The Most Luxurious Lineup in History

"Do I know you?" Sabito asked, as Hiruma's gaze felt too strange, giving him the illusion of knowing the person, but someone he had absolutely no memory of.

Hearing him, Hiruma smiled slightly and said sincerely, "Perhaps we've met."

Sabito nudged Giyu and asked, "Your acquaintance?"

Giyu shook his head; he didn't recognize this person at all.

"Oh my!"

"Even if we haven't met before, haven't we met now!" Hiruma put on his friendly and thick-skinned act, mainly because he had indeed seen the two of them, albeit one-sidedly.

"Forgot to introduce myself, Tendo Hiruma!" he said, extending his hand in a friendly manner. "I feel we have a connection, let's be friends!"

To be honest, Sabito didn't dislike this overly friendly guy. After all, it was good to make friends when out and about. He shook Hiruma's hand and said, "Sabito, please take care of me from now on!"

And so, with a bit of back and forth, the five of them set off up the mountain together. Except for Giyu, who remained silent the entire time, the others chatted quite well.

The halfway point of Mount Fujikasane was almost the end of the wisteria forest. There was a platform here, and as Hiruma and his group ascended the stone platform, all the swordsmen participating in the selection were in place.

About twenty-five people were participating in the Final Selection this time, which was a lot compared to previous years.

The mountain path was like a winding snake, slowly progressing along the mountain's contours. When the path reached the end of the stone platform, a red torii gate came into view.

This torii gate stood on one side of the stone platform like a gateway to hell. Its red form stood in stark contrast to the surrounding green mountain forest, as if carved from fresh blood.

Beneath the torii gate stood a tall man with long hair like burning flames – Rengoku Shinjuro.

He had actually arrived only an hour earlier than the swordsmen, having just completed a mission.

Currently, the Demon Slayer Corps was short-handed, and one Hashira had to be used as ten, but there was no other way.

The most shocked among them were the three youngsters, Hiruma and his companions. They never would have imagined meeting Shinjuro in such a manner.

Shinjuro glanced at the three and didn't say much. He cleared his throat, and his passionate voice rang out.

"Everyone, I am Rengoku Shinjuro, the Flame Pillar, and I will be your proctor for this selection."

Shinjuro was like a loudspeaker, his voice booming, greatly boosting the low morale.

"The rules for the Final Selection are simple..." As he spoke, Shinjuro stepped aside and pointed with one hand behind the torii gate. "Charge through here, go to the mountain full of demons, and survive for seven days. That's all there is to it."

"After seven days, if you can stand here alive, congratulations, you have succeeded!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he pointed to the path down the mountain and said, "If you're afraid of dying, there's still time to regret it. Go down the mountain. It's not shameful, because everyone wants to live."

Shinjuro had finished speaking. He would give these children time to think and decide.

Moments later, not a single person left. They might have been afraid, they might have feared death, but they were certainly not cowards.

The vast majority of them held an irreconcilable hatred for demons. As long as demons existed, they would not cease to exist.

Shinjuro nodded with a gratified expression, his voice booming, "Excellent! The future of the Demon Slayer Corps rests with all of you. I wish you all good fortune in your endeavors!"

"The selection begins!"

He stepped aside, making way. Kyojuro was the first to rush out of the crowd. The moment he passed through the torii gate, father and son made eye contact, and everything was understood without words.

At this moment, Shinjuro was not an examiner but a father, sending his son into a cruel hell with his own hands. This was the way of the Rengoku family for generations.

Son, do your best!

Kyojuro read his father's lips. He tightened his grip on his sword hilt, looked forward again, and his blood boiled. He would not disgrace the Rengoku's Name.

Iguro Obanai followed closely behind. He nodded at Shinjuro and quickly pursued Kyojuro.

With someone taking the lead, the young swordsmen filed out one after another, embarking on their journey without hesitation.

Tendo Hiruma was the last person to step through the torii gate. With a confident and calm smile, his voice firm and powerful, he said, "Uncle, after seven days, there won't be a single demon alive on Mount Fujikasane!"

"We are terrifyingly strong!"

Hearing this, Shinjuro laughed heartily. He chose to believe in his son and Hiruma and the others, even if there were a hundred demons on Mount Fujikasane at that moment.

As Hiruma's figure disappeared into the depths of the wisteria forest, only Shinjuro remained on the vast stone platform.

Just then, his Kasugai Crow landed, delivering a mission.

"Rengoku, Rengoku, there's a demon, a day's journey from here!"

"Alright!"

"The children are working hard, I can't fall behind either!"

Shinjuro quickly ran down the mountain, a smile on his lips. He looked forward to good news in seven days.

Large swathes of wisteria flowers flashed behind Hiruma like a film reel. The afterglow of the sunset pierced through the junction of the mountain and the ground, passing through Hiruma like a long arrow.

From afar, the tall Mount Fujikasane looked as if a golden ribbon had been tied vertically around it.

On this ribbon-like path, Kyojuro led the way, followed closely by Iguro Obanai, then Sabito and Giyu in the middle of the group, and finally Hiruma.

He was absolutely right. This year's Final Selection saw swordsmen who were terrifyingly strong.

Five future Hashira were among them, making it the most star-studded lineup in history.

From a distance, the brilliant golden sunset enveloped half of Mount Fujikasane, but it was shrinking bit by bit, the golden ribbons disappearing.

Gradually, only a corner of the mountaintop remained where the golden light had been, before it vanished completely.

Night fell.

The entire mountain stirred, and the demons came out to hunt.

The Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection was a test of life and death for the swordsmen, but for the demons, it was a gluttonous feast.

"Dinner is served!"

"Those foolish humans are here to die again!"

"I want ten! Most of the swordsmen participating in the selection are idiots!"

"That's right, it's been too long since we had a proper meal!"

"Humans deserve to die!"

Bloodthirsty and frenzied voices echoed from the depths of the mountain, and pairs of scarlet eyes quietly opened, filled with greed. They had been held back for too long.

One hundred demons against twenty-five novice swordsmen seemed to have a high chance of victory, but these demons could never have imagined that—

Someone was cheating, and not just one person.

The sky was as black as ink, and the demons emerged to clear them out.

Deep within Mount Fujikasane, there was a place shrouded in layers of mist. It was terrifyingly quiet, so much so that not even wild beasts were present.

Suddenly, a pair of cold, yellowish-brown eyes snapped open, shattering the tranquility. These eyes were like demons from the abyss, exuding endless chilling intent.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that these eyes were set in a massive ball of flesh that appeared to be formed from countless arms.

Dark green arms writhed incessantly, as if searching for a target. The entire flesh ball emanated a suffocating aura, sending shivers down one's spine.

"Urokodaki's disciple is here to die again, hee hee hee!"

A chilling laugh echoed through the deep mountains. The most cowardly demon on Mount Fujikasane made its move.