At the foot of Mount Fujikasane, a sea of purple flowers, like something out of a dream, blooms quietly in the morning mist.
Those are Wisteria that never fade throughout the year.
Sunlight pierced through the misty fog, scattering across the cascading flower spikes and refracting a dreamlike halo.
The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of flowers. To humans, that fragrance was a comforting and reassuring scent, but to evil spirits, it was a deadly poison that could cause them to perish.
However, this stunningly beautiful scenery, which looked like a paradise on earth, did not make the dozens of young men and women gathered here feel relaxed in the slightest.
This is the training ground for the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection.
Beyond this sea of Wisteria, deep in the mountains, lies a living hell where countless evil spirits have been imprisoned for seven days and seven nights.
On the platform stood dozens of young swordsmen with varying expressions.
Most of them had murderous looks on their faces, their eyes burning with the fire of revenge, and the veins on their hands, gripping the hilts of their knives, were bulging.
Each person is like a drawn sword, radiating a cold aura that keeps strangers at bay.
Just then, two figures, completely out of place with the somber atmosphere, appeared at the end of the stone steps leading to the platform.
They are the Kocho Sisters.
The older sister, Kanae, wore a butterfly-patterned kimono with a plain-colored haori draped over it.
She was tall and exceptionally beautiful, with a gentle smile that was always as warm as the spring sun on her face. Her clear eyes seemed to wash away all the unhappiness in a person's heart.
The younger sister, Shinobu Kocho, was much smaller. She wore a team uniform that allowed for easy movement, and the butterfly wing pattern on her haori was even more eye-catching.
Her small face was as delicate as a doll's, and her bright, large purple eyes shone with a calmness and sharpness that seemed beyond her years.
Wow, the Wisteria here is blooming so beautifully!
Kanae gazed at the magnificent sea of flowers before her and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
"Elder sister."
The man beside him merely glanced at the flowers before turning his gaze to the various expressions on the platform's "competitors," his voice carrying an undeniable calmness.
"Don't get distracted. The Final Selection... isn't for coming here to admire flowers."
"Oh my~ Shinobu is still so serious."
Kanae turned around, bent down, and gently tapped her sister's smooth forehead with her finger, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"That's true. When we get into the mountains, Shinobu, you'd better stick close to your big sister! After all... our Shinobu is really not strong enough!"
"Elder sister!!"
Shinobu puffed out her cheeks and slapped Kanae's hand away in dissatisfaction, a hint of embarrassment and annoyance flashing in her purple eyes.
Her sister brought this up again to make fun of her!
Since deciding to switch to Flower Breathing, their progress has been rapid.
Kanae's naturally flexible body is perfectly suited to the Flower Breathing, making her swordsmanship both elegant and sharp.
While he himself was still lacking in strength, he also demonstrated an amazing talent for the new Breathing Style thanks to his super speed and agility.
She doesn't need her sister's protection!
She needs to become stronger, strong enough to protect her sister, strong enough... to fight alongside that man!
The mere thought of that man's figure inexplicably ignited a surge of anger within her.
She wrote so clearly in her letter that he absolutely, unconditionally had to wait for them at the exit!
If that blockhead dares to stand them up... hmph!
Ren secretly clenched his little fists, as if he could already see the miserable sight of someone being tortured by his newly developed potion, vomiting and having diarrhea.
The two sisters walked onto the platform, bickering as they went.
Their appearance was like two colorful butterflies entering a somber world composed of dark tones like gray, black, and brown, instantly attracting the attention of everyone present.
"Hey... look!"
"That... that is..."
"What a... what a beautiful girl..."
A soft beeping sound rang out from the crowd.
In an organization like the Demon Slayer Corps, which is practically a meat grinder, female swordsmen are already scarce, let alone girls like the Kocho Sisters, who are top-notch in both looks and temperament.
The older sister is as gentle as water, like a secluded orchid in a valley; the younger sister is as charming as fire, like a thorny rose.
The two of them standing together seemed to draw in all the spiritual energy of the entire Mount Fujikasane, their beauty so captivating that it was hard to look away.
However, most people only glanced at it in amazement before quickly looking away.
Who among those standing here doesn't carry a few deep-seated blood feuds? The beauties are attractive, but slaying demons and seeking revenge is the only meaning for their existence.
However, there are always exceptions.
A tall, arrogant young swordsman stared wide-eyed the moment he saw the Kocho Sisters.
He straightened his meticulously tailored team uniform, put on what he thought was a charming smile, and strode over to the two sisters.
"Oh?"
Kanae looked at the young man walking straight towards her, her gentle eyes revealing a hint of innocent confusion.
Ren frowned, glanced at him disdainfully, and turned his head away, not even bothering to look at him properly.
The young swordsman stopped in front of the two sisters. He first tossed his bangs in a pretentious manner, then spoke in a magnetic, self-important voice:
"These two beautiful ladies are Kirikawa, and I consider myself one of the strongest swordsmen in this year's Final Selection."
He puffed out his chest, his face radiating a sense of superiority.
"Mount Fujikasane is fraught with danger, especially for two delicate girls like these; their chances of survival are slim."
"But rest assured, as long as you stay by my side, I guarantee I can protect you and ensure your safety for these seven days."
"After the assessment, how about we exchange our swordsmanship tips?"
He spoke with such confidence, as if it were an immense honor for the Kocho Sisters to receive his "protection."
In his opinion, these two incredibly beautiful girls were probably young ladies from some noble family who had impulsively decided to take the exam.
If I just show off my skills and manners a little, I'll definitely be able to get it easily.
Kanae blinked, still not quite understanding what was going on.
Shinobu Kocho, standing nearby, burst out laughing after hearing his words.
The laughter was crisp and pleasant, like the tinkling of silver bells, yet it inexplicably made Kirikawa's heart skip a beat.
Ren slowly turned her head, raised her delicate, flawless face, and looked at him with a smile through her purple eyes.
But there was no warmth in that smile, only undisguised, cold mockery.
"This... um, Mr. Kirikawa, right?"
When Ren opened her small mouth, the words that came out were like the most poisonous venom.
"Excuse me, are your father and mother toads?"
Kirikawa's smile froze instantly, "... Huh?"
Ren tilted his head slightly, his smile becoming even more "innocent":
"If not, then where did you inherit this delusional wishful thinking of a toad wanting to eat swan meat?"
"Or do you think your plain, unremarkable face, the kind you'd lose in a crowd, deserves the title of 'strongest'?"
"Or perhaps you think that my sister and I look like the kind of useless people who need a man's protection to survive?"
"..."
A series of soul-searching questions, faster than the sharpest knife, pierced Kirikawa's proud heart with swiftness and precision!
A few suppressed laughs came from the surrounding area.
Kirikawa's face flushed a deep, liver-colored color! He pointed at Shinobu, his lips trembling, and after stammering for a long time, he couldn't utter a single word.
He never dreamed that this seemingly petite, cute, and harmless little girl would have such a sharp tongue!
"Oh dear~"
Just as the atmosphere was about to spiral out of control, Kanae finally came to her senses.
She quickly reached out and covered her younger sister's still chattering cherry lips, while giving Kirikawa, whose face was flushed, an extremely apologetic and gentle smile.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Kirikawa. My sister is still young and doesn't think before she speaks. Please don't take it to heart."
"Ugh! Ugh!"
Even with her mouth covered, Shinobu continued to struggle defiantly, her purple eyes glaring fiercely at the other person as if to say, "Let me go! I haven't finished cursing!"
Looking at Kirikawa's gentle and beautiful face, Kanae's anger subsided by half, but the resentment of being humiliated in public surged up again.
He took a deep breath, just about to say a few polite words to save face...
Right at this moment!
"Quiet!"
Two members of the "Hidden" unit, dressed in black and with their faces covered by masks, appeared like ghosts on the high point of the platform.
One of them, in a completely emotionless tone, loudly announced:
"Welcome, everyone, to the Final Selection!"
"From this moment forward, you will enter Mount Fujikasane, a place that imprisons countless evil spirits. To pass the selection, you only need to do one thing!!"
"Seven days to survive here!"
"Then... the Final Selection officially begins!"
The moment the words fell, the expressions of all the swordsmen on the platform became extremely solemn.
Kanae ignored Kirikawa, who was still standing there in a daze. She released her hand from her younger sister's and instead took her small hand in her own, saying gently but firmly:
"Ren, let's go!"
"Snort!"
Shinobu let out a soft snort, glared fiercely at Kirikawa, and then gripped her sister's hand tightly.
The two sisters did not hesitate for a moment longer.
Their figures, like two fluttering butterflies, swept past the still-dazed Kirikawa, and they were the first to rush into that forest, separated by Wisteria, leading to hell.
The moment they stepped into the forest, the expressions on the two sisters' faces simultaneously turned serious.
The real battle has begun!