WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Season 2, Episode 18, "No Matter How Many Lives," now streaming on Funimation, Hulu and Crunchyroll.
After the spectacular conclusion of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba's second season, it's time to ponder what fresh Hell awaits Tanjiro and the gang in Season 3's "Swordsmith Village" arc. The "Entertainment District" arc ended on a high note after the first death of an Upper-Rank demon in 100 years. Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, predicts that fate is about to take a dramatic turn -- meaning the worst is surely yet to come in the battle against Muzan Kibutsuji's demons.
Despite being dominated by the battle against Gyutaro and Daki, Season 2 left a lot up in the air for the Demon Slayer Corps. After Tengen Uzui's retirement, the victory over Upper Six was a costly one as the Corps is now down by two Hashira. Considering the battle against the "lowly" -- according to Iguro Obanai -- Upper Six decimated an entire town and cost the Corps another Hashira, the real battles clearly have yet to begin as Demon Slayer moves into its next inevitable conflict. Here's a look at the most important plot threads left hanging that Season 3 will surely have to address.
Tanjiro Needs A New Sword (Again)
Tanjiro Kamado's inability to take care of his swords may well be the death of him now that he'll need to ask Haganezuka for another new one. He snapped his first sword battling Rui, lost his latest when he threw it at Akaza, then chipped his new new sword battling Daki.
Haganezuka's habit of homicidal rage over Tanjiro's poor track record of caring for the swordsmith's work means the Demon Slayer protagonist may face more than a chase through the forest this time. Considering the storyline that Season 3 has been confirmed to be adapting is entitled "Swordsmith Village," Tanjiro might be in some serious trouble for constantly losing and/or breaking his swords.
The Hashira Need To Start Working Together
Tengen Uzui might have escaped his battle with Gyutaro unscathed if only his backup had arrived sooner. Judging by Makio's and Suma's hostile greeting for Iguro Obanai, it's clear that Tengen had requested the Serpent Hashira's aid some time ago. Iguro, while impressed they defeated an Upper-Rank, seemed dismissive of the fact that it was only Upper Six. If Iguro is that much stronger than Tengen, he would have been an invaluable asset during the fight.
As Kyojuro Rengoku's death and Tengen's forced retirement have proven, 1v1'ing an Upper-Rank is a bad idea. The Hashira are vital to the Demon Slayer Corps' survival, and they will have to start working together if they hope to stand any chance against the remaining Upper-Ranks. Fortunately, if the Season 3 teaser is anything to go by, the Hashira plan to begin doing just that.
A Reckoning Is Coming For Demon Slayer's Upper-Ranks
The last time Muzan Kibutsuji called a meeting of the Kizuki, it was after the death of Rui (Lower Five), and he decided to eradicate the Lower-Ranks. Now that Gyutaro (Upper Six) has been killed, it appears he has called another meeting. Muzan's most elite demons were major disappointments to him in Season 2 of Demon Slayer. Akaza failed to locate the Blue Spider Lily and proudly announced his defeat of a Hashira -- despite leaving Tanjiro and the others alive.
On the other hand, Muzan specifically warned Daki not to get cocky, yet her and Gyutaro's arrogance is exactly what got them killed. It seems less likely that Muzan will wipe out the Upper-Ranks as he did the Lower, but if nothing else, he is probably going to have new instructions for his most elite demons. The Upper-Ranks are surely going to start Season 3 on thin ice with Muzan, meaning they might be leaping into action against the Demon Slayer Corps with gusto.
A Cure For Demonism Is Now In Development
Tanjiro's quest to turn Nezuko back into a human took a massive step forward in the Season 2 finale of Demon Slayer. In Season 1, Tamayo -- the only other demon who's escaped Muzan's control -- tasked Tanjiro with collecting the blood of a demon with a high concentration of Kibutsuji's cells. Only a member of the Kizuki's blood would do, and Tanjiro has finally delivered, sending Gyutaro's blood back for study.
Along with a sample of Nezuko's blood, Tamayo now has everything she said she needed to potentially develop a cure. It's unclear how long this will take, but a cure for demonism would change everything for the Demon Slayer Corps, and it would certainly draw Muzan Kibutsuji's attention (and fury).
