Forging the Strongest Demon Blade from Demon Slayer!

Holding the blade in both hands, his body, which had been suspended in midair, suddenly flipped forward. The water stirred by the blade followed his body and formed a spinning wheel.

It looked just like a Water Wheel.

He passed through the defense of blazing flames and slashed.

Even Kyojuro Rengoku had not expected it. He instinctively raised his sword to block, but against the incoming Ashura Maru, his Nichirin Blade was effortlessly cut in two!

After the two came to a stop.

Tanjiro hurriedly turned around and frantically apologized.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Rengoku, I..."

But before he could finish.

Kyojuro Rengoku looked at his broken sword and burst into hearty laughter. "Hahaha, that strike just now was truly magnificent, young man!

To be able to use two Breathing Styles so skillfully, you truly deserve to be recognized by Ashura Maru!" He did not care in the slightest about the severed Nichirin Blade in his hand.

All he felt was immense pride at Tanjiro growing stronger!

He bent down and picked up the broken blade, then turned around with an unchanged smile.

"Young man, keep growing stronger!"

With that, he turned and walked away.

Behind him, Tanjiro looked at his back. It was so radiant and imposing that he could not help calling out, "Mr. Rengoku, please rest assured, I will definitely become stronger!"

"Mm, I believe in you!"

Kyojuro Rengoku left behind only those final words.

Inside the blade, Ashura Maru watched Kyojuro leave, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

According to the original plot, Kyojuro would soon battle Upper Rank Three Akaza aboard the Mugen Train. In the end, the Flame Hashira would fight for everyone.

He would refuse to retreat until death, falling as dawn rose.

He would die with hope in his heart, upholding his justice and convictions until the very end.

He was a truly charismatic person.

Even Ashura Maru had to admit that.

Given the current situation, if Tanjiro wanted to grow stronger in a short time, then aside from mastering his Breathing Styles.

His only option was to hunt demons.

As for learning Zenitsu's Thunder Breathing and merging it with his own to strengthen himself, that was not something he could master overnight.

Ashura Maru's plan was now very clear.

Once Tanjiro could fully master switching freely between the two Breathing Styles, they would leave the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters and hunt demons!

He silently calculated in his heart and began planning how to proceed.

Meanwhile, outside.

The three of them returned miserably and continued their training for the day.

Fortunately.

The next day.

After a long absence, Hotaru Haganezuka finally appeared outside the Butterfly Mansion with a brand-new Nichirin Blade fresh from the forge.

He ran straight into the excited Tanjiro, who waved and happily greeted him. "Mr. Haganezuka, how have you been? It's been so long. My Nichirin Blade..."

But before he could finish.

Hotaru Haganezuka, who was approaching him, drew a sharp blade without a second thought and charged directly at Tanjiro, cursing as he did so.

"You actually dared to break my Nichirin Blade! I'll chop you to death! Atone with your life!!!"

Experience the Feeling of Sharpening a Blade

Seeing this, Tanjiro had no time to think. He immediately dodged aside and brushed past Hotaru Haganezuka, who held a sharp blade. When Hotaru turned around.

The face behind that ugly mask was terrifyingly twisted. He swung the blade in his hand and loudly berated him.

"You broke my sword. This isn't over! You bastard..."

Faced with the reprimand, Tanjiro did not make any excuses for himself and immediately apologized. "Ah! I'm truly very sorry. The enemy was too strong, and I nearly died there too..."

Ashura Maru watched the scene from within the blade, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

After all, to be precise, that Nichirin Blade should have been ruined by him.

Meanwhile, outside.

Tanjiro never made any excuses for himself and simply kept apologizing.

What he received in return was Hotaru Haganezuka's endless accusations and curses. "It's all because you're too weak that the sword broke! Since you broke my sword, you should just die!"

He raised his sharp blade and began slashing wildly.

At this.

Tanjiro could only turn and run, apologizing as he fled. "I'm sorry... I'm truly very sorry..."

Even though he had the strength to easily subdue Hotaru Haganezuka, he still had no intention of fighting back. All he did was keep apologizing.

The two chased one another.

However, Hotaru Haganezuka did not truly intend to chop Tanjiro to death. After chasing him for a while, he stopped in anger.

Tanjiro, who was ahead of him, also turned around. After letting out a long breath, he asked, "Mr. Haganezuka, have you forgiven me?"

At those words, Hotaru Haganezuka, who had just stopped, seemed to have his anger stirred up once more.

"How could I possibly forgive you?!"

This time, however, he did not attack again. He was clearly not as furious as before, though his attitude still said that he really wanted to chop Tanjiro to death.

Yet Tanjiro acted as though he had not noticed. He simply walked forward with a gentle smile and said, "Then, Mr. Haganezuka, you've traveled a long way. Please come inside the estate and rest first."

As he spoke, he walked ahead to lead the way.

Hotaru Haganezuka followed close behind, though his attitude did not change much. He still shouted resentfully.

"Don't think I'll let you off that easily!"

Tanjiro could only smile helplessly at that.

The two entered the estate together and arrived at a sunny side room, where they sat down.

After hesitating for a moment, Tanjiro cautiously asked, "Mr. Haganezuka, um, my Nichirin Blade..."

At the mention of the Nichirin Blade, the calm in Hotaru Haganezuka's heart was ignited once again. He threw back his head and roared.

"You still want a Nichirin Blade?! Impossible, absolutely impossible! I will never give you a Nichirin Blade!!!"

His attitude was firm and admirable.

But Tanjiro could not be happy about it. Without that sword, how was he supposed to continue his training?

And if Mr. Haganezuka found out that he had broken two more Nichirin Blades, would he chase after him with a sword again?

Just as he felt lost.

Hotaru Haganezuka's gaze behind the mask fell upon Ashura Maru at Tanjiro's waist, his eyes filled with nothing but longing.

"Of course, it isn't impossible for you to have a Nichirin Blade!"

Tanjiro snapped back to his senses and hurriedly asked in earnest, "What do I need to do to earn your forgiveness?"

The moment he finished speaking.

Hotaru Haganezuka, who had long been unable to restrain himself, impatiently pointed at Ashura Maru and said with urgency in his voice.

"Let me personally sharpen the blade at your waist once, and I'll give you the Nichirin Blade I've forged!"

That condition truly put Tanjiro in a difficult position. After all, it was not something he could decide, and Ashura Maru did not seem to like being touched by others.

At that thought.

He gritted his teeth and resolutely prepared to refuse.

But Ashura Maru's voice sounded in his mind. "Tanjiro, hand me over. It just so happens that I haven't been maintained in a long time."

To be honest, Ashura Maru wanted to give it a try too.

After all, he was already a sword now. It was the perfect chance to experience what sharpening felt like.

Hearing that, Tanjiro froze for a moment.

He could not hear any reluctance in Ashura Maru's words. It was completely voluntary, and only then did he relax.

If Ashura Maru were being forced to do this for his sake, then he would rather not have that Nichirin Blade!

Under Hotaru Haganezuka's expectant gaze.

Tanjiro drew Ashura Maru from his waist, respectfully presented it with both hands, and requested, "Please use your finest sharpening techniques!"

"Hmph! Who do you think I am!"

After snapping back in displeasure, Hotaru Haganezuka carefully accepted Ashura Maru with both hands as well.

Looking at Ashura Maru in his hands, he saw nothing but perfection. Whether it was the craftsmanship or anything else, it was the absolute pinnacle of perfection!

This was simply an unparalleled treasure!

At that moment, his mind held no other thoughts. His thoughts had been completely emptied, and within his sight, there was nothing but Ashura Maru.

Nothing else could fit into his vision!

He turned around and set the blade down, then took out a fine whetstone and tools from a bag beside him. Holding Ashura Maru in both hands.

He began sharpening the blade.

As he sharpened it, he continued muttering praise.

"This exquisite technique is simply unheard of. Just who was the divine master capable of forging this blade?!

Why did he not leave behind the name of the swordsmith? I understand... He must have poured everything he had into forging this blade. The moment it was completed, whether he left behind his name no longer mattered!"

With every stroke and scrape.

Ashura Maru felt something faintly. It was like someone massaging your feet. Honestly, it was kind of comfortable...

Beside them, Tanjiro watched and earnestly studied the techniques of sharpening a blade, hoping that he could personally sharpen Ashura Maru in the future.

Half an hour later.

Hotaru Haganezuka finally stopped his hands. It was not because he had finished sharpening it, but because he discovered that he could not sharpen it at all. After all that time.

The whetstone had been worn down considerably, but Ashura Maru was no different from before he had started sharpening it. Still, the blade was indeed in excellent condition.

So he stopped continuing. Reluctantly, he returned the sword in his hand to Tanjiro, then turned and took a brand-new Nichirin Blade from his bag.

Then his masked face suddenly pressed close. Like a ghost, he pointed at Tanjiro and gave him a friendly reminder.

"This is the Nichirin Blade I brought for you. If you dare break it again, I'll definitely kill you next time!!!"

"O-okay!"

Tanjiro sheathed Ashura Maru, then accepted the Nichirin Blade. When both hands gripped the hilt.

The blade gradually became dyed black.

Special Treatment

This was within both of their expectations.

Tanjiro sheathed the Nichirin Blade and fastened it at his waist, once again feeling the familiar weight on both sides after so long.

"Alright, you've got your sword, so I'm leaving too." Hotaru Haganezuka had no interest in staying any longer. After observing and experiencing Ashura Maru up close this time.

He also needed to return and continue trying to forge Nichirin Blades, striving to create one equal to—or even surpassing—Ashura Maru!

"Mr. Haganezuka, take care."

At that, Tanjiro stood up and walked out of the side room with him. They crossed the corridor and arrived in the courtyard of the Butterfly Mansion.