"What the fuck!!!?"
The night was as dark as ink, and cold moonlight pierced through the dense canopy, casting mottled shadows across the forest floor covered with withered leaves.
Slash.
The dull sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh suddenly rang out.
A burly demon with a blue face and fangs stared in disbelief at the straight sword thrust through its chest.
The tough skin it had always been proud of seemed incredibly fragile before this sword.
"How the fuck.. is this possible..? You... who exactly are you? There are no fluctuations of a Breathing Style, and you aren't wearing a Demon Slayer Corps uniform..."
The demon's voice leaked air, and an unwilling roar escaped its throat as it tried to swing its claws in a final counterattack.
The youth holding the sword had a cold, stern expression. He did not even blink as he casually flicked his wrist.
"Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear."
Buzz!
Azure lightning instantly surged along the slender blade, transforming into an extremely sharp bolt of electricity that sliced off the demon's head in an instant.
The headless body crashed to the ground and quickly disintegrated into nothing.
[Ding! Killed a common demon. Obtained dimension points: 10.]
The cold mechanical voice echoing in his mind allowed Rin's tense nerves to relax slightly.
"That's the twelfth one."
Rin deftly performed a sword flourish and slowly sheathed the straight sword, its blade displaying a strange dark black color.
His name was Rin. Originally, he had been nothing more than an ordinary male college student.
A day ago, he had inexplicably transmigrated into this world infested with demons, activating a cheat known as the [Dimensional Template System] at the same time.
This system was designed to help the host draw and merge the "character templates" of powerful figures from countless worlds.
The rules were simple. By altering the original plot, killing important enemy targets, or recruiting key characters, one could obtain "dimension points."
These points could be used not only to draw new templates, but also to upgrade existing ones, exchange for various items, and even travel to other worlds in the future.
And his luck had exploded the moment he arrived. The beginner gift pack had directly yielded the [Uchiha Sasuke: Mangekyō Sharingan Period] character template.
In addition, the system had thoughtfully provided a modified Kusanagi sword.
Not only did it come with its own scabbard, but the blade was also infused with Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand, giving it the same properties as a Nichirin blade. Decapitation meant a demon's death.
"The power of this template is indeed overbearing, but what satisfies me most is that the template provided by the system only grants power. It doesn't change my appearance or personality."
Rin touched his cheek.
By the light of the moon, he clearly saw his reflection in a puddle.
It was still that exceptionally handsome face with a sharp jawline, nice eyebrows and starry eyes, black hair and black pupils. Completely his original appearance that could mog any of those so-called looksmaxxers, without turning into an edge lord.
More importantly, after merging with the template, he had perfectly obtained all of Sasuke's combat experience, taijutsu instincts, chakra, and dōjutsu from that period. However, his personality remained that of the casual and easygoing Rin, without being tainted by the Uchiha clan's characteristic paranoia.
"There are still five days until the Final Selection at Fujikasane Mountain," Rin murmured to himself.
His purpose in entering the mountain this time was partly to become thoroughly familiar with Sasuke's combat instincts in real battles, and partly to accumulate some initial dimension points.
After all, only by obtaining an official identity within the Demon Slayer Corps would it be easier to contact the key characters of the story and obtain a large number of points later on.
Just as he was about to turn and search for his next prey, Rin suddenly paused.
His pitch-black eyes turned crimson in a tenth of a second. Three tomoe spun rapidly around the pupils before finally connecting end to end, forming a complex and eerie hexagram pattern.
The Mangekyō Sharingan.
Insight far beyond that of ordinary people instantly locked onto the tree canopy dozens of meters to the right.
"Who's there? Come out." Rin's hand rested on the hilt of the Kusanagi sword.
"Ara ara~ such keen perception. I thought I had hidden myself quite well."
Accompanied by a soft and ethereal female voice, several fluttering purple phantom butterflies appeared in the night.
Immediately after, a petite figure lightly leaped down from a branch, landing silently in the clearing ten paces away from Rin like a feather.
The newcomer wore the standard black Demon Slayer Corps uniform, with a haori patterned like butterfly wings draped over it.
Her long black hair was tied up in a bun, decorated with a butterfly-shaped hair ornament edged in purple.
She was extremely beautiful, with a gentle smile resting on her lips. Yet her deep purple eyes held a fathomless depth that was difficult to read.
The Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho!
The Mangekyō Sharingan in Rin's eyes instantly faded, returning to his original clear black pupils.
His heart stirred slightly. He had not expected to encounter a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps so early during this demon-hunting trip in the wilderness, especially a character he had quite liked in his previous life.
"Sir, wandering alone deep in the mountains late at night could be very dangerous, right?~" Shinobu Kocho said with a smile as she sized up Rin.
She had been tracking the remnants of a Morph Demon and had come here, only to unexpectedly see this black-haired youth, who was not even wearing a Demon Slayer Corps uniform, effortlessly kill a demon.
He had not used any Breathing Style, yet he wielded power like lightning.
The straight sword in his hand was clearly made of Nichirin, but its design was unheard of.
Most of all, when the youth had turned around just now, those fleeting crimson hexagram eyes had caused even her, a Hashira, to feel a sudden and inexplicable palpitation.
"Yes, it's Dangerous. It's certainly dangerous for the demons." Rin released his grip on the sword and smiled casually. "Nice to meet you. My name is Rin, a passing... well, demon hunter."
"Rin-san? That's a nice name, but..." Shinobu Kocho tilted her head, resting her cheek on one hand. "That weapon in your hand is a Nichirin blade, isn't it? But you don't seem to have a Trainer, nor have you participated in the Final Selection at Fujikasane Mountain."
Just as Shinobu Kocho was about to continue probing, Rin's sharp hearing caught a faint noise.
The intense sense of danger brought by the Sasuke template made him suddenly look up.
"Watch out above!"
Boom!
A Morph Demon as massive as a small mountain fell from the sky with a wild laugh, its sharp claws heading straight for Shinobu Kocho's petite head.
"Die, demon slayers!"
This demon's aura was several times stronger than the previous one. It was clearly the target with a Blood Demon Art that Shinobu Kocho had been tracking.
Shinobu Kocho's gaze turned cold. Just as she was about to draw the Nichirin blade at her waist to meet the attack, she felt a gust of wind rush past her.
So fast!
Rin's figure vanished from where he stood like a ghost.
"Chirp chirp chirp chirp!"
The ear-piercing sound, like a thousand birds chirping at once, instantly echoed through the entire forest, and dazzling lightning illuminated the night like daylight.
Shinobu Kocho only saw a blinding streak of blue lightning flash across the sky. The handsome youth named Rin had already appeared in mid-air at some point.
He had not even drawn his sword. His right hand condensed high-density, violent lightning, and with unstoppable force he thrust it forward, piercing straight through the Morph Demon's chest. The attack tore half of its body apart along with its neck without losing momentum.
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
The demon did not even have time to scream before it turned into flying ash within the violent lightning.
[Ding! Killed a Morph Demon. Obtained dimension points: 50.]
Rin landed steadily and casually shook off the remaining blue arcs of electricity on his hand. He turned around and smiled at Shinobu Kocho, whose beautiful eyes were slightly widened.
"The introduction isn't over yet. My name is Rin, and I'm planning to participate in the Final Selection at Fujikasane Mountain in five days. Please look after me, beautiful lady."