Chapter 328: Nezuko Turns Human
In the end,
Tanjiro had only enough reward points to buy two of Uncle Nine's specially refined [Five Yang Scarlet Pills], said to reverse demonification.
But with Uncle Nine's help, using the same amount of ingredients and effort, he managed to produce five pills in total.
The price:
Two new quests appeared in Tanjiro's task log, requiring him to gather Yin-element materials.
If he failed to complete them in time, his reputation with [Uncle Nine's Mortuary] and with Uncle Nine himself would plummet.
With the remaining reward points,
Tanjiro couldn't afford new skills.
So instead, he upgraded his [Water Breathing] to level 10 and bought an Enlightenment Pill to unlock a skill trait.
[Tidal Surge]: Consecutive strikes increase damage by 20%.
Now,
Tanjiro's overall strength surpassed that of an ordinary Demon Slayer.
In earlier generations—when the Demon Slayer Corps was weaker—his current level 10 breathing style would've already qualified him as a Hashira-level swordsman.
A soft white glow flashed.
Tanjiro returned to Sagiri Mountain
and relayed everything about becoming a Reincarnation Game player and his participation in the counter-invasion mission
to his mentor: Sakonji Urokodaki.
"You're serious?"
Behind his red tengu mask, Urokodaki looked visibly shocked.
The head of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, had given instructions to report immediately if a Player emerged among their ranks.
These were people destined to carry the weight of the world.
And now, the young man he had handpicked, trained with his own hands—Tanjiro—was one of them.
"Attack me!"
Urokodaki tossed him a wooden sword, his tone severe.
According to Lord Kagaya,
becoming a player couldn't be done through effort alone. It was akin to being chosen by a god, unpredictable and unexplainable.
If it was true, then Tanjiro becoming a player was a blessing for the entire Corps.
"Understood."
Tanjiro didn't argue. It was the best way to prove he wasn't making things up.
A wave-like aura rippled around him as he raised his wooden sword.
Clang!
In the next instant,
their wooden swords clashed, ringing out like steel.
Urokodaki's eyes widened behind his mask.
The recoil through his wrist was tremendous.
Most would've assumed Tanjiro had simply grown stronger or had exceptional innate strength.
But Urokodaki, a former Water Hashira and master swordsman,
immediately understood—
Tanjiro's body was the same as before.
The power he felt came entirely from the incredible advancement in his breathing technique.
How could that be?
Urokodaki's breath grew heavy.
He had personally trained Tanjiro for the Corps' Final Selection.
Even acknowledging his talent, there was no way Tanjiro could've surpassed an average Slayer in just under a year.
And now,
his Water Breathing was nearly at the same level as Urokodaki himself.
He was a former Hashira!
"Keep going!"
Urokodaki suppressed his astonishment and drew upon his full strength.
Mist escaped from beneath his mask.
Water Breathing's ten forms flowed out like a raging tide,
filling the training field with the sound of rushing water.
Yet Tanjiro was not overwhelmed.
He met the attack head-on, parrying and striking with equal momentum.
Each clash intensified—
his swordsmanship swelling like tidal waves,
each strike stronger than the last.
Crack.
Urokodaki froze.
His wooden sword snapped in two.
His red tengu mask cracked and fell to the ground.
If they'd been using Nichirin blades, or even real metal,
he would've been beheaded just now.
"Are you alright, Sensei?"
Tanjiro asked with concern,
a little ashamed for not pulling back in time.
He knew his Water Breathing at level 10 was roughly equal to Urokodaki's.
But with the trait [Tidal Surge], his attacks grew exponentially in a combo.
Water Breathing was all about relentless flowing strikes—making the trait especially devastating.
"You... created your own form from Water Breathing?"
Urokodaki's face flushed—not with shame, but exhilaration.
"Tanjiro! You have the strength to be the next Water Hashira!"
Embarrassed,
Tanjiro scratched his head. "That's because of the trait…"
"Being chosen by the gods is still your own gift. Don't diminish yourself."
Urokodaki composed himself,
then added, "I'll report this to Lord Kagaya immediately…"
"Oh, right!"
Tanjiro remembered something and hurriedly pulled out one of Uncle Nine's red pills.
"I got this in the Reincarnation Game. It might reverse Nezuko's demonification and purge Muzan's blood."
The [Five Yang Scarlet Pill]
was no bigger than a fingernail, glowing a deep red.
It required five different Yang-element herbs to make, hence its name.
"A pill that can remove demon blood?"
Urokodaki was stunned, his pen almost slipping from his hand.
He had fought demons for decades.
He had seen countless families destroyed by Muzan's blood.
No matter how strong-willed a person had been in life,
once turned, they became monsters.
There had never been a way to reverse it.
Over centuries,
many had searched for a cure. All had failed.
So when Tanjiro showed up with Nezuko on his back,
even though she retained some humanity,
Urokodaki had little hope she'd ever become human again.
To hear there might now be a cure—
it was almost too good to believe.
"I want my sister to take the first pill."
Tanjiro said firmly.
Yes, he fought for humanity. Yes, he wanted to defeat the demons.
But most of all, he wanted to save Nezuko.
"Let's try it…"
Urokodaki's voice was hoarse with emotion.
Tanjiro gently removed the bamboo muzzle from Nezuko's mouth.
She tilted her head, confused, but opened her mouth obediently.
He placed the little red pill on her tongue like it was candy.
"Chomp!"
The tiny Nezuko puffed out her cheeks, chewed twice,
and swallowed it down.
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