"It's Grandpa Jager's memory."
Roy held the staff blade in his left hand, and with his right hand, he manifested a short strike...tiny light spots converging...
Demon Slayer World.
He noticed the sword hanging on the south wall suddenly disappear.
Tomioka Giyu packed his belongings, looked back at the sleeping youngster, exchanged a glance with Urokodaki Sakonji, unfazed, and pushed the door open, setting off on his return journey.
"I will report everything that happened to the Lord."
Tomioka Giyu said as much.
He didn't know, nor did he care much that losing to "Eiichiro" as a "Hashira" would cause such a stir for the Lord and the Demon Slayer Corps!
This time returning, equipped with the "Red Blade" technique, he had only one thought... to persuade Ubuyashiki Kagaya to provide all information about the evil ghosts...
Urokodaki Sakonji silently saw him off, with his fellow disciples Sabito, Makomo, and others beside him. They said nothing, as it was inherent to Tomioka Giyu's duty. It was just unexpected that the youngster came and left in such a hurry, not even staying for another night.
Who knows when they will meet again, or if they ever will...
"Aren't you going to let Eiichiro know, Giyu-senpai?"
"Leaving without saying goodbye, surely that guy will be upset when he wakes...."
"He won't." Sabito joked, glancing at Makomo: "Giyu is busy, and Eiichiro even busier, didn't you see?"
"That guy even summoned the short strike in his dream, he must be fighting someone...only we are idle..."
Makomo raised her chin, looking at Sabito for a while, and said: "Senpai seems quite happy?"
Tomioka-senpai left... Eiichiro is about to descend the mountain... no one knows when they'll leave... what is this?
Finding joy in sorrow?
Sabito smiled, without explaining.
Besides the fact they're essentially spirits, Tomioka mastering the "Red Blade" basically means the Demon Slayer Corps has mastered the "Red Blade." Coupled with Eiichiro's imminent descent from the mountain, the fox-faced boy... can almost see the end of the evil ghosts approaching!
By then, people can work by day, rest by night, no longer fearing being eaten when going out at night. They can walk night roads and run night markets with ease. The vision of such a beautiful and harmonious world is vivid.
"Senpai," at this moment, Tomioka Giyu called, pulling Sabito's mind back to reality.
Cloaked in a haori interwoven with red, yellow, and white, Tomioka Giyu bowed to everyone, then straightened up, saying, "I'm leaving."
"Whoosh~" The shadowy wind swirled around him, as if in response.
Under the silent watch of Urokodaki Sakonji, Sabito, Makomo, and the others...
He turned, grasped his sword, and took one last deep look behind him before stepping forward in large strides, disappearing into the forest, soon engulfed by the fog...
The moon reached its zenith, piercing through a sliver of fog to cast down moonlight.
Makomo suddenly asked Sabito gloomily, "Senpai, if destined to vanish, what is there to hold on to?"
Sabito remained silent.
After a moment, he turned away from the direction Tomioka Giyu left and headed back towards the wooden house.
"Rather than 'holding on,' it's more about 'curiosity'..."
The fox-faced boy's mouth held a faint smile as he looked gently at the sleeping Roy and said, "I'm very curious about what the world in Eiichiro's dream is like."
"Who is he fighting now."
[Hint: "C" level creature, "Pig-headed Man" has been recorded in the world of cognition]
[Demon Catalogue activated]
[Note: The host can record demons in the catalogue through contact]
[By using the Demon Catalogue, perform "identification"]
Hunter World.
Test arena, in the dreamscape.
Roy, with a thought, manifested the short strike, holding dual blades, with a "ding~," he blocked a fierce axe strike from the Pig-headed Man and felt the sudden surge of great strength from its massive body. His shoulder sank as he discreetly glanced at the panel...
The emergence of a "new species" seemed to trigger his Nen ability, the "Gate of Cognition," applying an additional "patch."
This "patch" named the "Demon Catalogue" can sort and compile the "things" he sees with his bare eyes through the brain, forming a specialized "directory" or "system" for "collecting and identifying" various "demons."
In essence, it hasn't strayed from the mature process of "I see, I hear, hence I know," in increasing one's "cognitive understanding."
Then, the question arises?
Why hasn't the "Sand Worm" existing in Grandpa Jager's memory been recorded in the "Demon Catalogue"?
[Answer: The host has not seen its entirety.]
With a flash of understanding, Roy held off the Pig-headed Man's axe, counter-kicking in mid-air, forcing it back, and widening the gap, a string of information unfolded before his eyes...
[Pig-headed Man Warrior]
[Profession: "Barbarian"]
[Manifested Nen Amount: C- (120/100000)]
[Potential Qi Amount: C- (120/100000)]
That "manifested Nen amount" and "potential Qi amount" are identical... Roy was quite surprised, focusing intently on the towering four-meter monster as it raised its hand for another axe swing aimed at his head. Hou realizing, this is an entity that has entirely developed its "nen abilities"!
"Hand Axe·Heavy Strike!"
The strike capability of the "Enhancement" type is beyond doubt!
The hand axe, wrapped in blood-red "Nen," rubbed against the air, creating a forceful wind pressure as it fiercely descended...
Roy suddenly lifted his staff blade in his left hand... [Magnetic Force·Repulsion], halting the "Hand Axe"!
His right hand raised the "short strike," swiftly executing a "thrust"!
"Water Breathing·Seventh Form·Shizuku Wave Pattern Stab"... directly aimed at the Pig-headed Man's chest!
Then came the sounds... "ding... dang..." two crisp clangs....
The hand axe collided with the long sword, one was intercepted by Roy's staff blade, one was blocked by the Pig-headed Man's backhanded left hand axe... they were at a stalemate for the moment, but then Roy felt his body sink, being pressed down by the opponent's strong force!
The difference in constitution between his C and the opposing D became immediately apparent... this had nothing to do with skill, nothing to do with "mechanism", only concerning "numbers"!
Moreover, the opponent was a natural "enhancement" type!
"Gongerdan, help me!" At this time, the Pig-headed Man let out a loud roar!
A broad sword flew out of the towering trees in the jungle, seizing the moment when Roy was immobilized, and came slashing towards his waist!
The intent was brutally straightforward, aiming to cut him... in two with a single sweep!
Too fast... too fast... to throw such a broad sword... Roy's eyes applied [Gyo], glanced sideways, the ground shook with "thud... thud... thud...",
Another Pig-headed Warrior, chased the broad sword, charging out with rumbling force, appeared even taller than the one suppressing him, the panel displayed... [C- (240/100000)], indeed another fully developed guy!
"Whoosh~" The broad sword ripped through the wind, reaching in the blink of an eye!
Without finding a way to get rid of the "suppression", there was only death waiting....
[True Meaning in Flames of Passion], burn for me!
It's a pity Jinx wasn't here, didn't know why it wasn't "enchanted"....
The young man's black hair stirred without wind, the milky-white Nen turned red in an instant, quickly spreading along the Samurai Sword to the hand axe, and through the axe to the Pig-headed Man... suddenly a wail of pain!
The Pig-headed Man who was suppressing Roy with brute force felt a pain in his palm, dropped the hand axe, and looked down... the pair of hands covered with [Ten] were blistered with bubbling, and he couldn't help but retreat two steps, giving Roy the opportunity to catch his breath.
"Sun Breathing: First Form: Dance!"
With two swords in hand, friction with the air ignited... the short sword and staff blade, already infused with [Heat], spun in a circle, forming two "rings of fire", knocking aside the sweeping broad sword, and, aiming for the opening when the Pig-headed Man lowered his head, slashed at his unarmored neck!
"Sizzle~"
The skin and flesh were sliced open!
Bringing forth a spray of fresh blood....
Breaking through the Pig-headed Man's protective "Nen", forcing its way into his neck!
"Howl~" with a cry, the Pig-headed Man violently kicked at Roy.
Seeing that another slash could kill him, nearby, the broad sword that was knocked away flew back into the hands of another Pig-headed Warrior, without hesitation unleashing another mighty slash aimed at Roy's head...
With no choice, Roy had to abandon the short sword, letting it embed in the neck of the hand axe Pig-headed Man, stepped on the Great Success "Dark Step", and retreated with a float, narrowly avoiding the broad sword Pig-headed Man's chop!
"Crack!" The slash missed, striking the ground... instantly forming a fifty-meter long trench...
A Pig-headed Warrior named "Gongerdan", suddenly spewed twin gas dragons from his nostrils, standing shoulder to shoulder with the heavily injured hand axe Pig-headed Man, flanking Roy from left and right, blocking his way.
"Swish... swish...." Two more Pig-headed Men appeared in the trees.
A deep gaze suddenly cast from the depths of the jungle... Roy felt his body tighten, as if bound by ropes, uncomfortable all over, frowning, he raised his hand in a gesture... using [Magnetic Force: Attraction], he summoned back the short sword...
In his heart, he thought, this time he encountered a tough one, might have to "re" a few more times.
Fifteen seconds... sixteen seconds... seventeen seconds... twenty seconds... half a minute passed...
Outside the illusion realm in the underground passage,
the young man stood out from the crowd, calmly closing his eyes while alone, enjoying the battle within the illusion...
Unbeknownst to him, the external world had fallen into an eerie silence because of his prolonged endurance... over four hundred people, as well as a puzzled fat crow, staring at each other, none speaking in mutual understanding... only the ticking of the cuckoo clock "tick... tick..." filled the air...
A weaving of shock and despair was evident in the "Nen", an intermingling of "gray" and "red" no less dazzling....
Thirty-five seconds... forty seconds... fifty seconds... nearing a minute... thoughts began to stir among the people...
Gradually, people started to leave, elevators opening and closing, "clang~ clang~" echoed endlessly as more than half quickly departed.....
Among them were also familiar faces like Yuusuke, the Snakekeeper, and others.
"Hmph! Didn't expect it to be this guy!" In a corner, Dongba sneakily glanced at Roy, burning with jealousy, yet secretly suppressing it, mingling into the departing crowd along the wall, listening to everyone complaining that this year was too tough, merely attending a fuzz...
He maliciously chuckled inwardly: "Tough is good, tough means you all won't come, the Hunter Association will see, the next session will become easier, maybe benefiting me...."
Through ups and downs, Dongba had already grasped the rules of the Hunter Exam, unfortunately being underpowered, otherwise among the "Professional Hunters", there should definitely be a place for "Great God Dongba"!
"Clang~" The last elevator door closed.
As the candidates left, remaining were a few people, Kate, Kazane, Illumi... with Wutong and Kurajing guarding by Roy's side.
Without looking at each other, they all awaited one result.
"It's been two minutes." Gaelu maintained the operation of "Illusion", glanced at Botobai.
The man, with a face covered by a Peking opera mask, said nothing.
His broad hand rubbed against his elbow, faintly... excited!
"Three minutes!" At the entrance of that grilled meat shop.
The two elders, having eaten and drunk their fill, sat by the bar with a cup of black tea each in front, behind them were the departing examinees...
Ignoring their resentful complaints, only using their aging eyes to continue watching the young man immersed in the illusion with closed eyes on the screen.
After a while, neither spoke...
A moment later, Netero himself broke the spell, glancing over, "How long do you think he can hold?"
Zeno rubbed the teacup, remained silent, then suddenly commented, "As long as he wants...."
Then he shook his head, nearly laughing at this absurd idea of his own...
Within the illusion, it was more than just Pig-headed Men, there was... [Pig-headed General]!
That guy wasn't easy to deal with!