First Battle Against a Demon

"I can sense how desperately you crave strength. Is it because you want to avenge your family members who have already died?"

As though his innermost thoughts had been struck, Tanjiro answered with a serious expression.

"I want strength not only for revenge, but also to turn my sister back into a human!"

"That really is difficult. But if you want revenge, I can give you enough power." Lin Fan tempted him patiently.

"Really?"

Though Tanjiro was naive, he was not a fool.

The black mist began speaking eloquently.

"But from then on, you can only live for revenge. If you are not determined enough, I will not lend you my power."

With that, the black mist dispersed.

Tanjiro fell silent as well. If he lived only for revenge, then what would happen to Nezuko?

He always put others first and thought of them at every moment. That was his kindness.

But at that moment.

The woman before him spoke again.

"Tanjiro, don't you want to avenge your mother?"

"No..."

Tanjiro wanted to refute her.

But several children appeared around him. They were his dead younger brothers and sisters, and one after another, they spoke.

"Big Brother Tanjiro, why didn't you come back and save us?"

"Big Brother, are you trying to run away?"

"I knew Big Brother never cared about us. Are you trying to abandon us?"

Tanjiro struggled to refute them. "No... No..."

But none of it stopped.

"We're family, aren't we?"

"Big Brother Tanjiro, don't you want to avenge us?"

"Live for revenge!"

The moment those words fell.

Tanjiro's body trembled as he shouted fiercely, as though he had made some kind of resolution.

"All of you, shut up! My family would never be like you! The strength I want is the strength to protect everything!"

Lin Fan watched it all and could not help but sigh. As expected of you, Tanjiro. Even after all this, he still did not get angry. Even Lin Fan himself felt he had gone a little too far.

But the unceasing system notifications in his mind immediately shattered Lin Fan's conscience.

[Ding! Detected that Tanjiro has experienced pain. Obtained 7 Emotion Points!]

[Ding! Detected that Tanjiro has experienced despair. Obtained 15 Emotion Points!]

[Ding! Detected that Tanjiro has experienced regret...]

Listening to the endless stream of system notifications, Lin Fan knew it was about time. He immediately used his power again to erase everything.

At the same time, he brought Tanjiro's consciousness into the Demon Blade.

This was where the sky met the sea, surrounded by hazy mist. Tanjiro sat limp on the ground, while before him was the black mist that had originally dispersed.

Then a pleasant, melodious voice came from within the black mist.

"I like you very much. As long as your heart remains this strong, I will obey you. But if you waver even for an instant, I will take your body away!

"My name is Ashuramaru. If you want power, simply call for me. Do you have any other questions?"

Tanjiro gradually understood what had happened, but he still had one question. "Are you the sword that has been passed down through my family for generations?"

"That's right."

Lin Fan did not hide it and stated it openly.

Having received the answer he wanted.

Tanjiro let out a long breath, revealing his gentle smile as he extended one hand. "Then please take care of me from now on, Ashuramaru!"

Hearing that, Lin Fan controlled his power and sent the black mist into Tanjiro's body. Meanwhile, the black mist that had originally shrouded him gradually faded.

What was revealed within the black mist was Lin Fan's current appearance.

He was less than one and a half meters tall, with stunning features beneath his dark purple hair, crimson eyes, and long elf-like ears. He wore a black headband, with a pair of white horns on his forehead. Long hair covered half his face, and a purple-and-white evening gown fluttered in the wind.

Lin Fan had no control over this form, since it came with the system template. It was a flaw that was not really a flaw...

Tanjiro stared blankly.

Lin Fan merely extended his right hand and continued controlling his power.

"The contract between us has been completed. I will be your strength and become the sharp blade in your hand.

"Open your eyes and fulfill every one of your desires, Kamado Tanjiro!"

The moment those words fell.

Kamado Tanjiro, who had been standing blankly on the forest path, suddenly opened his eyes. Everything from earlier seemed like nothing more than an illusion.

He looked around, then turned to the katana hanging from his waist and called out carefully.

"Ashuramaru, are you there?"

Lin Fan, inside the blade, responded irritably, "Isn't that obvious? If you have something to say, hurry up."

"Sorry, sorry. I just wanted to make sure." Tanjiro hurriedly apologized.

Lin Fan could not be bothered to argue with him and immediately opened the system panel to examine his personal information.

Host: Lin Fan

Template: Ashuramaru!

Demon Power: 100

Draw Ability: Eternal-tier buff Indestructible!

Template Ability: Blood Cry (Damage inflicted can suppress self-healing and inflict a bleeding effect!) This ability unlocks for 5,000 Emotion Points!

Devour (Killing living beings allows you to devour them and strengthen yourself.) This ability unlocks for 5,000 Emotion Points!

[The first unlock of the above two basic abilities only requires 1,000 Emotion Points!]

Healing (You can heal the host's injuries. As long as they are not dead, Demon Power can be consumed to restore them.) This ability unlocks for 10,000 Emotion Points!

After the long list of abilities, the lottery options were at the very bottom.

They were divided into three ranks: silver, gold, and diamond. One silver draw cost 100 Emotion Points, one gold draw cost 1,000 Emotion Points, and one diamond draw cost 10,000 Emotion Points.

The rewards within were countless. Even silver rank could yield the highest reward, an Eternal-tier buff, but the odds were far lower than for diamond rank.

The higher the rank, the greater the chance of drawing something good!

First Battle Against a Demon

Still, Lin Fan was no gambler. According to the plot, they should encounter a man-eating demon next.

Although they could safely get through it according to the plot, Lin Fan would not naively assume everything would be fine. He had to be cautious in all things.

The 1,000 Emotion Points from the beginner's gift pack were perfect for unlocking one of the template's basic abilities. Against a man-eating demon, Lin Fan's first choice was Blood Cry.

"System, unlock the Blood Cry ability for me!"

"Ding! 1,000 Emotion Points consumed. Congratulations, Host, for unlocking the template ability Blood Cry (Damage inflicted can suppress self-healing and inflict a bleeding effect!)"

After the ability was unlocked, Lin Fan immediately mastered Blood Cry perfectly.

As long as someone was cut by his blade, he could consume Demon Power to prevent their flesh from healing, while the wound would continue bleeding without end!

Against man-eating demons with incredibly powerful regeneration, it was simply a godly skill!

In other words, Tanjiro could easily kill that man-eating demon while wielding him!

But when Lin Fan looked at his remaining Emotion Points, which numbered less than two hundred, he sighed. "The road ahead is long. I wonder when I'll be able to unlock all my abilities."

Tanjiro carried the bamboo basket on his back, continuing down the road with the setting sun behind him. He headed toward Mount Sagiri without stopping until night fell.

But Nezuko, who had been hiding inside the bamboo basket, crawled out and traveled with Tanjiro.

The two followed the forest path when they suddenly spotted a faint candlelight ahead. They quickly picked up their pace and approached it.

Seeing this, Tanjiro took his sister's hand and said.

"It's a Buddhist hall. There are still lights on at this hour, so there should be someone inside, right? Let's go take a look..."

But before he could finish, his nose twitched slightly as though he had caught a scent, and his expression immediately changed. "I smell blood. The mountain roads here are dangerous. Someone must have been injured."

With that.

He took Nezuko's hand, climbed the steps, and ran straight toward the Buddhist hall.

Lin Fan did not deliberately warn Tanjiro. What he needed to do now was make Tanjiro personally slaughter this man-eating demon!

When Tanjiro arrived before the Buddhist hall, he immediately pushed open the door and shouted in concern.

"Is everyone inside all right?"

But after opening the door, all he saw were mutilated corpses scattered across the ground, their blood soaking into the floorboards. A "person" stood with its back to him, chewing on something.

Tanjiro froze at once.

Lin Fan immediately said.

"That thing is a man-eating demon. I'll lend you my power. Draw your blade and kill it now!"

Tanjiro's face was filled with terror, but after hearing Lin Fan's voice in his mind, he still reacted immediately.

One hand gripped the hilt as he drew the blade from its sheath.

He held it with both hands.

The man-eating demon, meanwhile, did not even turn around. Sensing the aura of its own kind, it spoke in an extremely impatient tone.

"This is my territory. If you dare ruin my dining hall, I won't let you off!"

As it spoke, it turned around, licking the blood staining its hands. It rose to its feet and stared at Tanjiro with a strange expression. "You feel a little strange to me. Are you human, kid?"

Tanjiro did not answer, only tightening his grip on the katana in his hands.

The atmosphere froze for an instant.

The next second, Lin Fan seemed to notice something and immediately warned him.

"It's coming!"

The moment those words fell.

The candles inside the Buddhist hall went out.

The man-eating demon lunged directly at him. One hand grabbed Tanjiro's shoulder and slammed him out of the Buddhist hall and into the courtyard.

Its other hand aimed to pierce straight through Tanjiro's head.

But at that moment.

Forewarned by Lin Fan and prepared, Tanjiro immediately drew his blade and swung horizontally first.

Seeing this, the demon immediately leaned backward to evade, but the slash still cut open its throat. Crimson blood immediately sprayed out.

The two pulled apart.