After leaving the Wisteria House, Yamada did not choose to trek on foot like an ordinary swordsman.
'A power system like Chakra is simply an overkill in this world.'
In the dense forest, a black afterimage shuttled at high speed between the thick tree trunks.
With pale blue Chakra attached to the soles of his feet, Yamada easily leaped across distances of dozens of meters with each jump.
The Demon Slayer Corps' Breathing Style is essentially squeezing physical potential to its limits through special breathing frequencies to briefly obtain power comparable to a demon.
But Chakra is different, it is the perfect fusion of spiritual energy and physical energy. There was no need to deliberately maintain "Total Concentration Breathing." As long as the Chakra was still flowing, his speed, strength, defense, and even recovery power crushed the ordinary people of this world in every aspect.
In less than half a day, a towering mountain shrouded in a vast sea of purple flowers appeared at the edge of Yamada's vision.
Mount Fujikasane.
Wisteria flowers, which are extremely repulsive and even fatal to demons, bloom here all year round.
The seniors of the Demon Slayer Corps imprisoned captured demons within this wisteria barrier, using it as a trial ground for the Final Selection of newcomers.
According to the original process, the selection would only officially begin in four days. At that time, all participants would gather at the foot of the mountain, follow the guidance of the two kids from the Ubuyashiki Family, and survive in the mountains for seven days.
But Yamada stopped at the foot of the mountain, looking up at the steps leading deep into the mountain, a wild and arrogant curve curling at the corner of his lips.
"Wait four days to enter with that group of newcomers whose hands shake even when holding a sword? I don't have time for that."
Rules are set for the weak. For him, who possessed the Sasuke template, Mount Fujikasane, which imprisoned hundreds of demons, was not some trial ground where survival was uncertain, but an open-door Dimension Point Buffet.
Without any hesitation, Yamada crossed the boundary of the Wisteria Forest and strode into the depths of Mount Fujikasane, where the sun never shone.
The deeper he went, the thinner the scent of wisteria became, replaced by a nauseating smell of blood and rotten stench.
"Hiss..."
Just two kilometers in, a strange rubbing sound came from the tree canopy overhead.
"Human... it's the scent of a human. How can a lone human enter the mountain early?"
"Who cares? I haven't eaten human flesh for nearly five years. This kid is mine."
Accompanied by shrill roars, three ordinary demons with unrecognizable faces, fangs, and sharp claws pounced on Yamada from three different directions.
In their eyes, this black-haired youth who hadn't even drawn his sword was already scared witless.
Yamada didn't even lift his head. His hands instantly turned into a blurred afterimage, his hand seal speed reaching the limit that the naked eye could not capture.
Snake-Ram-Monkey-Boar-Horse-Tiger!
His chest swelled high, and a massive amount of Chakra instantly transformed into extreme heat at his throat.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Boom!
A huge crimson fireball with a diameter of over five meters, carrying a terrifying heat that could incinerate everything, suddenly erupted from Yamada's mouth.
The surrounding air was instantly distorted by the high temperature, and the dead leaves on the ground spontaneously combusted into ashes before they even touched the flames.
"Wha... what is this thing! Aaaaah!!!"
The three demons in mid-air saw a sea of crimson before their eyes, and then the terrifying flames, enough to melt steel, completely swallowed them.
Before their screams could even last a second, the fireball rolled through the air like a bulldozer, incinerating a dozen towering trees along with the three demons into charred ashes flying in the air.
There was no need for a nichirin blade at all. When the temperature and destructive power of the flames completely exceeded the regeneration limit of the demon cells, they could be instantly obliterated.
[Ding! Killed three ordinary demons. Dimension points +30]
"So weak."
Yamada exhaled a breath of turbid air, looked at the charred fan-shaped ground, and casually took off the Kusanagi Sword along with its scabbard from his waist, carrying it on his shoulder.
"Now, the hunt begins."
For the next period of time, for the demons in Mount Fujikasane, it was simply an unprecedented nightmare.
In previous Final Selections, they were the ones who treated the new swordsmen as toys and food, hunting them down relentlessly. But this time was different.
A youth in a black uniform completely subverted the relationship between predator and prey. He didn't sleep or rest and didn't even need to find cover.
The black straight sword in his hand was incredibly sharp. No matter how hard the neck was, a single flash was enough for the head to fall.
What terrified the demons even more was that this human not only had terrifying swordsmanship but could also release lightning and fire.
In just one day, the demons on the outskirts and middle sections of Mount Fujikasane were almost wiped out by Yamada alone.
"Monster... that guy is definitely a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. Why would a Hashira come in to slaughter the mountain?"
"Run! Don't let him target you. Those red eyes... just one look and you'll die."
The remaining demons trembled and fled madly toward the deepest part of Mount Fujikasane.
At this time, there were still three days left before the actual Final Selection began.
In the central area of Mount Fujikasane, in an open forest of jagged rocks.
Yamada shook off the black blood on the Kusanagi Sword and sheathed it.
At this moment, on his system panel, the dimension points had surged to 1,480.
In this one day, he had killed at least ninety demons.
"Are there none left on the outskirts?"
Just as Yamada was preparing to continue sweeping into the depths, the ground beneath his feet suddenly shook violently.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Heavy footsteps accompanied by an extremely thick stench approached from the shadows ahead.
"Has this year's Demon Slayer trial already begun?" An extremely low, raspy voice sounded.
Then, a deformed monster as large as a small mountain of flesh squeezed out of the forest. Its body was entirely composed of countless thick arms wound together, its whole body a nauseating dark green, with even its neck protected deep within layers of arms.
Those huge bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at Yamada, emitting a violent killing intent.
The true overlord of Mount Fujikasane, the old monster captured and imprisoned by Urokodaki Sakonji for over forty years—the Hand Demon!
The Hand Demon's massive body stopped ten meters in front of Yamada.
His large eyes scanned Yamada up and down, and he let out a piercing sneer, "Hee hee hee... I thought some Hashira had come in, but it's just a brat who isn't even wearing a uniform."
He narrowed his eyes, seemingly looking for something. "Hey, brat, where's your fox mask? Aren't you that old man Urokodaki's student?"
What the Hand Demon loved most was specifically hunting down and killing swordsmen wearing Warding Fox Masks during the selection to take revenge on Urokodaki Sakonji.
However, facing this visually impactful mountain of flesh, Yamada's expression didn't change in the slightest.
"Fox mask? I don't have such a thing."
Yamada looked at the Hand Demon like he was looking at a huge pile of non-recyclable trash. "It took me quite a bit of time to find you. You're better at hiding than those little demons, you big piece of trash."
"You dare call me trash?!"
The Hand Demon was instantly enraged. Veins popped on his distorted face as he roared, "Arrogant brat! You have no idea what you're facing! I've eaten fifty... no, including you, it's fifty-one! I've eaten thirteen of that old man's students! You should have heard how miserably they cried when they died, hee hee hee!"
The Hand Demon tried to use this cruel description to destroy Yamada's psychological defenses.
In the past, those newcomers would often be so angry they lost their reason, leaving themselves wide open.
Unfortunately, he had used it on the wrong person.
"Oh, is that so." Yamada's voice turned cold.
He had no feelings for Sabito or Makomo, but he really hated others making such unpleasant noises in front of him.