"Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo—"
The blood-red light and the blue light on the blade intertwined.
Two arcs of light sliced precisely through the demon's body.
The last demon wore an expression of disbelief; in extreme terror, its entire body was severed into three pieces, soon turning into black smoke.
Silence returned to the clearing for a moment, leaving only a heavy scent of blood.
The wounded swordsman on the ground gasped for air, large beads of sweat hanging from his forehead.
It seemed he hadn't yet recovered from the shock.
Takeshi pointed to the sky, and the swordsman looked up to see a black object circling above.
"What is... that?"
"A Kasugai Crow," Takeshi said. "If you want to give up, follow the Kasugai Crow; they will lead you to the evacuation point."
After saying that, Takeshi left, and the swordsman stared blankly as Takeshi's back disappeared into the darkness.
"I guess I really can't become a Demon Slayer and avenge my family... even though I've worked so hard..."
Not everyone who works hard will grow into a swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps.
This path is too difficult, so difficult that it gives you no chance to grow at all.
Takeshi continued forward with a determined gaze.
"Ke-ke, a human, a human—a human delivered right to me!"
Slash—
"Finally, finally I can eat..."
Swish—
In the dark forest, Takeshi unsheathed his blade repeatedly, exterminating every demon that stood in his way.
It must be said, to move so fluidly and quickly through the forest, he had to thank Mr. Urokodaki.
The traps Mr. Urokodaki set on Mount Sagiri had excellently trained his movement speed in the mountains.
He must have designed them meticulously, not wanting his future Disciples to perish.
He truly was a respectable and gentle old man.
"Takeshi-kun, it seems there are swordsmen fighting demons up ahead. There are... no fewer than five demons," Kanae reminded him. "Remember to conserve your strength."
"Yeah, but it's fine. During that time, Tanjiro and I underwent life-risking, high-intensity physical training. At least for now, I can keep going."
As he spoke, Takeshi pushed through the dense forest.
In a large clearing, several demons had surrounded two Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen.
Greed glinted in their eyes.
"Dammit, weren't the demons on Mount Fujikasane supposed to be weak? Why are these guys so strong!" one of the swordsmen said, his face full of fear.
The other swordsman was also trembling so hard his teeth chattered. "Stop, stop complaining and start thinking about how to escape."
"You think I don't want to? Everyone else is busy saving themselves; how could anyone come to help us..."
Amidst their panic, the swordsman who spoke first noticed Takeshi walking toward them.
The demons noticed immediately. "Eh? Why would someone come to us of their own accord?"
"How rare. But the smell of this human... I don't like it."
"Ke-ke-ke, I think it's quite nice. Then leave him to me!"
...After seeing Takeshi, one of the swordsmen immediately shouted at him, "Hey, what are you doing? Run away! There are five demons here!"
But Takeshi remained unmoved, continuing to approach them.
The two swordsmen felt both anxious and puzzled.
There were five whole demons here; for greenhorns like them, it would be a feat just to kill one together... "Flower Breathing, Second Form: Double Petals!"
Takeshi's lips moved slightly, and in an instant, a pink halo drifted among the demons.
Squelch—
The sound of blood gushing and erupting rang out continuously as the heads of the five demons flew off almost simultaneously.
"Aaaah—dammit, I haven't eaten yet..."
"So hungry, so hungry, why won't you give me food—"
Amidst the shrill screams, all the demons present vanished completely.
The two swordsmen stared dumbfoundedly at the scene, feeling as if they were in a dream.
Five... powerful demons that had driven them to despair... wiped out in an instant by one person with a single move?
Moonlight fell coldly on Takeshi's calm face as he slowly sheathed his nichirin blade with a soft "click."
He didn't linger, turning to leave.
Only then did the two swordsmen snap out of it, shouting at Takeshi's back:
"T-Thank you! What is your name?"
"We want to repay you!"
Takeshi simply replied, "Try your best to survive."
He had helped where he could; the rest was up to their own luck.
Takeshi continued forward.
On the second day, still nothing happened.
On the third day, Takeshi witnessed a demon slaughtering a swordsman, but this time he arrived too late to save him.
On the fourth day, Tanjiro's side encountered the Hand Demon that had once murdered thirteen of Urokodaki's Disciples.
On the fifth day—
Takeshi had already slain nearly thirty-two demons.
This was on par with the number of demons Sabito had killed during his selection night.
Takeshi scooped up a handful of cold stream water and splashed it on his face.
"It should be over soon; the number of demons has significantly decreased these past few days."
Kanae couldn't help but be amazed; Takeshi was truly too strong. When she participated in the Final Selection, while she wasn't exactly running for her life, the number of demons she killed was only in the single digits.
And the reason Takeshi had such stamina was thanks to his incredibly abnormal blood.
Takeshi's blood could not only turn into a blade that caused massive damage to demons but also had the effect of rapidly restoring stamina and accelerating his breathing rhythm.
"Speaking of which, Kanao should be of age now. I wonder if that child will join the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Kanao?"
Hearing the familiar name, Takeshi's voice rose slightly.
"Yes, the child I mentioned to you before, the one Shinobu and I adopted. She's a very beautiful and cute little girl."
Kanae loved chatting with Takeshi, especially when mentioning Shinobu Kocho and Kanao; her tone would always become bright and cheerful.
"You probably don't want her to join the Demon Slayer Corps, do you?" Takeshi, however, could hear a hint of worry in Kanae's voice.
"...That's true. After all, rather than holding a sword to slay demons, I would prefer they live like the most ordinary girls in the world—peaceful and happy, growing up slowly, and growing old slowly."
"So you 'abducted' me into the Demon Slayer Corps instead," Takeshi teased.
However, the hazy figure in his consciousness slowly shook her head. As their Souls coexisted, they could "see" each other's subtlest expressions.
At this moment, there was no smile on Kanae's face, only deep anxiety.
"I regret it, Takeshi-kun," she said softly, every word clear. "I would rather you live well. In fact... I wish you would give up on this selection right now and leave this place."
Hearing Kanae say this, Takeshi was stunned.
Kanae's reason for this thought stemmed from the incident with the Eternal Paradise Cult follower they encountered in Luyushan.
Since then, an icy fear had coiled around Kanae's Soul like a poisonous vine:
If Takeshi continued on this path, if one day he faced that demon with the silver fans and the innocent smile... he would end up like she did... This thought gnawed at her day and night, filling her with immense self-reproach and guilt.
Through their long time together, she had come to see Takeshi as family, a vital presence.
She didn't want to watch helplessly as her "family" stepped into that hopeless Hell.
Takeshi was silent for a moment; he could more or less understand Kanae's thoughts.
Finally, he stretched and said with feigned lightness, "Don't worry, what I said earlier was a joke. Joining the Demon Slayer Corps was my own choice, and I promise you, I will live. I will survive no matter what."
"After all, you are right here." He pointed to his heart, his sincere smile carrying a deep warmth. "I still want to take you to see more scenery you've never seen before."
The stream babbled as Kanae stared blankly at the smile on the youth's face.