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Two children, as cute as dolls, stood in front, one with black hair and the other with white, each holding a lantern.
"Thank you all for gathering here tonight to participate in the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection. In this Purple Wisteria Mountain, many demons captured by Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen are imprisoned. The condition is to survive inside for seven days..."
The two spoke one after another, explaining the rules of the Final Selection to everyone.
"What about our food?"
"Bring your own. Demons won't appear during the day, and you can use the resources within the mountain freely, as long as you don't leave this Purple Wisteria Mountain. Otherwise, it will be considered abandoning the selection."
"Can we form teams?"
"Yes."
...
The new swordsmen asked questions, as their lives were at stake, and no one would take it lightly.
Hearing that the rules didn't restrict teaming up, joy appeared on everyone's faces, and they began to communicate with each other, looking for teammates. One more person meant one more hope.
Muichiro Tokito had joined the Demon Slayer Corps for too short a time; no one had heard of his abilities.
Everyone's gaze focused on Kamihara Tetsuya.
This was a genuine expert. He had fought an Upper Moon, was proficient in medical arts, and passing the Final Selection was like completing a beginner's village quest for him.
Looking at the clear, expectant eyes of these novices seeking guidance, Kamihara Tetsuya couldn't possibly misunderstand their intentions.
It was fine to lend a hand during the selection process, but bringing a few burdens along was entirely unnecessary.
"Let's go, Kanzaki Aoi," Kamihara Tetsuya said, turning and walking into the depths of Purple Wisteria Mountain.
"Yes."
Kanzaki Aoi followed closely behind Kamihara Tetsuya.
The faces of the surrounding new swordsmen showed regret, but it was a kindness if an expert was willing to lead, and their prerogative if he wasn't. They had no reason to blame him.
Except for one person.
Kaigaku stared with resentful eyes at Kamihara Tetsuya's receding figure. This person clearly had the strength, yet he was going to watch them be killed by demons.
"Tetsuya-san, with your power, it shouldn't be difficult to help them pass the Final Selection, should it?" Kanzaki Aoi said, looking at the people's eyes, her heart softened.
After all, she too had been cowardly, hiding until now before daring to participate in the selection, so she could empathize.
"Why should I help them?" Kamihara Tetsuya retorted.
"This..."
Kanzaki Aoi really wanted to reply that it was only right for companions to help each other.
"So you've considered them companions," Kamihara Tetsuya articulated Kanzaki Aoi's inner thoughts.
Kanzaki Aoi nodded gently.
Kamihara Tetsuya was speechless. No wonder she hadn't become a formal swordsman yet. "These people aren't companions. Once danger strikes, they'll stab you in the back at any moment. I don't trust them."
Kanzaki Aoi pursed her lips.
"Helping them is also harming them. If they don't have the ability, they should withdraw from the selection quickly. Even if they get help from others and luckily pass the selection, they will die in a mission later, becoming extra meals for demons," Kamihara Tetsuya continued.
Without real ability, one would die sooner or later.
Kanzaki Aoi's beautiful eyes dimmed. If that was the case, she was the same.
Without Kochou Shinobu-Miss's connection, Kamihara Tetsuya would never have brought her, a burden, along.
Kamihara Tetsuya had some skill in understanding human nature. Seeing that Kanzaki Aoi's mood was off, he immediately understood what she was thinking. A girl's mind was too delicate.
"You are in the process of learning. You are different from them," Kamihara Tetsuya said.
Kanzaki Aoi's heart warmed. Was he comforting her? Tetsuya-san was indeed a very good person.
Whoosh!
A black shadow flashed quickly through the forest.
Kamihara Tetsuya gestured to Kanzaki Aoi, "See? Practice material has already been delivered to our doorstep."
Kanzaki Aoi turned her head and her heart trembled.
A ferocious male demon clung to a tree, its crimson eyes fixed on her.
"Woman! Woman!"
This male demon, seeing the delicate-skinned Kanzaki Aoi, drooled profusely, trembling with excitement.
Kanzaki Aoi turned pale with fright, instinctively shrinking behind Kamihara Tetsuya.
Kamihara Tetsuya scoffed. The Demon Slayer Corps wouldn't feed live humans to these demons. He figured the demon must be starving mad.
Except for demons with special constitutions, most demons' strength was measured by the number of humans they had eaten.
It had only eaten one or two people to begin with, and after prolonged starvation, how much strength could it still exert?
"Give that woman to me!"
The male demon opened its mouth wide and pounced fiercely at Kanzaki Aoi, whose body stiffened, remaining rooted to the spot.
Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!
Kamihara Tetsuya took a deep breath, drew his nichirin blade, and swung it from bottom to top. The blade's glow, like a blazing fire, easily sliced through the male demon's body.
The male demon's eyes widened. No, this guy was completely different from the novices it had encountered before!
It couldn't even see the speed of this sword swing.
Whoosh!
Kamihara Tetsuya spun around, sending out four consecutive slashes that precisely landed on the male demon's four limbs. The sharp slashes severed the bones along with the flesh.
In an instant, the male demon's body was torn into pieces, falling to the ground, blood gushing out.
"See? Demons aren't that scary," Kamihara Tetsuya crouched down and chuckled.
Due to lack of energy replenishment, this demon couldn't even control its severed limbs, let alone regenerate its body. It lay on the ground, unable to move, with only its mouth remaining.
"Bastard, I'm going to eat you!"
"Don't sleep too soundly tonight!"
The male demon stared fixedly at Kamihara Tetsuya.
"The weaker the stray dog, the louder it barks, because it needs to intimidate its enemies," Kamihara Tetsuya scoffed, tapping its head with his nichirin blade.
Not very damaging, but extremely insulting.
Watching Kamihara Tetsuya toy with this demon in the palm of his hand, Kanzaki Aoi was stunned.
In her mind, the incredibly terrifying demon was like a toy in Kamihara Tetsuya's hands.
Kamihara Tetsuya smiled, "Come on, give it a slash!"
Looking at the smiling Kamihara Tetsuya, a chill ran down the male demon's spine. It felt as if it had seen a devil, speaking the most terrifying words in the calmest tone.
Kanzaki Aoi slowly drew her nichirin blade.
Seeing this, the male demon burst into tears, "Wait, please, I've never eaten a human."
Kanzaki Aoi's face remained unmoved. Demons were skilled at deceiving others with words; this was the first lesson a demon slayer received. She couldn't believe anything a demon said.
"Find the right angle. Cutting from here is the most effortless way," Kamihara Tetsuya lifted the demon's head with one hand, demonstrating the angle to Kanzaki Aoi.
"Hoo! Hoo!"
Kanzaki Aoi took a deep breath, allowing a large amount of air to enter her lungs, and a continuous flow of power surged within her.
"Water Breathing: Surface Slash!"
Kanzaki Aoi swung her nichirin blade, and a water-like slash cut off the demon's head.
The world turned upside down. The male demon's head fell to the ground, its eyes filled with disbelief. It couldn't believe it would be killed by such a fragile young girl.
No matter how unwilling it was, it couldn't change the fact. Its head, along with its body, vanished into thin air.