Will Always Comes First!

"Cough cough cough."

After Long had been gone for quite some time, Shiwei, who was lying on the ground, finally seemed to be able to breathe again and began to cough violently.

His eyes were blank, and he didn't stand up immediately.

"In the face of absolute power, willpower is nothing but a joke," Shiwei said calmly, gazing at the drifting clouds in the sky.

That kind of power is also a symbol of Oboro's will.

Because no one is born invincible, Oboro possesses this power precisely because of his incredibly strong sense of conviction.

Personal will.

Long showed him just how strong a person's will could be.

Before coming, he thought that with the awakening of his Demon Slayer Mark, the new techniques of breathing exercises and Water Breathing, plus his rich experience in slaying demons over the years... even if his skill level wasn't low, he would still have a fighting chance. But he never expected that defeat would come so quickly; with just one punch, he achieved the feat of overwhelming force with sheer power.

Moreover, the Shiwei could clearly sense that the man was still not serious; he had only shown him what 'power' was.

The Demon Slayer Corps's inherited will is collective... passed down from generation to generation, fulfilled without hesitation.

Rather than the kind that emphasizes absolute self-will.

In other words, if you want to compete between personal will and inherited will, then it would be best to summon the entire Demon Slayer Corps.

This is a complete confrontation between two wills.

However, even with the entire Demon Slayer Corps assembled, the Shiwei now understands... it's useless.

Perhaps, in Oboro's eyes, the whole world is... insignificant.

He saw the contempt in Oboro's eyes as he choked himself.

That's not arrogance, it's absolute confidence in one's own abilities.

"How ignorant I was..."

After pondering for a long time, the Shiwei sighed.

Then, tears welled up in his eyes, and he murmured, "I'm sorry, Otomo Issui... I've disappointed you."

"In the end... I couldn't do it."

"But... I believe that one day, someone will surpass me."

At this point, he turned his head and looked at the ground not far away, at the black haori that had been peeled off Oboro.

Kawai Ichie's visit was just a side story.

Long didn't take it to heart.

After returning to the city, he continued to live his peaceful life as usual.

This water column still filled him with some anticipation, because if the Shiwei could already use breathing techniques to this level, then surely, after generations of swordsmen's research... the time when they could break through to the next level of internal energy would definitely come sooner.

The chaos among the people continued, but the war that had spread because of the assassination of the king finally ended a few years later.

The country enjoyed a brief period of calm.

The Shogunate still held the dominant position, but it lost its initial control over the domains and some capital cities in various regions.

Many local forces rose up in rebellion and declared themselves kings.

The Edo period has come to a complete end.

Over the past decade, thanks to Oboro's efforts, the world order has undergone tremendous changes. In addition to the increased power of demons and the Demon Slayer Corps, his successors have also taken center stage, creating a three-way power struggle.

The Demon Slayer Corps is responsible for killing not only Muzan and his demons, but also those who inherit the Will of Oboro.

These inheritors share a common characteristic: the forces they have united are mostly rebel armies formed by the previously suffering lower classes under the banner of salvation.

It posed a great threat to the Shogunate.

Meanwhile, Muzan's demons are also hunting down inheritors, because the Demon King needs to study these 'samples'.

On the surface, the situation has eased, but the struggle between the three parties has never stopped behind the scenes.

The inheritors believe the Demon Slayer Corps is a lackey of the Shogunate, using the Shogunate's power to target them under the guise of demon hunting; the two sides were originally enemies. As for Muzan, the so-called Demon King, the inheritors have been searching for him for years... However, not many inheritors are focused on Muzan; most are still preoccupied with overthrowing the Shogunate and rebuilding the world.

Those who wanted to kill Muzan almost all felt that Muzan and the existence of demons had tainted their faith.

Their faith is Oboro.

Their power was bestowed by Oboro, not by Muzan.

In addition, as a representative of the Pillar-level swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kawai Ichie retired early and became a trainer, dedicated to training even more outstanding juniors.

Within the Demon Slayer Corps, the topic of Oboro was consciously kept under wraps by Ubuyashiki Hideo and others over time, and very few people knew about it.

At least for now, they all know that the Demon Slayer Corps does not have the ability to stand up to that man.

However, Rengoku Tenjuro has always been fighting on the front lines.

Host: Oboro.

Age: 31.

Identity: Origin of Will.

Overall attribute evaluation: Non-human.

Time has passed, and Oboro, still the leader of the North District Magistrate Office, once again came to Edo Castle and moved into the Shogunate.

He was sitting on the high pavilion of the Shogunate, drinking wine warmed by his servants, sitting cross-legged on a tatami mat, gazing at the bustling street scene outside the walls in the distance, while glancing at the system panel.

The data on the panel remained largely unchanged, with only variations in age, identity, and attributes.

Coming from a higher world to a lower world generally doesn't lead to any significant improvement.

All he can do is collect resources.

It refers to external objects.

In other words, Demon Slayer world can offer him is 'supplies'.

The only hope for inner growth at present is to rely on the sublimation of the inherited will and utilize the wisdom of countless people to transform breathing exercises into a metaphysical practice.

It's quite far away for now.

Compared to the ten years he spent starting out in the Hunter x Hunter game, he lived too comfortably during the ten years he spent in Demon Slayer.

His appearance hasn't changed much.

It was springtime, the season when cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and the entire Edo Castle was covered in fallen petals, creating a unique and beautiful scene.

He rushed over this time because he had heard some rumors.

During these turbulent ten years, Edo Castle managed to maintain a semblance of peace, and through his machinations, his clan easily seized power within the current Shogunate. For Oboro, this required no effort whatsoever; a simple hint was all it took.

Compared to the Hunter x Hunter where he led the Fills Family out of the V5 level and extended his influence all over the world, the mere Shogunate seems more like a child's game.

Since Zekawa killed the previous ruler, none of the successors have been able to threaten the Shogunate, because the Demon Slayer Corps has sent many people to protect them in secret.

But today... there's going to be a good show.

Oboro sat there for a whole day, and soon it was evening. The entire Edo Castle was brightly lit, as if the Purgatory past ten years had nothing to do with it.

This city represents the entire Edo period and the strength of the Shogunate.

It has always stood firm.

As night fell, a commotion suddenly arose from one direction under the cover of darkness, and soon a raging fire broke out.

Even more deafening shouts of battle erupted.

The movement of people on the street began to become scattered and rapid.

Someone... launched a siege.

In the latter half of the night, thick fireworks rose from all directions throughout Edo Castle.

The entire city was turned into a battlefield, with countless deaths and injuries.

In the darkness, several powerful auras leaped across the buildings, rapidly heading towards the location of the Shogunate.

In less than half an incense stick's time, these dark figures landed inside the Shogunate's residence.

"Huh?"

One of them looked surprised and suspicious. Although the Shogunate's army was rampant in the capital, and they had encountered fierce counterattacks and resistance, the closer they got to the Shogunate's headquarters, the weaker the defenses became. Most importantly, the Demon Slayer Corps had been nowhere to be seen from beginning to end... This was a bit hard to believe.

Even more bizarrely, there wasn't a single soldier in sight in this Shogunate.

It's like a ghost town.

So much so that their surprise attack plan was very easy.

Buzz...

Suddenly, a rhythmic sound rang out from high above.

Looking up, the group saw a woman playing the shamisen in the corridor high up in the building, her eyes calmly fixed on them.

Upon seeing this woman, the expressions of the group changed slightly at the same time.

My gaze shifted slightly and landed on a man sitting next to the woman, raising a glass to drink.

Upon catching sight of this figure, the uninvited guests trembled with fear and almost all knelt down.

"What... why is this gentleman here?"

This is what they are thinking.

Cherry blossoms drifted down from the night sky on the gentle breeze, filling the air with fragrance.

After drinking all day, Long's cheeks were slightly flushed.

He slowly rose, tightened his haori, put on his wooden clogs, and then leaped up. Although his body was falling rapidly, he landed as lightly as a feather the moment his toes touched the ground, without making a sound.

"I'm sorry to meet you this way."

Long seemed slightly tipsy, but when he looked at the familiar faces in front of him, he smiled.

There were four people in total.

They were all his successors whom he had personally transformed back then.

These four people... joined forces to fulfill the will he conveyed.

One of the great advantages of passing on one's will is its teamwork; it makes it easy to gather friends and companions, who come together because of emotional resonance.

He converted dozens of people to become his successors back then, but now, only a third of them are still alive.

The four people in front of us are the best among them.

"Yasuhara, Takaya, Ueno, Teshimaga."

Long called out the names of each of them.

The four people exchanged glances, looked up, and remained silent.

They all sensed something in their hearts.

"Although the missions you bear were given to you by me... I am still a member of the Shogunate, so from the perspective of our positions, we are enemies."

"I... can't back down."

As Oboro spoke softly, she reached out a hand and caught a cherry blossom petal falling from the sky.

"You all did a great job. I'm very pleased to see your growth..."

"I hope you can change the world, and I hope you can kill me... to achieve your ultimate goal."

Seeing that the expressions on their faces were wavering, Long said in a low voice, "You must also kill me... Only in this way will you not betray the beliefs I have passed on to you."

"I am... an obstacle you must overcome."

As Oboro spoke, the tone of the shamisen played by Chiyoko upstairs changed instantly, and a sense of solemnity and killing intent appeared in the Melody.

"As long as I am alive, you will never be able to overthrow the Shogunate."

Don't let me down.

"Choose... Since you're the enemy, kill me, or... be killed by me."

As soon as Oboro finished speaking, the black haori on her body shook wildly.

His eyes also turned cold.

In an instant, the image of him as a tall and imposing figure that had remained in the hearts of the four people was overturned.

After hearing these words, one of the four kneeling people was the first to stand up.

Then the other three also got up one after another.

A sharp glint flashed in Long's eyes as he opened his arms to the four of them. "Don't hesitate... abandon those meaningless emotions, and always remember, willpower is absolute!"

That's fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!

That's the beauty of passing on one's will!

This will continues to evolve.

Daring to confront him, the originator of his will, is itself proof that the ideas conveyed by Oboro have deeply penetrated the hearts of the four.

Willpower always comes first!

Everything else, step aside.