The clearing was quiet, filled only by the faint rustle of leaves in the morning breeze.
Tanjirou Kamado stood poised with a wooden sword, facing his master, Sakonji Urokodaki, the former Water Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps.
They stood exactly three meters apart — the traditional starting distance for a practice duel.
Urokodaki squinted behind his tengu mask.
He didn't know why... but something about Tanjirou felt completely different today.
There were no openings in his stance.
Not even the smallest gap.
It was as if the boy standing before him was not the clumsy apprentice he knew, but a seasoned warrior.
"What's going on?..."
"How can a fifteen-year-old kid... make even my instincts scream at me like this?"
A chill ran down the old swordsman's spine. His body — honed by decades of battle — trembled without reason.
Was he dreaming?
Tanjirou raised his wooden sword and asked seriously,
"Master... do you believe there are true gods in this world?"
Urokodaki frowned behind his mask.
He hadn't expected that question.
"Of course," the old man replied simply. "The world is vast. Gods, demons... all exist."
Tanjirou's expression grew firm.
"Then please be careful.
Because... I met a true god.
And I received his blessing.
I'm much, much stronger now."
Before Urokodaki could even respond,
Tanjirou moved.
"Breath of Water — Third Form: Flowing Dance!"
BOOM!
The ground beneath Tanjirou cracked as he launched forward.
It was like a flood bursting through a dam — the very air roared as he moved.
Dozens of afterimages trailed behind his sprinting form, making it seem as if hundreds of Tanjirous were charging at once.
Urokodaki's heart nearly stopped.
—So fast!
He instinctively countered, raising his own blade.
"Breath of Water — Fourth Form: Striking Tide!"
A swirling torrent of water surged from Urokodaki's sword, forming a massive defensive spiral.
He thought it would be enough.
He was wrong.
Tanjirou's figure blurred again, breaking through the spiral with terrifying speed, and appeared right next to Urokodaki's side —
the wooden sword flashing like a comet straight toward his shoulder.
CRACK!
The wooden blade struck with the force of a battering ram.
Urokodaki flew backward like a ragdoll, smashing into a tree with a sickening crash.
The tree itself cracked and splintered from the impact.
A low groan escaped from the wreckage.
"TANJIROU, YOU DAMN BRAT—
ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL YOUR MASTER?!"
Tanjirou immediately dropped his sword, horrified.
"Master! I'm sorry! I didn't control my strength!"
He sprinted over, finding Urokodaki lying in a heap.
The old man's tengu mask was shattered, revealing a badly bruised — and extremely angry — face.
Every breath Urokodaki took sounded like gravel grinding together.
Clearly, several ribs were broken.
"Help me up..." Urokodaki wheezed, grimacing. "I think my bones turned into tofu."
"Yes, sir!" Tanjirou said frantically, helping him to his feet.
All training was cancelled for the day.
Back at the cabin, Tanjirou carefully laid Urokodaki on a futon and wrapped his injuries.
He prepared to fetch herbal medicines — but then he paused.
"Wait... the Eternal God's Meditation..."
"The chat group said it can heal injuries, even serious ones..."
Tanjirou hesitated. Then, gathering his courage, he asked:
"Master... would you be willing to try a divine meditation technique?
It was given to me by the Eternal God.
I believe... it could heal your injuries."
Urokodaki's eyes narrowed.
"You fool... how can you share divine teachings so casually?!
You'll bring the God's wrath down on us!"
Tanjirou shook his head firmly.
"No, Master.
The God of Eternity is merciful.
As long as you believe sincerely, He will not punish you.
He welcomes all who seek strength... and healing."
Without waiting for a reply, Tanjirou quickly wrote out the Meditation Method from memory and handed the paper over.
Urokodaki stared at the neat lines of characters, skeptical...
but finally sighed.
"What else can I do?
If this can strengthen us against the demons... it's worth it."
With that thought, he closed his eyes and began to meditate.
One hour later...
Sakonji Urokodaki slowly opened his eyes —
and gasped.
His body — the aching, battered shell that had suffered for decades — felt brand new.
The shattered ribs were healed.
His muscles thrummed with vitality.
His spiritual power had surged like never before —
even stronger than during his prime as a Hashira.
He rose from the bed, tested his body with a few stretches, then grabbed his katana.
He stepped outside, facing the dense forest.
Slash.
A casual swing.
BOOOOM—!!
A golden flash of light exploded across the woods.
In an instant, hundreds of trees were sliced into powder, their remains rising into the air like a cloud of glittering sawdust.
Urokodaki stared at his own sword in disbelief.
"This strength... this is not just surpassing a normal Hashira...
I could kill an Upper Moon demon with one blow!"
He clenched his fists tightly, feeling the divine energy surging within him.
"This is the power of faith... the true blessing of the Eternal God!"
He immediately rushed inside, sat down, and began composing a letter.
"To Master Oyakata-sama,
There is a boy — Tanjirou Kamado — blessed by a true god.
The god offers salvation, strength, and healing, requiring only sincere faith.
If all members of the Demon Slayer Corps learn the divine meditation...
The era of demons will surely come to an end."
Meanwhile, at the foot of Mount Sagiri,
Nezuko Kamado — still sleeping inside her box —
suddenly stirred.
A faint golden light flickered around her delicate form, unseen by the human eye.
The seed of salvation had been planted.
Soon... the world itself would change.