinema with the special preview, it starts with a bang as the Poison, Obonai and the Wind, Sanemi, Hashira's discovered Muzan's castle.

But as the Hashira need extra forces, Tanjirou and his friends are subjected to a special training regime to boost their strength and power by a multitude.

Tanjiro convinces a gloomy Giyu to join the training program as an instructor, as he was the only Hashira not to participate, even Tengen coming out of retirement to help training the Corps's recruits.  And in doing so, he learns more about Sabito, the ghost boy that helped him pass final selection, and his connection to Giyu.  But as the training continues, Upper Four is infiltrating the training village, searching for the location of Nezuko, now Muzan's prime target as she has overcome the sunlight curse.

After a mock training duel with Tengen and boosting his recruits morale, Tanjiro progresses to the class thought by Tokito, the Mist Hashira.  During the night, Tokito sneaks out to have training battles with the Mist and Poison Hashira, to keep their own skills honed as well.  Tanjiro  quickly masters his class, and is send onwards to the next training ground, which is held by the Love Hashira, Mitsuri.

 

 

At Mitsuri, he is trained into being flexible before moving to the Poison Hashira.  In this cruel training, he is learned to strike while being faced with obstacles, in this matter tied up fellow Demon Corps recruits.  Only when he manages to clear his mind and focus purely on his target he manages to overcome the test and land a succesfull strike on the Hashira, causing him to pass his training.

 

But for the next training, he faces the volatile Wind hashira.  When he runs into him having a discussion with his sibling Genya, whom he despises, Tanjiro intervenes.  The result is a huge brawl, and Tanjiro being forbidden to come near Sanemi aymore, banning him from this part of the training.

 

As he progresses together with Zenitsu to Gyomei, the Stone hashira, they reunite with Inosuke during a training that while seemingly simple, is gruelling hard.  The focus lies on the development of the lower body, by standing under waterfalls, lifting logs and pushing huge boulders.  Gyomei acknowledges Tanjiro, even though he is reluctant to accept this honour.  Gyomei tells him how he became a Demon Slayer, rumoured to be the strongest of the whole corps, accepting Tanjiro as one of them.  Sanemi discovers one of the eyes spies of Upper Four, as Muzan makes an appearance and goes to visit Ubayashiki, now bedridden due to the poison ever spreading further through his body.

 

 

It is revealed they share a slight bloodline, but Ubayashiki has boobytrapped his house, blowing it up together with his family and injuring Muzan.  Tamayo also intervenes as the Hashira, now finally united in purpose, arrive to engage him.  While seemingly at a disadvantage, he activates his plan, opening the Infinity Castle and having all the located Corps members by Upper Four fall inside...

 

So, the arc was shorter then the previous ones, counting only 8 episodes (though both the opener and the finale are double length features), and it has been announced that the Infinity Castle arc will be made as three movies.  And that also means this has been the final series for television of this gorgeously drawn and highly engaging anime series.