"This is a mirror world formed by my Blood Demon Art. There is no escape, little midget."
Jin stood in front of the demon, breathing heavily. His entire body ached.
'This is the moment my cheat ability should appear… right?'
'And what the hell is this… a mirror world? Is that even allowed?'
"Are you a Demon Moon?"
The demon suddenly stopped.
Its body trembled—
Then it burst into loud, uncontrollable laughter.
"Hahahahahaha…!"
"Demon Moon?"
"You think I'm a Demon Moon? Hahaha…!"
It laughed for a while before calming down.
"Demon Moons are the top powerhouses of this world. Do you think they sneak around killing weak little pests like you?"
"I'm just a young stray demon… trying to fill my empty stomach."
Jin's expression stiffened.
'A stray demon… this strong?'
"Now then… time's up, midget."
Jin exhaled slowly.
He had already given up on the idea of any "cheat."
Now, his full focus was on survival.
'If I decapitate him, he will die.'
'The corps uses these swords… which means Nichirin blades still work in this world.'
'If he's a young demon, his physical strength should only be slightly above a human…'
'But this body… I'm only twelve… and injured.'
Jin tightened his grip on the sword and steadied his stance.
The demon lunged.
Its arm transformed into a blade and slashed toward him.
Jin jumped sideways, barely dodging the attack. He immediately crouched and slashed at the demon's leg—
*Slash!
A deep cut appeared.
"Ghh—! You little—!"
The demon's other arm morphed into a heavy mace and came crashing down.
Jin rolled away just in time and scrambled back to his feet, breathing hard.
Then—
Something changed.
'…My body doesn't hurt anymore.'
'A strange energy… it's flowing through me.'
Jin took a stance again and charged forward.
The demon swung its mace.
Jin dodged.
The blade followed—
He parried it.
*Clang!
This time, he only stumbled a few meters back.
His hand trembled from the impact.
His heart pounded wildly.
And then—
He smiled.
'This thrill…'
With every breath, the energy inside him grew stronger.
He could feel it.
Flowing.
Building.
He gripped his sword tighter and rushed in again.
The demon's leg had already regenerated.
They clashed head-on.
This time—
Jin wasn't pushed back.
Steel met flesh again and again.
The battle reached a stalemate.
But slowly—
Jin's attacks grew sharper.
Faster.
More vicious.
'This stimulation…!'
Suddenly, Jin leapt back—
Then launched himself forward with explosive speed.
He slipped past the incoming mace—
*Slash!
Both of the demon's arms were severed at the shoulders.
"AAARGH!!"
The demon staggered back in shock, staring at its missing limbs.
When it looked up—
Jin was grinning.
Like a maniac.
For the first time—
The demon realised something.
The roles had reversed.
Predator…
and prey.
"I want more…"
Jin muttered, taking a deep breath.
In the next instant—
He vanished in a flash of white.
'This boy… he's not normal…!'
'A breathing user—! I have to escape!'
The demon turned to flee—
But a white flash consumed its vision.
And the next moment—
Everything flipped.
"Huh…?"
'…Is that my body?'
'Did I… get cut?'
Its head fell.
Its body began to disintegrate—
Along with the mirror world.
Jin stood nearby, his entire body trembling.
His sword slipped from his hand.
But a wide grin remained on his face.
'I… love this.'
*Thud.
Darkness consumed him.
-
Jin slowly opened his eyes.
He found himself in an unfamiliar room.
Confusion flickered across his face, but as his memories returned, he calmed down.
'Someone must have brought me here.'
His body felt extremely heavy—
like he had run a marathon.
Without thinking further, he drifted back to sleep.
When he woke up again, half a day had passed.
"You're finally awake."
Jin turned toward the voice.
It was the same cadet from before.
"Let's introduce ourselves first," the man said.
"I'm Osuda Yuji, commander of the 47th unit of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Kawahire Jin."
Yuji nodded and placed Jin's sword in front of him.
"Where did you get this sword?"
Jin already knew they must have investigated him.
So, he told everything—
About his family.
The demon attack.
Finding the corpses of the slayers.
Taking the sword.
And finally—
His fight with the demon.
"I got lucky… the demon underestimated me, and I managed to cut off its head."
Yuji looked at him for a moment, then nodded.
"You did well, boy. We tried several times to capture that demon, but it always escaped using that strange ability."
He stood up.
"I'll take my leave now. Your body is exhausted—rest properly."
He paused at the door.
"Tomorrow, report to the corps headquarters."
"Rengoku-sama wants to speak with you regarding the demon that attacked your family."
"One of my cadets will escort you."
The door closed.
Silence filled the room.
Jin lay there, staring at the ceiling.
'Rengoku Kyojuro… the Flame Hashira…'
A faint smile formed on his lips.
'I wonder… is he still a glutton in this world too?'