Why Did Doma Leave Akaza Alive In Demon Slayer?

Pavas Gagneja
4 days ago
3 min read

SPOILER ALERT: This article may contain major spoilers from Demon Slayer. Proceed only if you don't mind having key story elements revealed.

Doma, the Upper Moon Two, and Akaza, Upper Moon Three, are two of the strongest and most deadly Demons in Muzan’s army. The interesting twist about Demon Slayer is that the series revolves not just around the battle between the Slayers and the Demons, but sometimes we also get to witness the battle between the Demons, which we saw between Akaza and Doma in their Blood Battle.

While Akaza openly shows deep hatred towards Doma, the latter's attitude is far more careless — he sees Akaza as both an entertaining companion and a rival. But if Doma is stronger than Akaza, then why didn't he kill Akaza in the Blood Battle? And more importantly, why did Doma leave Akaza alive?

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The Blood Battle Among The Twelve Kizuki

Kokushibo asks Akaza to challenge Doma in a Blood Battle

Blood Battles occasionally happen among the 12 Moons. Usually, what happens is that the lower-ranked Demons challenge the higher-ranked ones. The motive is to climb up to a higher rank. These fights are usually brutal and typically result in the death of the loser. But with such powers come strict rules, as Muzan forbids unnecessary infighting, fearing it could weaken his army’s effectiveness.

Upper Moons, especially, are not allowed to kill one another, as they are rare and difficult for Muzan to replace. The threat of a Blood Battle is always there, but open fights between top Demons are strictly controlled.

Akaza’s Jealousy And The Seeds Of Rivalry

Doma Akaza and Kokushibo at the Upper Moon meeting

Akaza’s complicated feelings toward Doma are a result of his jealousy and wounded pride. Akaza was transformed into a Demon before Doma, yet Doma surpassed him almost immediately upon joining the Twelve Kizuki, taking the Upper Two seat while Akaza remained Upper Three.

Akaza’s bitter jealousy is also amplified by their personalities. Where Doma is effortless and emotionless, Akaza, on the other hand, is intense and proud. Rather than motivating Akaza to outdo Doma, this rivalry eats at him, as every achievement by Doma feels like a personal attack. This emotional conflict becomes a stinger to Akaza’s existence as both a Demon and a former human, explaining his obsession with proving his worth.

Doma’s Friendship And Akaza’s Rage

What sets Doma apart and makes Akaza hate him, is the way Doma treats him. Doma doesn't consider him a rival but as a friend and source of amusement, and Akaza simply doesn't like this attitude. To top it off, Doma is cheerful, seemingly incapable of hatred or anger, and finds Akaza’s rage entertaining rather than threatening. He even addresses Akaza like a close companion, while ignoring Akaza's hatred of him.

Doma's behaviour frustrates Akaza. For someone as proud as Akaza, being treated as a joke rather than a threat is the ultimate insult. Doma’s attitude is both a survival tactic (as he rarely makes enemies) and a flaw. He shows us how different personalities, even among monsters, can lead to dangerous misunderstandings and grudges.

Orders From Muzan And The Hidden Favoritism

Muzan gets angry at Akaza for not finding the Blue Spider Lily

Despite the tension, Doma never kills Akaza, because Muzan’s rules are absolute. Muzan strictly forbids the Upper Moons from killing each other, because he cannot replace them easily. And the punishment for breaking this rule? It would be severe and immediate, and even a Demon as powerful as Doma would not risk breaking Muzan's rules.

Moreover, we all know how Muzan shows favoritism toward Akaza. He often praises his loyalty and efficiency, and this special treatment protects Akaza and frustrates his rivals. In this case, Doma's loyalty to Muzan and his own sense of entertainment make sure that Akaza does not die. Thus, he follows Muzan's orders, not attacking fellow Upper Moons regardless of personal feelings.