"Two Years Later"
The night was deep, a bright moon hanging high, its silvery light illuminating the usually dark mountain range. A white figure flitted through the trees, a palpable fear clinging to him like a shroud. He kept glancing behind him, as if a relentless pursuer was hot on his heels.
He risked another look over his shoulder, and the fear in his eyes deepened. As he turned back, a figure materialized on a nearby tree, seemingly appearing out of thin air.
The figure was a young man, not yet twenty, his face still holding a trace of youthful softness. But his crimson eyes, strikingly patterned with black, held an unnerving intensity under the moonlight. In his hand, he held a long sword, its edge gleaming with a chilling light, a silent promise of death.
This young man was Aoki, who had spent two years in this world.
Aoki stood on the tree, surveying the fleeing figure from above, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. It wasn't a human, but a demon—one of the night-dwelling creatures unique to this world, the Kimetsu no Yaiba world, creatures that perished in sunlight.
"Why stop running?" Aoki asked, a touch of playful cruelty in his voice.
"Damn demon slayer!" the demon snarled, its teeth bared. Knowing escape was futile, it launched itself at Aoki with clawed hands.
To a normal person, its speed would have been terrifying. But to Aoki, it was laughably slow. His Sharingan allowed him to perceive the demon's movements in slow motion, easily picking out weaknesses. Even without the Sharingan's speed manipulation, the sheer difference in their strength made the demon's attack seem sluggish.
Aoki effortlessly sidestepped the attack. The thrill of the chase had waned, and he raised his sword. A flash of white light, and the demon's head rolled to the ground.
Demons in this world were different from humans. Sunlight was their ultimate weakness, but ordinary weapons were useless against them. The only sure way to kill them was to sever their heads and then pulverize the remaining body. This was a slow, painstaking process.
Then, it was discovered that blades forged from sun-infused ore could inflict real damage. Severing a demon's neck with such a blade ensured its annihilation. These weapons were called Nichirin Swords, and various breathing techniques were developed to complement their use. These techniques could even change the blade's color, making them incredibly useful in battle.
Aoki wielded a Nichirin Sword, a pristine one given to him by Urokodaki Sakonji. Aoki's own breathing style, the Breath of Devouring, was unique, an original technique not derived from any existing style. Therefore, his Nichirin Sword was a rare black.
As Aoki's blade severed the demon's neck, the creature dissolved into ash, its lingering resentment barely perceptible. But Aoki didn't notice the faint, almost invisible, transparent light that was drawn into his Nichirin Sword.
"Ding!"
"Congratulations, host, on killing and absorbing a low-level demon. Combat power increased by 3 points!"
"Total combat power: 372 points."
"Overall rating: Level Three."
The system's voice echoed in his mind. This was the power of the Breath of Devouring. Killing a demon, regardless of the method, allowed Aoki to absorb its energy, boosting his own strength.
For a year and a half, Aoki had endured grueling training under Urokodaki Sakonji in the mist-shrouded mountains. The memory of that time, the relentless pressure under the tengu-masked old man's tutelage, still sent shivers down his spine.
Urokodaki Sakonji, a former Water Hashira, now a demon slayer trainer, taught Aoki Water Breathing. Yet, Aoki never mastered it. Instead, he discovered the Breath of Devouring during his training.
Though astonishing, Urokodaki Sakonji believed the Breath of Devouring was a unique branch of Water Breathing, attributing Aoki's creation of this new style to his exceptional talent.
Six months after completing his training, Aoki had officially become a demon slayer, his combat power soaring from a pathetic -5 to 372, his overall rating climbing from the infuriating Negative 2 to Level 3.
A-level required 800 points or more. Reaching that level would take time. Demons weren't exactly easy to find. But Aoki's next destination was a place teeming with low-level demons: Fujikasama, the final selection grounds for the Demon Slayer Corps.
Having trained Aoki, Urokodaki Sakonji had ordered him to participate in the final selection. He had a junior who was to join him, but Aoki chose to proceed to Mount Fujikasane alone.
Mount Fujikasane, the ultimate proving ground for aspiring demon slayers. Those who survived would become official members of the Demon Slayer Corps. This was the culmination of Urokodaki Sakonji's training.
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