Ishida stepped out of his house and headed towards Fujikasane Mountain, where the Final Selection was going to happen.
The System told him that it would take him over a day, around 38 hours, to get there.
On his way, he'd pass through lots of villages and markets. Luckily, the System found the quickest routes and shortcuts to help him reach his goal faster.
But since Ishida didn't have enough money to travel faster, he chose to keep walking to get to his destination.
With his speed and a little help from the System, covering that distance wouldn't be too much of a problem.
As the day ended, Ishida kept moving forward, not even stopping when night fell.
The day of the big final exam had finally arrived...
Ishida showed up at the spot a bit later than everyone thought he would. He had taken a break and rested along the way, which slowed him down.
Luckily, even while traveling at night, he didn't run into any demons. He did feel their presence nearby, but he was careful not to engage them. He didn't want to waste his energy and strength before the important exam.
When Ishida finally got to the mountain's location, he was surprised to see the whole area filled with wisteria flowers. He stood there for a moment, a bit confused by the sight.
But Ishida's thoughts were all about the final selection exam he came for. He didn't want to waste any time, so he headed straight in. After walking a bit, he found a staircase. Climbing up, he realized he had reached the place for the final selection. There was entrance gate with seals on it, and inside, he saw others who were also there to take part in the final selection.
Ishida didn't pay much attention to the others. He walked right past them, noticing the curious looks they gave him, but he ignored them all. Well, all except one.
"Hey there... Nice to meet you, I'm Sakura," she said.
Ishida halted when a girl stepped in front of him. She had long, flowing black hair and bright reddish eyes, and she was dressed in a simple pink kimono
Image
"Hi..." Ishida replied, feeling a bit awkward as he wanted to move past her. But before either of them could continue the conversation, another voice interrupted.
"Good Evening!" The voice chimed, capturing everyone's attention. Ishida and Sakura, along with the others, turned to see two little girls standing together. They spoke in unison, "You have arrived tonight for the final selection of the Demon Slayer Corps. Thank you all for being here."
"Here on Mount Fujikasane, you'll find several demons that were captured alive by the demon slayer swordsmen," one of the girls began, pausing before the other girl continued, "The Wisteria Blossoms prevent them from escaping. These blossoms grow all over the mountain, covering everything from the base to halfway up."
"But beyond this point, the wisteria stops," the first girl resumed. "So, from here on, the demons are confined and very hungry. To pass the final selection, you must survive for seven days within the wisteria's protection." She paused, having explained everything that needed to be said. "Now, your trial begins!" they announced together, signaling the start of the challenge.
Ishida stood there with a look of determination on his face, confident that he could handle whatever came his way during the trial.
"Hey, are you scared? Don't worry, I'll protect you!" Sakura said with a reassuring smile, still standing beside Ishida as the announcement had just concluded.
Ishida glanced at her briefly but didn't say anything. Instead, he turned and made his way toward the entrance, with Sakura following close behind.