Tanjiro gripped his axe tightly as he walked toward the demon's head, which had rolled beneath a nearby tree. His breathing was heavy, and his entire body trembled.
"If I don't finish him, he might attack someone else. I have to do it."
Sweat rolled down his face. Despite his determination, the naturally kind boy hesitated.
Just then, a figure stepped out from the darkness.
Sakonji Urokodaki had been watching Sol Mirek and the others from the shadows. He wore a red Tengu mask and a blue kimono patterned with clouds.
"That method will not deliver the final blow."
Sakonji walked past Sol and stopped behind Tanjiro, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Ah!"
Already tense, Tanjiro jumped in surprise and nearly dropped his axe.
"A Tengu mask... and I didn't even hear his footsteps."
Tanjiro instinctively glanced toward Sol. Seeing him standing calmly nearby eased his nerves a little.
"H-how do I kill him?" Tanjiro asked.
"Don't rely on others. Think for yourself," Sakonji replied in a deep, hoarse voice.
Tanjiro lowered his gaze.
"If an axe won't work, then I need to destroy the head."
His eyes shifted toward a large stone on the ground.
"If I crush the skull completely... I'll probably have to smash it several times."
He picked up the stone and approached the demon's severed head.
Tanjiro stared at the head, which was still writhing on the ground. Sweat gathered on his forehead as the images of the mutilated corpses flashed through his mind.
"It must be painful... isn't there a way to end it in a single blow?"
Sakonji watched silently.
"This child will struggle," he murmured quietly to himself.
"He is too considerate. Even when facing a demon, his kindness remains. He still feels sympathy."
"Giyu, this child may not be suitable."
He had already formed a judgment in his mind.
Sakonji then shifted his gaze toward Sol, who stood quietly nearby with an unreadable expression.
"But this one..."
His attention lingered on Sol far longer than expected.
Even beneath the mask, Sakonji frowned slightly. The aura surrounding this young man unsettled him.
When he had walked past Sol earlier, every instinct in his body had warned him of danger.
Was this truly the man who claimed he would hunt Muzan Kibutsuji?
Just as Tanjiro continued hesitating, Sol stepped forward.
He took the stone from Tanjiro's hands and casually dropped it onto the ground.
"You did well today," Sol said calmly. "I'll handle the rest."
Sol crouched down and grabbed the demon's head with one hand.
The demon's eyes widened in terror.
"Wait! I can..."
Bang.
Without any expression, Sol crushed the demon's head in his grip. It burst into a cloud of blood and black fluid that dripped between his fingers.
He flicked his hand to shake the blood away before turning back to Tanjiro.
"Remember this. Hesitation leads to defeat. Don't hesitate next time."
His tone remained calm.
"For Nezuko's sake, you can't afford to be soft."
Tanjiro nodded slowly. His face had turned pale.
Nezuko quietly stepped forward and hugged him from behind, trying to comfort her brother.
Sol stretched his arms slightly and glanced toward the temple entrance.
"Alright, you two should get some rest. We still have a long trip when the sun rises."
Sakonji observed everything in silence. Beneath the Tengu mask, his brows tightened even further.
The decisiveness and strength Sol displayed were far beyond that of ordinary people.
"I am Sakonji Urokodaki," he said at last. "You must be the one Giyu Tomioka mentioned."
Sol stood up and wiped the remaining blood from his hand.
"Yeah. Sol Mirek."
Tanjiro finally snapped out of his daze and quickly bowed.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Tanjiro Kamado, and this is my sister Nezuko."
Sakonji studied Nezuko for a moment before turning back to Sol.
"Giyu told me you were heading to Mt. Sagiri to learn Water Breathing... and to hunt Muzan Kibutsuji."
Sol shrugged casually.
"You just point me in the right direction. Once we find him, I'll handle the rest."
Sakonji fell silent for a brief moment.
Then, without warning, he drew his Nichirin blade and pointed it toward Sol.
"Before anything else, I must confirm your strength."
Sol raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Sure."
Tanjiro instinctively stepped back while pulling Nezuko with him.
"W-wait... why are they fighting?"
Sol waved a hand casually.
"Relax. Just a little test."
Before he finished speaking, Sakonji had already moved.
Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash.
The blade cut forward with incredible speed.
Sol did not block or retreat.
At the exact moment the blade was about to touch him, he shifted slightly to the side. The sword passed by, barely brushing the edge of his clothes.
Sakonji's pupils narrowed.
Without hesitation, he changed techniques.
Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel.
The blade curved through the air in a powerful arc.
Sol remained completely relaxed, weaving through the strikes with smooth movements. Each step placed him perfectly outside the blade's reach.
Ten exchanges passed.
Sakonji finally lowered his sword and sheathed it.
"You are strong," he admitted. "But that alone is not enough to face Muzan."
The meaning behind his words was clear. Sol needed to prove he truly had the power to hunt the Demon King.
Sol smiled faintly.
He raised his right hand and slowly clenched his fist.
The air around them seemed to tighten instantly.
Without using any technique, Sol casually threw a punch toward the ground.
Boom.
The earth trembled violently.
A massive trench tore across the ground in the direction of Sol's punch, stretching hundreds of meters forward. The shockwave erupted outward, ripping trees from the soil before reducing them to splinters in the air.
Behind the Tengu mask, Sakonji's pupils shrank violently.
He had never witnessed such raw strength.
This level of power was far beyond anything a human should possess.
Even more terrifying was the fact that Sol's attack had clearly been casual. There was no strain, no effort.
Sakonji swallowed.
The realization struck him with overwhelming clarity.
Muzan Kibutsuji would be defeated within their generation.
Tanjiro stared at the massive trench in disbelief while holding Nezuko.
His legs trembled slightly. His throat tightened, and even breathing felt difficult.
"I-is that Mr. Sol's strength when he's fully recovered?" Tanjiro asked in a shaky voice.
Sol lowered his hand and looked calmly toward Sakonji.
"So, do you believe me now?"
"Yes! Without question!"
Sakonji's voice trembled with excitement.
Slowly, he removed the Tengu mask.
His aged face appeared beneath it, lined with deep wrinkles. Yet his cloudy eyes now shone with an intense light.
For nearly a thousand years, the Demon Slayer Corps had fought against demons. Countless swordsmen had sacrificed their lives.
And now, the possibility of ending it all stood right in front of him.
How could he not be moved?
How could he not be overwhelmed?
"This... this is..."
His voice broke, and he struggled to continue.
Suddenly, Sakonji dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead firmly against the ground.
"Please... eradicate Muzan Kibutsuji!"
Sol simply stood there while the moonlight cast a pale glow across the temple grounds.
After a moment, he reached down and helped the old man back to his feet.
"Get up."
He leaned casually against the temple doorway again.
"Get some rest. We'll leave after dawn."
Tanjiro sat on the temple steps with Nezuko beside him as the quiet moonlight illuminated the siblings.
Sol watched them quietly from the doorway.
"Mr. Sol," Tanjiro said softly, looking over.
His voice trembled slightly.
"Am I too weak?"
Sol shook his head.
"For your first time facing a demon, you did great."
He crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
"Stop overthinking it and get some sleep."