The courtyard of the Ubuyashiki estate was serene, shadows stretching across the stones as each Hashira arrived, faces somber with the weight of the meeting ahead. Amane Ubuyashiki, the Master's wife, stood at the head of the gathering, her calm expression only amplifying the air of mystery and reverence. As the Hashira settled, she began.
"Thank you for gathering on such short notice," she started, her voice gentle yet clear. "As many of you know, the Demon Slayer Mark has resurfaced among several Slayers, a blessing of strength…but it comes with a price."
A murmur of curiosity and concern rippled through the Hashira. Amane waited for quiet before continuing, a slight sadness evident in her gaze.
"The price is life itself," she said. "Those who acquire the Demon Slayer Mark will, inevitably, meet their end by the age of twenty-five. This curse has claimed each marked Slayer in history—except one." She paused, and her expression softened. "The only known exception was the first: Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who was born with the mark and lived an extraordinary life until his eighties."
The Hashira absorbed her words, shocked at the revelation. Though Yoriichi was a legend among them, they hadn't realized his existence had been so unique. Amane explained that while Yoriichi lived a long life, his mark had not faded, symbolizing his unrivaled power.
Bell, who had been listening intently, raised his hand. "There's…another Slayer born with the mark—Kamado Tanjiro. His birthmark resembles Yoriichi's, and he's carried it since childhood."
The Hashira exchanged glances, realization dawning in their eyes. Giyuu nodded slightly, clearly moved by the idea that Tanjiro might be a bridge to Yoriichi's legacy.
Amane nodded as well, her gaze turning to Bell with a mixture of gratitude and thoughtfulness. "It seems fate has indeed woven something powerful into Tanjiro's path."
After the meeting concluded, the Hashira made their way out of the main hall, the implications of their future lingering heavily in their thoughts. The Demon Slayer Corps was now at a crucial point; the recent battles had proven that Muzan's forces were strong, and they would need to push themselves further to meet the threat.
At the center of the courtyard, Gyomei Himejima, the towering Stone Hashira, struck his iron bead necklace, calling for attention. "Starting tomorrow, all Hashira will begin a Corps-wide training for all high-ranking Slayers. We will share every ounce of our skill and knowledge to prepare them for the fight against Muzan."
This announcement, though anticipated, still sent a surge of excitement through the Hashira and the other Slayers nearby. Each Hashira would soon lead their own specialized training, designed to push every Slayer to their absolute peak.
The next morning, the sun broke over the training grounds, where a crowd of eager, determined Slayers had gathered. Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, stood in front, arms crossed as he sized up the line of Slayers before him, eyeing each one with his usual confidence.
"All right, let's make this 'training' as flamboyant as possible!" Uzui declared with his trademark grin, crossing his arms with a flourish. "Strength, speed, and style! Every one of you will learn what it means to fight with flair!"
Bell joined the session as Uzui's training began, sparking interest among the others, and soon, one by one, other Hashira joined in, intrigued by the spectacle and determined to test their mettle against Bell. Even Shinobu and Giyuu watched closely, occasionally trading respectful but competitive glances with Bell as Uzui's flamboyant regimen kicked off.
Under Uzui's sharp gaze, each Slayer took turns practicing Uzui's unconventional speed drills, dodging obstacles while blindfolded and with their hearing tested by a cacophony of clashing sounds. Bell's raw power and refined speed impressed everyone, even Uzui, who found himself grinning as Bell maneuvered with graceful ease.
When Uzui's training came to an end, each Hashira left a few parting words of encouragement and moved on to the next session, where Muichiro Tokito awaited, his gaze aloof but focused as he prepared to push the trainees to new levels of concentration and precision.
Muichiro's training was less physically demanding but intense in its own way; he required that each Slayer enter a focused state of concentration, pushing their breathing and awareness to the limit. Bell, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Kanao made their way through each drill, improving their abilities to sense even the slightest changes in their surroundings.
As the day wore on, the strength and skill of the Slayers visibly increased, their once-exhausted movements now sharp, precise, and powerful.
In between training sessions, however, the Hashira themselves began sparring with practice swords in a makeshift competition that had every Slayer watching in awe. Tengen, Shinobu, Giyuu, and the others took turns facing one another, each spar engaging and revealing each Hashira's unique fighting style. But it was Bell's sparring matches that had everyone holding their breath.
Each time a Hashira faced Bell, he adjusted his style, effortlessly matching them yet maintaining a playful edge that kept even the most seasoned warriors guessing. Even Sanemi, notoriously quick to anger and scornful of others' skills, found himself grudgingly impressed after losing to Bell twice.
"Not bad," Sanemi muttered, his eyes narrowed but glinting with grudging respect as Bell walked off, chuckling.
Obanai Iguro, who'd observed every spar with a steely gaze, took his turn next, his silent challenge enough to make the crowd hold their breath. Bell and Iguro faced each other in silence, and with a sharp cry, the two clashed, their blades a blur of motion. Obanai's movements were smooth and calculating, his strikes relentless as he sought any opening in Bell's defenses. But Bell met each attack head-on, his gaze locked on Iguro's, calculating each counter with chilling precision. After a final sweep, Iguro's practice sword was flung from his grasp, and Bell stepped back, offering a respectful nod.
Bell's unbeaten record had been established, leaving even the Hashira speechless. Yet despite his wins, he approached each match with laughter, his excitement at facing such skilled opponents clear in his bright eyes. This spirit of camaraderie inspired the other Hashira to push even harder, knowing that in each clash, they forged themselves into a force more powerful than any demon they might encounter.
As the final rays of the sun dipped below the horizon, the day's training drew to a close, with Bell, Tanjiro, and the others feeling a newfound sense of unity and strength. For the first time, they felt that together, they had the power to face even the darkest horrors Muzan could send their way. And with the Hashira leading them forward, they knew their training was only the beginning.
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