Chapter 8: Chapter 7
{Day 2 Mountain Fujikasane 6:00AM}
After barely three hours of rest, I stirred awake. It struck me then that Rengoku and I had likely over-prepared for this exam. These demons hardly warranted the use of a specific breathing style – a single slash sufficed to end them. I emerged from my rudimentary shelter, constructed from wood and bark, and surveyed the heap of demon ashes that now framed my doorstep. It grated on my nerves, this sense of having devoted too much time to training for a test that seemed, in retrospect, undemanding.
Yet, I couldn't help but imagine Rengoku's reaction. He was always the more zealous of us when it came to embracing challenges. That thought managed to elicit a small grin from me. I knew he'd be grappling with these circumstances even harder than I was.
Just as I turned, another demon slinked into view, attempting to approach from behind. In one fluid motion, I drew my blade and cleaved it in two.
After finishing of that demon my stomach let out a loud growl. I hadn't eaten anything since last night, so I decided to try my luck with hunting. Drawing my blade, I left a faint slash mark on a few trees, marking my way back to base camp. After about 20 minutes of running through the forest, I stumbled upon a small boar sharpening its tusks against a tree. With one swift motion, I beheaded it and carried the carcass back to camp. I skinned it, made a fire, roasted the meat, and savored my meal. Along the way, I also took down some pesky demons that got in my way.
As I sat by the crackling fire, enjoying the roasted boar, a sense of satisfaction washed over me. The forest around me was silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. It was a moment of calm amidst the chaos of the Final Selection.
With a full belly, I decided to explore the area further, venturing deeper into the woods. The wisteria flowers created a beautiful tapestry of colors, contrasting with the dark shadows cast by the towering trees. The scent of the blooming flowers mixed with the earthy aroma of the forest, creating a heady, intoxicating fragrance.
The day wore on,I kept on killing demons and the sun dipped lower in the sky. The forest seemed to come alive with nocturnal creatures, their calls and chirps creating a symphony of nature. I returned to my camp, replenishing the fire and preparing for the night ahead.
{Day 5 Mountain Fujikasane 2:00AM}
Amidst the eerie silence of the mountain, I continued the grim task of moving animal carcasses away from my camp. By the third day, I had come to realize that the remains of the animals I didn't eat attracted an enormous amount of demons. Thus, I spent the majority of my days shuttling carcasses from one location to another. Though thoughts of adopting a nomadic lifestyle for the duration of the exam crossed my mind, I found myself oddly attached to the rough-hewn shelter I had fashioned over the past five days.
Then, an unexpected sound pierced the quiet—a distinctive crunching noise, as though something was feasting. Strangely, it emanated from the area where I had amassed the animal remains. Intrigued and cautious, I ventured closer, my senses heightened. What met my eyes was a behemoth of a demon, standing at least nine feet tall. Its grotesque form boasted a multitude of limbs, and its eyes glowed a sinister yellow, marked by an unmistakable 'x'. The creature voraciously consumed the animal carcasses, a sinister transformation unfolding with each devouring.
My fascination with this aberration momentarily overrode my instincts. In my distracted state, a snapped tree branch echoed loudly through the forest. The demon's head whipped around, its gaze locking onto me. "Oh, another meal. I've grown weary of dining only on the animals on this mountain," it rumbled.
Determination surged within me. "You won't get the chance," I retorted. Swiftly, I unsheathed my sword, my eyes scanning the night sky. There, the Taurus constellation gleamed. In hushed fervor, I said— "Constellation Breathing Second Form: Taurus Charge." With every ounce of strength, I drove my foot into the earth. In a blur, I materialized before the demon, sword drawn. With a ferocious downward strike, too swift for mortal eyes to follow, the blow landed dividing the demon in two.
{Day 7 Mountain Fujikasane 12PM}
As the Final Selection drew to an end, we all made our way back to the mountain shrine that had been our starting point. I arrived to find that Rengoku had beaten me there, and the weary look in his eyes spoke of the uneventful skirmishes with weaker demons. He flashed me a thumbs up, but I motioned for him to keep quiet until the others arrived.
The final survivor appeared, his disheveled kimono a testament to the ordeal he had endured. The two organizers then approached us, delivering their words in perfect unison, "Congratulations to all three of you for passing. You are now official members of the demon slayer corps." With that, they presented each of us with the signature black uniform bearing our new rank—Mizunoto with a big kanji inscribed in its back —Metsu, meaning slay or destroy.
"Choose your ores," they instructed, indicating the twelve options before us. Rengoku wasted no time and swiftly laid claim to the largest one. "I want this one," he declared with his characteristic zeal. It was my turn next. I studied the eleven remaining ores intently, until a glint from one caught my eye. "I want this one," I stated decisively.
As for the third successful candidate, he made his choice at random. Our ranks and roles within the demon slayer corps were now solidified, marking the beginning of our shared journey.
"Well, now we just need to forge our blades," Rengoku declared, his enthusiasm palpable.
"Yeah, I want to have a nichirin that is uniquely mine," I chimed in, sharing in his excitement.
"We can have them forged by the Rengoku's personal swordsmith. He's been crafting swords for the flame Hashira for generations," Rengoku explained.
With a clear plan in mind, we set out for the Rengoku estate. The journey back would take another week, but we were eager to get our hands on our custom-made nichirin swords.
{1 week later}
After our long journey, we finally reached the Rengoku family's private swordsmith's estate. A bell hung on his door, and when we rang it, an elderly man wearing a Tōkō mask crafted from wood emerged to greet us. Behind the mask, a few strands of white hair were still visible.
"Ah, Rengoku-sama, I assume you've successfully passed your Final Selection," the old man, Master Kaji, remarked.
"Yes, Master Kaji. I would be honored if you could forge nichirin blades for me and my dear friend, whom I consider a brother," Rengoku replied while gesturing at me.
"Normally, I wouldn't agree to such a request, but since you hold him in such high regard, I'll make an exception," Kaji stated. Rengoku expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Master Kaji. I will forever be indebted to you."
Master Kaji chuckled, saying, "Oh, such flattery from you." He then briskly added, "Well, let's get to work. I'm here for business, not small talk." With that, he instructed, "Now, hand me your ores."
We passed him our chosen ores, and he disappeared into his forge. From inside, he called out, "Come back in the afternoon."
Rengoku turned to me and suggested, "Well, I suppose we should return home for now." He shrugged, and we set off on our way back.
{Master Kaji Estate 9:00PM}
"I have finished making both your swords and their sheaths" Master Kaji said. Two blades were positioned on the table in front of Rengoku and I. "The blue sheathed one is Rengoku-sama's and the onyx sheathed one is Hoshi-sama's" Master Kaji said.
"Indeed, these are true masterpieces, Master Kaji," I chimed in, my eyes gleaming with admiration as I examined the magnificent swords. Each one seemed to hold a piece of the wielder's spirit within its steel.
Rengoku grabbed his blade first an unsheathed it. His blade, with its fiery red and black hues, was a reflection of his Flame Breathing prowess. Its flame-shaped cross guard and the sturdy white hilt bespoke strength and precision. As he held it aloft, a palpable aura of power seemed to radiate from the weapon.
Turning my attention to my own sword I grabbed it and unsheathed it as well, I marveled at its ethereal beauty. The obsidian blade, speckled with star-like patterns, seemed to hold the night sky within its steel. It was a sight that resonated deeply with my love for the stars and constellation breathing. The dodecahedron-shaped cross guard and the meticulously designed hilt, with its alternating white and black bands, felt perfectly balanced in my grip.
Master Kaji's craftsmanship was nothing short of extraordinary. These swords were more than weapons; they were extensions of ourselves, intricately forged to amplify our strengths and complement our fighting styles. With these blades in hand, we were more than demon slayers; we were a force of nature.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Joanjudo
Joanjudo Well next chapter down right now the MC and rengoku are overpowered since Rengoku is almost Hashira level and Hoshi is even closer to it. So only really powerful demons and ranked demons are going to prove a challenge as you will see. Just that the learning curve will really slow down now they won’t get a lot stronger until they unlock their slayer marks and transparent worlds if they do so. Hope you all enjoyed it.
Weekly Power Status
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