Two hours later…
Night still cloaked Mount Sagiri, the forest wrapped in mist and silence. The stars flickered faintly through the drifting fog, and the chill was enough to bite through bone.
Inside his cabin, Urokodaki sat cross-legged near the hearth, his katana resting beside him. The flames crackled softly, casting shadows across the red tengu mask.
Then — a knock.
Knock. Knock.
Urokodaki's eyes narrowed behind the mask. At this hour?
He rose quietly, reaching for his sword. If a demon had come this far, it would regret it.
But then… he caught a scent.
Familiar. Human. Sweat, dirt, and something faintly reminiscent of grilled chicken.
Drake?
Urokodaki blinked beneath the mask. Impossible. It hasn't even been three hours since I sent him up the mountain…
"Ehm… Urokodaki-sensei," a voice called weakly through the door. "Could you please open up? It's freezing out here…"
The old man exhaled, half in disbelief.
He really came back…? In just three hours? Giyu took something like seven hours...
He slid open the door.
Drake stood there, covered in bruises and dirt, hair a mess, clothes torn in several places. Despite the state he was in, his grin was radiant.
Urokodaki studied him in silence for a moment. "…You've made it, Drake."
He spoke flatly, but his voice carried a faint undertone of respect — or perhaps confusion. Even with his years of experience, he couldn't quite make sense of what stood before him.
"Come in," he said simply.
Drake staggered inside and dropped to the floor, sighing in relief as warmth washed over him. His entire body throbbed with pain. He'd dodged most traps — but not all of them. A few had caught him mid-step or grazed his side, leaving marks everywhere.
Still, the pain had been worth it.
He opened his system.
[Sword Mastery]
[Passive]
[Lv. 41 (Exp: 9,842 / 18,450)]
[+22,55% Power, Speed, and Precision to sword techniques]
[New Skill Acquired!]
[Heightened Senses — Passive]
[Lv. 1 (0 / 1000)]
[Your five senses are sharpened beyond normal human limits.]
Drake smirked faintly. "This… is gonna be really useful…"
If he leveled it up far enough, maybe — just maybe — he could smell like Urokodaki or Tanjiro.
...
The next morning, the sky was painted in pale gray, snow drifting gently across the slopes of Mount Sagiri. The air was sharp and cold enough to sting the lungs.
Drake stood beside Urokodaki at the mountain's foot, his breath forming soft clouds in the frigid air. The snow crunched under their feet as they faced the endless forest below.
"The Demon Slayer Corps," Urokodaki began, his calm voice cutting through the quiet like the edge of a blade. "It's composed of hundreds of members. An organization that has never been officially recognized by the government… but it has existed since ancient times — to protect humanity from demons."
Drake listened silently.
Hearing it in person… has a completely different effect than watching it on TV… he thought, the seriousness of it settling in his chest.
Urokodaki adjusted his sitting posture on a nearby rock and continued, his tone low and measured.
"The demons — they feed on human flesh. They kill humans, and then devour them without hesitation."
Drake swallowed. He'd seen it in the anime — but imagining it here, in this cold, real world, made it all the more disturbing.
"It isn't known when they first appeared," Urokodaki went on. "But they possess monstrous strength. Their injuries heal in an instant… they can reattach severed limbs, even regrow what they've lost."
He paused, eyes narrowing behind the red tengu mask. "Some possess supernatural abilities — powers that allow them to change shape, or manipulate the environment around them."
"The only way to kill them," Urokodaki said, unsheathing his sword with a soft shing, "is sunlight… or this."
Drake's eyes widened. The blade shimmered faintly, catching the light even in the dim morning fog. "Wow… it's so cool…" he muttered, instinctively reaching for it.
Seeing a real Sun Blade so up close...
Urokodaki immediately sheathed the katana again, faster than Drake could blink.
"Don't even think about it."
Drake pouted. "You're so boring, Sensei…"
Ignoring him completely, Urokodaki continued, voice as steady as ever. "The Demon Slayer Corps fights them directly — face-to-face. But unlike demons, we are still human. Our wounds heal slowly. We cannot regrow what we lose. Nevertheless… we fight."
The weight in his tone made even Drake's usual sarcasm fade away.
"To protect humankind," Urokodaki finished, his masked gaze turning toward him.
Then he stood, the snow crunching softly beneath his feet as he looked Drake in the eye.
"If you wish to become a Demon Slayer," he said, his voice deep and resolute, "you must survive the Corps' entrance exam on Mount Fujikasane."
He took one step closer.
"But before that… I will be the one to decide whether you're even worthy to take that exam."
To be contunued...
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How was this chapter? Liked it?
Also, do you guys know any small anime with minor powers that are like... one season or max two seasons long? I want to do a mini-arc to power Drake a bit more.