Puchi!
A spray of blood burst forth!
Tanjiro thrust his worn Nichirin Blade straight into the little demon's heart before him. He took a heavy breath, trying to gather more strength—but the creature suddenly stood back up!
"...!"
His face went pale in an instant. Clenching his teeth, he gripped the hilt tightly, trying to drive the blade all the way through.
Puchi!
The blade finally pierced through the demon's back. Yet even so, it didn't die.
"You bastard!!!"
It could even speak!
The small demon's face twisted in rage. Ignoring the pain in its chest, it swung its sharp claws toward Tanjiro's neck.
"Damn it..."
Tanjiro instinctively released the hilt and bent his body forward!
Whoosh!
A sharp gust of wind grazed his scalp, sending chills all over his skin.
"You little brat!!"
The demon with a hole through its chest still howled furiously. Seeing this, Tanjiro grabbed his sword again and yanked it out hard—another burst of blood sprayed into the air.
Tap, tap...
He quickly backed away several steps to put some distance between them.
So tough!!
He couldn't help but complain inwardly. In that moment, he recalled what his teacher, Urokodaki, had once told him.
[The vital spot of a demon is its neck. But with an ordinary sword, even cutting the neck won't kill it. That's why you need a special blade—the Nichirin Sword.]
[The Nichirin Sword is the Demon Slayer Corps' specially forged weapon, made from a unique type of ore. It's the only sword capable of killing demons.]
The memory snapped back—he remembered. The blade he held now was indeed Urokodaki's gift. That meant... the neck was his true target, not the heart. After all, that was a demon's weakness!
He understood!
Tanjiro looked at the faintly blue blade in his hand, tightening his grip as his gaze grew resolute.
Tap, tap!!
"Uraaahhh!!!"
The demon lunged toward him with incredible speed. Tanjiro didn't panic. He focused his entire being.
Buzz~
In his vision, the forest around him turned to darkness. The lunging demon was illuminated—silver threads wrapped around its body, glowing faintly in the night.
The scent of the thread—found it!!
Ding~!
In the next instant, that silver thread tightened. Tanjiro's eyes narrowed; he seized the moment, adjusting his breathing technique. A faint, visible mist escaped his lips.
Splash...
In that instant, crystalline water ripples formed upon his Nichirin Blade. The water waves grew stronger, wrapping around the blue blade like a rising tide!
Bang!
Tanjiro lowered his stance. His water-wrapped Nichirin Blade gleamed as he dashed forward toward the demon!
"Fourth Form: Striking Tide!!"
As he spoke the words, his movement became swift as lightning. He flashed past the demon, his upward blade cutting cleanly across its neck!
Slash!!
Unlike before, this strike felt smooth—as if slicing through flesh with ease. The rising wave of water followed his blade, severing the demon's head completely! The creature's body crumpled to the ground, powerless.
"Ughhh!!"
The demon fell to its knees before collapsing entirely. Though its severed head still tried to speak, its body was already dissolving into black, ash-like dust, fading into the air.
"Huff... huff..."
Tanjiro stood there, panting heavily. Still dazed, he turned to look at the vanishing corpse, slowly regaining his senses.
"I cut it... not even bones left?"
He lowered his gaze to the Nichirin Blade in awe.
Boom! Boom!
"...!"
He heard rumbling sounds like distant thunder, and instantly tensed. A foul stench filled his nose, forcing him to cover it as he quickly hid behind a nearby tree.
"What is that smell? It's awful!"
He frowned, holding his breath.
Bang! Bang!
The noise didn't stop—it was getting closer. Curiosity made him peek out from behind the tree.
"...!!"
The sight nearly made him collapse to the ground in shock.
"Ahhh!! Help! No one said there'd be something like that here!!"
A young man—another participant in the Final Selection—came running past him. His face was pale, twisted with terror, screaming hysterically as he ran for his life.
Chasing after the fleeing youth was a massive, grotesque creature—its body a disgusting dark brown, like excrement, and equally foul in form. Each step it took came with an explosive thud and a sickening, sticky squelch. The thing didn't seem to have just two arms—there were several—and its entire body towered higher than a two-story house!
"What... what is that thing?"
Tanjiro couldn't help but ask in disbelief. Was that also a demon? If it appeared here, then it had to be.
"Help! Somebody help me!!"
The youth being chased could barely move anymore. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, trembling and crawling backward in terror. His pale face was drenched in sweat—he was on the verge of wetting himself. The demon held the limp body of another participant—his companion—still in one of its many arms.
Puchi!
The monster crushed the corpse in its hand like pulp and casually tossed it aside. A pile of entrails splattered across the dirt, and the young man before it froze in sheer horror, too terrified to even scream.
"Eeehh!!!"
He curled up, trembling, awaiting judgment.
No! I have to save him!
The instant Tanjiro made his decision and was about to run out, a streak of faint violet light suddenly tore through the darkness like a meteor. The brilliant gleam illuminated the forest, its ethereal glow scattering across the black trees like starlight—it was so beautiful that for a moment, Tanjiro stood frozen in awe.
Zzzt~!
The radiant purple light burst with sharp currents of electricity, striking the massive demon squarely in the back!
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion erupted, followed by a shockwave powerful enough to scatter dirt and dust in every direction. The hulking demon's enormous body was hurled through the air like a truck loaded with freight, flying right over the terrified youth's head. The gust of air forced him to squint and cover his eyes.
Thud! Thud!
A moment later, the massive creature crashed into the ground with an earth-shaking rumble, snapping several nearby trees and scattering startled birds into the night sky.
"Ahhh!!"
The youth reflexively curled up again but, curiosity getting the better of him, tried to look up—only for someone to suddenly grab the back of his collar and lift him effortlessly, like a bag of groceries.
"Wh—what?! Help! Help me—!"
"Do not be noisy."
The woman holding him spoke softly.
"Eh? Ah..."
He froze and fell silent immediately.
The Shogun glanced briefly at the young man dangling from her hand, then tossed him lightly in Tanjiro's direction.
Whoosh!
"Whoa!"
Thud!
Tanjiro caught the youth just in time, then looked up toward the violet-haired woman before him, a look of recognition flashing in his eyes.
"You... you're Miss Raiden?!"
Though her attire and hairstyle had changed, that striking beauty was unmistakable. Wait... Miss Raiden could fight? Could she be a member of the Demon Slayer Corps? After all, opening a shop in a place like this—she clearly wasn't ordinary!
He made up his mind on the spot.
"…We meet again."
Now dressed in her Raiden Shogun attire, she turned to respond. She had come after sensing the commotion—never expecting to run into him again.
"Miss Raiden, why are you here?"
Tanjiro asked, puzzled.
"…Just passing by."
She replied briefly, her eyes shifting to the massive demon that had already begun to stir.
"Move him away. He'll get in the way."
The Shogun instructed calmly.
"Understood!"
Tanjiro obeyed immediately, dragging the unconscious youth to a nearby tree and propping him up. Then he turned, ready to assist.
"Stay with him. Do not follow."
The Shogun said without looking back.
"But—!"
"There's no need to help me."
She cut him off firmly.
"...Alright."
For some reason, every time Tanjiro heard her voice, he couldn't help but obey. Her words carried an undeniable authority and calm—reassuring and commanding all at once. He nodded and returned to tending the injured man beneath the tree.
[Shogun, make it quick.]
Ei's voice echoed in her mind.
"Mm. That suits me just fine."
Her eyes glowed with a sharp, menacing violet light.
"HAHAHAHA!!!"
The massive demon, having risen again, burst into a crazed laugh as it began lumbering toward her with thunderous, ground-shaking strides.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each step struck like a cannon blast, shaking the earth beneath.
The Shogun didn't bother wondering what made it so happy. Instead, her body blurred into lightning and vanished!
That streak of violet light twisted through the dark forest like a coiling dragon, every turn leaving behind flashes of electric brilliance.
"So—so fast!!"
Tanjiro was left dumbfounded. That speed! Was that... Thunder Breathing? But she hadn't called out any technique name!
And wasn't Thunder Breathing supposed to be golden-yellow? Then why was Miss Raiden's lightning purple? Regardless, her power was incredible!
Could she really be... a member of the Demon Slayer Corps?
The massive demon, seeing the Shogun's speed, instinctively backed away a few steps. Then, countless arms sprouted from its body—stretching outward like whips, lashing toward the streak of lightning that was her!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Those long, snake-like arms lashed out from all directions, striking through the air toward her!
The violet lightning darted through the gaps between them with agility and precision, weaving gracefully through the dark forest. As she moved, her naginata swept through the air, each swing cutting down the arms that blocked her path in a shower of crackling thunder and radiant light.
One after another, the noodle-like limbs were severed, flying upward before crashing to the forest floor. The glowing lightning consumed everything around her—turning the battlefield into a storm of dazzling violet brilliance.
"!!"
The massive demon recoiled in alarm and began retreating, trying to retract its remaining arms. But before it could, the lightning had already flashed before its eyes.
The Shogun turned sharply, slicing horizontally across its abdomen with a single stroke!
Buzz~!
Crack!!
A scar of thunder split through the void, slicing the creature cleanly in half!
"Ughhh!!"
Thud!!
The monster's two halves fell to the ground with a heavy crash that shook the forest.
"It's not dead yet!"
Tanjiro called out, warning her.
She saw it too—and quickly stepped back, widening the distance between them.
Unlike the lesser demons before, this one's bisected torso began to writhe. The severed flesh and bone pulsed like clay, squirming together until the fibers and muscle reattached completely. Within moments, the giant rose again, fully restored.
Crack!
The stumps of its severed arms bulged like blisters, sprouting fresh limbs in their place. Within seconds, all wounds were gone.
Impressive regeneration, she thought, slightly raising an eyebrow. Was the speed of recovery tied to size? Or perhaps rank? This one didn't look like a higher demon—just a disgusting one with a big head and thick neck. Still, no matter how strong its regeneration, it was meaningless before her. Recovery meant nothing if one couldn't avoid death.
Whoosh!
She drew back her Engulfing Lightning and took her stance once more.
The massive demon, now fully healed, didn't attack immediately. Instead, it took a few steps toward her—then glanced toward Tanjiro's direction.
"I didn't expect... to find such a pretty little kitten in this desolate place," it rasped, its sharp voice dripping with mockery. "You're not using Breathing Techniques, are you?"
"You can speak... I wonder how grotesque your anatomy must be," the Shogun remarked calmly, lowering her stance slightly—not in weakness, but in measured curiosity. There was no need to rush. She had time.
"Heheheh~!! Such a sharp-tongued kitten. But fine... From what I know, only those using Breathing Techniques with Nichirin Blades can truly kill us. Yet you... are different. You interest me. What are you?"
The monster's slimy flesh writhed as it spoke, drool dripping endlessly from its twisted mouth. Its bloodshot eyes locked firmly onto her.
"I'm merely... a humble apothecary owner," she replied evenly. The naginata at her back tilted slightly, producing a crisp, ringing click.
"Hmm... Judging by your clothes, you're not part of the Demon Slayer Corps. And that sword of yours isn't a Nichirin Blade. So I don't fear you killing me. But there's something else... I want to ask."
Rustle...
Its gaze suddenly shifted toward Tanjiro—at the fox mask on his head—then back to her.
"Tell me, little girl... What year of the Meiji era is it now?"
"..."
The Shogun paused in silence. She had no idea. Meiji? What did that even mean? Instinctively, she glanced toward Tanjiro, signaling him to answer.
"Uh... It's the Taisho era now," Tanjiro replied, shielding the unconscious youth behind him.
Taisho era? Ah... she understood. Some kind of local calendar system. Likely how this world measured time.
"Hm~? Taaai~sho~?"
The demon blinked in confusion, its eerie eyes darting wildly.
"!!"
Then, as if struck by a realization, its entire body froze. Its eyes widened in horror, and its hands shot up to clutch its head.
"AAAAHHHH!!!"
It screamed in agony.
"Damn it all!!! Taisho!!!"
The Shogun frowned slightly at the sight, instinctively taking her stance again in case the demon suddenly went berserk. Tanjiro also stepped back a few paces, staring nervously at the creature's current state.
"Taisho! The era has changed again!!"
Puchi!
The demon's countless arms began slamming into the ground repeatedly, each impact echoing with heavy thuds. It scratched at its own body like a madman, leaving bloody gouges across its flesh, red liquid spilling freely onto the soil.
"While I was imprisoned in this wretched place, the era changed again!! Ughhh!! Unforgivable! Unforgivable! Damn you, Urokodaki! Damn the Demon Slayer Corps!! Damn all you filthy worms!! You—!!"
Bang!!
Its fists smashed against the ground, shaking the earth and throwing up clouds of dust. The Shogun, clearly displeased, summoned her lightning shield around herself to keep the grime off her clothing.
[What's wrong with it all of a sudden?]
Ei's voice asked in confusion.
No idea… maybe being locked up too long scrambled its mind, the Shogun replied dryly.
"Wait! You—you know Master Urokodaki?!" Tanjiro asked in surprise.
"Yes… I remember. It was during the Edo period, wasn't it? Back then, that brat Urokodaki was still part of the Demon Slayer Corps. He's the one who caught me—trapped me here, in this cursed wisteria prison! I hate him! I hate the entire Demon Slayer Corps! I hate all of you! Hahaha! I ate every single one of his disciples... and that includes you today, boy! Hahahahaha!!"
"You! That fox mask is proof of his disciples! You're the fourteenth! The fourteenth I'll devour—hehehe~!"
The hulking demon sneered, then turned its bulging eyes toward the Shogun.
"And you, little girl... you reek of something sweet—the sweetest scent I've smelled in years. You'll be the finest meal I've ever had. Once I devour you, maybe I'll finally gain the strength to break free from this cage!"
...I already told you—your teeth can't bite through me.
The Shogun sighed softly, rolling her eyes.
"Miss Raiden, watch out!!"
Tanjiro shouted instinctively.
"Hahahaha!! Die!! I'll escape!!"
The demon roared and leapt high into the air, aiming to crush her beneath its colossal weight—but the Shogun vanished into lightning, reappearing in the sky above. With a graceful spin, she delivered a fierce, rotating kick squarely into the creature's stomach!
BOOM!
The impact echoed through the entire forest, scattering birds into flight. A powerful shockwave spread through the air, bending branches in its wake.
Whoosh!Crash!
The giant's massive body shot downward like a cannonball, slamming into the ground with another earth-shattering crash!
"...!!"
Tanjiro stood frozen—he hadn't even seen it happen. He hadn't blinked, yet she had already appeared midair, wrapped in a radiant storm of violet lightning. That wasn't the Thunder Breathing he knew. That was... true thunder.
Zzzt!Crackle!
The Shogun landed lightly on the ground, her naginata poised, eyes locked on her target.
The demon stood again, stretching out its many long arms as before. The Shogun smiled faintly and once more became a streak of thunderous light, darting back and forth through the forest at blinding speed. The creature's arms flailed to follow her path, but the faster she moved, the more tangled they became.
"What—!!"
The demon's eyes widened in panic as its own arms twisted and knotted together, immobilizing it completely in a ridiculous pose. It couldn't even attack!
The Shogun deliberately refrained from cutting its arms this time. Instead, she stepped lightly atop them, using the limbs as stepping stones to approach its face directly. With a single elegant motion, she planted her foot firmly on the demon's enormous head.
In that instant, their eyes met—the demon's body trembling violently, as though her foot were a blade pressing against its skull.
"You just said... I can't kill you?"
The Shogun's lips curved into a beautiful yet mocking smile.
"...!"
Cold sweat drenched the demon's face.
With a swift motion, she pressed her heel hard against its cheek—
Bang!—and leapt high into the air. Bending both knees, she drew her naginata horizontally behind her, her violet eyes locking on the thick neck hidden beneath its tangle of arms. Her entire body flared with lightning.
Zzzt!
Time seemed to slow.
"Thunderclap."
Buzz~!
Her form vanished, replaced by a single thread of violet light that sliced through the demon's neck.
She landed softly, as light as a feather, graceful as a celestial maiden.
A second later—
Puchi!
The massive demon's head flew from its shoulders. Even the arms shielding its neck were severed in the same stroke.
"Wha—!!! You... you... why?!"
Why could she kill it?!
Its face twisted in disbelief and terror. She didn't wield a Nichirin Blade, yet her power was greater. She didn't use Breathing Techniques, yet her speed surpassed even Thunder Breathing! Who—what—was she?!
But it would never find out.
Thud!
The giant's body collapsed, head and torso falling separately to the earth. Its flesh shimmered with violet light before disintegrating into dust.
The Shogun rose gracefully, resting her naginata behind her once more. She casually brushed a few loose strands of hair back behind her ear, her expression calm and detached—as if nothing had happened at all.
Tanjiro, watching from nearby, sat frozen. The image of that radiant violet figure burned itself into his heart.
In that moment, he knew—his idol had just been born.