The thick stench of blood heavily mixed with the sweet, suffocating scent of wisteria flowers, assaulted Kazama Iroha's nostrils the moment he snapped his eyes open.
An unfamiliar and disorienting landscape met his gaze.
Purple flowers bloomed eerily in the shadows, beautiful yet dangerously bewitching in the dim light.
'Where... where is this?'
Before Kazama could even begin to sort out his chaotic thoughts, fragments of memories that definitely did not belong to him flashed rapidly through his mind like a high-speed slideshow.
It didn't take long for Kazama to understand his current situation.
To put it bluntly, he had transmigrated.
This was the Meiji era, specifically in a location known as Fujikasane Mountain.
As for exactly why he was here? It was because after diligently learning the forms of Stone Breathing from his master, he was sent here to participate in the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection trial to become a bona fide Demon-slaying Swordsman.
'Wait a minute!'
'Fujikasane Mountain? The Demon Slayer Corps? Stone Breathing? Isn't this... Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba?'
As a seasoned otaku, he was all too familiar with this series—a story notorious for being "heartwarming" right before it ripped your heart out!
Simply put, this was a world inhabited by vicious, man-eating Demons, and the Demon Slayer Corps utilized a superpower known as Breathing Techniques to hunt and slay them.
At this realization, Kazama actually grew a little excited.
It seemed that he, too, had the chance to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps and personally save those tragic characters he had always pitied!
He attempted to stand up, but the movement immediately pulled at a raw wound, forcing him to grimace in sharp pain.
He looked down to inspect the injury on his abdomen.
It was fine.
Someone had already treated and bandaged it, he wasn't going to die here.
Lifting his gaze to survey his immediate surroundings, he spotted a cool-faced, black-haired youth wearing a solid red patterned haori leaning against a tree trunk, panting heavily.
The boy was covering his eyes with one hand as fresh blood seeping out from between his fingers.
Beside him, another youth was saying something urgently.
That second youth had distinct, long, salmon-colored hair and wore a warding Fox Mask on the side of his head.
Kazama Iroha instantly recognized them: the future Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyu and the genius swordsman who only existed in tragic flashbacks, Sabito.
To think he was actually in the same batch of trial-takers as these legends!
However, Kazama's initial excitement began to fade rapidly.
He already knew the timeline inside and out.
According to the original plot, Sabito was destined to die in this very selection from sheer exhaustion while protecting everyone else.
He would die at the hands of that twisted Hand Demon.
Kazama had to give him a warning right now: tell him that the Hand Demon's neck is incredibly tough and that he shouldn't get entangled in a prolonged fight with it.
"Sabito..."
Hearing Kazama's weak call, the masked Sabito turned his head and asked in a low, concerned voice.
"Excuse me, are you alright..."
Before he could even finish his sentence, a piercing scream echoed from the distance, cutting through the forest air.
"We'll talk properly when I get back! Please, take care of Giyu for me."
Without a single hint of hesitation, Sabito threw these words at Kazama and then his figure flickered rapidly a few times before vanishing deep into the dark forest.
"WAIT, DON'T GO!"
Kazama shouted at the top of his lungs, but alas, Sabito's figure had already completely disappeared...
This was exactly who Sabito was, a truly righteous and gentle soul to the bitter end.
"This is bad... this is really bad," Kazama's brow tightened in frustration.
If Sabito went there now, it would be a final farewell!
He had to go help him.
With that desperate thought, he struggled violently to stand, but the searing pain in his abdomen kept him pinned down, unable to move properly.
Just then, a grating, eerie laugh reached everyone's ears, and the atmosphere instantly shifted as they all became vigilant.
"Hehehehe!"
From the shadows of the trees not far away, a grotesque, hideous Demon slowly emerged into view.
Thick saliva dripped continuously from the corners of its mouth, and its pair of murky yellow eyes fixed greedily on the injured trial-takers present.
That gaze was filled with nothing but starving greed.
"It's a Demon!"
"Everyone, watch out! Be careful!"
The few swordsmen who could still manage to move took their combat stances, but their visibly trembling legs betrayed their overwhelming inner fear.
"Hehe, just my luck. I was only trying to lay low and hide from that little brat with the mask, but who would have thought... I'd stumble right into such a lavish feast?"
"A full six of them."
The Demon approached slowly, murmuring to itself, "Don't struggle now. Just be good and let me eat you."
Before its scratchy voice could even fade, its figure had already charged explosively toward the nearest injured swordsman.
Right before everyone's astonished eyes, it plunged its sharp, dirty nails deep into the swordsman's shoulder.
Blood spurted out in a gruesome arc, splashing all over the Demon's face.
"Ah... how delicious."
The Demon licked the fresh blood with sickening enjoyment, casually blocked an incoming strike from a Nichirin Blade and then swung the captured swordsman around in its grasp like a ragdoll weapon.
But suddenly, it stopped cold.
It sniffed the air hard with its grotesque nose, its gaze landing squarely on Kazama Iroha.
"So fragrant..."
"You smell so incredibly fragrant! Eat! Eat! If I eat you, I'll become even stronger than before!"
The Demon let out an excited, guttural roar, even more drool spilling uncontrollably from its mouth.
As if completely drunk on the scent, it staggered obsessively toward Kazama!
Hearing this, Kazama couldn't help but retort inwardly.
'Damn it, what kind of creepy pickup line is that?'
'What do you mean, I smell fragrant? I haven't showered in days!'
'Also, is this the butterfly effect? According to the original plot, no one was supposed to die in this Fujikasane Mountain trial except for Sabito...'
Was this a change he had personally brought about just by existing?
At that critical moment, a nearby swordsman shouted out.
"Everyone, attack together! If we don't, none of us will escape this alive!"
Hearing this rallying cry, the surrounding swordsmen exchanged glances, mustered up their crumbling courage and charged forward with their Nichirin Blades raised high!
Kazama looked at that brave swordsman and his heart filled with genuine gratitude.
As expected of the Demon Slayer Corps candidates, they really had courage... and unshakeable conviction.
But before the words of praise could fully form in his mind, he saw the very swordsman who had shouted sneakily backing away, then turning on his heel to run in the opposite direction!
'What the fuck?!'
Watching the fleeing swordsman's back, a scorching flame of pure rage ignited in Kazama Iroha's heart!
He was actually a damn dirty deserter!
[Host's righteous anger detected. Justice System—Marine Module has been activated.]
A cold, distinct, mechanical voice abruptly sounded directly in Kazama Iroha's mind.
'Marine Module?'
'Are you kidding me? This is the world of Demon Slayer, what the hell is a Marine System doing here? Did it get lost on the way to the Grand Line?'
However, the logic of it wasn't important right now!
Kazama Iroha paused for a split second, then quickly realized that no matter what kind of weird system it was, as long as he could gain the power to deal with this deadly situation, it was fine by him.
'System, give me power! Any power!'
[Host detected participating in Marine Selection. Basic Marine Soldier Physique has been granted.]
The system's voice sounded again, emotionless and prompt.
The very next second, a massive, warm current burst from his heart, instantly surging through his limbs, torso and every cell in his body.
The excruciating pain in his abdomen receded like a low tide, and the torn muscles began to squirm, knit together, and heal at a visible rate.
His limbs, which had been weakened by severe blood loss, were once again filled with an explosive, overwhelming sense of raw power.
'Is this... the standard physical body of a soldier from the world of One Piece?'
Kazama clenched his fists tightly, feeling the crisp, satisfying crackle from his knuckles.
He had no time for celebration, as the last two standing swordsmen were already faltering under the Demon's cruel, taunting attacks.
Several swordsmen already lay unmoving on the ground, their robes stained deep red with blood.
This was a Demon!
This was the purest, most brutal form of a Demon in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba!
If he couldn't even deal with a nameless nobody of a Demon like this, how could he even talk about saving a genius like Sabito!
"Hey! You ugly freak!"
Kazama pushed himself up from the ground with ease.
Beneath his tattered clothes, his muscles were already perfectly intact and rock-hard.
He looked straight at the Demon and let out a furious roar, "Your feast is right over here!"
The Demon tossed aside the barely breathing swordsman in its hand and charged straight toward Kazama as if it had completely lost its mind to hunger!
BOOM!
The moment the Demon's figure reached Kazama Iroha, it was met with a solid, heavy, bone-shattering punch!
It was sent flying backward like a cannonball!
[Pirate attack detected. Please engage immediately. Capture or execute them in the name of Justice!]
Watching the Demon climb shakily back up from the ground, Kazama tilted his head in confusion.
He understood now.
This system was batshit insane.
It thinks Demons are Pirates.
But honestly, that kind of crazy suited him just fine!
"Eat..."
The Demon licked the dark blood from the corner of its mouth with the tip of its long tongue.
The blood vessels in its eyes suddenly spread and burst red.
Its voice was laced with a cold venomous hatred.
"Eat you! I will eat you and become stronger!"
With that scream, it pounced at Kazama again, its speed much faster and more desperate than before!
The muscles all over its body bulged grotesquely.
A grating crackle erupted from its fingernails as they suddenly elongated and curved, transforming into ten pitch-black, gleaming hooks capable of tearing through steel.
A hideous grin spread across its face as it roared.
"Die, you little brat!"