The Pillar Training began in full swing.
When the members of the Demon Slayer Corps first heard the news, they were overjoyed. The idea of being trained by the elite Pillars was something they had never even dreamed of. To be guided by the strongest warriors in the Corps felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
But that excitement didn't last long.
The moment training began, many realized they had stepped into a living hell. Their bodies were pushed to the limit daily. Exhaustion, muscle pain, and bruises became part of life. For most, the thought of clearing a training level felt impossible. Only a handful of elite swordsmen managed to progress to the next stage.
The first stage, conducted by the Sound Pillar, Tengen Uzui, was deceptively gentle—just basic physical training. But that was only on the surface. Weighted walks, push-ups, squats, cliff climbs—it was a method designed to push physical endurance to the absolute limit, drawing out hidden potential through sheer exhaustion.
The second level was under the Mist Pillar, Tokitou Muichirou. This was speed training—Muichirou personally fought the trainees with a wooden sword. His high-speed movements would strike before anyone could even blink. Most couldn't even see the attack coming.
The third stage belonged to the Love Pillar, Mitsuri Kanroji. Though she smiled sweetly, her flexibility training was pure torment. Her "assistance" in stretching pushed everyone into excruciating poses. Anyone who had done splits or deep stretches in school could understand the agony.
The fourth level, with the Snake Pillar, Obanai Iguro, focused on sword path correction. In a confined space, trainees were forced to fight using only strict, preset sword-drawing paths, repeating and refining each motion endlessly.
The fifth stage, however, was where many broke down—Wind Pillar Sanemi Shinazugawa's combat training. It was not a metaphor. You were thrown into a storm of real attacks. A bloodbath. No holding back. Just brutal, unrelenting combat.
The sixth stage, under the Stone Pillar Gyomei Himejima, involved strength training. This included meditating under freezing waterfalls, lifting enormous boulders, and more tasks that seemed impossible for any normal human.
And then came the final, seventh level—the most terrifying of them all: James's Comprehensive Training.
Very few made it this far. Those who did arrived starry-eyed, thrilled to meet the current strongest member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
But the moment they stepped into James's training yard, all excitement vanished.
Overwhelming pressure struck their bodies like an avalanche. The strong ones trembled; the weak collapsed instantly. Fear rooted them in place. James stood with his back to them—calm, composed, untouchable. A force of nature.
Only those who could withstand this initial pressure—James's stress test—would be allowed to train under him.
Because if they couldn't handle his aura, how could they face the crushing pressure of Upper Moons like Kokushibou or Muzan?
Those who endured would be taught personally by James. His techniques could help push their power from 100% to 120%. But if they failed the test, that was it. Anyone who couldn't stay calm in front of pressure would never be able to fight demons—let alone survive.
---
"What level are you on now?"
"Ugh, don't ask. I'm still being stabbed by Lord Mist…"
"Rock Pillar-sama's training is inhuman. I cried!"
"Why are you quiet?"
"I was just thinking… I have to complete James-sama's training. Just once—just once—I want to be taught real combat by a legend like him."
The Demon Slayer members looked at each other, and suddenly, they all laughed. That burning fire in their eyes—they all felt the same.
James had ignited something in all of them.
---
"You're the first to make it through. Well done—congratulations."
James spoke gently to a trembling swordsman who had managed to push past the pressure and circle behind him. The young warrior stood frozen, blushing with excitement and unable to speak. Behind them, others began crawling faster. They wanted that praise too.
"Starting today, we'll do stress tests in the morning and combat technique training in the afternoon," James said to the crowd.
"Those who pass the stress test will continue every morning, but the difficulty will increase daily."
James was merciful—relatively. His stress test began at the level of an Upper Rank Six demon. For those who passed, he gradually increased the pressure… all the way up to Upper Rank One.
While the rest of the Corps endured their brutal training, over on the other side of the estate, Tanjirou was recovering—and unknowingly beginning to heal the heart of the Water Pillar, Tomioka Giyuu.
---
"Tanjirou!"
Zenitsu burst into Kochou's house again, sobbing loudly. His voice echoed through the halls as he complained about how hellish his training was.
Tanjirou listened with a warm smile, comforting him with calm words.
"…You're amazing, Zenitsu. I wish I could train like that…"
Zenitsu's eyes widened. "Wait—you ENVY me!?"
"You're a monster, Tanjirou!" he yelled, running away in tears.
Tanjirou stood there, eyes small, utterly sincere.
---
Several days later, Tanjirou had fully healed.
He packed his bag and waved goodbye to Aoi and the three younger girls. Then, with determined eyes, he jogged to the training area of the Sound Pillar, Uzui Tengen.
"Ha! So your wounds have healed completely, huh, Tanjirou?"
Uzui jumped down from a rock with a bright grin.
"Thanks to you! I'm all good now," Tanjirou beamed.
"Perfect," Uzui said, flashing a dangerous smile. "Then welcome to hell."
Tanjirou laughed nervously and returned to the training line.
---
At that moment, James was not only supervising others—he was also preparing his own training.
"The last time I taught anyone was when I worked part-time as a university tutor to earn beer money."
He chuckled softly, flipping through a notebook.
After a long night of revisions and ideas, he had finalized his special training program for the Pillars.
And frankly, he thought it was a damn good plan.
Ubuyashiki Amane had even requested that some non-Pillar members be allowed to join. James had planned for that anyway.
His first recruits?
Tanjirou, Inosuke, and Zenitsu.
All three were explosive talents with immense potential—and a knack for breaking through limits.
Next would be a few others like Kanao, and Shinazugawa Genya…
The Genya–Sanemi conflict? A bit of a headache. But James had a solution.
"Worst case, I'll beat both of them up, tie them together, and toss them in a room overnight. They'll either murder each other or become best friends."
After all, James still had a secret weapon: the ultimate therapist—Kamado Tanjirou.
He'd already heard that Tanjirou and Sanemi had fought recently.
"Well then," James muttered. "You've got plenty of energy, huh? Tomorrow, I'll design something extra special for the two of you."
---
He set down his notebook and stared at the night sky.
He couldn't stay in this world forever.
He could already feel it—the subtle rejection of this universe. Like he didn't fully belong.
One day, he might reach his limit. And when that happened, he might not even be able to use his full strength anymore. He could be forcefully expelled.
That's why, after killing Kibutsuji Muzan, he wanted to go further—achieve one final breakthrough before his time ran out.
Time was the one thing he didn't have. Back in the main world, everything was frozen. But not here.
So he had to make the most of it.
---
After organizing his notes, James walked to the Ubuyashiki residence to speak privately with Kagaya, Amane, and Kiriya.
There were top-secret matters to be discussed.
The moon was especially round that night—silent and full above the trees.
James stared at it quietly.
Soon… this world would enter a new era.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)