Xia Xi, your supreme-grade blade

No one had expected Xia Xi's Water Breathing to improve by leaps and bounds, as though he had experienced a sudden enlightenment.

In just one night, he had gone from an apprentice who had yet to grasp even the basics to someone nearly ready to complete his training.

Xia Xi's Water Breathing now stood on equal footing with Giyu Tomioka's.

That was the conclusion Urokodaki reached after testing him personally.

The old man had to admit that Kazami Kōgi had judged him correctly.

In a mere ten days, he had completely mastered an entirely different Breathing Style on top of his existing proficiency in Wind Breathing.

This child was a genius through and through.

As for Sabito and Giyu, beyond their astonishment, they were sincerely happy for Xia Xi.

Although their training these past few days had left them bruised all over, they had also felt their strength growing at a remarkable pace.

And after spending every day together, they had already formed a genuine friendship with Xia Xi.

But once their joy subsided, the two boys soon realized that their time together was drawing to an end.

Xia Xi had come to further his training in Water Breathing.

Now that he had achieved his goal, leaving was only natural.

After Urokodaki sent a Kasugai Crow to relay the news to Kazami, however, Xia Xi was in no hurry to say goodbye.

Instead, he made two requests of Urokodaki.

First, he hoped to stay a while longer before the Demon Slayer Corps assigned him a mission.

But not to practice his Breathing Style.

He wanted to practice a few everyday crafts.

Xia Xi had noticed long ago that, besides being a trainer, Urokodaki had a hidden profession: craftsman.

The old man was highly skilled in both woodworking and sewing. By comparison, that master he had picked up was a complete brute who knew only how to bury his head in his food.

Naturally, he wanted to stay and practice these life skills.

With an experienced teacher guiding him, his training efficiency would improve dramatically, whether he was learning combat arts like Breathing Styles or other life skills.

Although Urokodaki did not quite understand why he had suddenly changed his focus and stopped practicing his Breathing Style,

Xia Xi persuaded him.

"I wish to approach the trivialities of daily life with a craftsman's heart, shedding the vanity of achievement and grounding myself."

With a reason like that, what could Urokodaki say?

Of course, he could only lavish praise on Xia Xi for his pure character and steadfast principles.

The two boys, naturally, were wholeheartedly in favor.

Xia Xi's second request was to have an actual sparring match with Urokodaki himself.

The old man had intended to decline on account of his age, but he could not withstand the fighting spirit blazing in the boy's eyes and finally agreed.

The match ended in Xia Xi's "narrow defeat."

He knew perfectly well that Urokodaki, the former [Water Hashira], had held back.

His power, speed, and even the rhythm of his breathing had all been deliberately restrained within certain limits.

Even so, Xia Xi gave it everything he had, pouring all his recent insights, every Breathing Style he knew, and all his sword techniques into each exchange. Yet he still could not break through the old man's defense, as steady as a deep pool.

And that was against an opponent weakened by age who was going easy on him.

Then what about the nine current Hashira, all in their prime, and the Upper Rank demons who stood above even them...

With his current level and skills, he probably did not even qualify to pick a fight with them.

Sure enough, dreaming of challenging the final boss right after leaving the beginner village was a little too fanciful.

Yet, in stark contrast to Xia Xi's clearheaded assessment of his own strength,

Sabito and Giyu, who had watched the duel, were inwardly reeling.

They simply... could not follow the movements.

All the sparring and guidance over the past few days had unwittingly given them an illusion:

There was no enormous gap in strength between Xia Xi and them.

He was just a little faster, a little stronger, a little more refined with a sword...

They were opponents on the same level.

Xia Xi was only a hair better than the two of them.

If they trained a little harder, or another two versions of themselves joined forces with them, perhaps they could turn the tide.

Only after witnessing his fight with Master Urokodaki did they realize how utterly wrong they had been.

That was not "a hair better" at all.

If they met him on a battlefield and had to fight to the death...

Sabito and Giyu saw the same answer in each other's eyes: they probably could not withstand even one slash.

They would likely be cut down in their very first exchange.

"Sabito, you're much weaker than him. (And I'm weaker than you, so never mind me.)"

Giyu's voice was soft, yet unusually clear in the still air.

Sabito did not deny it.

He shook off his momentary daze, and a quiet, burning light gradually gathered in his eyes.

"Yes. Our senior is far stronger than we are now."

He turned to Giyu.

"That's why we have to work even harder and give everything we have to catch up. Only then can we stand beside him someday, instead of only looking up at his back."

Giyu gazed at his friend.

This pink-haired boy, always earnest, always warm and cheerful, was like a firm, sun-warmed rock, forever standing at his side.

He dispelled Giyu's confusion and gave him the courage to move forward.

Even faced with such an enormous difference in strength, he would not lose heart.

It was as though, in his eyes, every difficulty was merely another step to climb.

I can't imagine what my world and life would be like if Sabito were gone one day.

But Sabito is so strong. If anything were to happen to someone, it would probably be me, his weaker, less articulate "little brother."

His gaze drifted involuntarily toward Xia Xi, who was preparing dinner a short distance away.

The firelight outlined the boy's focused profile, his hands moving briskly and deftly.

And... keeping pace with Xia Xi?

Giyu Tomioka could not help imagining the three of them fighting side by side in the future, battling powerful demons.

He lowered his head, and out of everyone's sight, the corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.

The future no longer seemed quite so bleak.

Several days later.

Xia Xi had just raised [Sewing] to Lv. 1.

A member of the Kakushi arrived at Mount Sagiri amid the crow's raucous cries.

Along with Xia Xi's uniform, he brought Xia Xi's first mission as a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman.

"Ku! Kurumaji Xia Xi! Head southeast to Rain Village at once! Caw!"

"This is your demon-hunting"

"debut assignment! Caw!"

It was the black bird that called itself [White].

The Kakushi member below said rather helplessly, "Little White, could you let me finish explaining first?"

"Caw! Hurry! Hurry!"

Amid the fluttering feathers, the Kakushi member bowed to everyone on Mount Sagiri, then took two items out of the pack on his back.

A black, stand-collared Demon Slayer Corps uniform.

And a Nichirin Blade, still sheathed.

Xia Xi asked in confusion, "Wasn't the ore I picked supposed to be made into fist blades? Why did you bring me a katana?"

The Kakushi member hurried to explain, "Mr. Kurumaji, the design of the Nichirin Blade you requested is somewhat... novel. The smiths have been discussing at length how to make this weapon."

"But they haven't settled on a plan yet, so I'm afraid we'll have to ask you to use a standard Nichirin Blade for now."

"The smiths also said that once they reach a conclusion, they'll invite you to the Swordsmith Village to discuss it."

Is getting a custom weapon really this much trouble?

Disappointed, Xia Xi picked up the Nichirin Blade.

He drew it from its sheath and examined the brand-new blade, only recently forged.

Hm?

"It changed color?"

Somewhat bewildered, Xia Xi looked at the Kakushi member.

There isn't something wrong with this blade, is there?!

Seemingly noticing Xia Xi's confusion, Urokodaki spoke up to explain on the Kakushi member's behalf.

"Nichirin Blades are also known as color-changing blades. This is due to the special properties of their raw materials."

"Scarlet crimson iron sand and scarlet crimson ore are special minerals that have absorbed immense amounts of sunlight. Besides being capable of slaying demons, they possess a few other wondrous properties."

"For instance, as you can see now, the blade takes on a unique color according to its first swordsman."

So stones that absorbed sunlight turn all sorts of flashy colors, like red, yellow, blue, and green, depending on the circumstances?

Some kind of prism effect?

The Kakushi member beside him added, "Even we in the Kakushi have long heard of your strength as a swordsman, Mr. Xia Xi. With Wind Breathing, it will surely turn an emerald green."

"Though it might also turn blue, like your hair..."

Then his words caught in his throat.

A shimmering layer of iridescence was spreading across Xia Xi's Nichirin Blade as though it were being dyed.

At first, it retained its pale metallic color, before rapidly taking on a coating of clear lake blue.

But before that lake blue could fill the blade, crimson patterns began separating out in layers along its edges...

Then came orange-yellow and golden orange... Radiance of every color mingled and spread like oil paints dripped into water,

and in just a few seconds, Xia Xi's Nichirin Blade had developed an extraordinarily complex, blended rainbow hue.

It looked as though someone had sprayed it with gasoline.

Like black shimmering with every color under the sunlight.

Never mind Xia Xi himself-even the Kakushi member, who handled swords year-round, and Urokodaki, who had taught for decades, had never seen anything like it.

Isn't this blade a little ugly? Can I return it?

Just as Xia Xi was thinking that,

the "gasoline gradient" on the blade slowly began to fade, until it finally returned to its original color.

"No, the color is different."

Urokodaki spoke up, pointing at the blade. "It's much brighter than before."

The Nichirin Blade had originally been a muted metallic gray, with deep blue-green patterns left by tempering along its edge.

Now, however, the blade had turned a clear silvery white.

Far from being obscured, the tempering marks on both sides flickered faintly against the luminous base, like starlight slipping through gaps in nighttime clouds.

"A white blade, then."

The Kakushi member breathed a sigh of relief.

Setting aside that initial, bizarre jumble of colors, its final appearance was quite dignified and refined.

As Xia Xi held it, the blade gave a faint, clear ring.

As though responding to him.

After hesitating for quite some time, Xia Xi finally used it to replace the oldest of the three swords he wore.

Then, as though something had occurred to him, he said, "Speaking of which, isn't there... a tradition of naming katanas?"

Urokodaki asked, "There is indeed such a custom. What would you like to call it?"

Xia Xi said, "Third-generation Kangshi."

He had named his previous blades [Jinmailie] and [Tongyi Maru].

And the one he had just replaced was [Tangdaren Tsuna].

"Demon Slayer swordsmen are not samurai."

The Kakushi member said without hesitation, "After all, swords are merely tools for slaying demons and can be damaged at any time. Swordsmen generally don't name them."

For a fleeting moment just then, he thought he had faintly heard the Nichirin Blade thanking him.