Three months was enough time for many things to happen.
Kyojuro's injuries were severe, especially that final kick from Akaza, which directly fractured his sternum and nearly pierced his heart.
Fortunately, Tanjiro and the others were only lightly injured. They rushed Taka and Kyojuro to the nearest recovery facility as quickly as possible, where they received emergency treatment.
Coupled with the fact that Kyojuro, even while unconscious, used Total Concentration Breathing to staunch the bleeding from his damaged blood vessels, he managed to hold on until help arrived.
Now, he had passed the critical period and was slowly recuperating at the Rengoku family estate.
As for Taka, his condition was far more severe.
Numerous bones throughout his body were shattered. His chest cavity was directly caved in, making even the medical staff tremble with fear.
If not for his still-weak breathing and the unbelievable sight of his fatal wounds slowly healing, everyone would have thought he wouldn't make it this time.
Miracle… this word had been used too many times for this boy.
As for Tanjiro and the others, they had been assigned new missions and continued their own training.
The next morning, Taka was already able to sit up on his own.
Looking at Shinobu, who had brought him a fruit basket, he spoke hoarsely: "Didn't you get any more sleep? You were busy most of the night."
"....This time, you really scared everyone, Taka." Shinobu looked at him with a hint of reproach, placing the fruit basket on his bedside table. "I almost thought you were..."
"And, Rengoku-san asked me to tell you when you woke up: Thank you very much for your help."
Taka rubbed his still-aching chest and took an orange: "Is everyone alright?"
Shinobu checked Taka's heartbeat and smiled helplessly: "Don't worry, everyone is safe. You protected them all."
'That's good...' Taka nodded and fell silent.
Seeing him like this, Shinobu spoke with some concern: "I heard this demon was an Upper Moon?"
"Yes, Upper Rank Three."
"....How terrifying. Just the third could severely wound you and Kyojuro-san." She murmured, a more determined look rising in her eyes. "I will research even harder. I will definitely find a deadly poison to kill that demon king Muzan!"
"Poison?" Taka turned his head, curious. "Have you always fought using poison?"
Come to think of it, apart from seeing Shinobu confront Giyu, Taka had never seen her in action.
Shinobu drew her Nichirin Sword. The blade was almost completely missing, leaving only the tip.
"My blade was specially ordered by the village chief of the Swordsmith Village. It's very special...."
She pointed to the cold gleam at the tip, where there was a small groove. "I inject wisteria poison into the blade. It's a toxin that has a suppressing effect on demons. Just fifty milligrams can kill a demon."
Speaking of wisteria poison, her eyes flickered, as if there was something she hadn't said.
"Is this toxin harmful to humans?" Taka asked. "If you're not careful, could it poison yourself?"
"Haha, Taka, you're still so tactless."
Shinobu sheathed her Nichirin Sword and laughed easily: "Don't worry. Wisteria poison is only mildly toxic to humans. Unless you drink it like water, it won't cause any problems."
'Is that so....'
Taka could sense that whenever the topic of wisteria poison came up, Shinobu's emotions were always flickering.
He hoped she really wouldn't get hurt because of it.
Later that day, Oyakata-sama's messenger, the Kasugai Crow, also arrived at the Butterfly Mansion.
It curiously examined Taka, unable to conceal the puzzlement in its gaze. "Good day, Taka. How is your body?"
"As usual."
".....You and Rengoku are miracles of the Demon Slayer Corps. Until now, there have been no swordsmen who have survived such fierce attacks from an Upper Moon Kizuki...."
Messenger flapped its wings and hopped onto Taka's bedside. "And... you actually managed to sever an Upper Moon Kizuki's neck.... This is truly the best news in a hundred years."
"Too bad we couldn't kill that demon...." Taka murmured.
"Don't blame yourself, Taka. Upper Moon Kizuki are not ordinary demons. They have been causing havoc for centuries. They are not so easily slain." Messenger comforted Taka, lifting his spirits slightly. "Also, Oyakata-sama has another arrangement for you."
Taka calmly looked at the messenger as it spoke:
"According to Rengoku, during the battle with Upper Rank Three, you displayed world-changing strength, which is why everyone's lives were saved."
"Oyakata-sama's decree: Although there has never been such a precedent in the Demon Slayer Corps, the times have changed. Perhaps this is also a sign that our generation will end the era of demons."
"Taka, from this day forward, you are the tenth Hashira-level swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps!"
"Your title is… Storm!"
'Storm....'
Taka recalled how, at the end of that battle, he had instinctively changed his breathing rhythm.
"So I am the Storm Hashira?"
"Exactly, Taka."
Messenger respectfully bowed to him: "Thank you for your contributions to the Demon Slayer Corps. The Ubuyashiki Family extends its most sincere gratitude."
"As for subsequent arrangements, Oyakata-sama hopes you will recover fully. Don't push yourself." It smoothed its fine feathers, seeming to speak with a smile: "Why not go back to Hayama for a visit? I'm sure Arasaki-san will be pleased."
In the past, Wind Breathing was not a standout among the five main schools. It was only in the hands of the current Wind Hashira, Shinazugawa Sanemi, that it was elevated to a new level, thereby benefiting the overall level of the training ground.
Now, Taka's not-yet-fully-formed Storm Breathing, derived from Wind, could also be said to be the pride of the entire Hayama training ground.
Although Taka never cared about fame and empty titles,
thinking that becoming a Hashira probably meant he hadn't disgraced his teacher, he silently nodded.
"Also...." Messenger looked at Taka's Nichirin Sword placed by the bedside and spoke uncertainly: "According to reports from Tanjiro and the others, during the battle, you made the blade burn? And strange patterns appeared on your body? Did this happen?"
"....I don't know. The battle was too intense. I'm also trying to sort things out."
Taka wasn't lying. He really didn't know if Tonan had used some other power, or if he had unintentionally triggered something.
He only vaguely remembered that his strength was much greater than usual, and the blade was as scorching as fire.
Similarly, the burden on his body was also very heavy. His heart felt like it was burning.
Messenger nodded: "Don't force it, Taka. The days ahead are long. You can slowly think back on it."
"Just so, I have a story to tell you."
Its words were slow and drawn out, as if recalling distant history:
"It is said that during the Sengoku period...."
At the same time, at the Ubuyashiki Estate.
"Amane! Amane, do you understand! What this means!" Kagaya was not as calm as usual. He emotionally agitated propped himself up from his futon. "The swordsman with the marks who crushed an Upper Moon has awakened! He didn't die! Upper Moons are not unbeatable.... cough cough...."
His emotions were too intense. As he excitedly held his wife, he coughed up blood.
Kagaya's illness had worsened again. Now the scars on his face had spread to his neck, and his complexion was even more deathly pale.
"Kagaya... calm down."
"Haha... yes, I must calm down... But it's been a hundred years, Amane! A hundred years since we last defeated an Upper Moon!"
Although he agreed verbally, Kagaya's emotions did not subside. Even his coughs carried a smile:
"In the Sengoku period, the first generation of Hashira-level swordsmen once cornered Kibutsuji Muzan!"
"It is said that on their bodies, patterns similar to demon marks appeared!"
"Taka is not an ordinary child! He could sever Upper Rank Three's head, he could awaken the marks...."
"Although centuries have passed and we no longer know the conditions for awakening the marks, the words passed down through generations cannot be wrong… if one awakens, then more swordsmen will be influenced by him and successively awaken in resonance!"
"Do you understand? The times are changing!"
"Kibutsuji Muzan! He will definitely die at the hands of our generation!"