IN demon slayer, the best of the best sometimes manifest a special mark on their body, known as the Demon Slayer Mark. These mysterious signs grant immense power that comes at a cost and not every Demon Hunter can afford. They also vary from person to person and do not manifest the same way for everyone. Here’s everything fans need to know about Mark of the Demon Slayer, explained.
Simply put, the Demon Slayer Mark is what its name suggests – a mark that identifies a person as a Demon Slayer. However, this is not some kind of brand or tattoo. Instead, the Demon Slayer’s Mark sometimes suddenly appears on murderers in fierce battle. They are usually short-lived, but always appear in the same pattern, which can vary from person to person. Marks affected by the killer’s preferred Breathing Style in question, such as Tokito’s, are somewhat similar to the mist that rolls in to match his Fog Breath. However, Demon Slayer Mark also has a major drawback.
Demon Slayer Mark is a blessing and a curse
To activate the Mark of Demon Slayer, the Assassin needs to achieve a certain physical state during battle. After Tokito activates his Mark, in chapter 129, he transfers his status to the others: heart rate is 200 BPM and body temperature is 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 degrees Fahrenheit). It was a potentially fatal fever and very unsafe heartbeat, and Tokito speculated that the key to opening the Mark was simply surviving these conditions. However, Mark allows slayers to activate Red Nichirin for their swords, greatly increasing their ability to kill demons, improving one’s physical strength and stamina, even providing access to the mysterious “Transparent World”.
After learning about the Marks, most of the Hashira agreed to try to get one for themselves, however it turned out to be expensive. Past stories of the Mark of the Slayer indicate that those who manifest the Mark will not live past the age of 25, with the exception of the original Mark holder Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who lives to 80 years old. People over the age of 25 can manifest the Mark, but its consequences are unknown. In essence, activating the Mark of Demon Slayer means trading one’s life and future for power in the present, and unfortunately this cannot be reversed, as simply activating the Mark in the short term is enough.
With that in mind, fans are sure to have a bittersweet moment when they see a character embody the Mark. Although it meant that they had reached the pinnacle of their combat ability, it also meant that their lives were short even if they survived the battle. Power certainly does not come easily in the world of demon slayerbut it seems some of the best assassins have decided that the Mark of the Slayer is worth the trade-off, if it means purging the world of Muzan and his monsters.