Chapter 61 – Special Training and Mutual Benefits
Once all the trainees had gathered, the moment finally arrived—
The training began.
Just as Hikaru had once told Kagaya Ubuyashiki, he didn't plan on spending too much time on this.
Efficiency within limitation—
That was his creed.
Which was why, this time… his training would be unlike anything ordinary.
— — —
"Look into my eyes.
Don't resist. Let yourself relax."
The midday sun hung high above, its rays pouring down from the cloudless sky. The mountains in the distance shimmered under the heat, and the trees swayed gently in the breeze.
In the quiet yard of the wooden house on Mount Sagiri, three young swordsmen—Tanjiro Kamado, Kanao Tsuyuri, and Zenitsu Agatsuma—stood still, listening closely to Hikaru's calm voice.
They blinked, slightly confused.
Tanjiro was the first to react.
He turned to meet Hikaru's gaze.
The moment their eyes met—
the light in his own eyes began to fade.
Kanao followed shortly after, her reaction delayed only by a heartbeat.
The two were instantly drawn into the illusion cast by Mirror Flower, Water Moon, an advanced genjutsu technique that had grown significantly stronger in Hikaru's hands.
— — —
This illusion was the foundation of the special training.
Hikaru knew he couldn't drastically enhance their physical strength in such a short time.
But he could offer them something better—
A world indistinguishable from reality, where they could train endlessly in combat, refine their techniques, and grow through battle…
Without any risk of injury.
Pain, pressure, survival—
All of it would feel real.
Inside that illusion… it was no different from life-or-death.
Thanks to the refinement of Void Breathing, his illusions had reached a level where such a reality could be constructed.
Of course, it came with limitations.
For the illusion to take hold, the target needed to trust him—at least 80%.
An intangible, nearly impossible requirement to quantify… or control.
This was why the technique wasn't useful in real combat situations.
But for training—its value was beyond measure.
— — —
"W-What are you trying to do to me?!"
Zenitsu, unlike the others, hadn't been pulled in yet.
He trembled violently, his voice cracking in fear.
Unlike Tanjiro, who saw Hikaru as a savior, or Kanao, whose obedient personality made her naturally receptive to instruction—
Zenitsu was different.
Timid by nature. Distrustful. Always wary of unfamiliar people.
Even knowing Hikaru was a Hashira like his grandfather once was, Zenitsu couldn't suppress his fear.
But Hikaru was ready.
"Mirror Flower, Water Moon."
He exhaled softly, adding a deeper intent into his breathing.
In that moment, his form shimmered—
And transformed into someone Zenitsu recognized:
His grandfather, the former Thunder Hashira.
Of course, Hikaru couldn't read minds.
But he had taken the time to study Zenitsu's background before this.
And with enough preparation, he could project an image the target trusted most.
The result?
Zenitsu faltered.
Even for just a second, his guard dropped.
And that was all Hikaru needed to draw him into the illusion.
The difference in strength between them was simply too vast.
— — —
Now, all three stood motionless.
Each wore a different expression—
One stiff with tension, another wincing in pain, the last seemingly shouting in fury.
Hikaru sat cross-legged on the ground, eyes closed.
Maintaining the illusion wasn't easy.
It demanded constant focus—continuous mental output to preserve its stability.
Right now, his consciousness was linked directly with all three of them.
Of course, this also meant that every experience the trainees gained inside… flowed back to him.
New techniques, evolving strategies, simulated combat—all of it would be recorded and absorbed by the one maintaining the world.
In other words, Hikaru could learn too.
— — —
Suddenly, a dark shadow descended from above.
A black crow flapped down and perched on Hikaru's shoulder.
Not long after, a figure appeared silently on the roof of the house—
Sakonji Urokodaki, wearing his signature tengu mask.
"…To think a boy could wield power like this."
His voice held genuine surprise… and admiration.
— — —
Meanwhile, inside the illusion—
Tanjiro stood alone in a dark forest.
The moon glowed overhead, casting silver light through the trees.
Somewhere in the distance, wolves howled faintly.
He felt his heart race.
Fshhk—!
Without warning, a sharp slash tore through the air above his head.
Tanjiro ducked and rolled instinctively, landing in a low crouch.
He breathed steadily, eyes locked onto the attacker.
The creature stood on four limbs, its skin pale, eyes glowing crimson, and mouth filled with jagged teeth.
But—
"There's no scent…? That's impossible…"
Tanjiro frowned.
His sense of smell could detect even Muzan Kibutsuji from afar.
But this creature in front of him?
Nothing.
"…Troublesome."
— — —
Back in reality, Hikaru opened one eye.
He noticed Tanjiro's expression twisting in confusion.
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a small glass vial toward him.
It hit the ground and shattered—releasing a foul, putrid stench.
The scent of a demon.
He had anticipated this.
He knew Tanjiro's greatest strength was his nose. An illusion alone couldn't deceive that.
Hikaru wasn't yet capable of manipulating all five senses in perfect detail.
But a simple trick like this?
It was enough to complete the illusion.
As expected, the moment the stench hit his nostrils, Tanjiro's eyes lit up with clarity.
The confusion was gone.
His entire body shifted into combat readiness—as if he truly believed he was fighting a real demon.
— — —
Kanao, on the other hand, remained calm.
Though her expression had grown subtly colder.
And Zenitsu?
His face paled, lips trembling, his entire body convulsing.
It wasn't hard for Hikaru to guess:
He was running away inside the illusion.
Hikaru's brow twitched.
He already knew Zenitsu was a coward—but to flee like that even inside a dream?
…That was a rare kind of talent.
He let out a long sigh.
Still, Hikaru kept observing their movements, carefully analyzing every breath technique used inside the illusion.
— — —
Water Breathing.
Flower Breathing.
Thunder Breathing.
— — —
Each form, each transition—
Everything was captured by his awareness.
He wasn't stealing their techniques.
This was a method he had already explained to Ubuyashiki and received approval for.
After all, the Demon Slayer Corps never hoarded Breathing Techniques.
They were meant to be shared—for the sake of humanity.
What mattered most was compatibility, not ownership.
And now, Hikaru had the chance to witness and understand all of them—without even touching their minds.
If this experiment succeeded…
Then one day, this technique could be shared across the entire Corps—
Accelerating the growth of young swordsmen.
Elevating the organization to new heights.
And naturally… Hikaru himself would grow stronger too.
— — —
"Tanjiro's Water Breathing resembles the ever-shifting flow of a river—fluid, adaptive. In terms of transition speed between forms, he almost rivals Void Breathing. But because it's not a perfect match for him… he hasn't reached full potential."
"Flower Breathing, derived from Water, isn't necessarily weaker. It simply emphasizes precision and agility. Kanao's style flows with grace—light slashes in elegant succession."
"And Zenitsu's Thunder Breathing…"
"It stores power in silence. But when it explodes—"
"It's a flash of lightning, impossible to stop."
— — —
As he processed everything, Hikaru slowly drew his Nichirin Blade.
The transparent blade shimmered faintly—now laced with new cracks.
From within those cracks, three lights seeped out:
A deep blue like flowing water.
A soft pink like cherry blossoms.
A golden spark like thunder.
They blended.
Merged.
And then—
They vanished… into the void.
Because that was the essence of Void Breathing.
A breath style capable of embracing everything.
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