Demon Slayer: The Second God Who Walks the Earth

Kyojuro said to Chiba Yo, then took two bamboo swords from the weapon rack in the training ground and handed one of them to Chiba Yo.

"Yes! Master Rengoku!" Chiba Yang answered obediently and loudly, standing aside with his bamboo sword, observing Kyojuro's movements. During the few days he spent with Kyojuro, Chiba Yang noticed that Kyojuro's hearing was not very good, so he would intentionally speak louder when talking to Kyojuro.

"First is the first form of Flame Breathing, Shiranui, which can launch an attack on the target with the momentum of a burst of flames!"

As he spoke, Kyojuro demonstrated to Chiba Yo, adjusting his breathing, pushing off the ground with his right foot, and gripping the sword with both hands.

The next moment, he shot out like an arrow released from a bow, then swung his sword horizontally, the flame-covered strike cutting through the air with a whooshing sound.

In Chiba Yo's eyes, he was fully aware of Kyojuro's physical condition when he launched his attack. He remembered everything, including the movement of his lungs, the flow of blood, and the contraction of his muscles.

Chiba Yo pushed off the ground with his right foot, lowered his center of gravity, gripped the bamboo sword with both hands, and assumed the same stance as Kyojuro had just taken, expanding his lungs to inhale oxygen.

"Look carefully..."

Kyojuro turned around as he spoke, but his words were quickly interrupted.

"Flame Breathing, First Form - Shiranui!"

Chiba Yang shouted, and then his whole body rushed out like an arrow released from a bow. He then swung his sword horizontally, and the same fiery slash as Kyojuro cut through the air.

Kyojuro, standing to the side, froze, swallowing back the words he was about to say.

It was indeed Flame Breathing, a very standard First Form. The breathing technique he used when he was doing push-ups was clearly not Flame Breathing. Could it be that he learned Flame Breathing and the First Form of swordsmanship just by observing me use it once? This talent is even more terrifying than Muichiro, who became a Pillar in just two months.

At this moment, Kyojuro's heart was filled with turbulent waves. Chiba Yo's talent had reached a point that he could hardly comprehend.

At this moment, Chiba Yo, who had successfully replicated Kyojuro's moves, frowned. He felt a little uncomfortable when he used the breathing technique just now, as if he hadn't fully relaxed. He could have expanded his lungs a little more to get more oxygen.

"Master Rengoku, do you think I used the First Form correctly?" Chiba Yo turned to Kyojuro and asked.

Kyojuro didn't answer his question. Instead, he walked over to him and said, "Koyo, you should also participate in this final selection!"

The situation just now made Kyojuro realize that the child in front of him was a once-in-a-century genius. The common sense of the world did not apply to him at all. What others needed a year or two to learn, this boy only needed to see once.

This boy was like the son of the gods, with all the gods' favor bestowed upon him alone.

"Huh? Didn't Teacher Rengoku just say that this is too early for me?" Chiba Yo asked, somewhat confused.

"I was wrong! With your talent and current level of breathing technique, passing the final selection will be a piece of cake!" Kyojuro said loudly, his eyes showing no jealousy towards Chiba Yo, only joy and relief.

He knew that the Demon Slayer Corps would soon gain another Pillar-level fighter, which would be a blessing for the entire Demon Slayer Corps and all of humanity in the country.

"What about Teacher Purgatory's assessment?" Chiba Yang asked.

“That’s all! Your mastery of breathing techniques is already on par with mine, or even surpasses mine. I can’t think of any more tests I can give you!” Kyojuro said loudly, arms crossed.

He then added, "However, you will need to practice your swordsmanship for the next few days and develop swordsmanship techniques that suit your own breathing method. Of course, I will also teach you all the swordsmanship techniques of the Flame Breathing method. I hope you can learn something from it!"

Chiba Yo felt a bit like he was in a dream after hearing Kyojuro's words. It was as if he had just become an apprentice and was about to graduate.

"Yes! I will try my best!" Chiba Yo answered loudly.

In the following days, under Kyojuro's tutelage, Chiba Yo developed sword techniques suitable for his own breathing method. With the blessing of the Transparent World, Chiba Yo became extremely familiar with his own body, which allowed him to make rapid progress in developing his sword techniques. At the same time, he also learned the five forms of the Flame Breathing sword techniques as well as the "Secret Technique: Ninth Form: Purgatory".

He accomplished all of this in six days.

On the morning of the day the final selection was to begin, Chiba Yo stood at the entrance of the Demon Slayer Corps barracks, next to him was Kurihana Kanao, who was also going to participate in the final selection.

Chiba Yo had an extra sword at his waist. It was a spare Nichirin sword that Kyojuro had taken from the team quarters. These Nichirin swords were mainly used by those who participated in the final selection.

"Master Rengoku, I'm leaving now," Chiba Yo said to Kyojuro.

"Yes! I believe you will succeed!" Kyojuro encouraged loudly.

Shinobu Kocho, who was standing next to Kyojuro, also exchanged a few words with Kanao, who responded with a smile as always.

After saying their goodbyes, Chiba Yo and Kanao headed together toward Fujikasakeyama, the final selection site.

After the two left, Shinobu asked Kyojuro with some doubt, "Mr. Rengoku, is it really okay to let this child participate in the final selection directly? Even if you started teaching him from the moment you met him, it's only been a week."

Shinobu Kocho was shocked to learn that Kyojuro had sent Yoichi Chiba to participate in the final selection, but knowing Kyojuro's character, she asked him about it at that moment.

“No problem! That kid is a genius! He already has his own breathing technique and has developed corresponding sword skills. He has even learned the Flame Breathing technique and all the sword skills!” Kyojuro replied loudly. He was not worried at all that Chiba Yo would fail the final selection.

"You must be joking... seven days..."

Shinobu Kocho was completely stunned by Kyojuro's words, and was speechless for a moment after looking at the figure that had disappeared ahead.

Meanwhile, in a small house on Mount Sagiri, a red-haired boy put on a blue cloud-patterned haori and a fox-shaped warding-off mask.

"I'm off! Mr. Urokodaki!"

Chapter 6 Final Selection

Walking down the street, Chiba Yo and Kanao, though they knew each other, didn't exchange a single word.

She's also Zhu's stepson, so we're practically colleagues. Wouldn't it be inappropriate not to say hello?

Chiba Yo thought to himself, then turned to look at Kanao. She still had the same expression, a smile on her face, and her purple eyes remained unchanged.

"Um... hello, my name is Chiba Yo, and your name is Kurikara Raku, right?" Chiba Yo greeted Kanao anyway.

(In Japanese anime, people who are not particularly close to each other or who are elders seem to only address each other by their surnames.)

Upon hearing this, Kanao turned her head and smiled at Chiba Yo, then turned back and continued on her way.

Seeing this, Chiba Yo focused on his journey, and the two didn't exchange another word after that.

As the crescent moon hung in the black night sky, Chiba and his companion arrived at Fujikasa Mountain, where the final selection would take place. The mountain was covered in wisteria blossoms, emitting a unique fragrance.

That's spectacular!

Seeing this scene, Chiba Yo couldn't help but admire it in his heart.

As you climb the steps, you'll find a group of swordsmen with knives at their waists gathered on the platform at the top of the mountain. Among them, a blond-haired boy stands out, trembling and looking terrified.

In front of the platform is a red torii gate, and standing under the torii gate are two adorable children who look almost identical, except for their hair color. One has white hair and the other has black hair. Both of them have a tassel of wisteria in their hair and are carrying lanterns in their hands.

There were quite a few people who came to participate, which means that... there are definitely quite a few people who have been harmed by ghosts.

Chiba Yo's eyes revealed hatred. Since the last time he encountered the green-skinned demon, he was finally going to face a demon again.

This time, I will slay every demon I encounter!

Chiba Yo looked up at the central area of ​​Fujikaze Mountain, which was surrounded by wisteria flowers, and made up his mind.

A moment later, a red-haired boy wearing a blue cloud-patterned haori also arrived.

At that moment, the two children in front of the torii gate spoke at the same time, and Chiba Yo's attention was drawn to them.

"Thank you all for coming to the Demon Slayer Corps final auditions tonight."

Then the white-haired child continued, "In this Vine-Slaying Mountain, there are demons captured alive by the Demon-Slaying Swordsmen. But the demons cannot leave."

Then the black-haired child continued, "Because from the foot of the mountain to the mountainside, wisteria flowers, which ghosts hate, bloom all year round."

The white-haired child continued, "But ahead, there will be no more wisteria flowers, and ghosts will appear."

The black-haired child continued, "Surviving seven days in here is the condition for passing the final selection."

The two children then bowed together and said, "Then, please have a safe journey."

After they finished speaking, the two children made way, and the swordsmen who had gathered there began to walk into the mountains one after another.

Chiba Yo followed the group of swordsmen inside, but his goal was different from the others. He didn't want to survive seven days here, but to kill all the demons here!

About an hour after entering Fujikasane Mountain, Chiba Yo encountered his first demon.

"Hahaha, finally humans have come in. I was starving to death here."

A demon with an extremely long tongue sticking out, drooling, crawled out from behind a tree. Its eyes were full of green light as it looked at Chiba Yang, like a gray wolf that hadn't caught its prey in a long time.

However, it seems to have mistaken the identities of the hunter and the prey.

"You... really want to eat me?" Chiba Yang said as he drew his Nichirin Blade, his icy gaze fixed on the demon before him.

"Enough nonsense! Become my food!" The long-tongued demon roared and charged at Chiba Yang, its sharp claws aimed straight for his neck.

Chiba Yo walked past the long-tongued demon, wiped the blood off his Nichirin Blade, and then sheathed it.

A line of blood appeared on the neck of the long-tongued demon while it was still in mid-air. Then its head fell off and its body hit the ground with a thud.

The long-tongued demon, its head severed from its body, turned to ashes before it could even utter a scream.

"So weak..."

Chiba Yo looked back at the long-tongued demon that had turned to ashes, and the last bit of worry he had about the final selection vanished.

"Ahhhhhh!!!! Help me!!!"

A piercing scream echoed through the night sky, startling a large flock of night birds into flight.

Has anyone encountered danger? There must be ghosts there, right?

Upon hearing the scream, Chiba Yo immediately found his direction and quickly ran towards the source of the scream.

In the jungle, a blond-haired boy wearing a yellow haori with a triangular pattern is running for his life, tears streaming down his face. His fear is evident in his actions.

"Don't run away, come here and let me eat you!"

Behind the blond boy, a ghost with gray skin was chasing after him, using both hands and feet.

"Ugh!!! No! My meat doesn't taste good at all! Please let me go!"

Upon hearing the gray-skinned ghost's words, the blond-haired boy screamed in terror, running and shouting as he went, tears streaming down his face.

Just then, another ghost appeared in front of the blond-haired boy.

"Living human...food...I'm going to eat you!"

The ghost in front rushed towards the blond-haired boy as soon as it saw him; his shouts had already alerted the other ghosts present.

“Ahhhhh!!! Help!!!”

Upon seeing this, the blond-haired boy immediately turned and ran to the right.

Bang! Glug glug glug

The blond-haired boy was so focused on running forward that he didn't notice a section of exposed tree root under his feet. He tripped over the root and rolled away with a scream.

The two ghosts that were chasing him caught up with him at this moment.

Just then, Chiba Yoichi arrived at the scene. Upon seeing the situation, he immediately drew his Nichirin Blade and rushed forward.

After rolling a distance on the ground, the blond boy suddenly crashed headfirst into a large tree, then his eyes rolled back and he passed out.

The second and third ghosts.

Chiba Yo silently counted the days in his mind; he was about to reach the two demons.

"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap Flash!"

However, at that moment, a firm and serious voice rang out, followed by a yellow bolt of lightning flashing before Chiba Yo's eyes.

The person from just now?

Chiba Yo recognized the yellow lightning bolt as the blond boy who had just escaped from the two demons. However, at this moment, his eyes were closed and his expression was serious. In an instant, the Nichirin Blade with yellow lightning patterns in his hand slashed across the necks of the two demons.

Both heads fell to the ground with a thud.

The blond-haired boy, carrying a large bag on his head, stood behind the two demons, his Nichirin Blade already sheathed.

"Did they beat me to it?" Chiba Yo asked somewhat dejectedly as he sheathed his Nichirin Blade.

Chapter 7 My Wife Shanyi

At this moment, the blond-haired boy opened his eyes and let out a cry of pain.

thump! thump!

The two ghosts lost their support and fell to the ground, appearing right in front of the blond-haired boy.

The blond boy was stunned for a moment, then immediately screamed and jumped up.

"Ah!!! Ghost!!!"

The blond-haired boy covered his mouth with both hands, screaming and jumping around in fear. Then he saw Chiba Yo sheathing his sword.

The blond-haired boy immediately ran up behind Chiba Yang, grabbed his arm, and burst into tears of joy.

"You killed those two ghosts, didn't you! Let me follow you! Please, you must let me follow you, or I'll definitely die here! I will! Save my life!"

He grabbed Chiba Yo's arm, tears streaming down his face, and shouted as if he had met a savior.