Episode 5: The Path of Shadows

Episode 5: The Path of Shadows

A New Beginning

Renji’s eyes flickered open, the warmth of the sun touching his face. He blinked, momentarily forgetting where he was.

The nightmares of demons still haunted his mind, but as he looked up, the golden light of morning pushed back the darkness.

For a moment, he felt relief.

No demons.

But as he shifted, his foot slipped—and suddenly, he was falling.

The cold water swallowed him whole. He gasped, kicking desperately, his arms flailing.

“Shit! I’m drowning!”

His lungs burned. His vision blurred. Panic set in.

Through the water, he choked out, “I… I miss that old bastard…”

Then—his body hit something solid.

Not the bottom of the well.

A floor.

Renji coughed, rolling onto his stomach. He wasn’t underwater anymore. He had fallen somewhere else.

A bunker.

The air was cold, the room dimly lit. It smelled of metal and incense.

A voice echoed.

“Who dares enter my bunker?”

Renji froze.

A figure stood before him.

A man, tall and imposing, holding twin blades. The swords were massive—43.7 inches long, radiating a deadly presence.

The man’s eyes were pale. Blind. Yet, his stance was unwavering.

Renji shivered.

A Hashira.

The man tilted his head, then suddenly exhaled. His shoulders relaxed.

“…You’re just a kid.”

Renji wiped his face, his breath shaky. “M-My name… My name is Renji.”

The Hashira nodded. “I am Fugataro.”

Then, after a pause, “Do you want to become a Demon Slayer?”

Renji hesitated, then clenched his fists.

“Ye… y-yes.”

Fugataro let out a small, amused breath.

He walked to the side, grabbing something.

He turned back to Renji and tossed him a Nichirin blade.

Renji barely caught it. The weight felt unreal in his hands.

“Then let’s begin.”

Craving His Own Path

Renji trained relentlessly under Fugataro.

The blind Hashira was unlike Ryusei. He was neither cruel nor soft.

He simply taught.

Each slash of the blade. Each stance. Each breath.

“A sword is meaningless without purpose.”

Renji was beaten down, bruised, exhausted—but for the first time, he grew.

One night, Fugataro spoke, “A true warrior must carve his own path.”

The next morning, Renji bowed deeply.

“Thank you… old man.”

Then, with his blade strapped to his back, he left.

Through the wilderness. Through the darkness.

Alone.

He trained harder than ever before. He pushed himself to the limit.

And in one year, he became something else.

Stronger. Sharper. Ready.

But the Great Demon War was still raging.

And fate was about to pull him back in.

The War Calls

Renji had barely rested when Fugataro found him again.

The Hashira tracked him down with ease, arms crossed. “The war isn’t over. It’s time.”

He took Renji to the battlefield.

Demons swarmed like locusts, clashing against slayers in an endless war of blood and steel.

Renji’s chest tightened at the chaos.

Fugataro stepped forward. His twin blades hummed with power.

Then—he attacked.

Sound Breathing: First Form – Thunderous Echo Slash!

A devastating slash cut through multiple demons at once, the sheer force of the attack vibrating through the air.

Sound Breathing: Fourth Form – Explosive Crescendo!

A rapid barrage of booming strikes obliterated the demons in his way.

Fugataro shouted over the battle, “Renji! Help the others!”

Renji nodded.

He dashed forward, searching for survivors.

His breath hitched when he saw a young boy crying over a demon’s severed head.

The boy trembled. His hands were stained with blood.

Renji’s heart ached.

But before he could reach him, a demon emerged—this one was different.

Stronger. Faster.

It lunged.

Renji dodged, barely escaping the clawed swipe.

Then, he exhaled.

Shadow Breathing: First Form – Eclipse Fang.

His blade slashed through the darkness like a predator striking its prey.

The demon’s head fell. Its body crumbled.

Renji breathed heavily. He had done it.

But as he turned—

His heart stopped.

The Death of a Hashira

He saw them.

Hana and Ryusei.

They were fighting.

A powerful demon loomed over them, twisted and monstrous.

Renji watched in horror as it pierced straight through Ryusei’s heart.

The Hashira gasped. Blood sprayed.

His sword dropped. His hands clutched his chest. He staggered.

But… he was still focused on Hana.

Trying to save her.

The demon grinned.

Renji’s hands trembled.

Tears welled in his eyes.

He wanted to scream. To run to them.

But he didn’t.

He just… watched.

And when Ryusei fell to his knees, Renji turned and ran.

Tears streamed down his face. His blade dripped with blood.

For the second time in his life, he had lost everything.

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