Nine months later, at Mount Sagiri.
The howling wind swept through the woods, whipping up a cloud of snow and mercilessly striking people's faces.
In this kind of weather, an average person's blood would freeze if they stayed outdoors for ten minutes.
But--
A clearing halfway up the mountain
Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight!
"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine!"
"Ten thousand!!"
After letting out a roar, Tanjiro Kamado swung a wooden sword into the air, creating a powerful, mountain-splitting attack!
Bang!!
The sound of something cutting through the air echoed across the snow-covered plains!
Even when wielding an unsharpened wooden sword, a blade mark half a meter deep appeared, demonstrating a great deal of energy!
"Huff, huff, huff..."
Tanjiro remained in the downward motion of his sword, breathing heavily, each breath exhaling thick white mist from his mouth.
In the snow where the temperature was tens of degrees below zero, Tanjiro was shirtless, wearing only a very thin pair of training pants!
However, this kid didn't have any bluish-purple discoloration from being frozen; instead, he was radiating a strong heat!
After a year of grueling training and relentless self-discipline by Sakonji Urokodaki, his once-thin body has undergone a significant transformation.
From a distance, Tanjiro appeared as if shrouded in a hazy, ethereal aura, standing out solemnly against the snow, exuding the air of a grandmaster of swordsmanship.
"Finally... I've finished the first warm-up..."
Tanjiro stood up and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
With his wine-red eyes fixed on the vast white sea of snow before him, Tanjiro unconsciously revealed a hint of tension in his eyes.
"The Final Selection for Mount Fujikasane... is less than a week away."
Tanjiro silently chanted to himself, his hand unconsciously tightening its grip on the wooden sword.
"I've heard that many man-eating demons are imprisoned in the mountains... but Mr. Giyu believes these are just lowly fry. But..."
An instinctive fear of the unknown battlefield is all too common among teenagers!
Just as Tanjiro was immersed in pre-exam anxiety and self-doubt.
[I'm telling you, you hopeless idiot, can you please stop making that disgusting face that looks like you're about to wet your pants? You're making me lose face in the Pacific Ocean!!]
Tanjiro paused for a moment, then closed his eyes helplessly.
"This is infuriating!"
Demon Tanjiro's blood-red vertical pupils were filled with disdain and mockery.
"I must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to run into a cowardly host like you."
"It's just participating in a selection process, playing in the mud with a bunch of nobodies. How could you think like that? Are you out of your mind?"
The oncoming attack infuriated Tanjiro, who put his hands on his hips and loudly retorted:
"Shut up! You arrogant brat who only knows how to talk big! I'm taking the exam as a human, I can't use the power of demons!"
"Besides, am I... really as strong as you say now? But when I sparred with Grandpa Urokodaki three months ago, he still beat me up with a head full of bumps..."
[Nonsense! That old man wearing the Tengu Mask is a monster who's lived for decades. His combat experience is more than the rice you've eaten! Using him as a benchmark for combat strength? Are you masochistic?!]
Tanjiro Demon rolled his eyes.
[Furthermore, it's still unknown who is stronger.]
"Whoosh!"
Tanjiro's eyes suddenly opened.
After being berated by his second personality, his pre-exam anxiety miraculously vanished, replaced by an urge to fight someone!
"That's right! I'm not that weak boy who only knows how to cry anymore! I must persevere!"
Tanjiro slapped his face hard, and a crisp sound rang out.
[The plot is on track, will it be able to conclude within 100 chapters? I hope so ≽^⚈⩊⚈^≼]
[Damn, the wrong chapter was posted! No wonder there were only 200 chapters! (▼皿▼#) ]