"I'm different from you."
"How are you different? Aren't you a Hashira? You said the same thing before, didn't you, Tomioka? Do you look down on us?"
"Don't… don't argue. Just talk properly."
Mitsuri Kanroji tried to step in, her voice filled with anxiety as the tension in the room rose.
Seeing Giyu Tomioka still trying to leave, Sanemi Shinazugawa stepped forward and reached out, intending to grab his shoulder.
"Slap!"
Gyomei Himejima suddenly clasped his hands together.
The moment his palms met, an overwhelming pressure filled the room.
It felt like a mountain had been dropped directly on their shoulders. Breathing became difficult, and even moving a single finger felt heavy. The air itself seemed to thicken, and every breath required effort.
Sanemi's hand stopped mid-air as if it had been chained in place. His arm grew heavier by the second, as though it was carrying several times its own weight.
Giyu Tomioka, who had been about to leave, froze in place as well. It was as if an invisible giant hand had grabbed his entire body and locked him where he stood.
The other Hashira were also stunned. Their expressions turned serious almost instantly. They were all elite swordsmen, so they could clearly feel how terrifying Gyomei Himejima's pressure really was. According to official character listings and the Demon Slayer Corps records, Gyomei was already regarded as the strongest Hashira, and the aura he released now proved it.
It felt as if the gravity inside the room had suddenly increased several times over.
If their bodies had not already far surpassed those of ordinary people, they would have collapsed on the spot.
Raiden remained where he was, completely calm as he watched the aura pouring out of Gyomei Himejima.
As expected of the strongest Hashira.
Even the overwhelming presence that once came from Tengen Uzui could not compare to this. Still, it did not matter to him. Even before awakening the mark, Raiden's strength had already surpassed Gyomei slightly.
After awakening the mark, the difference only grew larger.
Gyomei's pressure reached him, but it vanished instantly, as if it had never existed. From beginning to end, Raiden remained completely unaffected.
Obanai Iguro, who was sitting next to him, was still trying to adjust to the pressure when he noticed something strange.
Why does this guy look so relaxed?
Did Gyomei's pressure not affect him at all?
That should be impossible. The entire room was covered by the Stone Hashira's aura. Obanai did not know everything about Gyomei, but he did know one thing. Gyomei never treated anyone differently when he released his pressure.
So why was Raiden completely unaffected?
Could it be that his strength had already reached a level where he could ignore the Stone Hashira's aura entirely?
Obanai stared at him in disbelief.
Raiden noticed his gaze and simply raised a hand in greeting.
Right, there is this one too. I almost forgot. Apart from Tomioka, Obanai hasn't made friends with anyone either.
He looks like the troublesome type. If it really comes to it, maybe a fight would work. It has been a long time since I made a friend by force.
Kaburamaru suddenly flicked out its tongue, trying to sense Raiden's aura.
But the moment its tongue moved, its pupils shrank violently.
The snake stiffened.
Then it quickly pulled its tongue back and curled closer to Obanai's cheek, as if it had just seen something terrifying.
A second later, Obanai's eyes narrowed.
Stronger than the Stone Hashira? That is impossible.
Kaburamaru would not make a mistake. If Raiden and Gyomei were on the same level, it might hesitate, but what it sensed just now was not equality.
It was a huge gap.
Raiden was not just stronger than the Stone Hashira. He was far stronger.
The moment Kaburamaru sensed his aura, it felt something similar to facing a legendary monster. Just a slight probe was enough to reveal how deep and terrifying his strength really was.
Obanai remained silent after that.
"Everyone, calm down. Let's continue the meeting."
Gyomei Himejima noticed Raiden's unusual state as well, but he did not say anything. Instead, he returned to presiding over the meeting.
Giyu Tomioka turned toward him and bowed slightly.
"My apologies."
After saying that, he walked out of the room.
Sanemi did not try to stop him again, but the anger on his face had not completely disappeared.
The Pillar Meeting continued.
Raiden listened quietly. Most of what was being discussed was exactly what he already knew. The Hashira would be responsible for training the Demon Slayer Corps members while also trying to awaken the mark themselves. This was part of the preparations for the final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, something also confirmed in official story summaries of the Hashira training period.
About half an hour passed.
"That is all for the training matters this time. If anyone has something to add, speak now."
Gyomei Himejima looked around the room. No one said anything.
Just as he was about to end the meeting, Raiden raised his hand.
"Besides the mark, your master also asked me to help you unlock another ability."
"Your master?"
Sanemi turned toward him immediately.
Obanai also looked at him, but after what Kaburamaru had sensed earlier, he chose to remain silent.
Raiden turned slightly and smiled.
"Let me finish."
Those four simple words instantly filled the room with pressure.
But this time, it was not just physical pressure. It felt like a direct attack on their minds.
The pressure was several times stronger than what Gyomei had just released.
Sanemi, who was directly facing Raiden, felt it the most. He had a clear feeling that if he spoke again, the consequences would not be something he could handle.
When did this guy become so terrifying?
It was even worse than the Stone Hashira's aura earlier. Is this really his current strength?
"The ability I'm helping you unlock is called the Transparent World."
"Once you enter the Transparent World, your ability to predict movements and dodge attacks will increase greatly. You will also be able to clearly sense your own muscles and see the opponent's breathing, blood flow, and weak points."
"When I sparred with Sanemi earlier, I already used it. But at that time, it was not the complete Transparent World."
"Transparent World?"
Sanemi immediately remembered that fight.
At the beginning, Raiden had been completely suppressed. It should have ended quickly.
But just when he was about to win, Raiden suddenly changed. It was like fighting a completely different person.