Pulled

Severed and reflecting, Akaza marvels that in centuries he never met anyone without fighting spirit; even a crying baby shows the will to live. Tanjiro's intent had simply vanished, like battling a plant, leaving his Compass unable to respond. He recognizes that the boy attained a Selfless State, the Domain of Supremacy he himself had only ever sensed from afar. Refusing to fall, Akaza reattaches his head and vows to grow stronger.

Giyu hurls his broken sword to knock the head away, and it crumbles to ash where it lands. Yet the demon's body does not fade. It takes a fighting stance on its own, staunching its neck and attacking Tanjiro, kicking him into a wall. Tanjiro realizes Akaza is trying to evolve past his head the way Muzan does, then collapses from his limit. Wounded and without his Mark, Giyu is overwhelmed but still places himself between the demon and Tanjiro.

The fight between Tanjiro, Giyu and Akaza continues past the beheading. Akaza recognizes that Tanjiro reached the Selfless State he once longed to attain. Akaza survives decapitation and keeps fighting the exhausted slayers. Voices and people from his human past begin to surface, and a young woman holds him back, tearfully telling him it is enough.

The chapter introduces the emotional pull that gives it its title, as a remembered voice insists that an unbreakable will carries a sword in the heart even without one in hand, and Koyuki appears to call Akaza by his human name, Hakuji. Tanjiro briefly fears Akaza shares the linked-fate weakness of Gyutaro and Daki before concluding the demon is instead attempting to relocate his vulnerability beyond his head. The chapter is part of Volume 18 and the Infinity Castle Arc.