"Just six, seven minutes more before I reach it.."
Swoosh! swoosh! swoosh!
After leaving the Wisteria House, Rin did not travel on foot like an ordinary swordsman.
"A power system like chakra is simply dimensional suppression in this world."
In the dense forest, a black afterimage moved rapidly between the thick tree trunks.
With pale blue chakra attached to the soles of his feet, Rin easily leaped dozens of meters with each jump.
The Demon Slayer Corps' Breathing Styles essentially push physical potential to its limit through specific breathing rhythms, briefly granting power comparable to that of a demon.
Chakra, however, is different. It is the perfect fusion of spiritual energy and physical energy.
There was no need to deliberately maintain Total Concentration Breathing. As long as chakra continued to flow, his speed, strength, defense, and even recovery ability surpassed the ordinary people of this world in every aspect.
In less than half a day, a towering mountain shrouded in a vast sea of purple flowers appeared at the edge of Rin's vision.
Fujikasane Mountain.
Wisteria flowers, which demons find extremely repulsive and even fatal, bloom here all year round.
The seniors of the Demon Slayer Corps imprisoned captured demons within this wisteria barrier, using it as the trial ground for the Final Selection of new recruits.
According to the usual procedure, the selection would officially begin in four days. At that time, all participants would gather at the foot of the mountain, follow the guidance of the two girls from the Ubuyashiki family, and survive in the mountains for seven days.
But Rin stopped at the foot of the mountain, looking up at the steps leading deep into the mountain. A wild and arrogant smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Wait four days to enter with a group of newcomers whose hands shake even when holding a sword? I don't have time for that."
Rules are set for the weak.
For Rin, who possessed the Uchiha Sasuke template, Fujikasane Mountain, which imprisoned hundreds of demons, was not a trial ground where survival was uncertain, but an open "dimension points ATM", and he wanted to cash out.
Without hesitation, he crossed the boundary of the wisteria forest and strode into the depths of Fujikasane Mountain, where sunlight never reached.
The deeper he went, the thinner the scent of wisteria became, replaced by a nauseating stench of blood and rot.
"Ahhh~~"
After advancing only two kilometers, a strange scraping sound came from the tree canopy above.
"Human... it's the scent of a human! How can a lone human enter the mountain early?"
"Who cares! I haven't eaten human flesh for nearly five years! This kid is mine!"
Accompanied by shrill roars, three ordinary demons with twisted faces, fangs, and sharp claws pounced toward Rin from three different directions like hungry beasts.
In their eyes, this black-haired youth who had not even drawn his sword was already frozen with fear.
However, Rin did not even raise his head.
His hands blurred into afterimages as he formed hand seals at a speed the naked eye could not follow.
Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger.
Even Sasuke during this period possessed hand seal speed far beyond ordinary people, let alone when dealing with a few low-level demons that did not even possess Blood Demon Arts.
Rin's chest swelled as a massive amount of chakra transformed into extreme heat in his throat.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Boom!
A huge crimson fireball more than five meters in diameter burst from Rin's mouth, carrying terrifying heat capable of incinerating everything.
The surrounding air instantly distorted under the intense temperature, and the dead leaves on the ground turned to ash before the flames even reached them.
"Wha... what is this thing?! Aaaaah!"
The three demons in midair saw nothing but a sea of crimson before the terrifying flames engulfed them completely.
Before their screams could last even a second, the fireball rolled through the air like a bulldozer, incinerating a dozen towering trees along with the three demons into charred ashes that scattered through the air.
There was no need for a Nichirin blade at all. When the temperature and destructive power of the flames completely exceeded the regeneration limit of demon cells, they could be instantly obliterated.
[Ding! Killed three ordinary demons. Obtained dimension points: 30.]
"So weak."
Rin exhaled a breath of stale air, glanced at the charred fan-shaped ground, and casually removed the Kusanagi sword along with its scabbard from his waist, resting it on his shoulder.
"Now, the hunt begins."
For the demons of Fujikasane Mountain, the following period became an unprecedented nightmare.
In previous Final Selections, they were the ones who treated the new swordsmen as toys and food, hunting them relentlessly.
But this time was different.
A youth in a black uniform completely overturned the relationship between predator and prey.
He did not sleep or rest. He did not need food or water, relying on soldier pills instead, and he did not even bother to seek cover.
The black straight sword in his hand was incredibly sharp. No matter how tough a demon's neck was, a single flash was enough to send the head flying.
What terrified the demons even more was that this human not only possessed terrifying swordsmanship, but could also wield lightning and fire.
In just one day, the demons in the outer and middle areas of Fujikasane Mountain were almost completely wiped out by Rin alone.
"Monster... that guy is definitely a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps! Why would a Hashira come here to slaughter the mountain?!"
"Run! Don't let him target you! Those red eyes... one glance and you're dead!"
The remaining demons trembled as they fled madly toward the deepest part of Fujikasane Mountain.
At this time, there were still three days left before the actual Final Selection would begin.
...
In the central area of Fujikasane Mountain, within a forest filled with jagged rocks.
Rin shook the black blood from the Kusanagi sword and sheathed it with a clang.
At that moment, the dimension points on his system panel had surged to 1,480.
In a single day, he had killed at least ninety demons.
"Are there none left on the outskirts..."
Just as Rin was preparing to continue his sweep into the deeper regions, the ground beneath his feet suddenly shook violently.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Heavy footsteps approached from the shadows ahead, accompanied by an overwhelming stench.
"Has this year's Demon Slayer trial already begun?"
An extremely low, raspy voice sounded.
Then a deformed monster, as large as a small mountain of flesh, squeezed out from the forest.
Its body was composed entirely of countless thick arms twisted together, its skin a nauseating dark green, with even its neck buried deep within layers of arms.
Those huge, bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at Rin, radiating violent killing intent.
The true overlord of Fujikasane Mountain, the old monster captured and imprisoned by Urokodaki Sakonji more than forty years ago.
The Hand Demon.