The rustling sound grew denser and heavier, like a herd moving through the forest under the cover of night. But this wasn't wildlife—everyone present knew exactly what it was.
The sound swelled like a rising tide… then abruptly thinned.
Not because it had faded—but because it had arrived.
The demons were already here.
Panic spread through the group. Their circular formation shrank instinctively as those on the outer edge pressed inward, triggering a ripple of unease throughout the ranks.
Then—
They appeared.
One after another, demons emerged from the shadows of the trees. Some stood upright, others crawled low to the ground, while a few clung to tree branches above, their glowing eyes fixed on the humans below.
Ten demons in total.
Just one demon was enough to terrify a normal person—ten was overwhelming. Several contestants felt their legs weaken, their grips on their Nichirin Blades tightening involuntarily.
Though their appearances varied, all the demons shared the same expression:
Hunger.
They stared at the humans like predators circling prey, licking their lips in anticipation.
To them, this was a feast.
Kimura swallowed hard, forcing down his fear.
"Everyone, stay calm," he said, steadying his voice. "Focus on your assigned area. Do not disrupt others' movements. If someone falls, the next person steps in immediately. Maintain the formation."
He raised his voice.
"Draw your blades!"
A chorus of metallic shings echoed as Nichirin Blades were unsheathed in unison.
Under Kimura's command, the outer ring stepped forward, expanding the formation slightly. This created space—both to maneuver and to rotate injured fighters out without disrupting the defense.
Kimura himself stood at the front line, gripping his blade tightly.
As the leader, he had no choice but to stand at the forefront.
Silence fell.
The cold moonlight bathed the battlefield in pale silver. For a brief moment, everything was still.
Then—
A demon lunged.
It sprinted on all fours, its movements erratic and feral, before suddenly leaping toward a burly contestant near the front.
The man didn't panic.
He lowered his stance, tightening his grip.
As the demon closed in—
"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!"
The blade swept forward in a fluid arc, mimicking the flow of water. The strike forced the demon to halt mid-air.
But demons weren't so easily dealt with.
Twisting unnaturally, it dropped low to evade the strike and immediately countered, claws shooting toward the man's abdomen.
Too fast.
His blade was still mid-swing—he couldn't recover in time.
Just as the claws were about to strike—
"Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust!"
A piercing thrust shot forward like a ripple cutting through water, striking the demon cleanly in the side of its face.
The demon shrieked, staggering sideways as blood splattered.
But before it could recover—
"Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!"
A blazing upward slash erupted.
Flames traced the arc of the blade—not real fire, but a visual manifestation of the technique as described in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba—as the strike carved across the demon's body and launched it backward.
It crashed into the ground, rolling several meters before scrambling to its feet.
Whimpering, it retreated into the forest, glancing back in fear.
For a moment, silence returned.
Then—
Relief.
Hope.
That single exchange ignited something in the group.
Demons were terrifying—but not invincible.
Even the demons lurking in the trees shifted uneasily. While they did not truly fear fire itself, the aggressive pressure and lethal precision of the attack made them instinctively cautious.
Kimura's confidence surged.
"This is it," he thought. "My formation is working perfectly."
Seeing the rescued contestant thank his teammates, Kimura stepped forward, clearing his throat.
"Everyone saw that," he said. "Demons are not invincible. Maintain coordination like that, and we will survive."
Voices quickly echoed in agreement.
"Yes, Captain!"
"As long as we follow your lead—"
"We'll pass the Final Selection!"
Kimura nodded calmly, though inwardly he was elated.
"Stay alert," he continued. "That was only a test. The next wave will be stronger."
Moments later—
It came.
The forest erupted as all the demons attacked at once.
"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!"
"Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust!"
"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
"Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter!"
Techniques clashed in rapid succession, their visual effects illuminating the battlefield as steel met flesh.
The true melee had begun.
—
Meanwhile, on another part of the mountain…
Cold Cry and his companion encountered their first demon of the night.
---