When the dormant power within Ryoma finally awakened and he could stably use a Breathing Style, he began a deeper exploration—integrating Water Breathing with the ice power of his own magic.
His slashes, like flowing water, became more agile and ethereal, while the power of ice imbued the slashes with a completely different sharpness, carrying an aura that could freeze all things.
The flowing slashes, combined with the ice blade attacks, merged to create a power far exceeding that of a single Breathing Style, making it much more threatening.
From that day on, once he mastered this crucial step, Ryoma's progress was incredibly rapid.
In a short time, he thoroughly integrated the foundation of Water Breathing with the characteristics of the magical ice blade, beginning to merge and create his own unique techniques.
Sakonji stood not far away, silently watching Ryoma beneath the waterfall. His breathing beneath the tengu mask showed a hint of imperceptible disorder.
That slash was no longer the pure aquamarine of Water Breathing.
When Ryoma's blade cut through the water curtain, a chilling white frost instantly condensed along the sword's path, and countless tiny ice crystals burst forth into the air.
The coldness even penetrated the waterfall, making Sakonji feel a slight chill. An undeniable surprise flashed in the eyes of the experienced former Water Hashira.
Previously, Ryoma had performed excellently in all his training, but he had never been able to grasp the Breathing Style.
Sakonji had doubts in his heart.
Is this child not suited for Water Breathing?
Perhaps I should recommend him to other teachers, or perhaps I should persuade him to join the logistics team.
Now, those doubts vanished, replaced by a deeper shock and a hint of... hope.
This child had not only mastered the Breathing Style but, in such a short time, had forged a unique and unprecedented path of his own.
Now, Ryoma could, in such a short time, derive a unique path suited to himself from the basic Breathing Style.
Sakonji felt extremely gratified by this, believing that in time, he could very likely become the next Hashira to support the Demon Slayer Corps.
However, Sakonji was not in a hurry to have Ryoma immediately participate in the Final Selection. He believed Ryoma needed time to solidify his foundation and, more importantly, to create and perfect techniques that truly fit his characteristics.
At the same time, he also wanted to see the growth of his other disciple, Tanjiro.
A few days later, under the guidance of Sabito and Makomo, Tanjiro unknowingly succeeded in splitting the giant boulder.
Sakonji then decided to let them both participate in this Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection.
Not only had Tanjiro completed the difficult task he had assigned, but there was also Ryoma, who had the potential to become the next Hashira.
After so many years, all of Sakonji's disciples, except for Giyu, had fallen in the Final Selection.
He didn't want to see any more children die there, but he was willing to believe that they could pass the selection and return alive.
Perhaps Ryoma could cut down the nightmare that had plagued him for many years.
To celebrate the successful completion of their training, that night's dinner was exceptionally lavish.
Watching the two who were about to depart, Sakonji once again solemnly admonished them, detailing the cunning cruelty of demons and their special Blood Demon Arts.
After dinner, Sakonji took two fox masks from a cabinet and gave them to Ryoma and Tanjiro.
"These are Warding Masks, to protect you from disaster. I have cast a spell upon them. Remember... come back alive."
Tanjiro solemnly accepted his, while Ryoma looked at Sakonji and spoke, "Urokodaki-sensei."
His voice was calm yet firm, "We will come back alive."
He deliberately emphasized the word "we."
Sakonji's body stiffened, and he ultimately just nodded heavily. "Remember, be careful in all things."
Ryoma looked at the mask in his hand and thought of the Hand Demon that had existed for many years on Mount Fujikasane, having been captured by Sakonji when he was young.
This Hand Demon, by some unknown means, had evaded the Demon Slayer Corps' purges of Mount Fujikasane and had been hiding within it all this time.
Harboring hatred for Sakonji, he used these fox masks to identify Sakonji's disciples and kill them every time. He used this method to take revenge on Sakonji, who had captured him.
Such a powerful demon should not have appeared in the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection, and it was precisely for this reason that Sakonji's disciples repeatedly fell in the Final Selection.
Whether to avenge the fallen or to repay Sakonji's kindness in teaching him, this Hand Demon should no longer exist.
—
The next morning, as a thin mist enveloped Mount Sagiri, Ryoma and Tanjiro shouldered the nichirin blades gifted by Sakonji and set off on the road to Mount Fujikasane.
As for Nezuko, who had been in a deep sleep ever since arriving at Mount Sagiri, Tanjiro entrusted her to Sakonji's care.
By the time the two reached the foot of Mount Fujikasane, night had already fallen, and they saw the wisteria flowers blooming across the mountainside in the night. It was as if they were enveloped in a light purple ocean, glowing with an eerie light under the moonlight, a truly beautiful sight.
Ryoma also knew that the wisteria flowers here bloomed all year round, defying logic, though he didn't know why this was so.
But it was not easy for the Demon Slayer Corps to find such a place to set up the Final Selection.
It was precisely because of the wisteria flowers blooming all over the mountainside that the demons captured by the Demon Slayer Corps members were imprisoned within Mount Fujikasane and unable to escape.
The two followed the stone steps upwards, reaching an open platform halfway up the mountain, much like the clearing in front of a shrine.
The platform was already crowded with many young men and women who had come to take the assessment, all carrying swords and displaying various expressions.
Ryoma's gaze swept across the crowd, seeing Zenitsu, who was curled up in a corner, with golden hair and a terrified expression, and also Kanao, who was expressionless and had empty eyes.
Just as Ryoma and Tanjiro were observing the people around them, two children, almost identical except for one having black hair and the other white, walked out carrying lanterns.
"Everyone."
A clear voice rang out, carrying a composure beyond their years,
"Thank you all for gathering here tonight to participate in the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection."
"Many demons, captured alive by Demon Slayer swordsmen, are imprisoned on Mount Fujikasane..."
The two children, each taking turns, introduced things about Mount Fujikasane and explained that there were no wisteria flowers, which demons disliked, further up, and that the assessment for everyone was to survive in this area for seven days.
Ryoma's gaze involuntarily lingered on the black-haired child.
Had he not known beforehand, he would have been unable to discern his gender.
With that delicate, doll-like face, he couldn't tell that the black-haired child was a boy at all. Even his voice sounded more like a girl's.
The Ubuyashiki family's curse was truly peculiar. They had to marry women selected by priests. Otherwise, every male child born into the family would before reaching adulthood.
On top of that, boys were usually frail and sickly and had to be raised as girls until they were thirteen years old.
"Now."
The two children concluded in unison, bowing deeply,
"We wish you all good fortune in battle."
Then they stepped back to either side, clearing the path to the forest on the mountain.
When the path to the dark forest was cleared, most people were still hesitating, observing.
"Then, I'll go ahead. Take care, Tanjiro."
Without waiting for Tanjiro's reply, Ryoma's figure flashed, and he was the first to rush into the area separated by the wisteria flowers.
For him, merely surviving seven days on Mount Fujikasane was no longer the primary goal, as this assessment held little difficulty for him.
His goal from the beginning was not survival but hunting.
He wanted to take the initiative, and try his luck to see if he could find the Hand Demon quickly. Rather than passively waiting for danger to arrive, he would actively step into the darkness and eliminate this hidden threat of the Final Selection.