[I'll ask one more time—Host, are you sure you want to spend all of your lifespan on upgrades?]
The system's voice sounded by his ear.
"Cut the crap! Add it!"
[All 156 days of lifespan have been invested into Thunder Breathing: First Form — Thunderclap and Flash!]
[Thunderclap and Flash has been raised to Mastery. Triple Strike unlocked!]
[Warning! Host lifespan insufficient. If you cannot slay the demon tonight, you will die!]
The moment the notification ended,
A torrent of power from the very source of life detonated violently inside his parched organs!
It wasn't warmth.
It was burning. Tearing. Squeezing out the last ember of life!
Ryosuke's veins bulged like spreading roots, and from every pore of his body, savage arcs of lightning burst forth—visible to the naked eye!
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
"Triple Strike!"
With an inhuman roar, the ground beneath Ryosuke exploded, dirt and碎石 blasting backward like cannon fire!
His dash speed broke past its limit in an instant. A solid-gold curtain of light lingered behind him as he crashed straight toward the Hand Demon's huge arms!
Shk!
Several severed limbs flew up in the blink of an eye!
The Hand Demon was shocked. "So fast!"
Shota was stunned too, staring at the fading streak of light in the distance.
Ryosuke twisted his body at speed, and the second slash was even faster than before, shooting straight toward the demon's neck!
Shota's pupils widened, and he clenched his fists unconsciously.
It'll work!
He can definitely cut its head off!
Crack!
With a crisp sound, the Nichirin Blade in Ryosuke's hand snapped in two!
Time seemed to freeze.
Not only Ryosuke—even Shota was utterly stunned.
Damn it!!!
How the hell did I forget how Sabito died?!
Ryosuke had been hunting nonstop for six days.
Aside from the Hand Demon and the few demons Shota had killed, he had practically slaughtered all the remaining demons on Mount Fujikasane!
Which meant his Nichirin Blade had been worn down badly—there was no way it could bite through the Hand Demon's hardened neck!
"Kehehehe…"
The Hand Demon sneered as countless tentacle-like arms swept in at once.
Luckily, Thunderclap and Flash was too fast—its strike missed completely.
At that moment, Shota reacted instantly and hurled his Nichirin Blade over.
"Ryosuke! Catch!"
Ryosuke's eyes turned cold as stars. The instant he pivoted, the final slash of the Triple Strike erupted!
At that extreme speed, Ryosuke caught the sword midair, and the crackling lightning compressed into a single line of killing brilliance!
Shk!
The blade was sharp. Countless giant arms were severed!
And at that moment, the Hand Demon's head split free and crashed to the ground.
Ryosuke half-kneeled, as if a plane had taken off multiple times in a row—his body instantly hollowed out.
The Triple Strike was powerful, and the recoil was just as brutal.
[Successfully slain mid-tier demon: Hand Demon. Gained 1 year of lifespan.]
[Current remaining lifespan: 1 year.]
One year!
Not bad—at least it wasn't a loss.
That year was Ryosuke's very first "starting capital" on the road to surviving and getting stronger!
"Ryosuke!"
Shota clutched his side and rushed to him, grabbing his shoulder to hold him up.
"Are you okay?" Shota's voice was shaking.
"Just exhausted. I won't die."
Ryosuke smiled and lay back on the ground.
This kid Shota liked competing with him, but when it came to life and death, he was loyal.
"Damn it! I actually got my head cut off!"
"I'm not satisfied! I'm not satisfied! Damn Urokodaki!"
"I want to eat… I want to eat more…"
"After becoming a demon, I bit off my brother's neck!"
"Eh… brother… who was that again?"
"Can he hold my hand?"
…
The Hand Demon's muttering drifted into their ears.
Everyone knew that in Demon Slayer, whether human or demon, they often had delusions right before death.
A final flash of memories.
Except that ugly pot demon.
Even though the author later filled in his backstory in official materials, if it wasn't in the anime, it wasn't there.
Still a clown.
…
On the morning of the eighth day, dawn pierced through the wisteria mist and fell upon the survivors.
Even the Kakushi who came to receive them were stunned.
Because this year, the young swordsmen gathered near the exit numbered more than a dozen!
In recent Final Selections, that was almost impossible.
Soon, the answer was revealed.
Amid the shaken survivors' discussions, one name was repeated again and again.
Yasui Ryosuke!
That Thunder Breathing swordsman who hunted demons nonstop for six straight days inside Mount Fujikasane like a madman!
He had almost single-handedly cleared most of this death hunting ground—and in the end, he slew the Hand Demon!
Returning once more to the shrine covered in wisteria, everyone made way for the three of them.
Ryosuke nudged Shota beside him, feeling helpless.
"Let's go."
Shota showed little reaction, while Moriyama Akira at the side looked guilty.
After all, he only used one move, then got knocked unconscious by the Hand Demon.
When he woke up, the fight was already over!
A pure freeloader. A total carried win.
The three of them each chose their ore, and immediately after, Ryosuke's Kasugai Crow landed beside him.
It was a rare sharp-beaked hummingbird—small in size, with deep blue feathers, and a long beak like a quenched needle.
After receiving their uniforms, the three were about to leave when a guide from the Ubuyashiki family suddenly arrived.
"Yasui Ryosuke, Kirigaya Shota, Moriyama Akira—please remain for a moment. The Master summons you."
"The Master?!" Shota and Moriyama Akira exclaimed at the same time, overjoyed.
For new recruits who had just joined the Demon Slayer Corps, being summoned by the legendary Master was an immense honor!
Ryosuke, however, was much calmer. He nodded to the guide.
"Please lead the way."
They passed through layers upon layers of wisteria trellises, and an ancient, simple estate came into view.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya sat beneath the veranda.
He had a pair of beautiful eyes, black hair, jade-like skin, and a handsome face—only, near the left side of his forehead, faint purple scars spread.
Though he was about the same age as the three of them, the calm gentleness that emanated from within made him seem far more mature.
"Welcome, brave swordsmen. Seeing you return safely brings me great comfort," Kagaya said softly.
Shota and Moriyama Akira hurriedly bowed, their voices trembling. "M-Master!"
Ryosuke only lowered his head slightly, treating it as a greeting.
Kagaya gave a small nod to the three of them.
"I must apologize. In this Final Selection at Mount Fujikasane, due to insufficient oversight by the Demon Slayer Corps, a demon far beyond the exam's standard was able to lurk within, creating tremendous danger."
"If not for the three of you fighting with all your strength and slaying it, the casualties in this selection would likely have been unimaginable."
"This is the Demon Slayer Corps' failure. As the Master, I cannot escape responsibility. Here, I offer my apologies to you—and to all swordsmen who endured this danger."
He bowed slightly, humble and solemn.
Moriyama Akira's eyes reddened with excitement, his words tumbling out.
"N-no, we don't deserve that! Master, you honor us! It's my privilege to serve the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Shota nodded hard as well, his face bright with the thrill of being recognized.
Only Ryosuke yawned, feeling nothing—if anything, he was a bit sleepy.
No particular reason. In his previous life, he'd been stuffed full of empty promises from bosses. In this life, he couldn't swallow any more.
"Mr. Yasui," Kagaya looked at him and let out a soft laugh. "You're an interesting person."
Ryosuke tugged at the corner of his mouth, a tired honesty in his expression.
"Nothing special. I just want to live."
You too.
For yourself, and for your family's survival.
All of us… we just want to live.
"I see."
Kagaya nodded, his voice still gentle. "To live is the fundamental strength that supports every demon hunter, swinging their blade through the endless night."
"May that strength guide you, Mr. Yasui, as you carve open the path that is yours."