Summary
In the world ofDemon Slayer, supernatural abilities play an important role in the battle between demon slayers and demons. One such ability is known as extrasensory perception or ESP. This “sixth sense” grants users paranormal awareness that enhances their fighting prowess, allowing them to detect threats and dangers beyond normal human perception.
Those with refined ESP can sense the auras and presences of others from great distances. Demon slayers in particular rely on their ESPto track dangerous demons, as the aura of these monsters sets them apart. Higher-level demon slayers and demons have demonstrated ESP so tuned that they can pinpoint the locations of enemies across vast areas or even discern physical attributes like blood type. This hyperawareness proved critical to both sides in the eternal battle between demon and demon slayer.
User(s)
Demons, Demon Slayers
Extrasensory Perception, or ESP, refers to the ability to sense things that are not normally perceivable through one’s natural senses. It grants the user a “sixth sense” to detect paranormal or supernatural phenomena.
There are two main types of ESP. The first is general ESP, which gives a baseline level of extrasensory ability. Both demons and Demon Slayers have been shown to possess a degree of general ESP. The second type is specialized ESP, which stems from supernatural powers such as those that come from usingthe Blood Demon Arts. Specialized ESP tends to be more refined and is often correlated with enhanced combat skills and abilities compared to those with only general ESP.
Sensing Auras through ESP
How ESP Allows the Detection of Auras
Auras serve as a beacon that can be detected by demons and Demon Slayers through their extrasensory perception abilities. The auras of extremely powerful demons, such as those ranked amongthe strongest Twelve Demon Moons,have been known to induce effects like fear, shuddering, breathlessness, minor pain, and weakness in those who sense them.
Moreover,the aura emitted by Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of all demons, was so potent that it was reportedly able to crack glass in the surrounding area when he became enraged. Auras essentially broadcast an essence or energy unique to particularly formidable demons that can be sensed by others. By picking up on these auras, demons and Demon Slayers can identify each other’s strengths or weaknesses depending on the nature of the aura itself. Auras from the most elite-level demons in particular have proved so intense that they induce real physical sensations in those who can perceive them.
Elite ESP Users
Characters With Remarkable ESP Skills
Nearly all named characters in Demon Slayer exhibit some degree of ESP through aura sensing and hyperawareness. However, certain characters stand out for their mastery of this sixth sense in unique ways:
Applications of ESP
How ESP is Used in Battle by Demon Slayers and Demons
ESP is utilized by both Demon Slayers and demons in two primary ways - hyper-awareness and combative clairvoyance.
Hyper Awareness
Hyper awareness allows users to pinpoint entities in their surroundings through perceiving their presence or aura, without needing to directly look at them. Most Demon Slayers,particularly the elite Hashira, showcase an incredible ability to sense demons from extremely long ranges. Tokito describes demons as emitting strange auras, likely contributing to their discernibility from humans. Rengoku noted Upper Ranks demons as radiating heavy, overwhelming auras. Even Muzan acknowledged that skilled Demon Slayers like the Hashira could quickly detect a demon’s presence through aura detection alone.
While speculative,demons appear to possessespecially sharp ESP that aids them in battle. High-ranking demons like Kokushibo and Doma were purportedly aware of Akaza’s death from very far away after no longer sensing his presence. Muzan Kibutsuji demonstrated the ability to precisely locate all Demon Slayers scattered across an entire mountain at once. He also seemingly perceived when they revived and re-entered the fight later on. Muzan even claimed demons can discern human traits through means like blood type, disease strains, and genetics.
Combative Perception
ESP can also be used effectively during combat situations, mainly through sensing an opponent’s bloodlust and murderous intent. Those with heightened ESP abilities can detect when and where their opponent may attack by sensing their bloodlust, giving them more time to prepare countermeasures.
Demon SlayerHashira, like Kyojuro Rengoku,exhibits enormously heightened bloodlust perception, enabling him to perceive even subtle murderous intent like that of a girl trying to break his Spiritual Core while he was asleep.
Inosuke Hashibira developed aneven more powerful form of bloodlust, sensing through his unnaturally sharp sense of touch, allowing him to feel where his opponent will strike as sharp pricks and stings at the area they are looking at. This gives him additional awareness of incoming attacks during combat situations.
Through his “Compass Needle” technique,Akaza can detect somethingcalled the “Fighting Spirit”. Fighting Spirit is essentially one’s intent to fight and cause harm. Through his detection of the Fighting Spirit, Akaza can accurately discern where his opponents are in his immediate surroundings. This allows him to parry surprise attacks from outside his line of sight. Akaza can also use the Fighting Spirit to pin-point where opponents' weak points are. Moreover, he can use the Fighting Spirit as a means to measure how strong a being is at a glance, as he did with Kyojuro correctly identifying him as a Hashira.
Some Demon Slayers also possess the unique ability to seeinto the Transparent World. This is a form of ESP that allows them to see through a person’s skin and muscles. By observing how their muscles contract and blood flows, these marked demon slayers can accurately predict where an opponent will aim their next strike.
The sole known method to stop exuding bloodlust and Fighting Spirit is to enter a state of calmcalled the Selfless State.This state of tranquility erases one’s presence on the battlefield entirely.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibacan be streamed onPrime Video.
Demon Slayer
Based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s shonen manga, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an action anime set in Japan during the early 20th century. Seeking revenge for the murder of his family while also looking to save his sister, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps as they try to eradicate Demons led by Muzan.
