[Deployment successful. Pioneer, please check world details and your mission.]
As the sensation of weightlessness faded, fresh air entered his nostrils. Gusion opened his eyes and was greeted by a beautiful paradise.
There was no one around, the sun hung high in the sky, and the clouds drifted lightly on the breeze.
After confirming his safety, Gusion began to check the menu.
[Mission World: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer)]
[World Type: Derivative]
[World Difficulty Level: lv. 5–15]
World Overview: It is the Taisho era in Japan.
Legends say that after sunset, evil demons appear to eat people. There are also demon slayers who hunt demons and protect people.
Whenever happiness is destroyed, the scent of blood always lingers.
Those who have been drenched by rain will hold up umbrellas; even if demon slayers perish, they will surely kill the demons!
When the gears of fate begin to turn... you arrive.
Demon Slayer Corps: An ancient organization with hundreds of members, not recognized by the government but long referred to as demon slayers.
Nichirin Blades: Special swords used by the Demon Slayer Corps, forged from iron sand and ore that absorb sunlight. Cutting off a demon's head with such a blade prevents it from regenerating.
Total Concentration Breathing: A technique developed by the Demon Slayer Corps for humans to fight demons. Mainly used to strengthen the heart and lungs, allowing the blood to absorb more oxygen and greatly enhancing physical abilities, rivaling those of demons.
[Current World Exploration Progress: 0]
[Current Location: Peach Mountain]
[Current Identity: Former Thunder Pillar Disciple]
[]
After roughly browsing the world information, Gusion began to check his main mission.
[Main Mission (Phase 1): Road of the Demon Slayer]
Mission Content: Successfully pass the Demon Slayer Corps selection in three days and officially become a member. Ensure your junior, Zenitsu Agatsuma, survives the selection.
Mission Difficulty: Easy–Normal
Mission Reward: 10,000 End Coins
Mission Failure Penalty: Erasure
[Side Mission: Demon Hunter]
Mission Content: In this world, killing ordinary demons will grant varying amounts of End Coins based on their strength. Killing one of the Twelve Kizuki will always drop a treasure chest. This quest can be repeated.
Mission Difficulty: Easy–Nightmare
Mission Reward: End Coins/Treasure Chests
Mission Failure Penalty: None
[Hint: Killing hostile explorers in this world has a double chance to drop a Dead's Chest.]
[Hint: Faction Reputation System is enabled in this world. Please check.]
[]
The main and side quests aside, the last two hints from the End Space were especially intriguing.
Gusion stroked his chin, thinking, "They're encouraging explorers to fight and compete with each other." He knew that killing other explorers in the mission world could sometimes make a Dead's Chest drop.
Sometimes, opening a single chest was worth more than several missions.
But Gusion hadn't really killed any explorers yet, only a rulebreaker, who didn't drop a chest.
Thinking of this, his gaze shifted to the chest drop in the side mission. He wondered, "Could it be that killing strong NPCs in the mission world also has a chance to drop a chest?"
Probably not? In the last world, he slaughtered Shen Wulong and his entire force but didn't see a single chest...
Gusion considered himself fairly lucky, so he guessed this wasn't really a thing. Yes, that must be it.
"Gusion—Senpai——!"
While Gusion was pondering, a soft, drawn-out voice sounded from behind him.
A round-browed boy with golden, medium-short hair, wearing a black uniform and a yellow haori with triangular patterns, ran toward him, eyes brimming with tears, crying as he ran.
"Gusion—Senpai, save me! I don't want to go to the selection!"
He cried out and lunged at Gusion, but Gusion pressed a hand on his shoulder. Because he was still young, Zenitsu was rather short, only about 164 cm. With Gusion's hand on his shoulder, he couldn't get any closer, his arms and legs flailing, looking a little ridiculous.
"Zenitsu, stop trying to act cute with your senpai. You must participate in the selection the day after tomorrow!"
Not far behind Zenitsu, a short elderly man with a cane, a large scar on his face, and a prosthetic right leg slowly caught up.
Gusion figured this must be his and Zenitsu's master, Jigoro Kuwajima. He used a detection skill and saw that, even crippled, the old man's stats were far beyond ordinary due to years of breathing technique training.
As for Zenitsu, who was now trying to sob in his arms, his normal stats were about 12 points, but with Thunder Breathing: Total Concentration, his instant burst could exceed 17 points.
Seeing their stats, Gusion suddenly became very interested in the world's breathing techniques.
Because he knew Zenitsu was still the weaker version. From Zenitsu's stats, he inferred that the strongest, Stone Pillar, must have stats above 30, and could probably burst up to 35. After all, in the manga, the Stone Pillar could train by pushing boulders weighing tens of tons.
Stone Pillar was born with great strength. So was Gusion. By training breathing techniques, how high could his stats climb?
"Senpai, you know, right? I only mastered the First Form of Thunder Breathing! Grandpa's making me go to the selection—I'll definitely die!"
Zenitsu clung to Gusion's arm, looking pitiful.
Gusion felt a bit helpless. He knew Zenitsu was actually quite strong—among the young people of this world, he was a standout. He could definitely pass the selection; he just lacked confidence and only unleashed his full power when unconscious.
That's why, when he was catching up on the anime, he saw other explorers' comments jokingly calling Zenitsu the Sleeping Pillar.
"Zenitsu, believe in yourself. Grandpa watched you grow up. You have the strength to pass."
The old man sighed helplessly at Zenitsu's tantrum, then looked at Gusion. "And how could you talk like that in front of your senpai?"
Zenitsu froze, then let go of Guision's hand and lowered his head, apologetic. "Sorry, Gusion-senpai. I forgot you haven't learned Thunder Breathing yet..."
Gusion was momentarily surprised. The Endspace had given him an initial identity, but no memories, so he didn't know the full story.
But he quickly figured it out—this was the End Space giving him an opportunity to learn a breathing technique, a starting perk for this world.
To balance the Muzan faction, the system would give explorers a breathing technique if the demons got a bloodline at the start.
"It's fine. I feel like I've had a breakthrough recently. Maybe I'll learn Thunder Breathing this time."
Gusion smiled, rating his own acting a solid 6 out of 10—good enough.
Jigoro looked at Gusion with comfort and hope. "Oh? Then let me review the key points of Thunder Breathing for both of you. Zenitsu, pay attention—even if you only know the First Form, that's fine. Grandpa believes you'll become an excellent demon slayer."
Gusion had been picked up by Jigoro years ago, having lost his memory and only recalling his name.
But what amazed Jigoro most was Gusion's natural strength—even before training, he was superhuman. He believed that if Gusion learned a breathing technique, he could become a pillar.
Gusion learned all kinds of sword techniques quickly, but just couldn't grasp breathing techniques, which disappointed Jigoro.
Though Gusion had applied several times to join the Demon Slayer Corps, Jigoro refused, thinking he'd die easily in battle without a breathing technique—and also hoping to teach him still.
A slightly stronger demon slayer might not change the overall situation, but a pillar would. Jigoro believed that if Gusion learned a breathing technique, he'd be pillar-level power.
With this in mind, Jigoro began to teach (or review) Thunder Breathing to Gusion and Zenitsu.
He hoped Gusion could master it, and Zenitsu could keep improving.