Sabito gritted his teeth so hard they nearly shattered. His gaze burned with rage and sorrow, as though the entire world had crumbled before him.
Each of those eleven masks represented a lost life—relics of his fallen comrades.
The Hand Demon's gloating expression filled him with disgust. He roared like thunder, "I'll kill you! I'll make sure you never reincarnate!"
"You bastard!"
Sabito clenched his Nichirin Blade so tightly his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood, yet he felt no pain.
Now he finally understood why his master had tried so hard to hold him back—he was afraid of losing another disciple. He didn't want his own mistakes to cost another life.
Every time a disciple was lost, Sakonji's heart was pierced with grief.
But the Final Selection was just that cruel.Sabito charged at the Hand Demon like a frenzied beast, roaring with fury. In an instant, a torrent of dark green arms surged forth, blotting out the sky above.
"Water Breathing: Tenth Form - Constant Flux!"
He twisted and turned like a swimming dragon, each rotation stirring the surrounding air into wave-like Blade Winds that shredded the grotesque arms caught within.
The Nichirin Blade flashed coldly, carrying a fierce momentum like a surging tidal wave as it crashed toward the Hand Demon.
In an instant, severed limbs and broken arms rained down in a bloody downpour. But the Hand Demon's regenerative ability far exceeded Sabito's expectations—its arms would regrow the moment they were severed.
This thing was different from other demons. It had devoured far too many humans. If not for its own shortcomings, it would have long since awakened a Blood Demon Art.
As it fought, the Hand Demon boasted about its past atrocities, recounting how it had tortured and slaughtered Urokodaki's disciples, all to unsettle Sabito's mind.
"I remember the last brat was a cheerful one, always laughing. So I tore her mouth apart first. Her screams were much sweeter than her laughter, hehehe!"
"Shut your mouth!"
"You bastard!"
Sabito's fury burned hotter, disrupting his breathing rhythm. Seizing the opening, the Hand Demon swung a massive fist toward his head.
"Water Breathing, Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin!"
A calm voice cut through the chaos as Giyu intercepted the attack. His eyes were bloodshot, equally enraged by the fate of their senior disciples—but unlike Sabito, he hadn't lost his composure.
Sabito and Giyu were inseparable friends—one brimming with righteous fury, reckless in his hatred of evil; the other silent and unshakable, his heart as still as water.
Like the ocean itself, they embodied both storm and calm.
"Sabito, stay focused. It's trying to provoke you!" Giyu spoke one of his rare long sentences. In his heart, Sabito's life mattered far more than his own.
But geniuses had their pride. Consumed by rage, Sabito didn't listen. He charged forward again.
His recklessness left openings in his movements, but with Giyu covering him, those flaws were negligible.
This was Giyu's strength—his ability to analyze the battlefield with icy precision and adapt to his ally's movements.
The two pressed forward relentlessly, closing in on the Hand Demon's true body. Vengeance was within reach, and Sabito grew even more aggressive, widening the gap between himself and Giyu.
Finally, the flawless coordination between them faltered. At the same time, two extra arms suddenly appeared on the battlefield—the Hand Demon had been holding back, waiting for this exact moment.
Giyu swiftly severed one of them, but as he moved to shield Sabito, a sharp metallic snap echoed—his Nichirin Blade had shattered.
In desperation, he threw himself in front of the Hand Demon's strike. Watching his closest friend get sent flying, Sabito's mind went blank.
Then, Tendo entered the battlefield with a smile. He caught Giyu midair, swiftly sliced his own palm, and squeezed his blood into Giyu's mouth.
Nearly unconscious, Giyu tasted the metallic tang. Through blurred vision, he saw Sabito fighting in the distance and Tendo feeding him blood.
Tendo carried Giyu away from the battle, his voice brimming with trust.
"Sabito, Giyu will be fine! My blood can heal wounds!"
"Let's settle both old and new grudges together!"
The moment he spoke, Sabito's gaze sharpened with unwavering resolve, shining brilliantly. He severed another of the Hand Demon's attacking arms and declared:
"Leave the rest to me!"
"Thank you!"
In that instant, Sabito's spirit underwent tremendous growth—a transformation vital for any swordsman pursuing the path of the blade.He dodged the Hand Demon's attacks while adjusting his breathing. Finally, that powerful version of himself had returned.
This time, even without the assistance of his best friend, he could still hold his own.
Tendo carried Giyu to safety. The moment he saved Giyu, a thought flashed through his mind—to slay the Hand Demon.
But he reconsidered. After all, that would be pointless. At the very least, it wouldn't help Sabito and Giyu grow stronger.
Giyu's emotional burden stemmed from the deaths of his sister and his best friend. Now that Sabito was alive, that weight would no longer exist.
All he needed to do was offer a few words of guidance to help Giyu overcome the guilt he felt over his sister's death.
As for Sabito, it seemed he had already grown stronger.
This time, the two who would emerge from Mount Fujikasane would be the Water Breathing duo in their most perfect state.
Tendo crossed his arms and leaned against a large tree, quietly watching as Sabito sought his revenge. His mood was excellent.
His goal was to assist the future Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps as much as possible. After all, the grand mission of killing Muzan couldn't be accomplished by him alone.
Justice against Muzan required a group effort.
Suddenly, an ear-piercing shriek tore through the night sky. The sound was like sharp claws scraping frantically against a blackboard, agonizing to hear.
The source of the noise was none other than the Hand Demon. Having survived for so long, it naturally had a backup plan—something it could choose not to use but couldn't afford not to have.
No one was more resentful than the Hand Demon itself. It truly wished it would never have to resort to this contingency.
But today, that red-haired brat had ruined everything. The Hand Demon hated Tendo with a passion.
As the roar faded, ten pairs of crimson eyes lit up in the forest. Then, ten demons surged from the surrounding trees, swarming toward Sabito.
Having ruled Mount Fujikasane for decades, the Hand Demon had naturally subdued a few underlings. The demons that Tendo and his four companions had hunted earlier were those who refused to submit to the Hand Demon.
It had to be said, if not for being trapped on Mount Fujikasane, the Scrap Boss would have purged these minions long ago. After all, the selfish creature would never allow its subordinates to form factions.
Mount Fujikasane had imprisoned the Hand Demon, but it had also saved its life.
The ten demons that charged out intercepted Sabito, while the Hand Demon frantically fled toward the forest behind it.
"Damn it!"
"You bastard, stop right there!"
Tendo, watching from a distance, shook his head helplessly. The Hand Demon was cunning, but he couldn't let it escape.
Today, it had to die—and by the hands of Sakonji Urokodaki's disciples.
"All he wanted was revenge. Why cause trouble? Such a nuisance, sigh!"
He took a step forward, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword. His eyes curved slightly, his tone lazy, but his gaze was fierce.
The smug Hand Demon even turned back for a glance. It decided to hide well in the coming days—one day, it would still tear Sakonji's disciples to shreds.
Unfortunately, its eyes met Tendo's golden ones. The boy glared at it, his smile not reaching his eyes, like a nightmare.
"Way Breathing · Thunder Style · Kirin!"