Mount Fujikasane
'This is the location.'
Jin looked at the mountain in front of him.
Wisteria trees were everywhere, covering the area with their distinct scent. He started walking forward, trying to find the exact location mentioned by his instructor.
He was only given vague information about the place of the final selection.
In the past two years, the main headquarters had sent him four instructors, one after another, to teach him the four main breathing styles, as the basics of flame breathing were already taught to him by Rengoku.
The first three instructors taught him water, stone, and wind breathing.
He took around three months each to master the basics.
Then the fourth instructor came and taught him thunder breathing, which again took him three months to learn.
When he asked for permission to participate in the final selection, his instructor refused and told him that he was not ready.
So for the remaining time, he kept practising.
For almost a year, he sparred with his instructor, trained his techniques, and occasionally killed stray demons.
His mastery:
Slightly above average in flame, water, and thunder.
Only passable in stone and wind.
What Rengoku said was true.
He could never fully refine these techniques.
His body was not suited for them.
Every time he used a breathing technique, the universal energy inside his body forcefully adjusted to it, and the output decreased sharply.
That is why, for the past two months, he tried to create something of his own.
A technique that could directly use his universal energy.
He succeeded.
But when he tried to use it—
Everything turned white.
And he lost consciousness.
When he woke up two days later, his instructor told him that he had found him lying unconscious in the forest.
Everything within a 500-meter radius around him…
Was gone.
Completely evaporated.
The instructor didn't ask what happened.
But he gave a warning—
Whatever Jin used…
He was not ready for it.
'This is the place.'
Jin stepped into an open area where many kids of his age were gathered.
Around 50 to 60 candidates.
He quietly walked toward a corner and started observing them.
Not their faces.
Their auras.
Out of everyone—
Only seven stood out.
'Interesting…'
Then his eyes stopped at one person.
A girl.
Short.
Pale skin.
Gentle cyan eyes.
She was wearing a red yukata with a pink and white flower pattern, along with a dark-purple sleeveless haori. A fox mask rested on the side of her head.
'She looks familiar…'
*ClangClang
The bell rang.
Two little girls entered the area,
accompanied by demon slayers.
They had light skin and large dark eyes.
Their hair was cut in a blunt white bob style with elongated wisteria ornaments on both sides.
'They are not Kanata and Kiriya Ubuyashiki…'
'Makes sense…'
'Canon starts after four years…'
'During Tanjiro's selection, they were around 8 or 9…'
'Then who are they…?'
'In the original, Kanata and Kiriya were the eldest…'
"Thank you all for coming to the final selection tonight."
"There are many demons held captive on this mountain, brought here by demon slayers."
"They cannot leave because from the foot of the mountain to halfway up, wisteria blooms all year round."
"But beyond this point…"
"There are no more wisteria."
"Only demons."
"If you can survive here for seven days…"
"You pass."
'Same as canon.'
Jin and the other candidates started moving up the mountain.
-
After Two Days
Jin was lying on a tree branch, casually eating an apple.
He had already scanned the area.
The demons here were weak.
Too weak.
Some tried to sneak-attack him.
They lost their heads before they could even react.
After some time—
Footsteps.
Jin looked down.
The same girl.
Running.
Three demons are chasing her.
'Slightly stronger than the others…'
'But still not enough.'
'Let's see what she does.'
'Her aura is good… her talent is high.'
As expected—
She stopped running.
Turned around.
Her face was calm.
Gentle.
But emotionless.
She took her stance and dashed forward.
'That speed…'
'She's faster than me… unless I use thunder breathing.'
Her movements changed.
Smooth.
Like flowing water.
One strike—
The first demon lost its head.
The remaining two paused.
Their limbs transformed into claws.
Then they attacked from different directions.
The girl moved again.
But this time—
It was like she was dancing.
Water flowed around her blade.
Graceful.
Precise.
Beautiful.
'That's… amazing.'
'Third form… Flowing Dance.'
'Her movements are so natural…'
Within seconds—
Both demons were cut down.
Their bodies started disintegrating.
Jin watched silently.
Completely focused.
The girl sheathed her sword and started walking again.
Jin followed her from the trees.
Maintaining distance.
'If I can't find a good fight…'
'At least I can watch her fights.'
'They are entertaining.'
'And it has nothing to do with her being cute.'
*cough
Jin kept watching her fight while eating apples.
He even gained some insights from her smooth techniques.
After half a day—
Both of them heard something.
Footsteps.
Many.
Several candidates were running.
Their faces filled with fear.
The girl stopped one of them to ask something.
Jin looked ahead—
And saw it.
A demon.
Huge.
Grotesque.
Holding a half-eaten corpse.
Its body was covered with multiple arms.
Veiny.
Olive green skin.
Blood-red nails.
Yellow eyes with cross-shaped pupils.
Jin's eyes narrowed.
His vision changed.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
'This aura…'
'Now this is interesting.'
'A worthy opponent.'
'But…'
The girl stepped forward.
And unsheathed her sword.
The demon looked at her—
And laughed.
'I'll let her try first.'
'She's not his opponent…'
'But maybe…'
The demon attacked.
Multiple arms shot toward her.
She dodged.
Clean movements.
Cutting several arms.
They regenerated instantly.
'Fast regeneration…'
'At least 50 humans consumed.'
Then—
Something changed.
The girl froze.
Her eyes trembled.
Tears formed.
'What is she doing…?'
Her movements slowed.
The demon attacked again.
Even faster.
Arms from all directions.
No escape.
No time.
'Tch.'
'Thunder breathing…'
'Sixth form…'
'Rumble and Flash.'
Jin disappeared.
In the next moment—
He was in front of her.
His sword moved multiple times in an instant.
*Rumble
All the arms—
Cut down.
The demon stepped back.
Jin looked at the girl.
She was unconscious.
He sighed.
'A novice…'
'She has never faced a real life-and-death battle.'
'I think my instructor did a much better job than hers.'
He carried her and placed her near a tree at a safe distance.
Then he turned back.
The demon had already regenerated.
It finished devouring the corpse in its hand.
Jin started walking toward it.
Calmly.
"Now…"
"It's just you and me."
His sword ignited with flames.
A smile formed on his face.
"Let's dance."