The sunlight blazed down on the Rengoku household's training field, so bright it almost hurt to look at.
Rengoku Kyojuro gripped his Nichirin Sword tightly, orange-red flames winding up the blade, warping the air with their heat.
Across from him stood Tō, sword in hand, his blade shimmering with intertwined streams of pale blue and green. It was the result of six months of tireless effort—his self-created style, Storm Breathing, a perfect fusion of the speed of Wind Breathing and the fluidity of Water Breathing.
"Tō, give me everything you've got! This is real sparring—no holding back!"
Kyojuro's booming voice echoed like thunder. Even before he finished speaking, he was already in motion.
"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
A brilliant arc of flame streaked through the air like a meteor, cutting straight toward Tō's chest.
Tō's pupils contracted—there was no time for hesitation. The breath of the storm swelled within him.
"Storm Breathing, Second Form: Waterfall Spiral Wind!"
Blue and green light intertwined, forming a swirling barrier before him—like a cyclone carrying a current of water. It met the flaming strike head-on.
Clang!
The ringing clash of steel and flame thundered across the courtyard, sparks bursting outward.
Tō felt an intense heat surging through his sword, his arms numbing under the pressure. His feet scraped deep grooves into the earth as he slid backward.
Gritting his teeth, he twisted his wrist and redirected the blow, using Kyojuro's own strength to divert the strike before retreating several meters to regain his stance.
"Good! Solid defense!"
Admiration flickered in Kyojuro's eyes—but his attacks only grew fiercer.
"Flame Breathing, Third Form: Blazing Universe!"
The fire on his sword swelled into a sphere before exploding outward, releasing countless flaming blades that scattered in all directions.
The attack was wide—there was no way to dodge them all.
Tō inhaled deeply, switching to the swiftness of wind.
"Storm Breathing, First Form: Dust Wind Severing Slash!"
His figure vanished in a blur, weaving perfectly between each fiery blade. Every step and turn was timed to the instant before the flames burst.
The fire grazed his sleeve, leaving charred marks, but he didn't falter. Using his momentum, he swept behind Kyojuro and swung his sword down.
"Storm Breathing, Third Form: Flooding Smoke Tempest!"
Kyojuro reacted without even turning, reading the sound of Tō's movement.
Clang!
Their swords met again.
This time, Tō added the softness of Water Breathing to his swing, his blade flexing slightly to absorb the force, before snapping back and thrusting toward Kyojuro's left shoulder.
"Excellent technique!"
Kyojuro grinned, seizing Tō's blade with his left hand and swinging his own sword in a wide horizontal arc, forcing Tō to leap back.
They separated again, sweat dripping down their faces, evaporating the moment it hit the scorched earth.
The next dozen exchanges blurred into flashes of heat and color.
Kyojuro's Flame Breathing was fierce and open, every strike carrying explosive power—
"Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!" trapped Tō within a blazing vortex.
"Flame Breathing, Ninth Form: Rengoku!" burned so intensely it seemed to tear the very air apart.
But Tō met the storm with storm. His Storm Breathing countered with speed and precision—
"Storm Breathing, Fourth Form: Wave-Splitting Sky Slash!" tore through the fiery vortex.
"Storm Breathing, Fifth Form: Flashing Thunder Bloom!" struck back with a surge of wind and water, holding firm against Kyojuro's onslaught.
"That was the twenty-third strike! Tō, you've surpassed my expectations!"
Kyojuro's voice grew louder with excitement, his flames roaring higher.
"Then take this! Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"
His sword roared like a living beast, the fire taking the form of a blazing tiger that lunged forward with unstoppable ferocity.
The heat was overwhelming. The power—crushing.
Tō knew he couldn't block it directly, but it was too late to dodge. He poured every last drop of energy into his breath.
"Storm Breathing, Second Form: Waterfall Spiral Wind!"
Blue and green light intertwined again, forming a translucent barrier before him.
The flaming tiger slammed into it with an earth-shaking explosion.
The barrier cracked instantly. Tō's arms bulged with strain, veins standing out. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
Finally—crack!
The barrier shattered. The remaining force of the Flame Tiger sent his Nichirin Sword flying, embedding it in the ground several meters away with a sharp thud.
Tō stumbled back, his breath ragged, but he managed to stay on his feet. "Kyojuro-san… you're incredible."
"And you're strong!"
Kyojuro sheathed his sword, the flames slowly fading. He walked up and clapped Tō firmly on the shoulder.
"Half a year ago, you couldn't even withstand five of my strikes. Now, you held out through twenty-three. Storm Breathing has great potential—keep pushing forward!"
Tō nodded, just about to speak when a sharp "caw, caw" echoed from above.
Everyone looked up to see a black Kasugai Crow diving toward them. It landed squarely on Kyojuro's shoulder, flapping its wings.
"Rengoku Kyojuro! Urgent mission from Oyakata-sama!" the crow squawked loudly. "In Northern Village Street, seventeen people have gone missing over the past ten days! Traces of demonic energy detected! You are to depart immediately, investigate, and eliminate the demon!"
Kyojuro's expression hardened. He straightened his back and answered clearly, "Understood! I will leave at once!"
"Rengoku-san, take us with you!"
Tanjiro spoke up firmly, eyes determined. "We all want to help! With more of us, we can finish the mission faster!"
"Of course!"
Kyojuro agreed cheerfully, his fiery enthusiasm rising. "Strength in numbers! It'll also be a great chance for you all to gain real battle experience!"
"I'm going! I'm going!"
Inosuke immediately raised his hand, the eyes beneath his boar mask glinting with excitement. "Red hair! Blue hair! Let's go slay some demons—and maybe find something tasty along the way!"
Once again, he'd butchered their names—calling Tanjiro "red hair" for his reddish-brown locks and Tō "blue hair" for his short pale blue hair.
Tanjiro sighed helplessly, smiling. "Inosuke, I'm Tanjiro. He's Tō. Try not to mess it up every time."
"Yeah, yeah, got it!"
Inosuke waved him off, completely unconcerned, and dashed toward the gate. "Come on! If we're late, the demon will get away!"
Zenitsu dragged his feet after them, face full of reluctance. "Ugh, investigation missions are the worst… all that walking, no sleep, probably staying up all night again… I just want a nap…"
Tō noticed the hesitation and smirked. "Northern Village Street's one of the biggest towns nearby. Full of shops—and plenty of beautiful women. I heard the owner of the silk shop there is especially gorgeous."
Zenitsu's eyes lit up instantly, all exhaustion gone. He grabbed Tō's arm, practically bouncing. "Really?! Pretty women? Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
The rest couldn't help laughing at the sudden transformation.
Kyojuro led the way out the gate, his voice booming, "Since everyone's ready, we'll depart now! Northern Village Street is twenty li from here—we move quickly!"
"Wait!"
Tō called out suddenly. "How about we make it interesting? Let's race to Northern Village Street's gate! Whoever arrives last treats everyone to the town's best dango!"
"Excellent idea!"
Kyojuro's eyes gleamed, his grin widening. "But I won't lose! Total Concentration—Flame Breathing!"
The moment he finished, a faint red aura flared around him. He shot forward like an arrow, leaving only a streak of fire in the air.
"Beast Breathing! Beast Rush! I won't lose either!"
Inosuke dropped to all fours like a wild boar and bolted after him, shouting "Beast Rush!" over and over as his speed surged.
Tō chuckled and followed, breathing steady. "Total Concentration—Storm Breathing!"
Blue and green currents swirled around him. Though not as blindingly fast as Kyojuro, he ran smoothly, quickly closing the gap with Inosuke.
"Wait for me! Don't run so fast!"
Tanjiro sighed but smiled, activating his own breathing and sprinting after them.
Behind them, Zenitsu struggled desperately to keep up, panting heavily. "Slow down! I can't run that fast! I'll buy the dango, okay?! Just—stop running so fast!"
Sunlight poured over the country road as five figures raced ahead—Kyojuro blazing like a comet in front, Inosuke charging and shouting wildly, Tō gliding just behind him, Tanjiro running steady and strong, and Zenitsu's cries fading into the distance.
The twenty li between them and Northern Village Street shrank quickly under their full-speed sprint.
Half an hour later, the distant silhouette of the city gate came into view—a bustling town that, even from afar, carried an unsettling stillness beneath its lively surface.
Tanjiro sniffed the air, then turned to Tō, his brows furrowed tight. "Tō, do you sense that? Something feels… wrong."
In Tō's eyes, the sky above the city was webbed with countless red threads. His body trembled slightly, as if warning him of danger.
He nodded slowly, his voice low. "Tanjiro… this city isn't right."