Mount Fujikasane, a not particularly tall mountain—or rather, a small stretch of winding mountain range—was surrounded by pale purple wisteria flowers, exuding a breathtaking beauty as dusk approached.
Yet beneath this stunning scenery lay the most brutal final selection for those seeking to join the Demon Slayer Corps. Mount Fujikasane, blanketed in wisteria, housed an astonishing number of demons.
Trapped within the mountain by the endless sea of wisteria, they endured extreme hunger day after day, driving them all to the brink of madness.
For flesh and blood, the demons here would launch the most vicious attacks on any human who entered Mount Fujikasane.
To join the Demon Slayer Corps, this was the final trial: survive for seven days on a mountain teeming with frenzied demons, using any means necessary.
It sounded cruel—and indeed, it was.
With each final selection, only a handful succeeded, while most who failed lost their lives on Mount Fujikasane.
This was why nearly every Demon Slayer fought demons fearlessly, risking their lives without hesitation—because they had already endured hell once during the final selection.
Stepping steadily toward the entrance of Mount Fujikasane, beneath the shrine-like torii gate, stood a lone figure.
Clad in the black uniform of the Demon Slayer Corps, a white haori with flame-patterned edges and wild yet strikingly upright golden hair tinged with vivid red at the tips, the man had thick eyebrows and a face brimming with righteousness.
His large orange eyes gave the impression of staring into an owl's gaze.
Most importantly, an overwhelming presence radiated from him—like a roaring blaze.
Rengoku Shinjuro rested a hand on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade, watching as Shinichi approached, carrying the Shiba Inu Maru-ni in his arms.
"Are you… a Hashira?" Shinichi asked, puzzled.
Shinjuro studied the boy with heterochromatic eyes, inwardly surprised.
He sensed no trace of a demon presence on him and even under the lingering sunlight, Shinichi showed no discomfort.
It seemed everything Elder Moriki had said was coming true.
Shinjuro felt a faint stirring in his chest.
"Indeed. I am Rengoku Shinjuro, the Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. By the orders of Oyakata-sama, I am overseeing this final selection" Shinjuro declared, his voice booming with conviction.
Shinichi glanced around before pointing at himself with a grin.
"So, am I the only one taking the final selection this time? To mobilize the strongest fighters of the Demon Slayer Corps just for me—should I be grateful for Oyakata-sama special consideration?"
Shinjuro thick brows furrowed slightly.
The boy words were somewhat off-putting, bordering on disrespectful.
But recalling Oyakata-sama instructions before his departure, he patiently explained the process to Shinichi.
However, Shinichi had already heard about the Demon Slayer Corps' final selection from the Old Man. Tilting his head toward the mountains slowly swallowed by darkness, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
"So, do I have to kill all the demons on the mountain?"
Shinjuro was taken aback.
"No, Shinichi Moriki, your deeds have long been circulating among some of the members and Oyakata-sama is well aware of your strength. In fact, the Final Selection holds no meaning for you. However, Oyakata-sama insists on your participation because he promised Elder Moriki that he would formally reinstate the Moriki family into the Demon Slayer Corps. This was also Elder Moriki request."
Hearing it was the Old Man, Shinichi didn't say anything more.
He patted Maru-ni head in his arms and asked.
"So, what do you need me to do?"
Shinjuro stepped closer to Shinichi and pointed at Mount Fujikasane.
"The Demons on this mountain were captured by past and current Hashira from various regions. They are confined here like livestock and none of them are particularly strong. The most powerful among them wouldn't have eaten more than three people."
"However, we periodically cleanse the mountain of Demons to ensure none grow too powerful and disrupt the Final Selection. So, Shinichi, we'd like to ask you—this time, your Final Selection will be to eliminate any overly strong Demons on this mountain."
Hearing Shinjuro words, Shinichi stared at a certain spot on the mountain and muttered under his breath.
"So, I'm playing the janitor, huh? Can you specify what counts as 'overly strong'?"
Shinjuro replied "Any Demon stronger than those who've eaten three people—kill them all. Those with Blood Demon Arts or abnormal forms—kill them too."
Shinichi nodded. "Understood."
Suddenly, he handed Maru-ni over to Shinjuro, whose eyes widened in surprise as he awkwardly held the Shiba Inu, unsure what to do.
Shinichi didn't pay it any mind and walked off without looking back.
"Take care of Maru-ni for me these few days. He eats a lot—five meals a day. If possible, let him exercise after eating." Before Shinjuro could even say "Wait—", Shinichi had already dashed into the entrance of Mount Fujikasane like an arrow.
Left behind, Shinjuro could only stare at the cheerful, tail-wagging Dog, his thick brows furrowing in displeasure.
He wasn't fond of small animals.
A Kasugai crow with a red feather in its tail landed on Shinjuro shoulder.
After whispering instructions to the crow, the intelligent bird nodded, flapped its wide wings and swiftly flew off into the sky toward a certain destination.
***
Meanwhile, Shinichi ventured deeper into Mount Fujikasane.
As he progressed, he could feel wave after wave of sinister, violent auras locking onto him. The further he went, the more ravenous gazes and bloodthirsty presences surrounded him.
Screech!
Shinichi came to an abrupt stop, his deerskin boots carving two long trails in the dirt.
He lifted his head, his heterochromatic eyes scanning the surroundings as if confirming something.
By now, the sky was completely shrouded in night—the domain of Demons had officially begun.
"Too weak! Too weak! All of them are too weak! Even this deep in, is this all there is?"
Shinichi muttered in dissatisfaction.
The aura of these surrounding Demons was far too feeble for him. To put it bluntly, even the Demon Karasuma from back then could easily sweep through these pathetic creatures.
Having lost interest, Shinichi decided not to waste any more time here and lifted his foot to move to another area.
But just then, something unexpected happened.
From within the bushes, a Demon with blood-red eyes suddenly lunged out, charging straight at Shinichi.
Its gaping maw revealed jagged fangs, saliva spraying wildly.
"Meat! I want flesh and blood!!"
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