"Did you hear that? Thunder… looks like it's going to rain."
Kuroba Chiyo wiped her Nichirin blade and glanced at her companion—a meticulous-looking boy.
Narumi Sakuya.
A swordsman who used Thunder Breathing.
She had seen him fight before—the air would tremble, and when he struck, it sounded like thunder itself.
She figured it was a good way to start a conversation.
After all, he was strong.
They had only recently met and decided to travel together for now.
Hearing her, Narumi slowly opened his eyes and looked toward a distant part of the mountain.
The thunder—
It was indeed loud.
Too loud.
He listened carefully, counting the rhythm—
Then his eyes widened.
…That frequency—
It was Thunder Breathing.
He looked up at the sky.
Clear.
No clouds.
No storm.
Then there was only one explanation—
Someone was using Thunder Breathing.
And not just using it—
At an absurd level.
He suddenly recalled his trainer's words.
In this Final Selection, the disciple of the former Thunder Hashira will participate.
There will only be two Thunder Breathing users.
Himself—
And that person.
Narumi stared into the distance, stunned.
Even if they were a disciple—
They were still just trainees.
To produce something like this…
What kind of technique was that?
"Hey, Narumi-kun? What's wrong?"
Kuroba tilted her head.
"…That's not thunder," he said quietly.
"The sky's clear."
"Then what is it? Don't tell me it's someone using Thunder Breathing?"
"…It is."
Kuroba blinked.
"…No way. No one here should be able to do that."
Narumi fell silent for a moment.
"…Let's move. We should find something to eat."
Demons rarely touch animals.
Which meant—
Plenty of untouched games.
And Thunder Breathing made hunting easy.
That was one reason Kuroba had chosen to stick with him.
They extinguished the campfire.
Put away their swords.
Kuroba picked up her fox mask and put it on.
"Nice mask," Narumi said. "Where'd you get it?"
"My master gave it to me."
She smiled.
"He's strict, but he cares."
"It's a warding mask—supposed to keep me safe."
Then she added playfully:
"Don't underestimate me. When I finished training, I cut through a huge boulder!"
"…I see."
Narumi nodded.
Then—
His expression changed.
He shoved her aside.
"MOVE!"
The ground split open.
Two grayish arms burst out—
One lunged for Kuroba, missing her as she fell aside.
Narumi reacted instantly, kicking off the ground—
But now he was airborne.
No footing.
No Thunder Breathing acceleration.
And worse—
There were no trees nearby to recover.
A rotten stench filled the air.
Below—
The two arms fused into one—
Then stretched upward, grabbing his ankle.
Crack.
The bone shattered instantly.
Pain surged.
Sweat poured down his face—
But he stayed calm.
Focused.
Breathing.
He drew his blade.
"Total Concentration Breathing!"
Pain faded.
Focus sharpened.
"Fourth Form—Distant Thunder!"
Lightning burst from him—
Blasting the arm apart.
But—
"…What?!"
More arms erupted.
Five this time.
Bloated. Twisting.
Like serpents.
They wrapped around him midair.
"Narumi-kun!"
Kuroba rushed forward.
"Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide!"
But—
She didn't see the shadow behind her.
A massive fist shot out from the darkness—
And struck.
She was launched across the clearing.
Her body slammed into stone.
Her right arm shattered.
Her spine—
Likely broken.
She forced her eyes open—
And saw it.
Narumi—
Torn apart in midair.
His body—
Falling in pieces.
Blood everywhere.
His blade dropped uselessly.
Without his legs—
A Thunder Breathing user lost their speed.
Lost everything.
The shadow stepped forward.
Revealing itself.
A towering demon—over three meters tall.
Gray, bloated flesh.
Covered in growths.
Dozens of human arms writhing around its neck.
Its head buried in folds of flesh—
Only two dull yellow eyes visible, marked with crosses.
The stench of rot filled the air.
Kuroba tried to move—
But I couldn't.
She could only watch as it approached.
It smiled.
"See? Just break a Thunder user's leg…"
"They're nothing but meat."
It spoke casually—
While eating.
Kuroba tried to speak—
But blood filled her throat.
This wasn't right.
Demons here should be weak.
This thing—
Was something else entirely.
The demon's eyes shifted—
Landing on her mask.
"…Thirteen."
It chuckled.
"You're the thirteenth student of Urokodaki, huh?"
"Didn't your master tell you?"
"I ate all the others."
"…!"
"They all wore masks like that."
"Easy to recognize."
"Every time I see one…"
"I get excited."
Its voice trembled with sick joy.
"Their 'protection' becomes their death mark."
Kuroba's vision blurred.
Blood loss.
Shock.
The demon crouched like a grotesque toad.
And she—
Was prey.
Master…
You have to kill this thing…
It reached out—
Grabbing her.
Its mouth opened—
Hidden beneath writhing arms.
It didn't notice—
The thunder.
Getting closer.
Closer—
Until—
It exploded beside it.
In Kuroba's fading vision—
Dark violet lightning fell from the sky.