It is the Taisho Period (i.e. 1912-1926). Tanjiro Kamado is living a modest but blissful life in the mountains with his family. One day, when he returns from selling charcoal in town, he finds the remains of his slaughtered family in pools of blood after a demon attack. Tanjiro rushes down the snowy mountain with the sole survivor, his sister Nezuko, on his back. But on the way, Nezuko suddenly snarls, turning on Tanjiro.

Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu and Inosuke join Rengoku on the Mugen Train. Having heard that there may be demons on the train, they are on high alert, but they find themselves falling into a slumber. Within his dream, Tanjiro is reunited with his long lost family. However, it is soon revealed that this is a trap set by Enmu (Lower One).

Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke and Rengoku have fallen into a deep sleep while under the control of Enmu's Blood Demon Art. As Enmu attempts to use his accomplices to destroy the spiritual cores of Tanjiro and his companions in order to defeat them, Tanjiro realizes that he is inside a dream and searches for a way to wake up. In order to awaken from the dream, Tanjiro makes a decision to use his sword to cut into his own neck.

The demon that appeared before Tanjiro and Rengoku after they defeated Enmu was the Upper Three, Akaza. While injured and on the ground, Tanjiro is almost attacked by Akaza and narrowly escapes death when Rengoku quickly strikes back. During the intense battle between Rengoku and Akaza, Akaza suggests to Rengoku that he should also become a demon. Rengoku vehemently refuses Akaza's offer, but his injured body is exhausted and being pushed past its physical limits...