The entire courtyard crackled with lightning as arcs of golden energy converged into a single point—an explosion of brilliance that seemed to tear the heavens apart.
The converging thunder formed a spear of pure electricity, like a furious dragon descending from the skies. With unstoppable force and blinding speed, it surged toward Sanemi Shinazugawa.
As one of the top-ranked Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps, Sanemi's reflexes were honed to the highest level. The moment Lucas began gathering his energy, Sanemi sensed the looming danger. A rare feeling of foreboding tightened in his chest—he had overcommitted, and now he couldn't escape.
At this close distance, even he couldn't fully dodge the oncoming lightning.
"Wind Breathing, Third Form: Clear Storm Wind Tree!"
Sanemi responded instinctively, his body moving before his thoughts could catch up. Three brilliant arcs of wind—shaped like azure blades—erupted upward from the ground, creating a makeshift wall in front of him.
But the attack Lucas had unleashed was no ordinary strike.
The power and speed of his Thunder Breathing Sixth Form had transcended common understanding. Even the formidable Clear Storm Wind Tree, when faced with such overwhelming force, could only slow it down.
The lightning spear pierced through the wind blades like a hot blade through butter. One after another, the wind defenses shattered under the voltage, unable to halt the onslaught.
Several lightning bolts broke through the barrier and struck Sanemi directly.
Crack!
His upper uniform was instantly scorched black. Smoke curled from the burn marks that appeared on his right forearm—the same arm that wielded his nichirin blade. The blade itself, once a shining teal, now bore streaks of black from the blast.
Although it wasn't a devastating wound, it was an injury nonetheless.
The impact stunned the entire courtyard.
"Sanemi got hit?! Even after using his Third Form?! That kid...!"
From a tree above, the Snake Pillar's usually narrow pupils widened in disbelief. His voice trembled slightly.
It would've been one thing if Sanemi had been careless or ambushed. But no—he had been serious. He had used a breathing technique. And still, he was injured.
Even a superficial wound carried meaning.
If that bolt had struck Sanemi's neck rather than his arm, it could have been fatal.
Kochou Shinobu had reached out earlier, thinking to intervene when she sensed Sanemi was about to escalate the battle. But now, her hand froze midair. Her mouth opened slightly, then closed again, unable to speak.
Blood dripped slowly from Sanemi's burned forearm. The sight held her in stunned silence.
It wasn't a deep wound. In fact, it was rather small. But that wasn't the point.
The scars across Sanemi's body had come from years of battling the Twelve Kizuki, from surviving countless life-and-death struggles. This wound, however, came from a new swordsman—a so-called "recruit"—who had joined the Corps only recently.
Lucas had broken through a Pillar's defense.
"He really did it... He injured Sanemi-san."
"The light just now was so bright. Where'd that cloud go? Did it fly away?"
"What a shame. Such an amazing young warrior... and he's going to die soon. Namu Amida Butsu..."
"If he hadn't harbored a demon... he would've made a great friend..."
The spectators whispered among themselves. Praise, pity, admiration, and regret—each word carried weight.
Sanemi, meanwhile, stared at his forearm with an unreadable expression.
He had been hit.
Even though he had activated a breathing form—though rushed—he had still taken damage.
There were no excuses.
He had been struck down by someone clearly below his level. The wound may have been small, but the meaning behind it cut deeper than any sword.
Kochou Shinobu had called the boy Lucas. That name now burned into Sanemi's mind.
He raised his head slowly and licked the blood from his arm. His gaze met Lucas's across the courtyard.
This time, there was no mockery in Sanemi's eyes.
No disdain.
Only seriousness.
Lucas stood quietly, watching the result of his attack with a composed face. But inside, his heart had sunk.
That's it? he thought. That was my full power?
He had poured everything into that Sixth Form. He had intended to leave a lasting injury—to at least force Sanemi into a defensive mindset.
Instead, all he managed was a surface burn.
It wouldn't hinder Sanemi at all. By tomorrow, the wound would likely be gone.
Lucas had hoped this show of power would buy him leverage. Respect. Maybe even safety.
But the reality struck hard.
So this was the gap between him and an Upper Pillar. Even after defeating two members of the Twelve Kizuki, he was still not truly on their level.
Had his previous victories inflated his ego? Maybe.
There was a reason the Pillars were revered.
Exhaling slowly, Lucas's eyes flicked toward the house behind the courtyard.
Their fight had raged long enough. It wasn't short by any means. So why hadn't Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps, appeared yet?
He should've come out by now.
Could it be that he was still observing? Trying to gauge Lucas's true strength?
Lucas hesitated, then dismissed the thought.
It wasn't his Thunder Breathing that Ubuyashiki wanted to see—it was likely his Blood Demon Art.
That had to be it.
Ubuyashiki wanted to know what kind of abilities Lucas had gained from demons, and whether they posed a threat to the Corps.
Realizing this, Lucas let out a quiet sigh.
He wasn't thrilled by the Master's cautious attitude, but he understood it.
If he were the Master, and a new swordsman suddenly appeared—one who could use a Blood Demon Art—he'd want to investigate thoroughly too.
Lucas let his blade drop slightly as he prepared for his next move.
It was time to reveal his Blood Demon Art: Thread Rotation, the one he had taken from Rui.
Among all the abilities he had acquired, this was the most presentable one in a head-on battle.
The thin spider threads began to awaken inside his body, ready to be released through his skin.
---
Ding!
A system prompt suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.
> [Tanjiro Kamado's favorability toward the host has increased!]
[Detected: Tanjiro Kamado's intimacy with the host has reached "Close Friend." Rewarding player...]
[New Skill Acquired: Transparent World (Fragment)]
[Would you like to fuse with the skill: Transparent World (Fragment) now?]
Lucas blinked.
His gaze shifted briefly to Tanjiro, who was still restrained on the ground.
Worry, fear, nervousness, gratitude—so many emotions flashed across Tanjiro's face. Lucas could read them all clearly now.
It was almost too much.
"...Transparent World... just in time," Lucas murmured.
---
In the later arcs of the Demon Slayer story, the strongest warriors—those on the level of true Pillars—shared three major upgrades:
Demon Slayer Marks, Crimson Nichirin Blades, and The Transparent World.
Among the three, Transparent World stood out as the most overpowered.
Why?
Because once a swordsman achieved Transparent World, they could defeat nearly any Upper Moon in a direct confrontation—excluding perhaps Douma and Kokushibo.
Lucas remembered the battle between Upper Moon Three Akaza and Tanjiro. After Tanjiro activated Transparent World and his Demon Slayer Mark, he overwhelmed Akaza in a way no one had before.
Akaza's strongest attack—Destructive Death: Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow—was rendered useless. Tanjiro dodged every strike and decapitated him in a head-on clash.
Even Akaza admitted it: Tanjiro had reached the state of divine speed—a level of combat he had dreamed of but could never react to.
The only reason Akaza survived as long as he did was because Tanjiro exited Transparent World shortly after landing the killing blow.
That was the difference Transparent World made.
Even if the version Lucas received was only a fragment, the potential was enormous.
Even incomplete, a skill like this can change everything.
A small smile tugged at Lucas's lips.
He looked up once more.
The second round was about to begin.
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