The Spider Demon silently approached one of the participants.
The three participants were still engrossed in their discussion, completely unaware.
"So, should we stay here or go down directly?"
"Ahem, the people in my village pooled a lot of money for me to join the Demon Slayer Corps exam. Going back now would be too humiliating."
"What's the big deal? Just make up an excuse. Not everyone who tries out for the Demon Slayer Corps makes it. A few survivors failing isn't unheard of."
The Spider Demon circled around the three of them.
They had no idea that a terrifying monster was lurking right behind them.
The Spider Demon wasn't in a hurry to devour its prey. It planned to have some fun. It spun around like a top, seemingly deciding on a plan.
It moved its six legs and positioned itself behind the tall participant, its skeletal body rising slowly, its hands reaching for the tall participant's neck.
The two participants sitting opposite finally noticed the hideous creature, as if it had suddenly emerged from the ground. They both thought of a centipede.
In an instant, their backs went cold, and goosebumps covered their bodies. They wanted to run, but their legs felt like they were filled with lead, unable to move.
One participant, sitting diagonally, slowly raised a trembling hand, trying to speak, tears almost streaming down from either fear or urgency.
The tall participant noticed his companion's gesture wasn't directed at him but at something behind him. He thought they were trying to scare him and attempted to turn around, "What's wrong with you two? Did you see a..."
Before he could finish the word "demon," there was a loud "crack," and his neck twisted at a 90-degree angle.
The tall participant's eyes widened in terror as he finally saw the monster behind him, his eyes gradually filling with blood.
With the tall participant's death, the spell binding the other two seemed to break.
"Ah! Demon!"
The participant sitting diagonally screamed in horror and scrambled toward a dark path.
It was the path leading up the mountain where Kimura's team had gone earlier. He wanted to catch up, beg for their forgiveness, and ask for their protection. He regretted following the tall participant's lead.
The other participant was paralyzed with fear, his face pale, body trembling uncontrollably, and wetting himself. He wanted to run, but his body wouldn't obey.
He could only watch as the monster approached, reaching for his neck with its cold, dry claws. There was another "crack," and he heard the sound of his neck snapping.
The screams echoed through the quiet night and eerie forest, marking the beginning of the feast, the hunt, the celebration—at least for the demons.
The screams startled Kimura's team, who were searching for a defensible spot in the forest.
Upon hearing the screams, everyone froze, their scalps tingling, and they turned towards the sound.
"Help! Somebody help me!"
The pleas for help grew closer, then abruptly stopped, like a candle snuffed out in the night, causing everyone's heart to skip a beat.
He's dead! This thought crossed everyone's mind as the screams ceased.
The group began to panic, fear spreading like wildfire, rising from their feet and wrapping around their bodies.
Something's coming! It's getting closer!
One, two, no... more than two! The sound of rustling leaves came from all directions—above, below, everywhere. Are we surrounded?
"Everyone, don't panic. There are so many of us; there's nothing to fear. Form a circle and move slowly."
Kimura's trembling voice, though soft, provided guidance to the bewildered team.
The leader, as the team's core, now showed his value.
Following Kimura's command, the team shifted from an attack formation to a slow-moving circle.
Kimura took a deep breath, suppressing his fear. As the leader, he had to instill confidence in everyone. Otherwise, the team would disintegrate.
In this place, fighting alone was a death sentence.
"Everyone, stay calm. Once we're here, there's no turning back."
Kimura's opening statement calmed the group. He continued, "By joining this exam, we've prepared for death. Fear won't help; it'll drag us down."
"So, I declare: those too scared to fight will be abandoned. If necessary, we'll expel them from the team. Only those who fight will receive help."
"My team aims to pass the exam, not to shelter the weak. Let's abandon all fear and work together if we want to pass."
Kimura's firm speech reassured everyone, providing clarity and direction.
The group responded positively.
"Remember, the girls at the foot of the mountain said the demons here were captured by the Demon Slayer Corps, meaning they aren't very strong. If the Corps can handle them, so can we."
This statement further boosted everyone's confidence.
Kimura's words weren't just motivational; they made sense, reinforcing their belief.
Elsewhere, Hatsune and Nae were sitting idly on the stone platform.
Hatsune glanced at the moon and tossed stones into the forest below.
Nae hugged her knees, puffed her cheeks, and drew circles with a stick.
Despite the approaching demon tide, only they remained calm.
Suddenly, a piercing scream came from nearby.
Nae jumped up and looked towards the sound.
It came from the mid-mountain area. Then came a series of distant cries for help, which soon fell silent.
Nae instinctively wanted to help but sat back down next to Hatsune.
"Someone died."
"I heard."
"Aren't we going to do anything?"
"What do you want to do?"
Nae shook her head, "I don't know."
"If you don't know, then do nothing. The first night is the hardest. Once we get through it, things will be better."