Chapter 1: The Marine of Mount Fujikasane
A thick scent of blood mixed with the fragrance of wisteria flowers wafted into Ryuji's nose, and he snapped his eyes open.
Before him was an unfamiliar place where purple flowers bloomed eerily in the shadows, beautiful and seductive.
Where is this?
Before Ryuji could clear his thoughts, a flurry of memory fragments that didn't belong to him flashed through his mind like a forced slideshow.
Soon, Ryuji understood his situation.
Simply put, he had transmigrated.
This was the Meiji era, a place called Mount Fujikasane.
As for why he was here, it was because after learning Stone Breathing from his mentor, he had to participate in the Demon Slayer Corps trial to become a Demon-Slaying Swordsman... Wait!
Mount Fujikasane, Demon Slayer Corps, Stone Breathing... demon slayer?
As a veteran manga fan, he was all too familiar with this heartwarming yet tear-jerking series!
To put it simply, there were man-eating demons in this world, and the Demon Slayer Corps relied on supernatural abilities called Breathing Techniques to slay them.
At this thought, Ryuji felt a bit excited. It seemed he could also become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps and personally save those whose fates were hard to accept!
He tried to stand up, but it seemed to aggravate his wound, making him grimace in pain. He looked down at the injury on his abdomen; it was okay.
It had been treated; he wouldn't die.
Looking around, he saw a cold-looking, black-haired youth wearing a solid red haori, leaning against a tree trunk and panting.
He was clutching his eye as blood seeped through his fingers. Beside him, another youth was saying something.
That youth had long, peach-colored hair and wore a Warding Fox Mask on his face.
Ryuji instantly recognized them as Tomioka Giyu and the genius swordsman who only existed in memories, Sabito.
He was actually in the same batch of trial-takers as them.
Ryuji's initial excitement began to fade. Having figured out the timeline, he frowned. According to the plot, Sabito would die of exhaustion during this selection while protecting others.
Dying at the hands of the Hand Demon.
He should give a warning: the Hand Demon's neck is very tough; don't get bogged down.
"Sabito..."
Sabito, wearing the fox mask, heard Ryuji's call and turned around, asking softly, "May I ask..."
Before he could finish, a shrill scream echoed from the distance.
"Save what you have to say for when I get back! Take care of Giyu."
Sabito didn't hesitate for a second. After speaking to Ryuji, his figure vanished into the depths of the forest in a few leaps, his movements as agile as a leopard's.
"Don't go!"
Ryuji shouted, but unfortunately, Sabito had already disappeared... That was Sabito, a righteous and gentle person.
"Damn it..."
Ryuji's brow furrowed. This departure could very well be a final farewell!
He had to help. Thinking this, he struggled to stand, but the pain in his abdomen rendered him unable to move. He leaned against the tree and took a few breaths.
Just then, a grating, eerie laugh reached everyone's ears, and they immediately became alert.
"Hehehe!"
From the shadows of the trees not far away, a hideous demon slowly emerged.
Its saliva dripped from the corners of its mouth, and its murky eyes were fixed intently on the injured trial-takers present.
That gaze was filled with naked greed.
"It's a demon!"
"Everyone, be careful!"
A few nearby swordsmen who could still move took up their stances, but their trembling legs betrayed their inner fear.
"Hehe, what luck. I originally just wanted to hide from that brat in the mask, but I didn't expect... to run into such a feast."
"Six of them in total."
The demon slowly approached, saying softly, "Don't struggle. Just let me eat you."
Before its voice faded, it lunged at an injured swordsman, plunging its sharp nails into the man's shoulder as everyone watched in shock.
Blood spurted out, splashing all over the demon.
"Ah, truly delicious."
The demon licked the blood with enjoyment, casually blocked a nichirin blade strike, and then used the swordsman in its hand as a weapon, tossing him aside.
Suddenly, it stopped its movements, sniffed hard with its nose, and its gaze fell directly on Ryuji.
"So fragrant..."
"You smell so good! Eat! Eat! If I eat you, I can become even stronger!"
The demon let out an excited roar, more saliva dripping from its mouth. As if drunk, it stumbled towards Ryuji!
Hearing this, Ryuji couldn't help but complain, "Damn, what kind of talk is that?"
"What do you mean I'm 'fragrant'?"
"And is this the butterfly effect? According to the plot, no one was supposed to die in this Mount Fujikasane trial... Is it a change I brought about?"
Just then, a swordsman leaning on his nichirin blade shouted, "Everyone, attack together, or none of us will escape!"
Hearing this, the surrounding swordsmen exchanged glances, summoned their courage, and rushed forward with their nichirin blades!
Ryuji looked at that swordsman with gratitude. As expected of the Demon Slayer Corps, they had courage... and conviction.
Before the words of praise could leave his mouth, he saw that same swordsman sneakily retreat, turn around, and bolt!
A deserter?!
Watching the fleeing swordsman, a burning flame rose in Ryuji's heart!
He was actually a deserter!
[Host's anger detected. marine system activated.]
A cold, mechanical voice abruptly rang out in Ryuji's mind.
marine system?
"Are you kidding me? This is the world of demon slayer. What the hell is a marine system doing here?"
However, that wasn't important!
Ryuji paused for a moment, then realized that no matter what the system was, as long as he could gain power to deal with the current situation, it was fine.
"System, give me power!"
[Host detected participating in Marine selection. One piece Physique obtained.]
The system's voice rang out again.
In the next second, a warm current erupted from his heart, instantly washing through his entire body.
The sharp pain in his abdomen receded like a tide, and the torn muscles were wriggling and healing at a pace visible to the naked eye.
His limbs, weakened by blood loss, were refilled with an explosive sense of power.
"Is this... the most basic physique from the world of One Piece?"
Ryuji clenched his fists, feeling the crisp popping of his knuckles.
He didn't have time for joy, for the last two swordsmen were already faltering under the demon's playful attacks. Several swordsmen already lay on the ground, their robes stained red with blood.
This was a demon!
This was the purest form of a demon in demon slayer!
"If I can't even handle a nobody like this, how can I talk about saving Sabito or making up for those damn regrets!"
"Hey!"
Ryuji pushed himself up. Beneath his torn clothes were abdominal muscles that were now completely intact. He stared straight at the demon and let out a roar: "Your feast is over here!"
The demon threw aside the dying swordsman in its hand and lunged at Ryuji like it had lost its mind!
Boom!
Just as the demon's figure reached Ryuji, it took a solid heavy punch!
It was sent flying back!
[Pirate attack detected. Please strike immediately to capture or kill them!]
Looking at the demon scrambling up from the ground, Ryuji tilted his head and realized—this system was nuts.
However, it was exactly what he wanted!
"Eat..."
The demon licked the blood from the corner of its mouth with the tip of its tongue. Bloodshot veins suddenly spread through its eyes, almost turning the entire sockets red, and its voice carried a cold malice.
"Eat you! I want to become stronger!"
After speaking, it lunged at Ryuji, much faster than before!
Its muscles bulged eerily, and its fingernails let out a grating crackling sound as they suddenly lengthened and curved, turning into ten pitch-black hooks gleaming with a cold light.
With a hideous grin on its face, it roared, "Die, brat!"