I'll kill you after I finish this game!

Kyojuro Rengoku raised his hand and clenched his fist, feeling his body in perfect condition. A joyful smile spread across his face as he invited Raizetsu:

"Please follow us. We're almost at our Demon Slayer Corps' hidden base. I'm sure everyone and our lord will be relieved of our worries once we learn about your situation!"

With that, the group led Lei Zhe and his two companions toward their secret hideout near the Misty Mountains.

P.S.: I'm feeling down and in terrible condition...

Chapter 67 The Demon Slayer Corps in Nightmare Difficulty

The air was filled with a mild and non-pungent medicinal fragrance, and when they came in, Tanjiro and the others took out their medicine packets and sprinkled the powder all over themselves.

Reiji, adapting to local customs, did not refuse the powder packet offered by Rengoku Kyojuro and the others. After an explanation, Reiji learned that it was a special powder used to mask one's own human scent.

It does little to conceal other creatures, but it can specifically conceal a ghost's nose.

Tanjiro, the boy, also concealed their group's tracks along the way.

After all, the Demon Slayer Corps is not the same as it was in the original story. Without the advantages of daytime and the Nichirin Blade, they must fight and survive in the Nightmare Demon Slayer difficulty.

Following behind Reiji, Irina and Genovya, after figuring out the situation in this world, were quite curious about their surroundings.

As a Japanese person, Irina felt as if she had not come to another world, but rather as if she had traveled through time to Japan during the Taisho era, or perhaps to a parallel world.

There are such rampant and unruly ghosts here, which, like demons, are heretics that need to be eliminated.

So the Holy Son must have come here to save the world, and they were fortunate enough to follow him; perhaps this will be recorded in future biblical history.

After all, opportunities to save the world are rare.

Reiji and Irina froze, their eyes twitching, as they followed Kyojuro Rengoku and the others to the entrance of their secret hideout.

The solid, foul-smelling lumps around them looked like feces, and the rotting, mangled corpses were all lying under the surrounding trees.

The scent emanating from this place was simply incredible for Razer, a being with heightened senses!

Irina and Genovya immediately covered their mouths and noses, their faces turning pale. As girls, they naturally felt uncomfortable in this environment.

Seeing the expressions on Raizetsu's and the others' faces, Tanjiro, with an embarrassed and apologetic look on his own, explained very sorryly:

"I apologize, Mr. Reizhe, but those evil spirits have very sensitive noses, so in addition to the first powder targeting their sense of smell, this arrangement is also necessary."

Even if the evil spirits can't smell the human scent, they will often wander around at night looking for prey. After accidentally passing through the first layer of drug powder, the corpses and those Oli Gei placed here will disgust the evil spirits and make them subconsciously walk away.

Although they are thirsty, they will not eat carrion or rotten meat.

"You don't need to apologize to me. This is what you have to do to survive. I'm not that dramatic. I'm just a little surprised."

Raijiro replied that he didn't care; compared to the harsh environment and the filthy, putrid smell, survival was the most important thing.

If you put yourself in their shoes, Lei Zhe really wouldn't feel any disgust or discomfort.

Genovia and Irina aren't exactly clueless; considering their environment, this approach is necessary.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Tanjiro, with his sensitive and gentle nature, could sense the genuine concern in Reiji's tone, and the two girls seemed to be looking at them with pity after their initial discomfort.

Yes, these three foreigners are also very gentle and understanding people.

Led by the four Demon Slayer Corps members, they passed through the putrid setup and entered another dense forest, where a huge rock stood ahead.

After observing and sensing his surroundings, Rengoku Kyojuro emitted a sound from his chest that resembled a fierce fire burning...

No, that's the sound of Kyojuro Rengoku breathing!

The airflow forcefully enters the lungs, and with its special frequency, it mobilizes every muscle and tendon in the body, concentrating the energy.

Kyojuro Rengoku reached the side of the boulder, stretched out his hands, and in one go, pushed the boulder, which was twice his height, up.

Boom...

Accompanied by the noisy sound of the boulder scraping against the ground, a hole large enough for several people was revealed after the boulder was pushed aside.

After pushing the boulder aside, Rengoku Kyojuro led Reiji and the others inside, while Hashibira Inosuke stayed at the entrance and pushed the boulder back after everyone had gone in.

After cleaning up the traces on the ground, the boy wearing a boar's head mask quickly went to the other side, kicked away the leaves and branches under his feet, revealing an entrance that looked like a rabbit hole.

"The fierce boar charges forward, and no one can stop me!"

After letting out a strange cry through the boar's headgear, Inosuke Hashibira's entire body crackled and popped as his body seemed to turn into liquid, and he charged forward like a boar into the small hole in the ground.

His body moved with the flexibility of an earthworm or snake, and in the narrowest of paths, Inosuke Hashibira's slightly twisted figure moved at an unimpeded speed.

Finally, to the slightly surprised looks of Irina and Genovya, the boy wearing a boar's headgear crawled out through a small hole in the cave wall.

His movements and supple, flexible body appeared like a snake to the two women.

"Your body is so flexible!"

With a hint of admiration on his face, Reiji said to Hashibira Inosuke, "From a human perspective, the other party's ability to do this is nothing short of superhuman."

As if pleased by Reiji's praise, Inosuke's boar head mask immediately spewed out two streams of hot air from its nostrils.

Tanjiro and Zenitsu were already used to Inosuke's abilities, after all, the three of them had been through many battles together, and they understood each other and had a bond.

"Lord Flame Pillar! You...you're back alive!!"

Soon, led by Rengoku Kyojuro, they encountered living people and met with them.

The two members of the Demon Slayer Corps, who were standing under the oil lamp on the wall, were 'Kakuna' members in charge of logistics, and two Demon Slayer Corps members of the rank of 'D'. When they saw Rengoku Kyojuro, they were so excited that tears welled up in their eyes.

Tanjiro, you're still alive!

Among them was an elderly swordsman wielding a light blue blade. Beneath his crimson tengu mask, upon seeing Tanjiro's figure, he uttered a voice choked with emotion and excitement.

"Master Urokodaki, I'm back!"

Tanjiro, carrying the wooden box containing his younger sister, quickly walked up to his swordsman teacher and smiled.

Sakonji Urokodaki was once the Water Pillar, but after suffering an incurable internal injury, he retired to the second line and lived as a trainer of Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen.

He was the teacher who taught Tanjiro Kamado Water Breathing and the corresponding swordsmanship, and Tanjiro also greatly respected this teacher who trained him.

Urokodaki Sakonji cherished his disciple greatly. He had already lost many precious disciples in this world. When he saw that Tanjiro had not returned after covering the retreat, he still waited at the checkpoint, unwilling to give up.

Thank God, my disciple is alright.

"Who are these?"

After finishing his conversation with Tanjiro, Urokodaki Sakonji turned his questioning gaze toward Reiji and the other two through his tengu mask.

“These individuals are special people from the Central Plains of the mainland. They possess the power to subdue ghosts and their purpose is to eliminate evil spirits. I would like to bring them to see my lord.”

Rengoku Kyojuro didn't hide anything from this senior, frankly introducing the group and revealing his purpose.

"What!? It can suppress the power of the demons now!?"

Urokodaki Sakonji and the other Demon Slayer Corps members stared wide-eyed at Raizetsu and his two companions with disbelief.

Like Tanjiro Kamado, he possesses a unique and keen sense of smell, which allows him to discern human emotions through scent and to identify demons disguised as humans.

I could catch a whiff of Lei Zhe's scent, but I couldn't sense anything. I could smell the scent, but I couldn't gauge the depth of his presence.

A special individual from the Central Plains of the mainland... possesses the power to subdue the current evil spirits. If this news is true, then it is extremely important to their Demon Slayer Corps.

Urokodaki Sakonji looked at his disciple's affirmative eyes, then silently glanced at Raizetsu before unconditionally believing Rengoku Kyojuro's words.

He trusted his disciples, and even more so, he trusted Kyojuro Rengoku; they wouldn't lie about something like this.

"Nice to meet you, sir. Just call me Reiji. These two are my bodyguards, Genovya and Irina. Please accept this gift."

Lei Zhe smiled and extended goodwill to the protagonist's teacher, slowly raising his hand to condense a small ball of healing light, which floated gently in front of the other party.

Urokodaki Sakonji trembled in shock and almost drew his sword to strike. His body had experienced firsthand the Blood Demon Art of demons, and seeing Raiji's unique power was an instinctive reaction.

The Demon Slayer Corps members around and behind him didn't immediately take a step back and draw their swords. Now, their minds were constantly on edge because of the demons, and even the slightest related stimulation would trigger a major reaction.

"Senior Urokodaki, this luminous jade has the effect of healing the body, and it is also a token of Mr. Raiji's goodwill towards you. Please accept it."

"Yes, Master Urokodaki, Mr. Raiji's power is truly amazing."

Kyojuro Rengoku and Tanjiro Kamado explained things to the old swordsman. With their own people offering their explanation, the other Demon Slayer Corps members relaxed a little, their initial skepticism subsiding.

After glancing at the friendly-looking young man in front of him, Urokodaki, trusting his disciple and the Flame Pillar, reached out and touched the small luminous orb.

"Well--!"

The moment Scaled touched the Radiant Jade, it transformed into a stream of light that rapidly spread throughout his slightly aged body. The old swordsman let out a muffled groan of pleasure as the warmth flowing through his limbs and bones quickly healed the hidden injuries within him.

Even his aged body regained the youthful feeling he had when he fought demons.

"Phew! Thank you so much, young friend Lei Zhe. I am deeply grateful for such a gift!"

After exhaling a breath of stale air, Rintaru felt very refreshed, as if his body had regained its youthful feeling. He also expressed his gratitude and respect to Raiji.

Even the way they address each other has changed to "little friend".

“Let’s go. I’ll go with you to see the lord. The other pillars will be very happy to know that you are still alive and have brought back this hope.”

Urokodaki stepped aside and, together with Kyojuro Rengoku and the others, led the way for Raiji.

........

Raiji knew that the Demon Slayer Corps was not inherently powerful.

This organization appears to be deeply entrenched, with branches almost throughout Japan, and it has mastered powerful techniques such as breathing exercises.

Everything should be viewed in comparison. Compared to ordinary people or the military, the Demon Slayer Corps is undoubtedly a group where everyone is a mini-superhuman.

However, while they are powerful, they are also very vulnerable. Apart from some individuals with special innate constitutions, the most important aspect of breathing techniques is breathing itself, which makes them easy to target.

With a well-thought-out plan, you can prevent your opponent from using breathing techniques and reduce them to the same level as you. Then, killing them will be easy.

For example, Doma, the Upper Moon Two of the Twelve Demon Moons, has blood demon arts that are all related to ice. He freezes his blood and turns it into ice crystal powder, which he then spreads through a fan.

Once inhaled into the lungs, the ice crystals can cause breathing difficulties for the opponent, leading to alveolar necrosis.

Given this single point of advantage against the Demon Slayer Corps, the chances of winning a direct confrontation without resorting to underhanded tactics are pitifully slim.

Now that the Upper Moon demons have evolved along with Muzan, just one of them could wipe out the Demon Slayer Corps, which is currently barely surviving!

The disparity in strength between humans and demons is so vast that the Demon Slayer Corps' movements are extremely secretive; they are more like ninjas lurking in the shadows than swordsmen.

Therefore, even in the face of such a disadvantage across the entire country, the Demon Slayer Corps still manages to survive beyond its limits.

After navigating the intricate paths within the cave, Raize finally met the Demon Slayer Corps.