After several hours, the number of demons that had died at Lexon's hands already exceeded twenty. During this time, Lexon also encountered the Hand Demon. He considered it for a moment but still decided to let Tanjiro deal with it.
Not only was it to temper Tanjiro, but also because Tanjiro had a stronger bond with Sabito and Makomo. It was more fitting for him to get revenge.
Lexon just hadn't expected that even though he didn't plan to kill the Hand Demon, the creature would get excited upon seeing his warding mask and rush straight for him, muttering incessantly, "I'll make sure all the disciples you cultivate die at my hands!"
Lexon, of course, wasn't going to indulge it. He directly slashed it several hundred times, mincing it into a fleshy pulp.
However, the creature's life force seemed to be more tenacious than he had imagined; it didn't even die from that. While this was partly because Lexon hadn't deliberately aimed for its head, the fact that its body had been minced was undeniable.
"Its life force is surprisingly tenacious."
Lexon met the Hand Demon's gaze of utter terror, looking at it as if it were trash.
'If the demon at the ancestral hall had taken a beating like this, it would be beyond dead. This one is certainly not bad. Since it didn't die, I'll count it as lucky and leave it for Tanjiro.'
By the time Lexon left, the Hand Demon's heart was filled with endless relief. Although it didn't know why a demon-slaying swordsman who hated demons so much would let it go, it was his foolishness that had allowed it to live!
The terrified expression on the Hand Demon's face gradually twisted. The despair from moments ago and Lexon's invincible strength had been deeply etched into its heart, but it also made it feel incomparably humiliated and enraged.
'I may not be able to kill you! But I will kill your comrades! I will hunt down those guys wearing masks!'
The Hand Demon didn't believe that every fellow wearing a mask had Lexon's level of strength. He must have just been an exception! Otherwise, it wouldn't have killed so many mask-wearers and still be alive and well.
'What a fool. I've killed so many people wearing the same mask, yet you still let me go. How foolish.'
As it thought this, the Hand Demon's body had already recovered to its original state, a twisted smile on its face.
At this moment, the Hand Demon smelled the scent of a human. Not far away, Tanjiro was entangled in a fight with four other demons.
Getting a closer look, the fox mask on Tanjiro's head made the Hand Demon's eyes turn red. Moreover, the display of Tanjiro's strength did not make it feel the slightest bit of apprehension. Therefore, it once again charged forward without hesitation.
Then, after a fierce battle, it was finally defeated for good. This time, however, no one let it go. Tanjiro decisively slew the Hand Demon on the spot.
When the Final Selection reached its third day, a Demon Slayer Corps logistics member wearing a headscarf appeared before Lexon.
"Is there something you need?" Lexon flicked the bloodstains from the Nichirin Sword in his hand and spoke calmly to the person before him.
Cold sweat beaded on the logistics member's forehead.
'Why is the pressure I feel from this person as great as the pressure from the Hashira?'
"By order of the Master, Demon Slayer Corps member Lexon is summoned to the estate for an audience!" A respectful voice came from his mouth.
Hearing this, Lexon was a little surprised. "I've passed already? It's only the third day."
"Yes, you have already become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps."
'Are you kidding me? In just three days, how many demons have you killed on Mount Fujikasane? If you keep killing them, how will we hold the next Final Selection?'
The logistics member couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
'Many years ago, there was another person like this. Although that person ultimately didn't pass the Final Selection, the fact that almost all the demons on the mountain were wiped out was still a bit troublesome. But what a pity for that person, to not have passed the selection.'
In fact, the person the logistics member was thinking of was the spirit who had guided Tanjiro, Sabito, who had been in the same generation as Giyu Tomioka and was now dead.
Sabito had killed almost all the demons on Mount Fujikasane. While exhausted, he fought the Hand Demon to save Giyu and was killed by a moment of carelessness. This became a regret that Giyu Tomioka would carry for the rest of his life.
[Main quest completed. Return?]
The voice of the Main God suddenly sounded in Lexon's mind.
He had killed a demon and joined the Demon Slayer Corps, which meant the main quest was complete and he could return.
'No.'
Lexon immediately refused the prompt to return.
'I still have more than two years. There's no hurry.'
"Then let's go," Lexon said, sheathing his Nichirin Sword and signaling for the person before him to lead the way.
The two of them walked down the mountain path. When they passed the plaza where they had previously gathered, they found that the twin girls were still there. Lexon went up and asked them to inform Tanjiro of his situation after he passed, and with the twins' nod of agreement, Lexon was relieved of any lingering concerns.
After traveling for two days, the two arrived at the Master's estate.
This was the location of the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
The location was extremely secret, situated amidst dense mountain forests. In any case, Lexon wouldn't be able to remember it without making a specific effort. The area around the Demon Slayer Corps HQ was also filled with blooming wisteria flowers to protect it from demon attacks.
The fact that Muzan had searched for the headquarters for a thousand years without success was a testament to how well-hidden it was.
'An audience with the Master?'
The corners of Lexon's mouth curled up slightly. He was rather keen on obtaining the precognitive ability passed down through the Ubuyashiki family.
'I'll find a chance to touch him.'
The logistics member who had accompanied him had already left. Lexon walked slowly into the flower-scented courtyard by himself.
In the courtyard stood a man and a woman in kimonos, their backs to Lexon, so he couldn't see their faces. But Lexon knew the man was the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and the woman was his wife.
Seeming to hear Lexon's footsteps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki and his wife slowly turned around.
'That's him. The disfigured face and blind eyes, it's definitely Kagaya Ubuyashiki.'
Lexon stood still. At that moment, an invisible aura unconsciously radiated from his body, spreading to the surroundings.
"Oh?" Although he couldn't see, Kagaya could clearly feel the oppressive sense of intimidation around him.
However, having been in a position of authority for a long time, he showed no signs of being overwhelmed.
Instead, he mentally sized up Lexon's level of strength.
'Is he at the level of a Hashira?'
Kagaya smiled, happy that the Demon Slayer Corps would be gaining another powerful combatant.
"Your cultivator was the former Water Hashira, wasn't he?"
Lexon withdrew his aura, instantly returning to normal.
The purpose of releasing his aura wasn't to intimidate, but to give Kagaya a clear understanding of his strength.
'This way... my requests will be more easily accepted.'
'For example, letting me meet with all the Hashira?'
"Yes, my master is Urokodaki Sakonji," Lexon replied.
"Mr. Sakonji has truly cultivated an extraordinary seedling," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said with a slight smile.
Even for Kagaya Ubuyashiki, he couldn't help but feel pleased.
The Demon Slayer Corps was always short-staffed.
Demons were born with incredible ease, but every bit of combat power for the Demon Slayer Corps required years of accumulation.
Therefore, every bit of combat power was exceptionally important, especially "Hashira-level" combat power.
With a new "Hashira-level" fighter, the Demon Slayer Corps would be stronger, able to protect more people, and have a greater chance of victory in the struggle against demons.
This was the primary reason for Kagaya Ubuyashiki's current state of mind.
"You have now officially joined the Demon Slayer Corps. You will be assigned a Kasugai Crow. It will inform you when there is a mission."
Kagaya spoke slowly, his voice carrying a strange, convincing magic.
As his voice fell, a jet-black crow flew across the sky and landed on Lexon's shoulder.
Kasugai Crows were a type of crow trained by the Demon Slayer Corps that possessed a certain level of intelligence and could speak. Information transmission within the Corps relied almost entirely on them.
Lexon gently stroked the crow's head with his finger, and the crow dependently rubbed against his finger.
"I'll call you 'Jet'," Lexon casually named the Kasugai Crow.
"A Nichirin Sword will be forged for you later... cough." It seemed that staying outside for too long had worsened Kagaya's condition, and he coughed a few times.
Kagaya's wife looked at him worriedly, wanting to help him back into the estate.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki waved his hand, signaling that it wasn't necessary.
"You should go back and rest, Master," a voice full of spirit came from the side.
Lexon turned his head to look.
The newcomer had long yellow hair with red tips, thick black eyebrows, and bright, spirited eyes. He wore a coffee-colored Demon Slayer uniform and a white haori over his shoulders, with a flame emblem at the end.
The Flame Hashira, one of the nine Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku!
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]