Chapter 272: Humans Can Use Blood Demon Arts Too?
If before, they had only the master's words to go by, and were suspicious he might've been deceived by someone...
Now, with even the Stone Hashira validating this seemingly outrageous "Reincarnation Game," the rest of the Hashira—like Rengoku and Sanemi—began to waver in their doubts.
After all,
they wouldn't normally question Master Kagaya's judgment unless the matter sounded too fantastical to believe.
Looking back, the master really didn't seem like someone who would be easily fooled by cheap tricks.
But...
They still looked conflicted. This whole thing was just too unbelievable.
"All of you, stay here for now. I'll have the crows send word to the remaining Hashira and ask them to return as soon as possible,"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki instructed after seeing that even Gyomei Himejima had received an invitation.
"The Hashira Meeting will begin early."
The existence of the Reincarnation Game must be made known to all of the Hashira immediately.
They had to identify any other Demon Slayers who had received the invitation.
These individuals had the potential to stand against Muzan Kibutsuji.
They must be nurtured carefully and protected until they could grow stronger.
If necessary,
Kagaya was even prepared to sacrifice himself to ensure the survival of these potential players.
Shinobu Kocho, her gaze mixed with curiosity and anticipation, asked, "Gyomei, did you bring back a weapon from the game like the Master did?"
If this was all real...
She wanted to become a player too and obtain a weapon that could boost her physical strength.
"Of course."
Gyomei nodded, drawing from his side a short rod that had gone unnoticed until now.
None of the other Hashira had realized when he had acquired this weapon.
Kagaya assumed it was the same as his—a starter weapon given by the system after entering the game.
He was surprised that each person received a different one.
"This is my starter weapon. It increases strength by two points."
Gyomei handed the short rod to Shinobu.
The moment she grasped it,
a warm surge flowed through her limbs. She quickly drew her Nichirin Blade.
Its blade was long and thin, with a hook-like barb at the tip—specially designed to inject poison.
Because of her lack of physical strength, she couldn't decapitate demons the way other Hashira could.
Instead, she coated her blade in poison and stabbed vital areas to kill them.
Even for lower-rank demons,
their skin and bodies were far tougher than humans. That she had become a Hashira, despite lacking the strength to sever a demon's neck, spoke volumes about her effort and grit.
Behind her gentle smile burned a seething hatred for demons.
This time,
she didn't dance like a butterfly, using graceful footwork.
She simply gripped her sword like a regular swordsman and slashed at a boulder in the garden.
Clang!
The blade bit half an inch into the stone, scattering fragments.
A standard Nichirin Blade might've cut even deeper.
"Shinobu, your blade isn't meant for slashing. You'll ruin it,"
Rengoku warned from the side.
Her blade, designed for piercing, was too thin to be used like that and could easily snap.
But Shinobu ignored him.
She slashed again.
Again, the blade dug half an inch into the rock.
Even new recruits could manage that much after finishing their initial training.
So the other Hashira didn't understand what she was doing.
"Shinobu, it's alright. I'll look for equipment in the game that boosts your strength,"
Kagaya offered, understanding her feelings.
Once, Shinobu had been serious and short-tempered, always chasing after her elder sister.
But after Kanae died, she shut herself off,
wearing a smile like her sister's and believing that losing control of her emotions was a sign of immaturity.
She rarely showed her true feelings in front of others.
But now, her emotions flared more visibly than they had in years.
Realizing her slip, Shinobu quickly smiled again and sheathed her blade.
She looked at Gyomei's rod, wanting to ask something but hesitating.
"Take it,"
Gyomei said simply. He could feel his comrades' emotions even without sight.
He generously offered the rod to Shinobu.
"Gyomei..."
Shinobu accepted it, then pulled out two medicine bottles.
"These are my personal antidotes, made from over a hundred rare ingredients. They'll help resist demon poison."
These were invaluable.
But to her, they didn't compare to that rod.
"I insist,"
she said.
She also paid the 20 certification points needed to bring the weapon into the real world and handed over other valuable medicine as compensation.
Kagaya understood.
Shinobu was extremely proud. She didn't want to owe anyone—especially not Gyomei.
"Take it,"
he told Gyomei. "Once the Hashira Meeting ends, we'll begin restructuring the Demon Slayer Corps."
"As leader, I'll do everything in my power to ensure all of you are equipped with gear from the Reincarnation Game."
Not just to kill demons more efficiently—
but also to protect the lives of the Demon Slayers.
Their family had passed down its legacy for a thousand years,
with the goal of destroying the Demon King.
They had built up enough wealth to support the Corps through the early stages of this new path.
"And one more thing, Master,"
Gyomei said, opening his shirt to reveal his strong, muscular torso.
The Hashira, all trained in Breathing Techniques, immediately sensed a strange aura from him.
Buzz.
His skin began to shimmer like granite,
turning his already large frame into something resembling a living statue.
"What is that?"
Even Kagaya stared in shock.
Though he had spent time wandering the forest in-game, he had died to a goblin before learning much.
But Gyomei, already strong, had slain fifteen goblins with just a starter rod before being ambushed by an Ice Goblin.
With the points he earned, he bought a skill called:
[Rock Body]: Transforms your body into stone, greatly enhancing defense.
"Humans... can use abilities like Blood Demon Arts?"
The Hashira stared in disbelief.
Those fearsome demons—
especially the ones ranked among the Upper Moons—
were dangerous not just for their strength,
but because of their strange and deadly Blood Demon Arts.
If humans could access techniques just as powerful and bizarre...
then killing demons would be so much easier.
Get 30% off on my Patreon and enjoy early access to new chapters.
You can also purchase the next 100 chapters of the novel directly from my Patreon page.
Hurry up! The promotion ends on March 2, 2026.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Franklin1