章 20: Demon Slayer Final Selection
Having my hair comfortably stroked by Kanae, we sat in pure silence until I decided to speak.
"I'll be leaving for Wisteria Mountain."
Chuckling slightly, Kanae continues to stroke my head.
"I'm aware of that my little Shiro. I also know that you'll pass the test with flying colors. Us as Hashiras hold a lot of pride, so if you were to die before even receiving your first mission, then it will reflect poorly on us."
"I'll be sure to meet expectations." I state resolutely.
Kissing my forehead, Kanae looks at me with a hint of sadness.
"Don't set yourself to meet the expectations of others. Set your own and reach them. Just remember though, when reaching for the stars, others are there to catch you when you fall."
Taking Kanae's words to heart, I spent the next month waiting as the date for the Demon Slayer Final Selection would commence. Being the busy body that I was, I worked on antidote creation with Shinobu. I wanted to work on poison making, but Shinobu stopped me from doing so, saying that I would steal the fame that rightfully belonged to her.
Placing my foot at the base of the Fujikasane Mountain, I stare towards the peek to only have my vision obscured by the purple luminescence of Wisteria Trees. Enraptured by the full bloom of these trees, the journey to the half-way point passed by in an instant.
Arriving at a clearing where a pedestal lay, my eyes scan across the other potential Demon Slayer participants. My presence caught the attention of a few, but I was eventually brushed off as they put their attention back on the pedestal. Doing the same, I find myself staring at two Ubuyashiki siblings who are Kiriya Ubuyashiki (black hair) and Kanata Ubuyashiki (white hair).
As they began to speak in pure unison with each other, they explained that Final Selection would require us, the examinee, to survive seven nights on the mountain top, without any outside aid. If we survived for all seven nights, then we would be permitted to become official members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Aware that the demons I kill on this mountain would be the very first intelligent lifeform that I would be killing, I prepared my body, mind, and soul.
Upon being released and forced atop the mountain, we all began to separate from one another. Some began their trek to the far side of the mountain, while others, like I, stayed near where the entrance and exit were.
Night taking hold, the moon shone dimly, barely illuminating my path of travel. Feeling movement to my right, I halted my steps and placed my hand atop the hilt of my blade.
Staring intensely at the direction of where the sound came from, I watched as a balding Demon came barreling out of the bushes. Locking his eyes on me, the Demon rushed forwards, saliva dripping from its mouth. Reaching the area where I was standing, the Demon opened its mouth to bite down on me, but at that exact moment, I had unsheathed my blade, cutting the neck of the Demon.
Watching as the head flew away, the body began to crumble before eventually turning into dust. Checking the emotions that I felt for having killed my very first Demon, I found that I had little to no change.
Lucky that the chances of me freezing up when I would kill a Demon were low, I breathed out a sigh of relief before then climbing up the nearest tree.
Jumping from tree to tree, I made myself further towards the peak of the mountain. As I continued to traverse the mountain, I encountered a multitude of Demon that stood there dumbly on the ground. I could try and kill these Demons, but I knew there was no benefit in doing so. Add onto the fact that I felt no human lifeforms near my position, I let the Demons live, most likely to serve as a challenge for future examinees.
However, my path of travel suddenly became uncongested of Demons. Confused as to the reasoning, my head instantly whipped to the East, where I felt a massive surge of killing intent.
Increasing my speed of jumping, I arrived just in time to find the dead body of a male examinee being consumed in one bite by a hulking bulk of flesh. Finding that this flesh was just a plethora of hands overlapping one another, I stare at the Urokodaki Student Killer as he began to lick his fingers of the blood that came from the examinee he just killed.
Falling from my tree, I make an audible crash, causing the Demon's attention to instantly move to me. Hearing a disgusting laugh come from its lips, the Demon speaks.
"So, another one of you has come to play with me. I'm so glad I'm getting another meal."
"Today shall be the last day you breath vile demon. And I, a student of Urokodaki, will make sure to kill you."
"Urokodaki, you say!" Surprised by the anger that instantly fills his voice, the Demon then calms down before continuing. "So that old geezer has once again sent another one of his students to die by my hands. You seem to be the youngest that I'll even eat, I wonder what kind of face Urokodaki will make once I kill you."
Laughing grotesquely, the Demon then rubs himself with all his hands.
"I just can't contain my ecstasy thinking like that. My revenge on that old man is oh so sweet."
Staring at the Demon with absolute distain, it seems to notice the look on my face.
"Don't look at me like that you insignificant child. I'll make sure that you suffer, just as I had his previous children. And lucky you, you are following the legacy of the strongest of the old geezers' students."
Understanding that it was Sabito and Makomo he was talking about, I unsheathe my blade.
"Ready to fight me head on are you, well… you'll regret that."
Sending out four of his arms, I dashed forward, having just escaped the arms that collided against one another. Having two new arms shoot out from his body in the direction I was running, I leap myself off the ground, putting myself higher than the Demon himself.
Feeling his giddiness at thinking he had won because I was stuck in the air, a giant arm extended from his body, rushing towards me, preparing to crush me.
Having my blade still in my hands, I use 'Water Breathing Sixth Form: Whirlpool'. Watching as the oncoming hand is shredded by my technique, I land atop the arms that the Demon just now was trying to retract and shoot forward.
Arriving in front of the bewildered face of the Demon, he smirks slightly and states, "You can't cut my ne…"
Using 'Water Breathing First Form: Water Surface Slash', I cut directly through the Demons arms and neck sending his head tumbling far away from his body and halting his speech. Cleaning the blade of the Demon Blood that covered it, I re-sheathed it.
Looking up into the sky, I could see slight figures of Urokodaki's students with Sabito and Makomo standing at the forefront. Bowing at the ability to release the souls, I continued my seven days of survival.
On my seven days of survival, I encountered only one other examinee who I had watched pathetically fight against a Demon. I had helped the examinee of course, but in return for my help, I only received a snotty remark instead.
Upon the seventh nights completion, I arrive back at the start. I stood there waiting until the sun had finally reached the half-way point and every other examinee was decreed dead. Laid atop a table that the Ubuyashiki siblings had set up, my eyes scanned across the various ores that would be used to create my Nichirin Blade.
Even as I examined each of the ores, one seemed to call out to my senses the most. Relenting, I chose that ore and gave it to one of the Ubuyashiki siblings who would send it to the blacksmiths to be forged.
Returning to the Butterfly Mansion, I was greeted by the sight of all Butterfly Mansion residents waiting for me.
Having to wait an entire week before my blade arrived, a man suddenly appeared in front of the Mansion doors. Covering his body is a sunflower patterned robe and, on his head, lay a large woven hat with floral wind chimes hanging from it. Upon removing the hat, his head is wrapped in a spotted cloth and his face is concealed by a Hyottoko mask.
Realizing that it was Hotaru Haganezuka, he immediately gets in my face and begins to examine me.
"So, you're the new Demon Slayer we've been hearing so much about. The ore you chose certainly proves that you are strong, but can you actually do anything with the blade?"
In his hands, there is something wrapped in cloth that he begins to unwrap. As he unwraps the blade, he begins to explain.
"This blade is made from a meteorite that came from the sky up above. This material is more than difficult to make a blade out of, you're lucky that Master had taken an interest in you and decided to forge you this blade."
Looking at Hotaru questionably, he quickly slaps me on the head while saying, "You do realize that we all had to learn from someone right? Of course, we have a Master, you're weird if you thought we didn't. Anyway, Master had decided to form your blade. This might very be his last work and I can say with certainty that this is by far his best. As you can clearly see from the results."
Having the hilt now in my hands, I unsheathe the beautifully pitch-black blade. However, as I hold it in my hands, the Hamon of the blade changes color to that of an almost pure white with only a tinge of blue. Even with the blinding color of the bluish white though, the pitch-black Mune seemingly controlled or overpowered it.
Having my vision obstructed by Hotaru's face entering my vision, I can see a puff of smoke be exuded from his mouth.
"This trip has been more than worth it just because of this one change. I'm glad that I was the one to deliver master's blade rather than that leech Bandai." Watching as Hotaru conducted a small dance of celebration, he them looks at me seriously. "As you can see, this blade is inherently special. The fact that it has changed coloration based on your upcoming talent is more than enough for you to see its worth. The blacksmiths expect this blade to carry you and the rest of humanity to our victory. However, if you are to ever break this blade, then the report will go directly to Master, and he'll be the one to give you a painful death."
Feeling the killing aura come off Hotaru as he says this, I am quick to nod my head, causing the air to revert to its original, joyful state.
Leaving the premise of the Butterfly Mansion, Hotaru waves at me while yelling, "I hope I never see you again, because if I do, then something bad has happened."
Seeing as his figure disappears into the horizon, I turn around to find all residents of the Butterfly Mansion staring at my blade curiously.
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