Episode 6: The Selection Trials

Episode 6: The Selection Trials

Many Years Later…

Years had passed since the war.

Renji had trained relentlessly, pushing himself beyond his limits. He had walked the path of a warrior, carving his strength from pain and loss.

Now, his time had come.

The Demon Slayer Selection Exam—a brutal test where only the strong survived.

He stood among dozens of young slayers-in-training, all eager, nervous, and ready to prove themselves.

Renji felt nothing.

He had already faced hell.

This was just the next step.

Formation of the Five

The rules were simple.

Each participant would be grouped into a team of five.

The teams would then face a captured demon—one that had been locked away, now set free for them to hunt.

Survive. Kill. Prove yourself.

Renji barely reacted when his name was called.

He was placed in a team with four others:

Kaito – A man wielding Flame Breathing. His aura burned like wildfire, his stance confident. His eyes held the passion of a warrior who would never back down.

Rei – A strange warrior. His breathing was… different. Not a single style, but a mix—blending techniques from multiple Breathing Styles. His strikes had a mysterious green aura.

Akira – A Serpent Breathing user. His movements were hypnotic, like a snake coiling around its prey. His eyes were sharp, calculating.

Tenji – A Thunder Breathing user. His hands constantly twitched with excitement, electricity crackling around him. He was impatient, eager to fight.

Renji met their eyes, but said nothing.

They weren’t his friends. Just people he had to work with.

The Hunt Begins

The proctor gave the signal.

The five of them stepped into the dark forest, where the captured demon had been released.

The air grew heavy.

Renji could feel it. The presence of something… monstrous.

SNAP.

A branch cracked in the distance.

The team tensed.

Then—

A growl.

A figure emerged from the shadows.

Their opponent.

A demon taller than any of them, with multiple arms and jagged, rotting teeth.

Its yellow eyes gleamed, hungry for blood.

Renji gripped his blade.

The fight was on.

Episode 7: Shadows and Lightning

The battle had already begun.

The captured demon was massive, its rotting teeth grinning as it swung its multiple arms at the five slayers.

Renji dashed in, his Nichirin blade gleaming under the moonlight.

Tenji struck first, lightning crackling around his blade as he slashed at the demon’s leg.

But the monster was fast.

It dodged.

Then lunged forward.

Its clawed hands swiped at Tenji’s head.

“MOVE!” Kaito shouted, sending a pillar of flames between them to force the demon back.

Renji took the chance to rush in.

He raised his blade, breathing deeply—

“Shadow Breathing: First Form – Midnight Slash.”

A black wave of energy extended from his blade, slicing through one of the demon’s arms.

The severed limb hit the ground with a sickening thud.

The demon let out an ear-piercing shriek.

That’s when Renji noticed something.

Tenji… was staring at him.

A strange look in his eyes.

“You… use Shadow Breathing?” Renji asked.

Tenji’s expression darkened.

Before he could answer—

The demon roared.

Its body began regenerating.

The severed arm grew back.

Then, for the first time, the demon spoke.

“Tch. Took my damn arm, huh? Guess I should introduce myself before I kill you all.”

The slayers stood on guard.

“My name is Kurogane. I was once a warrior like you.”

Renji’s grip on his sword tightened.

“Liar.”

Kurogane grinned, his rotting fangs glistening.

“Oh? You don’t believe me? Let me tell you a story.”

The Demon’s Past

“Years ago, I was a samurai. A powerful one. I fought for honor, for my people… but in the end, it didn’t matter.”

He chuckled darkly.

“Because two Hashira—Fugatrio and Rueyshi—captured me. I was turned into this… thing.”

Renji’s eyes widened.

Fugatrio… Rueyshi…

Those names cut deep.

One was the man who trained him.

The other… the father figure he had abandoned.

“They locked me away, but now I’m free. And I will have my revenge.”

The demon lunged.

Faster than before.

This time, they barely dodged.

Kurogane’s claws ripped through the ground, leaving deep scars in the earth.

Tenji spoke up.

“Renji… you wanted to know why I’m a demon slayer?”

Renji didn’t look away from the fight.

“…Yeah.”

Tenji raised his blade.

“Because I was meant to be a demon.”

CRACK.

Lightning exploded around him.

His stance changed.

Something about his presence felt different.

“Thunder Breathing: Fourth Form – Thunderfall Strike!”

Tenji vanished.

Then reappeared above the demon.

SLASH.

His blade carved through Kurogane’s shoulder.

But the demon didn’t fall.

Instead, it laughed.

“You’re strong, kid. But not strong enough.”

Renji knew they had to end this—fast.

The longer the battle dragged on, the stronger the demon’s regeneration would become.

Renji took a deep breath.

He focused.

Then, he moved.

“Shadow Breathing: Second Form – Phantom Edge!”

His blade disappeared into the darkness.

Then—

A flash of black.

The demon’s remaining arm flew off.

Kurogane let out a final scream.

Then—

Renji raised his sword.

One last strike.

SHING.

The demon’s head rolled onto the ground.

Silence.

The battle was over.

Renji let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

Then he turned to Tenji.

“You said you were meant to be a demon,” he said. “What the hell does that mean?”

Tenji sheathed his blade.

“I’ll tell you… one day.”

Then he walked away.

Renji frowned.

But for now, it didn’t matter.

They had won.

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