Chapter Summaries

Kurumazuka Natsumi finished his sword training and prepared to enter the Demon Slayer Corps’ final selection, while treating his life as a game. When his logout attempt failed because of a system error, he decided to use the extended immersion period to keep playing.

• Kazami Kōgi told Kurumazuka Natsumi that he had mastered swordsmanship and Wind Breathing, then gave him an old Nichirin Blade and set his departure for three days later.
• Natsumi accepted the blade, warned Kazami to watch out for ambushes, and checked his system, which showed the final selection quest and his Wind Breathing skill.
• Natsumi reviewed the terms of his game trial and tried to log out before his four-hour session ended.
• The system reported a spacetime protocol interference, failed to log Natsumi out, and switched him to deep immersion with a time ratio of 1:8760 while attempting repairs.
• Natsumi decided to keep playing during the extended immersion and planned to raise Wind Breathing to level 2.

Kurumazuka Natsumi trained intensely for the Final Selection and discovered that practicing life skills earned achievement points he could spend to improve his Breathing Style. He invested a point in Wind Breathing, advanced to Basic proficiency, and felt a surge of new power.

• Kurumazuka Natsumi reviewed his combat-oriented background and attributes before continuing the training Kazami Kōgi had assigned him.
• Kazami Kōgi watched Natsumi train and worried that his grief and desire for revenge might consume him, while hoping he would survive the Final Selection.
• After two days of accelerated training, Natsumi gained experience but became fatigued and failed to raise Wind Breathing to level two.
• Natsumi unlocked Suburi and Physical Training life skills, earning two achievement points and discovering that Wind Breathing had 65% compatibility.
• Natsumi spent an achievement point on Wind Breathing, raising it to level two and increasing his power level from 29 to 35.
• Natsumi felt a warm surge of power as his mastery of the sword forms improved.

After raising his Wind Breathing Style to basic proficiency, Xia Xi traveled toward the Final Selection at Lake Ashi and encountered a demon near his camp. Meanwhile, Kagaya Ubuyashiki mourned the Mountain Hashira Fudō Hino and heard reports about the Corps.

• Xia Xi tested his improved Fifth Form, destroyed wooden posts, and went to sleep to recover.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki learned that Fudō Hino had fallen, comforted the Corps members, and listened to reports about the Final Selection and promising recruits.
• Xia Xi jogged toward Lake Ashi for several days, improving his Running, Camping, Cooking, and other proficiencies along the way.
• Xia Xi noticed a blood scent near his camp, spotted the low-threat demon Blood Fang in the woods, and dimmed his system interface.

Xia Xi fought and beheaded the demon Blood Fang, whose memories and humanity returned as he died. After skipping Blood Fang’s final story, Xia Xi saw that defeating him had earned experience for Wind Breathing.

• Blood Fang approached Xia Xi, expecting him to flee, but Xia Xi calmly drew his Nichirin Blade and attacked.
• Blood Fang knocked aside Xia Xi’s first strike, but Xia Xi adapted and continued testing the demon’s strength and combat behavior.
• Xia Xi used Wind Breathing’s First Form, Dust Whirlwind Cutter, and beheaded Blood Fang in a single attack.
• As he died, Blood Fang remembered his name, Ino Nobu, and the past that had been clouded by his transformation into a demon.
• Xia Xi skipped Blood Fang’s final story and checked the system panel, where Wind Breathing showed increased progress and experience.

Kurumazuka Natsumi arrived at Lake Ashi for the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection and entered the wisteria-covered trial grounds with eager confidence. His unconventional attitude encouraged the other candidates to follow, while Shenli Yanshou learned about Natsumi's tragic past from the Kakushi.

• Shenli Yanshou welcomed the candidates and explained that they had to survive among the demons in the mountains for seven days to pass the Final Selection.
• Natsumi assessed the other candidates and examiners, judged himself far stronger, and entered the trial grounds first.
• Natsumi asked Shenli whether he would have to pay if he killed all the demons, and Shenli assured him that killing them would cause no problem.
• Natsumi's bold entrance eased the other candidates' tension, and they followed him through the torii gate.
• Shenli asked the Kakushi about Natsumi and learned that Kurumazuka Natsumi trained under Kazami Kōgi and had lost his parents and younger sister to violence and demons.

Kurumazuka Natsumi hunted demons in the mountains to gain experience and tested his combat skills against a stronger opponent. He defeated Sigan, raising Wind Breathing to 377/1000, and continued to savor the fight.

• Kurumazuka Natsumi spotted Noutu, a toad-like demon, and killed it with Wind Breathing’s Second Form, gaining 34 experience.
• Sigan arrived after Noutu’s death and attacked Natsumi, but Natsumi used an elbow strike to deflect its claws.
• Natsumi stomped on Sigan’s foot, struck its face with his sword hilt, and wounded it with a rising slash.
• Sigan tried to retreat, then charged at Natsumi in anger.
• Kurumazuka Natsumi defeated Sigan in a prolonged sword fight, raising Wind Breathing from 265/1000 to 377/1000.

Kurumazuka Natsumi teamed up with Yukishiro Seiko during Final Selection and discovered he could learn Water Breathing by observing her forms. After Seiko warned him of a demon attacking from behind, Natsumi killed it instantly and asked her to continue demonstrating.

• Yukishiro Seiko nervously asked to travel with Kurumazuka Natsumi, and he agreed, telling her to keep her sword drawn.
• As they walked deeper into the forest, Natsumi unlocked Woodcutting and asked Seiko how long it took to learn Water Breathing.
• Seiko demonstrated the Water Breathing forms she had learned, and Natsumi’s system registered learning progress toward mastering the style.
• Natsumi praised Seiko and asked her to demonstrate again, prompting her to blush.
• Seiko spotted a demon lunging at Natsumi and shouted a warning, but he killed it with Wind Breathing before she could finish drawing her sword.

Xia Xi upgraded Wind Breathing to level three and unlocked Total Concentration while resting with Yukishiro Seiko. After sharing their reasons for joining the Demon Slayer Corps and promising to eat together after selection, they headed toward another battle.

• Xia Xi spent an achievement point to raise Wind Breathing to level three, gaining attributes and unlocking Total Concentration.
• Yukishiro Seiko noticed Xia Xi had grown stronger and asked why he had joined the Demon Slayer Corps.
• Seiko told Xia Xi that demons had killed her family and little sister, and that she wanted revenge.
• Xia Xi encouraged Seiko to pursue her revenge and promised that he would keep fighting demons even if others failed.
• Seiko and Xia Xi agreed to share a meal after selection, then heard a demon and swordsmen nearby and set off to fight.

Kurumazuka Natsumi and Yukishiro Seiko joined a desperate battle against four demons, turning the tide and saving the surviving swordsmen. As the group recovered, Natsumi discovered a hidden demon whose ability rusted and broke Nichirin Blades, leaving him facing a rapidly regenerating enemy with a broken sword.

• Kurumazuka Natsumi sent Yukishiro Seiko to cripple one demon, then charged into the melee and quickly wounded one demon and beheaded another.
• Natsumi defeated the remaining demons while Seiko cut off the limbs of her opponent, and the surviving swordsmen thanked him for saving them.
• Natsumi asked He Dao Shota to demonstrate Flame Breathing forms as repayment, then noticed a masked demon hiding nearby.
• Yukishiro Seiko struck the masked Rust-Eater, but its power rusted and broke her Nichirin Blade; Natsumi arrived and severed its arm, only for his own blade to break as well.
• Rust-Eater boasted that it could regenerate endlessly while Natsumi held only a broken sword.

Xia Xi defeated Rust-Eater, a demon whose Blood Demon Art corroded metal, and learned that he served a powerful “lord” connected to the Twelve Kizuki. After killing him with a broken Nichirin Blade and Wind Breathing, Xia Xi gathered the surviving swordsmen to hunt down the remaining demons.

• Rust-Eater attacked Xia Xi and the nearby swordsmen, corroding their Nichirin Blades while boasting that his ability would help him win favor with his lord.
• Xia Xi overpowered Rust-Eater with hand-to-hand strikes and demanded information about the Twelve Kizuki, but the demon refused to reveal anything.
• Xia Xi broke Rust-Eater's limbs, used Total Concentration and Wind Breathing's Fifth Form, and beheaded him with a broken Nichirin Blade.
• Xia Xi received another sword from Seiko and told the surviving swordsmen to follow him and search for any demons that remained.
• The swordsmen agreed nervously, while Seiko struggled to suppress her laughter at their fear of Xia Xi.

After passing Final Selection, Xia Xi and the other survivors joined the Demon Slayer Corps, received Kasugai Crows, and chose steel for their Nichirin Blades. Xia Xi also requested a custom secondary weapon, leaving the priest to pass his unusual specifications on to Oyakata-sama and the Swordsmith Village.

• Shenli Yanshou welcomed the nine survivors into the Corps and explained that they had all received the lowest rank, Mizunoto.
• Seiko told Xia Xi that the Hashira were the Corps' strongest swordsmen, while Xia Xi received a Kasugai Crow named White.
• The swordsmen chose tamahagane for their Nichirin Blades, and Xia Xi picked the largest, most intact piece.
• Xia Xi asked Shenli Yanshou whether he could request a custom secondary weapon and described fist blades, gauntlets, or boxing gloves.
• Shenli Yanshou agreed to convey Xia Xi's request to Oyakata-sama and the Swordsmith Village.

After returning from Final Selection, Xia Xi reunited with Kazami Kōgi and heard his warnings about Blood Demon Arts and the Twelve Kizuki. Kazami revealed that Upper Ranks had killed every swordsman who encountered them, including many Hashira, leaving Xia Xi with a stark sense of the danger ahead.

• Xia Xi returned to Kazami Kōgi’s home, and Kazami embraced him as he welcomed him back from Final Selection.
• Xia Xi rested overnight, then shared stories of his journey and recent battles with Kazami over oden.
• Kazami explained that demons with Blood Demon Arts were dangerous because their abilities could exploit a swordsman’s weaknesses.
• Kazami warned Xia Xi to call for help, stall, or flee if he encountered one of the Twelve Kizuki, and explained that the Kizuki served Muzan Kibutsuji.
• Kazami said that even in his prime he might have defeated a Lower Rank Three or Four, but nobody who had encountered an Upper Rank in nearly a century had survived.
• Kazami told Xia Xi that Upper Ranks had killed many Hashira, and that even the Corps’ strongest fighters struggled to survive against them.

Xia Xi asked Kazami Kōgi about his low compatibility with Wind Breathing, and Kazami explained how the five major styles suited different bodies and abilities. Xia Xi learned that swordsmen could develop derivative styles, then asked how to create one, but Kazami admitted he did not know.

• Kazami Kōgi told Xia Xi to rest until his uniform and Nichirin Blade arrived, then prepare for sparring and missions.
• Xia Xi asked about his 65% compatibility with Wind Breathing, and Kazami explained how physical traits, reactions, and personality affected affinity for different styles.
• Kazami described Water Breathing as the easiest style to learn, while Stone and Thunder Breathing had higher physical and reaction demands.
• Xia Xi asked what happened when none of the five major styles suited a swordsman, and Kazami explained that experienced swordsmen sometimes created derivative Breathing Styles.
• Xia Xi concluded that weapon, fitness, technique, sword moves, and Breathing Style all independently affected combat strength, then asked how to develop a new style.
• Kazami admitted he did not know how to create a derivative Breathing Style.

Xia Xi asked Kazami Kōgi to help him learn several Breathing Styles so he could find one that suited him and develop his own. Kazami gave him five letters of recommendation and sent him to Mount Sagiri to begin with Water Breathing.

• Kazami Kōgi told Xia Xi that his senior fellow disciple, Igarashi Usen, had created Mist Breathing by adapting Wind Breathing.
• Xia Xi said he wanted to try different Breathing Styles, and Kazami agreed to write recommendation letters despite warning him against pursuing too many styles.
• After Kazami left, Xia Xi trained his skills and tidied the training hall, prepared firewood, tended the garden, and cooked dinner.
• Kazami returned with five letters for senior swordsmen associated with the other four main Breathing Styles and Igarashi Usen.
• Kazami instructed Xia Xi to visit Sakonji Urokodaki on Mount Sagiri first to learn Water Breathing and reminded him to stay safe.

Xia Xi reached Mount Sagiri and met Sakonji Urokodaki, who agreed to teach him Water Breathing for one month despite doubting his plan to learn multiple styles. Xia Xi accepted the challenge and received a side quest to master a new Breathing Style within the month.

• Xia Xi arrived at Urokodaki’s cabin and was startled when the masked swordsman appeared behind him.
• Urokodaki read Kazami’s recommendation letter and introduced Xia Xi to his adopted students, Sabito and Giyu Tomioka.
• Urokodaki explained that he opposed Xia Xi learning multiple Breathing Styles but agreed to teach him Water Breathing for one month.
• Urokodaki told Xia Xi to leave if he failed to learn Water Breathing’s forms and basic intent within the month.
• Xia Xi accepted the challenge and triggered a side quest that promised adaptive Breathing Style proficiency XP for mastering a new style.

Kurumaji Xia Xi explained to Sakonji Urokodaki that he wanted to study other Breathing Styles because he aimed to surpass the Hashira and kill Muzan Kibutsuji. After Xia Xi impressed the residents of Mount Sagiri with his cooking, Kagaya Ubuyashiki learned of his remarkable demon-slaying record and considered his future rank.

• Xia Xi told Sakonji Urokodaki that Wind Breathing did not suit him and that becoming a Hashira would not be enough to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji.
• Urokodaki, Sabito, and Giyu were struck by Xia Xi's ambition, and Sabito encouraged Giyu that they could someday reach those heights too.
• Xia Xi prepared hot pot and grilled fish for Urokodaki, Sabito, and Giyu, who praised the meal and ate everything.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki heard from Tanaka that Xia Xi had killed nearly thirty demons, including two with Blood Demon Arts, and had likely slain most of the demons around the Final Selection grounds.
• Kagaya considered Xia Xi a rare talent and decided to assign him a corresponding rank once he had established himself.

Xia Xi trained alongside Sabito and Giyu on Mount Sagiri, impressing them with his relentless focus and skill. When Sabito asked how he kept training so intensely, Xia Xi invented an explanation that Sabito believed while Giyu mistook it for a sign of Xia Xi’s grief and desire for revenge.

• Xia Xi grew closer to Sakonji Urokodaki, Sabito, and Giyu as Urokodaki began training him alongside the two boys.
• Sabito interrupted Xia Xi after four and a half hours of continuous sword practice and urged him to eat and rest.
• Sabito and Giyu admired Xia Xi’s discipline, while Sabito encouraged Giyu not to feel inadequate and to keep working toward becoming stronger.
• When Sabito asked about his focus, Xia Xi claimed he used a technique called “Flow-State Cutoff” to suppress fatigue and distraction.
• Sabito accepted Xia Xi’s explanation, while Giyu silently attributed his training to hatred and a need for revenge.

Xia Xi trained with Sabito and Giyu as Urokodaki urged him to learn Water Breathing, then received a letter from Yukishiro Seiko. After Sabito and Giyu asked to test their strength against him, Xia Xi agreed to fight both of them with wooden swords before dinner.

• Sabito demonstrated Water Breathing's Flowing Dance with impressive precision, while Giyu shattered only half the wooden balls.
• Urokodaki had Xia Xi imitate the boys' breathing and sword form; Xia Xi destroyed every target with his strength but made little progress in Water Breathing.
• Urokodaki told all three boys to keep refining their Breathing Styles, then observed that Giyu had become more talkative since Xia Xi arrived.
• Sabito gave Xia Xi a letter and gifts from Yukishiro Seiko, who wrote about her missions, Water Breathing practice, and hopes for his safety.
• After Xia Xi said he had been the strongest in the Final Selection, Sabito asked to see his demon-slaying swordsmanship, and Giyu joined him.
• Xia Xi agreed to spar with Sabito and Giyu together using wooden swords.

Kurumazuka Natsumi sparred with Sabito and Giyu, overwhelming them while coaching them on swordsmanship and teamwork. The boys left bruised but having learned a great deal, while Xia Xi gained progress in Water Breathing and unlocked Guidance.

• Sabito and Giyu teamed up to challenge Kurumazuka Natsumi, who easily parried their attacks and knocked Giyu down.
• Kurumazuka Natsumi fought Sabito while teaching him to read movements, manage distance, and avoid rigid attack combos.
• Giyu rejoined the spar using Constant Flux, but Kurumazuka Natsumi disrupted his growing momentum with a precise strike to his wrist.
• Kurumazuka Natsumi told Giyu to support Sabito with coordinated attacks, and the three resumed their sparring.
• Urokodaki found Sabito and Giyu bruised after they missed dinner, while the boys said they had learned from Kurumazuka Natsumi.
• Kurumazuka Natsumi gained Water Breathing progress and unlocked Guidance, then considered putting the boys through intense daily training.

Xia Xi explained demon-fighting tactics and classified demons as stat monsters or mechanics monsters, warning Sabito and Giyu about their varied threats. He left them with practical advice for dealing with broken swords, including using weapons left behind by fallen swordsmen.

• Sabito asked Xia Xi what killing demons felt like, and Xia Xi described the experience and warned that demons moved and protected their necks, so swordsmen could not hesitate.
• Xia Xi divided demons into stat monsters, which relied on physical power, and mechanics monsters, which used unusual Blood Demon Arts, and gave examples of each.
• Sabito and Giyu asked how Xia Xi had defeated a demon that could break weapons, and he said he had cut off its head before it could use its Blood Demon Art.
• Xia Xi advised them to use spare Nichirin Blades or pick up weapons dropped by dead swordsmen, and revealed that he had collected the three blades beside him at Final Selection.
• Sabito respectfully thanked the swords and Giyu said he had thought Xia Xi used a three-sword style, prompting Xia Xi to joke that he had only two hands.