Spring peaches fell, summer cicadas faded away, and autumn maples drifted down.
Time quietly slipped away amidst the monotonous and rigorous training on Momoyama (Peach Mountain).
After nine months of tempering, Yasui Ryosuke's transformation was significant.
He was noticeably taller. Although he was still lean, he was no longer the sickly invalid who looked like he would break at the slightest touch.
His pale complexion had faded, and his skin was now plated with a layer of wheat-tan from the sun and sweat.
"Ha! Ryosuke! Don't even think about passing me today!"
Shota's voice rang out as his figure moved like lightning, taking the lead to rush across the finish line.
"Haa... haa... Brat, what are you so smug about..."
Ryosuke followed close behind, only a few steps away from Shota.
Rika was slightly further back, her small face flushed red from running, but her pace was steady.
Ending the training, Ryosuke gritted his teeth as he looked at the conspicuous 83 days of lifespan remaining on the system panel.
Yes, even with desperate training to strengthen his physique, he only had less than three months left to live.
In the center of the dojo, two brand-new haori were neatly folded.
One was the dark brown color that Shota liked.
The other was Ryosuke's—ink-black as a base, with fine lightning patterns embroidered in gold thread along the hem.
Jigoro handed two Nichirin Swords to the two of them.
Rika was not yet of age, and being a girl, her strength was slightly weaker, so she would wait another year before taking the exam.
"The time for the Final Selection has come. Survive on Mt. Fujikasane."
Jigoro didn't offer any excessive advice; he just looked silently at Ryosuke.
According to the training plan, a talented disciple like Shota would need to train for two and a half years to meet the standard.
But Ryosuke was simply suicidal in his efforts.
When others ate, he trained. When others slept, he trained. When others were training, he was still training!
With Shota accompanying him to the Final Selection this time, they could look out for each other.
Ryosuke didn't speak. He just tightly gripped the Nichirin Sword in his hand, bowed deeply to Jigoro, and walked down the mountain on foot.
He wanted to live!
He had trained desperately for a year just for this moment!
"Shota-nii! Ryosuke-nii! Come back safely!"
Behind them, Rika's shouts grew fainter and fainter.
...
Mt. Fujikasane was shrouded in a sea of wisteria flowers all year round.
Dreamlike, pale purple waterfalls cascaded down from the mountainside, forming a natural cage.
Deep within the mountain range, the demons captured by the Demon Slayer Corps were trapped.
For the Final Selection, they needed to survive inside for seven days.
Crossing the sea of wisteria flowers, everything became dim.
Demons howled, and a foul stench assailed the nose.
Every inch of this land was soaked in the despair of those who had failed.
Ryosuke did not stick with Shota.
Having read the original work, he knew very well that apart from the Hand Demon (that bug in the system), most of the demons here were weaklings who had only eaten two or three people.
He could use them to practice and earn lifespan, avoiding Shota stealing his kills.
"Waaah—"
With a strange cry, a demon leaped out from a haystack! It had sharp teeth, a long tongue, and a body like a lizard.
It dove towards Ryosuke with extreme speed!
Ryosuke crouched, gripping his sword. As he breathed, faint lightning seemed to ravage the air around him.
"Thunder Breathing · First Form · Thunderclap and Flash!"
Szzt!
The sound of the blade rang out, like the roar of thunder!
Ryosuke's figure flashed past in an instant. The moment the blade edge erupted, the demon's head was already severed, turning into ash.
[Slayed low-tier evil demon. Gained 10 days of lifespan. Remaining lifespan: 92 days.]
After a year, the system's voice sounded again.
It works!
Ryosuke was extremely excited. This move didn't consume much of his energy.
This was thanks to the speed and destructive power of Thunder Breathing sword techniques.
Although Thunder Breathing was hard to learn, the results were significant.
Most importantly, it was cool!
One low-tier demon for 10 days of lifespan!
Heh heh heh~
Ryosuke didn't pause. His figure flickered as he pounced toward another bush where growls were coming from.
Combat! Satisfying!
Aside from the Hand Demon, the small fry here were his for the slaughter.
...
"Strange, where are the demons? Didn't they say the Final Selection was cruel?"
A swordsman wearing a fox mask walked through the jungle, scratching his head in confusion.
Moriyama Akira had been here for six days! Six whole days!
He had assumed a combat stance early every morning, but let alone a demon, he hadn't even seen a hair of one!
Come on, bro!
Was Master Urokodaki just trying to scare me?
Just as he was thinking this, a dark shadow descended from the sky.
The foul stench made his pupils shrink instantly.
Oh no!!!
"Raaargh!"
A hideous demon pinned him to the ground. He hadn't been gripping his Nichirin Sword tightly enough, and it fell three meters away.
Holy crap!
You old demon, you have no martial ethics! Sneak attacking a trainee like me who's been practicing for two and a half years!
The demon didn't care about any of that. tempted by human flesh, it opened its bloody maw to bite down.
Just as Moriyama Akira was about to cry for help, thunder rumbled in the distance.
Suddenly! A bolt of thunder flashed past!
A boy wearing an ink-black haori appeared at Moriyama Akira's side.
Shing!
The long sword was sheathed. The demon's head was severed, turning into ash.
The boy's ink-black long hair danced in the wind, his bearing magnificent.
[Slayed low-tier evil demon. Gained 10 days of lifespan. Remaining lifespan: 156 days.]
A Thunder Breathing swordsman?
Moriyama Akira got up and thanked Ryosuke.
"Th-thank you. My name is Moriyama Akira."
"Ryosuke. Yasui Ryosuke."
Ryosuke sheathed his sword. Seeing the fox mask the boy was wearing, the corner of his mouth twitched.
"Your... your master is Sakon... Mr. Urokodaki?"
"That's right."
Moriyama Akira nodded.
What a sin—
Years ago, it was Urokodaki Sakonji who captured the Hand Demon and brought it here.
Therefore, this ugly-ass demon hated his disciples with a passion. Seeing that fox mask was like seeing a woman—
It triggered an unconditional, hyper-excited rampage!
Judging by the current timeline, Sabito and Giyu Tomioka should still be in training.
This guy was from the batch before them.
Ryosuke patted his shoulder, preparing to leave.
"Be careful on your own."
"Thanks again."
Moriyama Akira thanked him once more.
Ryosuke hadn't taken two steps before a massive, evil aura descended upon them!
"Raaargh!!!"
A roar tore through the silence of the night sky!
The ground trembled. In the distance, a monster the size of a small hill appeared. Its skin was green-gray, and it was densely wrapped in dozens of deformed arms!
The Hand Demon's neck was encased in giant arms, and its eyes stared dead at the fox mask Moriyama Akira was wearing.
"Urokodaki! It's another one of Urokodaki's fox brats! Gagagaga!"
The Hand Demon's strange laugh was sharp and piercing, filled with endless malice.
"I'll eat you! I'm going to tear you to shreds! I'll return the pain of Urokodaki trapping me here! I'll pay it back to you ten times, a hundred times over!!"
What did I say.
Bad!
Very fxxking bad!
Moriyama Akira was terrified by the demon before him. He subconsciously gripped his Nichirin Sword tightly and took two steps back.
"No... impossible... how can a demon like you be here!"
"Urokodaki has kept me trapped here for 39 years! The Edo Period, the Keio Era!"
The demon roared, countless arms dancing and pounding the ground. "Unforgivable! Unforgivable! Damn Urokodaki! Urokodaki! Urokodaki!"
The terrifying pressure was like a tangible quagmire, instantly seizing the two of them.
Ryosuke pushed the hilt of his sword open with his thumb, his breathing long and steady.
"If you don't want to die, fight!"
As soon as the words fell, Ryosuke turned into a streak of light and flashed forward, severing countless arms as he charged straight for the Hand Demon's neck!
Moriyama Akira reacted immediately, water vapor filling the air around him.
"Water Breathing · Third Form · Flowing Dance!"
The blades flowed, forming a joint attack.
The Hand Demon was furious. The severed arms regenerated instantly, dancing like long whips.
Bang! Bang!
The immense force sent both of them flying.
Ryosuke clutched his chest, vomiting blood violently.
Moriyama Akira's vision went black and he fainted on the spot.
Ryosuke was numb!
Bro, seriously! You fainted just like that?!
Demon Slayer Corps? I want to report someone! Someone is throwing the match in my promotion series!
At this moment, the mounds of flesh on the Hand Demon's body squeezed together, shooting out several arms to attack again.
In this moment of peril, thunder rumbled, and a figure appeared in front of the two.
"Thunder Breathing · Second Form · Rice Spirit!"
Boom!
Lightning circled, blade light flashing like electricity. Five swift slashes broke through the Hand Demon's offensive.
Shota looked back at the two of them.
"Are you okay?"
"Won't die."
Ryosuke got up and charged forward again with Shota.
Thunder raged, severed arms flying everywhere.
Although the two temporarily suppressed the Hand Demon, they were gradually becoming exhausted.
"This isn't going to work. We have to cut off his neck!"
Shota said coldly as he blocked another attack.
Ryosuke moved his numb wrist, knowing this clearly in his heart.
For a demon like the Hand Demon who had eaten nearly 30 people, his regeneration ability was already exaggerated. If they didn't cut off his neck, he wouldn't die!
But the Hand Demon's neck was protected by giant arms. It was incredibly hard, and with countless arms blocking the way, they couldn't get close at all!
In a split second!
Shota failed to react in time and was smashed fiercely in the side by a sweeping giant arm!
"Pfft!"
Shota sprayed a mouthful of fresh blood as he smashed into a nearby boulder. The Nichirin Sword flew out of his hand. His dark brown haori was torn open, and blood quickly stained it.
"Heh heh heh heh..."
The Hand Demon laughed wildly, closing in on Shota and Moriyama Akira.
Countless arms, like vines of death, quickly wrapped toward the two of them.
"Motherfxxker!"
Ryosuke spat out a mouthful of blood, a ruthless resolve flashing in his eyes.
If he didn't kill him, no one would survive tonight!
"System! Add points for me!"