Screen 1 – Journey to the Swordsmith Village (Dark Version)
The battle in the Entertainment District ended weeks ago,
but the air around the Corps still feels soaked in blood.
Too many graves.
Too many broken bodies.
And now the only ones heading toward the next storm are:
Tanjiro
Sans
Papyrus
Zenitsu vanished on his mission.
Inosuke ran back into the mountains like some wounded animal refusing help.
The world feels quieter without them.
Too quiet.
---
Tanjiro's Shattered Blade
In the Butterfly Mansion, Tanjiro stares at the remains of his sword.
It isn't just broken.
It looks… punished.
The metal is twisted like it begged to survive.
Tanjiro whispers,
"Haganezuka-san… he's going to lose his mind…"
A Kakushi arrives.
Voice low, respectful, but frightened.
"Tanjiro Kamado. The Swordsmith Village commands your presence."
Not requests.
Not asks.
Commands.
Tanjiro stiffens.
"It's because my blade is—"
"That's why they want you," the Kakushi says sharply.
Sans leans against a porch pillar, shadows slicing across his skull.
"sounds like trouble. feels like it too."
Papyrus throws open the door in a cloak, full of loud bravado.
"ONWARD! TO THE SECRET VILLAGE OF WEAPONS AND DESTINY!"
Tanjiro forces a smile… but his instincts are warning him otherwise.
Something unseen is moving in the dark.
---
Zenitsu & Inosuke Missing
Tanjiro scans the grounds one last time.
"Zenitsu's far east…
And Inosuke—"
A distant scream echoes through the trees.
"I AM TRAINING ALONE, YOU COWARDS!"
Sans snorts.
"yeah. he's alive."
Papyrus nods.
"ALIVE AND VERY ANGRY!"
The group leaves under a moon that hangs uncomfortably low.
The shadows feel thicker than usual.
---
The Journey Begins
They climb into a carriage disguised as cargo.
The Kakushi whispers,
"We travel only at night.
Demons track us harder in daylight now."
That sentence alone feels wrong.
Tanjiro sits inside, clutching the remains of his sword.
Papyrus tries to hype everyone up.
"WE SHALL RETURN WITH GLORY!"
Sans mutters,
"with our luck, we'll return with scars."
The forest swallows them.
The torches dim.
And deep behind them, something stirs…
Watching.
Hunting.
The Swordsmith Village isn't a safe haven.
It's a trap waiting to be sprung.
---
Screen 2 – Arrival at the Swordsmith Village (Dark Version)
The village sits in a quiet valley, draped in mist like funeral cloth.
Smiths hammer glowing blades with silent intensity.
No one laughs.
No one speaks loudly.
This place feels like a beating heart made of metal.
And every heart eventually stops.
—
The Swordsmiths Notice the Trio
Whispers trail behind them:
"The Kamado boy…"
"The blade-breaker…"
"…and the skeleton creatures?"
Papyrus waves proudly.
"I AM PAPYRUS! A HERO!"
Even he sounds smaller here.
Sans surveys the area.
No jokes this time.
"tanjiro… their fear isn't normal."
Tanjiro nods, sensing it too.
This village is hiding more than swords.
---
Mitsuri Appears
Mitsuri runs over, warmth cutting through the gloom for a moment.
But when she smiles at the skeleton brothers,
there's an undercurrent beneath it.
A tension she tries to hide.
"You're so cute and strong!
I'm glad you're here."
She isn't just happy.
She's relieved.
The village needs every fighter it can get.
---
Muichiro Walks Past
Muichiro appears silently, ignoring everyone.
He stops, stares at Sans for two heartbeats.
"…Skeleton."
Then walks away.
Papyrus whispers,
"HE IS VERY CALM FOR SOMEONE NEAR A SWORD ROBOT."
Sans watches Muichiro disappear.
"nah.
that kid's not calm.
he's numb."
Tanjiro doesn't disagree.
---
Screen 3 – A New Place to Rest (Dark Version)
They're led deeper into the village.
The forges grow distant.
The trees thicker.
The shadows darker.
A guide whispers,
"This area is reserved for special guests.
You will rest here."
Tanjiro bows, grateful… but uneasy.
Papyrus flexes dramatically.
"WE SHALL REST LIKE HEROES!"
Sans scans the rooftops.
"something's watching us."
Tanjiro freezes.
"You sense it too…?"
Sans squints toward the treeline.
"yeah.
something old.
something hungry."
---
The Hot Spring
Papyrus cannonballs in as usual—
but the splash feels colder.
Wrong.
Tanjiro laughs nervously.
But even he senses the water feels different.
Too hot.
Too still.
Like it's waiting for blood.
Sans wipes his hoodie.
"bro, maybe don't provoke ancient cursed springs."
---
Their Lodging
The lodge is quiet.
Too quiet.
Tatami mats.
Lanterns.
A soft breeze.
And a presence.
Like a demon stepped inside recently
but left no tracks.
Papyrus collapses onto the futon.
"I LOVE THIS PLACE!"
Sans doesn't lie down.
He sits.
Back against the wall.
Eye flickering faintly.
"something's wrong here."
Tanjiro swallows.
"…I know."
Outside, a silhouette disappears into the mist.
The village thinks it's safe.
It isn't.
---
Screen 4 – The Mist Hashira's Training Ground (Dark Version)
Tanjiro wanders.
Trying to calm his mind.
Trying to understand why the air tastes like rot.
Sans and Papyrus follow.
Papyrus points at every building until Tanjiro stops dead.
In front of them stands—
An ancient mechanical doll.
Six arms.
Empty eyes.
A silent stance dripping with menace.
Yoriichi Type Zero.
Papyrus gasps in awe.
"A ROBOT SWORDSMAN!"
But even he lowers his voice.
Something about this puppet feels alive.
And angry.
---
Muichiro Training
Without warning—
Muichiro blurs forward.
His blades crash against the puppet.
The puppet awakens.
Its six arms move faster than sight.
Each strike echoes like a war drum.
Papyrus hides behind Sans.
"BROTHER THAT IS NOT NORMAL!"
Sans nods once.
"I know.
that puppet's built too perfectly.
like it trained itself."
Tanjiro's heart races.
That stance…
That rhythm…
That ghostly calm…
"…Yoriichi."
---
The Puppet's Origin
Kotetsu explains the origin.
A recreation of a man too strong for humans to copy.
So they gave the puppet extra arms.
Papyrus is stunned.
"THE LEGENDARY SWORDSMAN'S SHADOW! UNREAL!"
Sans narrows his eye.
"tanjiro… that puppet's reading your breathing pattern."
Tanjiro freezes.
"How can it—"
"it's reacting to something inside you."
Something old.
Something inherited.
Something Muzan fears.
---
Tanjiro Joins Training
Kotetsu suddenly shoves Tanjiro in.
The puppet attacks instantly.
CLANG—
The impact rattles his bones.
It moves faster with every strike.
It almost feels like it's trying to
kill
him.
Tanjiro dodges.
Barely.
But with each clash he sees the shadow of a man.
The sun-breather.
The demon slayer above all others.
Yoriichi.
His ghost haunts Tanjiro's blade.
---
Sans & Papyrus Reactions
Sans watches silently, no jokes left.
"That puppet…
it's not just copying movement.
It's copying intent."
Papyrus is still trembling.
"IT FEELS LIKE IT KNOWS HOW TO KILL US!"
Sans corrects him calmly.
"It does."
---
Tanjiro's Awakening
As the puppet swings again,
Tanjiro sees it.
A memory.
A dream.
A silhouette surrounded by sunlight.
His father's dance.
Yoriichi's flame.
It all merges inside him.
His mark tingles.
His breathing deepens.
Sans mutters,
"kid… something's awakening."
Papyrus gasps,
"TANJIRO IS EVOLVING!"
Tanjiro grips his sword.
This moment isn't hopeful.
It's destiny sharpening itself on his soul.
The puppet attacks again.
Tanjiro meets it.
And the shadow of Yoriichi watches.
---
To be continued…