Wooden swords clash, the sound sharp and jarring in the quiet training ground. Sanemi, Obanai, and Muichiro surround me, their combined presence like a wall closing in. My heart hammers, breath catching as I shift to the defensive. Sanemi strikes first, a whirlwind of brutal swings, each one hitting like a gale. I pivot, using Shadow Breathing: Second Form – Ghost Step, my body blurring just enough to dodge his blade. Damn, this guy's fast. And angry. Always angry.
Obanai moves next, his wooden sword flicking like a serpent's tongue, aiming for my knees and wrists with chilling precision. I parry, the impact stinging my palms, and feel the air shift as Muichiro drifts in, silent as a ghost. His attacks come from nowhere, forcing me to lean on my senses to track him. This kid's like fog—how's he so fast and quiet? I twist, barely blocking a strike that grazes my shoulder.
Obanai's voice cuts through the chaos. "What's that breathing technique? Never seen it." His tone's sharp, curious.
I duck under Sanemi's swing, gasping. "Made it myself." My voice is strained, but I catch a glint of interest in Obanai's eyes. Impressed, maybe. No time to dwell on it.
I can't fight them straight-up—their skill's too much. I need the terrain. With a burst of Ghost Step, I dart back, leading them toward a cluster of training dummies and wooden posts. I weave between them, using a dummy to block Sanemi's next hit, the wood splintering under his force. Obanai's thrusts slice too close, and I duck, feeling the breeze of his blade. I try to split them up, luring Sanemi into a narrow gap between obstacles, then spin toward Muichiro, who overextends for a split second. I swing with First Form – Veiled Fang, aiming for his side. It's really hard to perform the breathing forms with a wooden sword.
Muichiro's blade meets mine, deflecting it like it's nothing. His speed's unreal. I grit my teeth, landing a glancing blow on Sanemi's arm. He grunts, surprised, then comes at me harder, his strikes a blur of rage. Okay, that pissed him off. Good. Obanai nearly traps me in a joint lock, but I drop low, rolling across the dirt to avoid his blade grazing my neck.
It's a desperate dance. I feint and shift with Shadow Breathing, creating fake openings to keep them guessing. I dodge Sanemi's raw power, parry Obanai's precision, and strain to predict Muichiro's misty movements. Their blades thud against me—ribs, arms, legs. My old wounds scream, phantom pain flaring. I'm gasping, sweat burning my eyes, but I won't fall. I land a solid hit on Sanemi, forcing him back a step. Obanai's snake hisses louder, its master's focus sharpening. Muichiro's eyes flicker, just for a moment, with something like interest. They're taking me seriously now. Good.
The Master's voice cuts through, calm and final. "That is enough." I collapse to one knee, panting, sweat plastering my hair to my forehead. My body's a mess, but exhilaration pulses through me. I look up. Sanemi's scowling, breathing harder than before. Obanai's composed, his grip tight on his sword. Muichiro's back to his blank stare, but I swear I saw something in him.
The Hashira gather, their faces unreadable. The Master speaks, his voice gentle. "Ryo Tsukihara, you possess remarkable potential. Your growth is astonishing, and your resolve is commendable. You showed great skill and courage." Pride flickers in my chest, but he continues, "However, to stand as a Hashira requires not just power, but a level of consistent, unyielding mastery that you have not yet fully attained. You are not ready to be a Hashira. Not yet." Other hashiras also said similar things.
Disappointment hits like a stone. Knew it. Still stings. I'd hoped for a miracle, some main-character luck. I bow my head. "Understood, Master." But another thought rises. They saw what I can do. They know my name now. I'm not just some nobody. I glance at Sanemi, who scoffs and turns away. Obanai gives a curt nod, barely noticeable. Muichiro stares into the distance. Yeah. They know.
I limp back to the Butterfly Mansion, every muscle howling from the Hashira's beatdown. My legs feel like they're made of mud, each step a reminder of Sanemi's smug grin. I shove open the door and collapse onto my futon, the thin mattress barely softening the fall. The room smells faintly of antiseptic and old wood, like every other corner of this place. That fight was a nightmare. At least I'm not dead. My eyes flutter shut, and I'm gone.
Chaos yanks me awake—Zenitsu's shrill voice whining about "Aoi's boring soup again!" and Inosuke bellowing something about being "king of the mountain." My head throbs, and I squint into the dim glow of lanterns. Same old circus. I half-expect Yuki to be here but she's off helping Aoi with supplies or something.
"Hot spring trip!" Zenitsu yelps, bouncing like a stray spark. "Aoi-chan said we can go!" Inosuke shoves a lumpy bag into Zenitsu's gut, nearly toppling him. "I'll soak longer than you, coward!" he roars, already halfway out the door.
My body's screaming for me to stay down—bruises pulsing, ribs aching like they're cracked all over again. But a hot spring? That's the only thing that might not suck today. Sinking into steaming water, letting the pain melt away—yeah, I need that. Anything to not feel like I got run over by three Hashira. I haul myself up, every joint protesting. "Wait up," I rasp, voice like gravel. "I'm coming too."
To Be Continued…
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: Understanding Ryo's Power
Alright, I know, I know. An author explaining power scaling outside the actual story is usually a sign of bad writing. But hey, this is a fanfic, a fun hobby, and who cares about rules when we're having a blast, right? So, let's talk about where Ryo stands.
Currently, in our timeline (right between the Mugen Train arc and the Entertainment District arc), Ryo is definitely punching above his weight class compared to the main trio of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke. He's likely on par with, or even surpasses, Kanao's current strength.
You might be wondering, "How did Ryo get so strong, so fast?" Well, he's a naturally gifted individual. He was born with innate perks like a sixth sense and heightened senses, which give him a significant edge. Plus, he hails from a samurai family and was a well-trained warrior even before his Demon Slayer journey began. This background gives him a solid foundation.
Adding to his immense talent is his connection to Kokushibo, or rather, Michikatsu Tsugikuni. In the original Demon Slayer story, we see how Muichiro, a descendant of Kokushibo, possesses incredible talent and became a Hashira at just 14. It's only logical that Ryo, with a similar lineage, would also exhibit extraordinary talent for demon slaying.
So, if he's so talented, why does he sometimes struggle in fights? Simple: he consistently faces incredibly powerful opponents. He breezed through the Demon Slayer entrance exam because normal demons simply weren't a challenge for him. His first true test came against Ghost, who, despite being a former Upper Moon Two, was considerably weaker than his prime and intentionally holding back. Yet, Ryo still pushed him, showing his capability.
His next major challenge was "the Fool," who was destined to be Lower Moon One but refused the title. Ryo put up a fantastic fight, skillfully handling the situation even while prioritizing the safety of others. It was primarily the Fool's tricky abilities that gave Ryo trouble, not a lack of raw strength. Then came the two Lower Moon demons. Remember, this new lineup of Lower Moons is far more formidable than what we saw in the original story. Ryo could have easily handled Lower Moon Four in a one-on-one, but the interference of Lower Moon One turned it into a brutal, joint struggle.
And now, in the latest chapter, we witness Ryo fighting three Hashira simultaneously and holding his own remarkably well. Yes, the Hashira are undoubtedly going easy on him, but it still takes a truly powerful warrior to put up any kind of fight against such an elite trio. So, there you have it: Ryo is undeniably strong, but he's far from overpowered. He's growing, challenging formidable foes, and constantly pushing his limits.