Lucas didn't hesitate this time.
Zenitsu was still resting soundly, so there was no need to worry about him noticing the subtle commotion caused by the fusion process. For the past two nights, Lucas had taken on the role of Zenitsu's mentor—training him in real battle and helping him confront his fears.
Whenever they encountered a demon, Lucas stepped back and let Zenitsu take the lead.
At first, Zenitsu would simply faint from fright, slipping into his 'big mode'—that subconscious, instinct-driven state where his body fought brilliantly despite his cowardice. But Lucas had intentionally allowed one of the demons to land a threatening blow during a fight. This time, he didn't protect Zenitsu, allowing the danger to become real.
That's when it happened.
The fragile boy who once only swung his blade recklessly became something else entirely—a streak of golden lightning, fast and precise. In one swift movement, Zenitsu cleaved the demon apart, saving Lucas just in time.
After that intense moment, Zenitsu found himself unable to use his First Form again for a while. His instincts had temporarily frozen.
Lucas wasn't discouraged. For someone like Zenitsu—whose fears were rooted deep in his childhood—growth had to come gradually. Forcing him to confront everything at once would only deepen the trauma he carried.
Lucas shifted his focus back to his own progress.
Today, he was merging with a new talent: Concealment.
Unlike the violent intensity of Slit Line or the sensory rush of Echoing Ears, Concealment was subtle, almost ghostly. It wasn't a dramatic transformation but something quieter—like a stream gently flowing through his body, through his muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.
He could feel his physical presence fading. Not just his body, but his energy, his very being, became harder to sense—dissolving into the surrounding air.
By the time the fusion was complete, Lucas's breathing was so shallow it could barely be detected. His heartbeat slowed to a calm, consistent rhythm. His body blended into the shadows, like a stone resting silently in the night.
If someone passed right by him, they probably wouldn't even notice.
"Tsk. Not bad," Lucas muttered. "Better than nothing."
Concealment didn't make him truly invisible, but it was still a powerful talent. And when it came to talents, who would complain about having too many?
---
Meanwhile, at the Ubuyashiki Estate.
A Kasugai Crow with a vibrant purple ribbon fluttered through the air and landed inside the peaceful estate. Sitting calmly on the platform was Kagaya Ubuyashiki, his pale purple skin illuminated softly in the fading light.
He gently reached out, letting the crow perch in his arms.
"So… a child has already reached the 'Xin' rank before the Final Selection even ended?" Kagaya's tone was calm but clearly intrigued.
Could it be another rare prodigy like Muichiro?
He shook his head, dismissing the idea. A genius like Muichiro only came once in a generation.
Still, to be able to achieve the 'Xin' rank this early… this boy was special.
"Recommended by Jigoro, you say? Then he must be truly excellent."
Kagaya coughed, a soft but painful sound.
He covered his mouth with one hand, his expression serene despite the agony.
"Still," he whispered with a warm smile, "I wonder… will I live long enough to see this boy become a Pillar?"
The crow nuzzled against his chest as if sensing his pain. Kagaya continued stroking its feathers gently, his eyes filled with hope and quiet strength.
---
Seven Days Later.
The Selection had ended.
Lucas and Zenitsu returned to the gathering point on Fujikasane Mountain, stepping onto the familiar square where it had all begun.
As Lucas expected, only five participants had made it out alive.
The rest had fallen in the mountain's deadly trials—claimed by demons or broken by fear.
"Oh my god, I actually survived!" Zenitsu shouted dramatically, throwing his hands in the air. "I thought I was done for a hundred times! I nearly died in there!"
He turned to Lucas with a mix of awe and resentment. At the start, Zenitsu had assumed Lucas would act as his personal bodyguard. But that wasn't what happened at all.
Lucas had pushed him—hard.
He'd forced Zenitsu to face demons alone, despite the boy's trembling limbs and screams. From blind panic and fainting spells to finally facing weaker demons head-on, Zenitsu had undergone intense growth.
Even he couldn't deny it.
His time on Fujikasane Mountain was harder than all the training he'd done with Master Jigoro on Peach Mountain.
"Welcome back."
A soft voice pulled them from their thoughts. It was Nichika and Hinaki, Kagaya's twin daughters. The two young girls appeared quietly at the edge of the square and offered gentle bows.
They began speaking about Demon Slayer uniforms and the official ranking system.
Before they could explain much, someone interrupted.
"Where's my sword?! I passed the selection—give me my weapon already!"
It was Genya, always impatient, always aggressive. He pushed forward rudely, ignoring the girls' explanations.
They stayed silent and clapped their hands instead.
From above, several Kasugai Crows swooped down.
"From now on," Hinaki announced, "Kasugai Crows will accompany each of you."
"They serve as messengers," Nichika added. "Primarily for communication within the Demon Slayer Corps."
A crow landed on Lucas's shoulder. Its jet-black feathers shimmered faintly in the light, and its eyes were even darker than coal—calm, watchful, intelligent.
Lucas met its gaze. The crow tilted its head at him.
Before the moment could settle, Genya lost his temper again.
"This is ridiculous! I want my sword, not some bird!"
Without warning, he shoved a crow aside, stormed up, and grabbed Nichika by the hair.
"Where is it?! Give me my sword, now!"
Before the others could react, two people moved simultaneously.
Lucas.
And Tanjirou.
Kanao's gaze flicked away from the butterfly on her finger, observing silently. Her eyes trailed to Lucas, who had appeared beside Genya like a phantom.
That speed…
It reminded her of how he had effortlessly slain the massive crawling demon during the selection.
"Be polite, alright?" Lucas said with a calm smile, his hand gripping Genya's wrist firmly.
"Let her go—or I'll break your hand."
Tanjirou arrived a moment later, stepping in protectively.
Genya's eyes flicked to Tanjirou, but he didn't reply.
Instead, he stared directly at Lucas, then slowly released his grip on Nichika.
Tanjirou blinked in confusion.
Wait, Genya gave up that easily?
He watched as Genya stepped back, his face tight with something Tanjirou didn't expect—fear.
Why was Genya afraid?
Tanjirou sniffed the air slightly, his senses sharp.
Yes, Genya was definitely afraid. But not of Tanjirou.
Following Genya's gaze, Tanjirou turned his eyes to Lucas.
Lucas was gently smoothing Nichika's hair, his expression gentle, almost brotherly.
Was Genya afraid… of Lucas?
The thought unsettled him.
Genya stood frozen for a few more moments, then turned away. He didn't speak, but he kept glancing at Lucas from the corner of his eye—cautious, uneasy.
Lucas noticed Tanjirou's puzzled expression and gave him a soft smile in return.
During the past week, Lucas hadn't just trained Zenitsu.
He had cultivated intensely each day.
By the third day, he broke through the bottleneck in his spiritual energy and reached the "Geng" rank—a full three tiers above Genya.
Even without using much power, the gap between them was massive.
Still… Genya's fear seemed disproportionate.
Lucas had barely applied any pressure. Why had Genya reacted as if he had stared into the face of death?
What no one else knew was this:
Genya, unlike others, had eaten demon flesh to survive. It altered him. It gave him abilities—but it also gave him something else: instinct. Sharper, more primal.
His senses screamed in warning around Lucas.
What he had felt in that moment wasn't strength.
It was something deeper.
Lucas's eyes had flashed with genuine killing intent.
And Genya knew without a doubt—
Lucas was hiding the majority of his power.
---patreon(Jutsu_143)