"Urokodaki-san, have you ever seen someone like this before?"
"I can't believe it. He mastered Stone Breathing in an instant, and that's the most difficult breathing technique to learn!"
Even as he recounted the events of the past few days, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice held an uncontainable excitement. He couldn't shake the feeling that destiny itself had brought these extraordinary talents into his life. Whether it was Himejima Gyomei, who despite being blind, could crush demons with sheer physical strength; Tokito Muichiro, who became a Hashira after just two months of training with a blade; or Rengoku Kyojuro, who mastered Flame Breathing after reading a single scroll—each was a prodigy unlike any other.
And now, standing before him was another: Tongu, a man whose raw physical prowess had astounded even Gyomei, and whose natural talent allowed him to grasp the complex Stone Breathing after a single demonstration.
Urokodaki Sakonji, unmasked today, chuckled and shook his head. "Someone like Tongu? Never in my life."
Not far from them, another young man stood out—recommended by Giyu Tomioka. Though talented in his own right, he was still honing his physical strength and endurance as he began his training.
Tongu, however, was already on the grassy field, holding a wooden sword in both hands. Under Gyomei's supervision, he was practicing the fundamental forms.
Whoosh!
Tongu swung the wooden blade with immense force, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. Despite Gyomei's preference for unique weapons like his battle axe and flail, he insisted Tongu start with the basics, knowing that a strong foundation in swordsmanship was essential.
The fundamentals of kendo consisted of nine basic forms: downward slash, horizontal slash, reverse horizontal slash, left sweep, right sweep, left upward cut, right upward cut, upward thrust, and lunge. Every complex sword technique evolved from these nine forms.
Tongu repeated these movements over and over, each strike more fluid than the last. Yet as he practiced, his thoughts wandered. In a world like this—a fusion of various anime universes within the Game of Fate—swordsmanship was undoubtedly one of the most powerful and versatile skills. Though his prior focus on adaptability had kept him from learning swordsmanship before, he now recognized how crucial it was, especially in the Demon Slayer world.
[Under the guidance of Gyomei Himejima, you have gained proficiency: Basic Swordsmanship Lv1.]
Feeling the system's notification in his mind, Tongu exhaled in relief. His movements now felt smoother, more precise. Although he still couldn't access his full stats panel, he was confident that his combat abilities had significantly improved. With the added strength from Stone Breathing, the upcoming Final Selection should pose little challenge.
Gyomei, observing his disciple's newfound fluidity, was surprised but quickly attributed it to Tongu's exceptional aptitude. A man who could comprehend Stone Breathing so quickly was surely no ordinary individual.
Sitting in the courtyard with Ubuyashiki, Urokodaki also noticed the change. Despite his keen perception, the rapid progress baffled him. Sighing, he murmured, "A genius like this is a rare find, but such talent also comes with risks. Sending him straight into the Final Selection might be too dangerous. What if…"
"Back then, my own disciple showed great promise, yet in the end…"
Understanding Urokodaki's unease, Ubuyashiki shook his head with a soft sigh. "Tongu is older than most recruits when they join the Demon Slayer Corps. He's no child anymore. And beyond that…"
Urokodaki glanced at him, puzzled.
"I see a burning desire in his eyes—a desire to kill demons."
Urokodaki's pupils contracted as he turned his gaze toward the towering figure of Tongu, who continued his training in the distance.
---
[Side Quest: Complete the Demon Slayer Final Selection.]
[Rewards: Custom Nichirin Sword, increased Demon Slayer Corps reputation, minor boost to trial rating.]
After seven days of rigorous training, Tongu now stood at the foot of Fujikasane Mountain. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a faint purple glow, he observed the perimeter covered in wisteria flowers. Beyond this boundary lay the mountain's core—a prison for man-eating demons, maintained by the Demon Slayer Corps.
Gyomei, tears streaming from his blind eyes, seemed almost pained by the dangers his disciple was about to face.
"There's still time to turn back. The Final Selection is perilous beyond imagination. Alone, you'll face relentless attacks from demons throughout the night. No rest, no…"
Tongu, sensing Gyomei's concern, cut him off with a resolute shake of his head.
"Master, if I can't defeat these lesser demons, how will I ever face the Twelve Kizuki?"
Gyomei froze, silenced by the conviction in Tongu's voice. Finally, with a heavy sigh, he reached behind him and produced an oversized blade—over two meters long and three fingers wide, its gray surface gleaming faintly.
"This is one of my old Nichirin Blade. It might not be heavy enough for us, but it's sturdier than the standard ones. Take it."
Tongu accepted the massive blade, its weight exceeding ten kilograms. Testing its balance with a single hand, he swung it through the air, the blade emitting a deep, resonant hum. It felt far better than any lighter weapon.
"Thank you, Master. I won't disappoint you."
Gyomei placed his hands together in prayer. "May fortune favor you... Namu Amida Butsu."
Without looking back, Tongu stepped into the mountain, traversing the forest of wisteria as the last rays of sunlight disappeared.
---
As darkness enveloped the mountain, an eerie chill crept through the air. Tongu adjusted the colossal blade on his back, his breath steady despite the oppressive atmosphere.
Thud… Thud…
A strange, rolling noise caught his attention. Emerging from the underbrush was a round object—at first glance, it appeared to be a boulder, but as it drew closer, Tongu's sharp eyes discerned its true nature.
A human head.
Its flesh was mangled and half-decayed, leaving only a grotesque mix of exposed bone and rotting tissue. Judging by its size, it belonged to a child—likely a previous participant in the Final Selection.
"Hmm? Only one person this time?"
A long-haired demon stepped from the shadows, blood smeared across its face and clothes. Its crimson eyes glinted with greed as it fixed its gaze on Tongu.
"One person is hardly enough to feed us all!"
At its words, more figures emerged from the darkness, their forms faintly visible among the trees. Over a dozen demons now surrounded Tongu, their intent clear.
These demons had formed an alliance, lying in wait at the mountain's entrance to ambush newcomers.
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