From the foot of Mount Fujikasane to its mid-slope, the mountainside was blanketed in wisteria blossoms that demons dared not approach. But from the midpoint onward, that purple curtain of safety vanished entirely. That was why this mountain was known as the "Cage"—a prison for demons. Once inside, escape was impossible. The wisteria served as countless sentinels, guarding the depths of the forest year after year.
Those who sought to join the Demon Slayer Corps underwent their final selection here—surviving seven nights while being hunted by the imprisoned demons. It was a long, grueling trial... one that could easily claim their lives.
Crack...
A delicate hand reached out, gently bending a branch before snapping it with a crisp sound.
Pushing aside the dense undergrowth, the Shogun moved forward with silent, graceful steps. As she walked alone through the deep forest, the soft rustle of her high-heeled sandals—worn over her white-stockinged feet—brushed against the layers of fallen leaves beneath her.
[The air here is thick with killing intent... be cautious.]
Ei's voice echoed softly within her.
"...Mm."
The Shogun replied quietly, but her leisurely pace remained unchanged. She walked as if she were on a stroll, completely unbothered.
The depths of Mount Fujikasane were shrouded in darkness, filled with tall, straight trees whose gnarled branches stretched like monstrous arms, blocking out nearly all light. Only scattered rays of pale moonlight filtered through, giving the place a haunting, eerie beauty.
From time to time, the faint rustle of movement in the distance broke the silence. Compared to the serene wisteria-covered slopes below, this place felt like an entirely different world.
To the violet-haired woman, however, none of that mattered. Her attire, posture, and steady steps stood out like a dream amidst the gloom—a bright, ethereal point of light upon a black canvas.
[It must be exhausting for them...]
"What?"
The sudden remark caught her off guard.
[The ones undergoing the selection.]
Ei's tone was tinged with sympathy.
"They chose this path themselves. Besides... if they think this is difficult, how do they expect to slay demons later?"
The Shogun spoke casually as she walked, chatting idly with Ei. Traveling alone never felt lonely—not with her mother's presence within.
[Do you think that boy will survive?]
Ei asked.
"If his skills aren't enough, then he won't. Simple as that."
The Shogun answered bluntly.
The trial lasted seven days. At night, demons roamed in swarms; during the day, participants could rest and recover. For the novices, nighttime was when the true battle began. It was reasonable—after all, humans couldn't stay on edge forever. They needed to learn this through experience, not instruction. It was a test of their adaptability.
Tap, tap...
Suddenly, the Shogun slowed her steps, sensing something amiss. She paused and turned slightly, glancing into the darkness behind her. The forest's shadowed depths loomed like a black abyss, quietly watching her.
"..."
Her violet eyes narrowed as she shifted her gaze to the side. Moonlight fell upon her like a silver veil.
"Ei..."
[What is it?]
Ei sounded puzzled by her sudden halt.
"Do you feel it?"
The Shogun asked in a low tone.
[Yes... something is following us.]
"And not just one."
She closed her eyes and activated her Elemental Sight.
Humm~!
In an instant, the entire forest transformed into a luminous world of violet hues. From beneath her feet, rings of sound-like waves radiated outward into the distance.
Seconds later—
Humm~
Several waves bounced back, returning to her perception. Her eyes opened again, and the forest's colors returned to normal.
Whoosh, whoosh~!
From deep within the trees, something darted toward her—fast, wild, like a pack of beasts.
Flap~!
A flock of startled crows burst into the sky, their wings beating noisily. Yet the Shogun didn't look back. Instead, she continued walking forward, her movement calm and deliberate. However, her hands shifted—the paper umbrella she had been holding opened slightly, then closed and lowered to her side, ready for what was to come.
Thud-thud!
The rapid footsteps behind her grew louder—closer—until they were right behind her!
Swish!!
A gust of icy air rushed toward the back of her head.
"..."
She tilted her head slightly—unhurried, calm. The gust of cold wind brushed past her cheek, lifting a few strands of her smooth violet hair. In that instant, time itself seemed to slow, the moment stretching into a frozen tableau. The sharp-clawed hand that had just grazed her hair refused to stop there.
Whoosh!
The hand clenched into a fist, swinging horizontally toward the very spot her head had been a heartbeat ago.
Yet the Shogun, still as composed as ever, lowered her head slightly—as if no attack existed at all—and leisurely bent down to pick up a small pebble from the ground. The motion made the demon's punch strike nothing but air.
"!"
The attacker's eyes widened in shock, disbelief flickering across his monstrous face. But he refused to give up—he twisted his body and lashed out with a powerful kick!
The Shogun, holding the pebble as though examining it, smoothly stepped back half a pace, her movement so fluid it seemed rehearsed. The kick sliced through the air, missing her completely.
"Wh—?!"
The demon froze, utterly dumbfounded.
At last, the Shogun lifted her gaze, her violet eyes glinting faintly as they settled on her assailant—a male demon.
"You... are still too slow, brat."
Her cherry-pink lips parted slightly, her soft voice carrying a faint hint of mockery.
Before her knelt a half-bald demon with a twisted, contorted face. His blood-red eyes glared up at her in pure hatred.
"You damn woman!!"
Enraged by her calm tone, the demon roared, thrusting his fist toward her once again—
But the Shogun merely raised her hand, flicking the pebble between her fingers toward his attack.
BANG!!
A deafening sonic crack echoed through the forest. The pebble, fired like a sniper's bullet, struck the demon's oncoming fist.
Splurt!
The stone pierced through his hand, shattering bone and ripping through flesh before tearing its way up his arm. It burst out from his shoulder, embedding itself deep into a nearby tree.
"GAAAH!!"
The demon screamed in agony as his arm exploded in blood. He stumbled back, teeth clenched, trying to turn toward her again—only to find that she was already standing before him.
"Kneel."
Crack!
Her foot slammed into his knee. The joint shattered with a sickening crunch.
Thud...
He dropped to his knees, his head level with her waist. A split-second later—
Whack!
Her leg swung high and came down in a sharp arc, striking the side of his head with a whip-like kick. His skull twisted a full rotation before stopping at a grotesque angle.
"..."
He fell silent, collapsing onto the ground in a kneeling position.
[It's not dead yet.]
Ei's voice murmured.
"I know..."
Crack...
As if to confirm her words, the demon twitched—and the neck twisted back into its proper position with a sickening snap. His shattered arm began to reform, flesh knitting itself together. A twisted grin spread across his face.
So, ordinary blows couldn't kill them. Now she understood why the Demon Slayer Corps used Nichirin Blades.
"Heh... quite the skilled little lady, aren't you~?"
The demon sneered, his voice sharp and slippery, dripping with malice.
"..."
The Shogun said nothing, her eyes calm and unamused.
"Playing hard to get, huh~? Hmmm~?"
His blood-red gaze raked over her from head to toe. A low, disgusting chuckle left his throat.
"That face... tsk, tsk. The humans would call you a 'beauty,' right? You know, we demons have a taste for that sort of thing~! And your scent—ah, what a perfect seasoning..."
Drool began to leak from the corners of his mouth as his expression twisted further, like a junkie slipping into delirium.
Thud!
"Hey~! You bastard, don't steal my prey, damn it!!"
A second demon leapt out from behind her, looking even more crazed than the first—its eyes glowing a deep crimson.
"Who the hell are you?! I found her first! Don't you know the rules of the underworld?!"
The first demon roared angrily at the newcomer.
"...Rules of the underworld? Hah! This place follows only one rule—survival of the fittest! Don't talk to me about rules! This girl's mine tonight!!"
"You—!!"
"What?!!"
"Haa..."
Listening to the two idiots argue, the Shogun let out a small sigh before speaking softly.
"You should give up..."
Her calm, graceful voice sharply contrasted with their harsh, guttural tones.
"Huh?!" ×2
Both turned toward her in unison.
"Even if you wanted to eat me, you wouldn't be able to."
A faint smirk curved her lips.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" ×2
They both blinked in confusion.
"Because... your teeth wouldn't be able to bite through me."
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as if it were the most natural statement in the world.
[Pfft...]
From the Plane of Euthymia, Ei couldn't help but laugh.
Of course—after all, the Shogun was a puppet, an intelligent being made of unique materials, not ordinary human flesh. Her real body was harder than steel.
"Hahaha!!" ×2
Both demons burst into mocking laughter.
"Hey! I changed my mind. How about we share this pretty thing together?" one of them said lewdly.
"Hah! Works for me. I can't eat her all myself anyway. Let's do it!"
In the next instant, both demons lunged toward her from opposite sides, jaws wide open as they aimed for her neck.
Utter fools...
Are demons lustful too? The Shogun sighed inwardly, shaking her head slightly.
As the two lunged from front and back, she didn't even glance at them. With a casual sidestep, she evaded both grasping hands, then aimed a sharp kick directly between the legs of one of them.
Crack!
A tearing sound followed.
"GAHH!!"
The demon's body jolted upward as he clutched his groin in pain.
Huh, so that works on demons too? she thought with mild surprise before darting forward. In the same motion, she swung her palm across his face.
BAM!
The impact sent his head spinning around once more before his body crashed to the ground. So fragile... she thought. They can't even last a hit.
Perhaps intimidated by her fluid movements, the second demon instinctively began to retreat—but it was already too late.
The Shogun stepped back lightly, her heel pressing down on his foot with a sharp crack!
"GAHH!!"
He staggered, and before he could recover, she turned on her heel, closing her paper umbrella and gripping it like a spear. With one smooth thrust, she aimed for his face.
Whoosh!
"!!"
The demon barely dodged, jerking his head aside at the last possible moment.
BOOM!
The umbrella's tip struck the tree behind him, releasing a sharp shockwave that shattered the trunk with a deafening crash.
Just as he turned back toward her, his eyes caught sight of the delicate wisteria blossoms etched into the umbrella's surface.
"Aaah!!"
Sizzle!!
His cheek brushed against a petal, and the flesh instantly blackened as if seared by acid. He froze in terror.
Wisteria—?! That meant—!!
Anyone who wielded wisteria against demons wasn't ordinary. And that umbrella... it wasn't just for show. Could she be from the Demon Slayer Corps? But no—she didn't have a Nichirin Blade, nor the uniform. Maybe... a new recruit? But how could a rookie move like that?!
Watching the demon freeze in fear, the Shogun smiled faintly. Holding her folded umbrella like a sword, she raised her other hand into a sword-finger pose, her stance exuding pure elegance.
With one smooth motion, she slashed the umbrella across his face.
Smack! The demon spun several times in midair before crashing to the ground, his limbs bent at unnatural angles.
She glanced briefly at the umbrella's tip afterward—just to make sure it wasn't damaged. After all, it was a real, functional umbrella. But since it was practically a divine weapon, it should be fine.
Tap, tap...
Just then, the demon whose head she'd twisted earlier staggered upright again, lunging at her once more—its jagged teeth bared like a wild beast.
The Shogun glanced at him, her violet eyes flashing with mischief. She rolled up her sleeves, and the smooth, fair skin of her arm faded away—revealing the mechanical structure of her puppet body beneath. As the demon lunged, she thrust that arm directly into its open jaws, blocking the bite.
"Weren't you so eager to eat? Let's see how strong your bite really is~."
Her teasing voice carried a dangerous sweetness.
CRACK!
"GAAAH!! MY TEETH!!!"
The demon screamed as its fangs shattered against her unyielding arm. With a sharp flick, the Shogun's movement ripped out the remaining teeth along with the first. A gush of blood sprayed from his mouth as he stumbled backward, clutching his face in agony.
Her arm—completely untouched. Not a single dent or scratch. The skin quickly reformed, covering the underlying structure once more until it looked perfectly human again.
As the demon froze in shock, the Shogun pressed the face of her paper umbrella against his face. The wisteria patterns glowed faintly as smoke hissed from the contact.
"AAAAAHHH!!"
The demon shrieked as his face burned away, blackening and peeling under the umbrella's wisteria-infused petals.
The Shogun smiled faintly, her eyes glinting with a hint of dangerous amusement. She spun the umbrella, swinging it left and right—each swipe landing across his face. The demon flailed, stumbling back and forth, his body swaying in rhythm to her attacks. To any onlooker, it almost resembled a grotesque dance.
THUD!
At last, she cornered him against a tree stump and slammed the umbrella directly against his face.
Sizzle~!
"AAAAAHHHHH!!"
The sizzling of flesh filled the air as the demon writhed, his screams echoing through the forest.
The Shogun's expression darkened. The faint curve of her lips carried something cruel—an unsettling beauty tinged with bloodlust.
[Shogun... don't get carried away. We should be going.]
Ei's gentle voice broke through, soothing yet firm.
The Shogun blinked, pausing mid-motion. Then, with a soft exhale, she shifted her grip—the umbrella shimmered, transforming back into the Engulfing Lightning. With a single graceful swing—
Slash!
The blade cleaved cleanly through the demon's neck.
"What—?!!"
The decapitated demon howled in agony as his entire body began to burn. The severed surface glowed violet, wisteria's purifying light eating through his flesh. He couldn't regenerate.
"GAAAAHH!!"
His scream cut off as lightning surged through his form, reducing him to ash and scattering his remains into glittering particles.
"Demon Slayer Corps?! No—!!"
The second demon, having witnessed the scene, panicked. Terrified out of his wits, he stumbled backward, then turned to flee, his fear overpowering even his demonic instincts. To him, the sight of her blade was the same as death itself.
The Shogun merely glanced his way. The Engulfing Lightning floated upward, its blade spinning in the air as she gestured lightly with two fingers.
Fwoosh~!
Her sleeve fluttered as she flicked her wrist, and arcs of violet lightning danced across the weapon.
Sizzle!
The naginata shot forward like a living thunderbolt, cutting through the air with terrifying precision.
BOOM!
A shockwave burst outward, scattering leaves and dust in every direction.
"No! Don't—gah—!!"
Thwack!
Before the fleeing demon could take more than a few steps, the blade struck him square in the back of the head. The force pinned him against a tree, the weapon piercing clean through his neck.
"NO—!!"
Sizzle!
The same violet light spread from the wound, burning through his flesh until he too disintegrated into pure motes of light, vanishing completely.
The Shogun flicked her sleeve again, and the Engulfing Lightning freed itself from the tree, soaring back to her hand before transforming back into the wisteria-patterned umbrella. She opened it with a soft snap, resting it gracefully against her shoulder. With one hand, she ran her fingers through her long hair, smoothing it back as she resumed her quiet walk into the forest's depths.
[...Haa.]
Watching her daughter's elegant, practiced motions, Ei couldn't help but smile fondly within the Plane of Euthymia.