Ever since Cold Cry told her not to act rashly, Noe had been sitting quietly beside him, absentmindedly drawing circles on the ground with a twig.
She was bored out of her mind.
Fortunately, Cold Cry was there—but unfortunately, he barely spoke. His silence made her feel oddly uneasy. Several times, she wanted to start a conversation, but whenever she turned and saw his cold, unreadable expression, the words died in her throat.
She didn't dare disturb him.
A faint rustling sound suddenly rose from the forest below.
Noe immediately looked up.
Just as she had thought earlier, the dense darkness beneath the trees felt like a gateway to another world—something could emerge from it at any moment.
And sure enough, something did.
A round, misshapen figure slowly peeked out from the shadows, its body pressed low against the ground. It paused, then turned toward the stone platform—its gaze meeting Noe's.
The moment it realized it had been noticed, it shrank back into the darkness.
"Cold Cry… there's something down there."
Noe pointed nervously while tugging at his sleeve.
"What thing?"
Cold Cry's tone was calm, but in truth, he had already sensed them.
More than one.
Aside from the one hiding below, another presence lingered behind a nearby rock. Both were weak—mere stragglers. Most of the stronger demons on Mount Fujikasane had already gone off in search of prey. Only these cowardly ones remained, lurking in the shadows, waiting for an easy opportunity.
If they had any real strength, they would have attacked already.
"It… it looked like a head…" Noe hesitated. "But… why would a head crawl on the ground?"
Cold Cry exhaled lightly.
"Congratulations. You've just encountered your first demon of the Final Selection."
"A demon…?" Noe's eyes widened.
"Is that so surprising? This is the Demon Slayer Corps selection. It would be strange not to encounter one." He glanced at her. "Don't tell me… you've never actually seen a demon before?"
Noe stiffened under his gaze.
"I—I have! Of course I have!" she stammered. "Aren't demons just humans that turned into monsters? They should still look somewhat human… right?"
Cold Cry raised an eyebrow.
"They don't just look human. They're distorted versions of humans—like you, but far less pleasant to look at."
"Ah…"
"And usually just as foolish," he added, tapping her lightly on the forehead.
Noe pouted, rubbing the spot. "You're teasing me again…"
"I'm stating facts."
He picked up her Nichirin blade and handed it to her.
"Didn't you say you wanted to protect me? Go on—cut off its head. That's how demons are killed." His voice remained indifferent. "You've eaten enough of my food already. Time to prove your worth."
At the mention of food, Noe's expression stiffened.
"…Cut off its head?" she murmured. "Isn't that a bit… excessive? I don't even know it…"
"If you don't kill it, it will kill you," Cold Cry replied flatly. "That's what demons do—they eat humans. This is your job now."
Noe bit her lip.
Then, gripping her Nichirin blade tightly, she slowly made her way down from the stone platform into the clearing below.
She hesitated, glancing back.
Cold Cry simply waved his hand, urging her forward.
Moments after she landed, the demon revealed itself.
It crawled out from behind a tree, its body thin and grotesque. Its skin clung tightly to its bones, as if it had been starving for years. Its head was bald, its mouth stretched wide to reveal jagged fangs, and a low, guttural sound escaped its throat.
Though once human, it now resembled a feral beast.
Demons retained predatory instincts—they could sense fear.
And Noe… was terrified.
"I-Is that really a demon…?"
Her hands trembled as she drew her blade. She tried to warn it off, stepping back slowly, her voice shaking.
Cold Cry watched from above, unmoved.
He had no intention of intervening.
Suddenly—
The demon lunged.
Its body shot forward, hugging the ground with terrifying speed. In an instant, it closed the distance. Less than a meter remained.
"You—don't come closer!"
In panic, Noe squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head away.
Cold Cry stood up sharply.
His thumb pushed against the tsuba, slightly unsheathing his blade. A faint chill seeped into the air, mist gathering subtly around him.
He was ready to strike.
But then—
"Love Breathing, Fifth Form: Unsteady Romance—Chaotic Claws!"
His eyes narrowed.
Love Breathing?
Below, Noe's blade suddenly changed.
The rigid Nichirin sword in her hand became flexible—bending and whipping like a ribbon. It moved with unnatural fluidity, transforming into a slender, whip-like weapon, much like the unique blade style used in Love Breathing.
Her wrist flicked rapidly.
In an instant, countless slashing arcs filled the space before her, forming an unpredictable web of attacks—like claws dancing wildly in the air.
Offense and defense intertwined seamlessly.
This was no random panic.
She knew what she was doing.
The demon leapt straight into the storm.
A shrill scream tore through the clearing.
Its body was shredded mid-air—especially its upper half, which had entered the attack range first. Blood sprayed in all directions as countless shallow but rapid cuts tore across its flesh.
In mere seconds, it was covered in wounds.
A bloodied mess.
Only when Noe stopped did the demon manage to escape.
It staggered backward, its body trembling, then fled into the forest—wailing in pain as it disappeared into the darkness.
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