Screen 1 – One Year of Training
A full year passes under Urokodaki's training.
Tanjiro, Sans, and Papyrus push through the mountain tests, traps, and breathing drills together.
Tanjiro sharpens his Water Breathing forms.
Papyrus masters his Bone Breathing techniques, filling the forest with clattering bones every morning.
Sans learns Void Breathing, though he mostly naps between sessions and still somehow improves faster than anyone understands.
One morning, Urokodaki gathers all three of them outside his house.
"You've each grown stronger," he says. "Your skills, your discipline, and your resolve have all changed."
Papyrus points dramatically at the sky. "Of course! The great Papyrus has trained for this moment!"
Sans yawns. "Yeah, yeah. We're ready."
Tanjiro smiles. "I'm grateful. Training with both of you pushed me further than I could've alone."
Urokodaki looks at the group. "Your final test is coming. The three of you will face the mountain again. If you survive, you'll qualify for Final Selection."
Tanjiro nods.
Papyrus salutes.
Sans just hands Urokodaki a thumbs-up with a tired grin.
Their last year of effort has brought them to
Screen 2 – The Boulder Trial
Urokodaki leads the three students to different parts of the mountain.
Each spot has a massive boulder waiting for them.
"One boulder for each of you," he says. "Break it, split it, or move it. Do that, and you'll be ready for Final Selection."
Tanjiro steps toward his boulder. "I understand."
Papyrus stares at his own. "A challenge fit for the great Papyrus!"
Sans looks at his, shrugs, and sits down. "Looks heavy."
Urokodaki sighs beneath the mask. "You must use your Breathing. Your strength alone won't do it."
The months pass.
Sans figures out Void Breathing early. He warps space around the rock, cracks it, and breaks it clean in three months.
He doesn't brag. He just takes a nap on top of the pieces.
Papyrus trains nonstop. His Bone Breathing gets sharper, faster, louder.
After eight months, he slams the rock so hard it splits down the middle.
He poses with a victory stance for an hour straight.
Tanjiro keeps struggling. His boulder won't move at all.
Day after day, he practices Water Breathing until his lungs burn.
Even with Sans and Papyrus cheering him on, it takes him a full year to finally cut through the stone.
The moment it breaks, Tanjiro drops to his knees, exhausted but smiling.
Sans pats his shoulder. "Told ya you'd get it."
Papyrus nods proudly. "Such perseverance! Truly worthy of the Papyrus-approved student ranking!"
The three of them stand side by side at last, all having cleared their boulders.
They're finally ready.
To be continued.