"I'll ask again, host, are you sure you want to put all your lifespan into upgrades?"
The system's inquiry echoed in his ears.
"What the hell are you talking about! Add it for me!"
"156 days of lifespan fully allocated to Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
"Thunderclap and Flash has reached mastery, unlocking Three Consecutive Strikes!"
"Warning! host's lifespan is insufficient. If you cannot slay the demon today, you will die!"
As soon as the prompt sounded,
a torrent of power from the source of life exploded within his dry internal organs!
It wasn't warmth,
it was burning! It was tearing! It was extracting the last embers of life!
Ryosuke's veins bulged like tree roots, and every pore on his body erupted with visible, violent lightning flash!
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
"Three Consecutive Strikes!"
Accompanied by an inhuman roar, the ground beneath Ryosuke's feet exploded, and dirt and gravel shot backward like cannonballs!
His sprinting speed instantly broke through its limit, a solid golden light curtain lingered behind him, heading straight for the Hand Demon's massive arm!
Tsk!
Several severed limbs flew up instantly!
The Hand Demon was immediately startled: "So fast!"
Shota Kiritani was even more stunned, looking at the dissipating lightning flash in the distance.
Ryosuke quickly turned, his second strike faster than before, heading straight for the Hand Demon's neck!
Shota's pupils dilated, and he subconsciously clenched his fists.
He can do it!
He can definitely cut off its head!
Bang!
With a crisp sound, the nichirin blade in Ryosuke's hand actually broke!
Time seemed to stand still.
Not just Ryosuke, but even Shota Kiritani was greatly shocked.
Ah, sh*t!!!
How could I forget how Sabito died!
Ryosuke had been hunting for the past six days.
Except for the Hand Demon and the few demons Shota Kiritani killed, he had almost slain all the remaining demons on Fujikasane Mountain!
This also led to severe wear and tear on his nichirin blade, making it impossible to cut off the Hand Demon's hard neck!
"Hehehe…"
The Hand Demon sneered, and countless tentacles instantly swept towards him.
Fortunately, the Thunderclap and Flash was too fast, and the Hand Demon's attack missed completely.
At this moment, Shota Kiritani reacted quickly, grabbing his nichirin blade and throwing it over.
"Ryosuke! Catch!"
Ryosuke's eyes were like cold stars, and as he turned, the last strike of the Three Consecutive Strikes burst forth!
At extreme speed, Ryosuke caught the blade in mid-air, and the lightning flash transformed into a sharp edge!
Tsk!
The blade was sharp, cutting off countless massive arms!
The Hand Demon's head also broke off at this moment, falling to the ground.
Ryosuke knelt on the ground, feeling as if his body had been instantly emptied, like an airplane taking off multiple times in a row.
The power of the Three Consecutive Strikes was immense, and so was its after-effect.
"Successfully slayed the mid-level demon, Hand Demon, gaining 1 year of lifespan."
"Current remaining lifespan: 1 year."
One year!
Not bad, at least not a loss.
This year could be said to be Ryosuke's first pot of gold for his rise to wealth!
"Ryosuke!"
Shota Kiritani, clutching his side, rushed to Ryosuke's side and grabbed his shoulder.
"Are you alright?" Shota Kiritani's voice trembled badly.
"Just exhausted, I won't die."
Ryosuke smiled and lay on the ground.
Although this kid, Shota Kiritani, usually liked to compete with him, he was still very loyal in times of life-or-death crisis.
"Damn it! I actually had my head cut off!"
"I'm not reconciled! Not reconciled! Damn Urokodaki!"
"I want to eat, I want to eat more…"
"After becoming a demon, I bit off my brother's neck!"
"Eh… brother, who was that again?"
"Can he hold my hand?"
…The Hand Demon's mumbling came from his ears.
It is well known that in Demon Slayer Corps, whether human or demon, everyone has a deathbed fantasy.
Commonly known as a rapidly shifting panorama of one's life.
Except for that ugly Gyokko.
Although the author later filled in the details in the official fanbook, if it's not in the anime, it's not in the anime!
Still a clown… The dawn of the eighth day pierced through the wisteria flower mist, shining on the survivors.
The Kakushi responsible for guiding them was even more astonished.
Because there were more than a dozen young swordsmen gathered near the exit this year!
This was almost an impossible situation in recent Final Selections.
Soon, the answer was revealed.
Amidst the still-shaken discussions of the survivors, one name was repeatedly mentioned.
Yasui Ryosuke!
The Thunder Breathing swordsman who hunted demons like a madman for six consecutive days in Fujikasane Mountain!
He almost single-handedly cleared most of this death hunting ground, finally slaying the Hand Demon!
Returning to the shrine covered in wisteria flowers, everyone cleared a path for Ryosuke and the other two.
Ryosuke nudged Shota Kiritani beside him, feeling helpless.
"Let's go."
Shota Kiritani didn't have much reaction, while Moriyama Akira beside him felt a little guilty.
After all, he only made one move and was later knocked unconscious by the Hand Demon.
When he woke up, the battle was already over!
A pure opportunist! A freeloading dog!
Ryosuke and the two others successively chose their Nichirin steel, and then, Ryosuke's Kasugai Crow descended.
It was a rare, small-bodied Hummingbird with dark blue feathers and a long, needle-like beak.
After receiving their uniforms, the three were about to leave when a Ubuyashiki guide suddenly arrived.
"Yasui Ryosuke, Shota Kiritani, and Moriyama Akira, please wait. The Master has summoned you."
"The Master?!"
Shota Kiritani and Moriyama Akira simultaneously exclaimed with joy.
For new recruits like them, being summoned by the legendary Master was such an honor!
Ryosuke appeared much calmer, nodding to the guide.
"Please lead the way."
The three passed through layers of wisteria trellises, and an ancient estate came into view.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya sat on the veranda.
He had beautiful eyes, black hair, jade skin, and a handsome face.
Although he was around the same age as the three, the inner calm and gentleness made him seem much more mature.
"Welcome, brave swordsmen. I am deeply pleased to see you return safely," Kagaya said softly.
Shota Kiritani and Moriyama Akira hastily bowed, their voices changing pitch: "Ma… Master!"
Ryosuke nodded in greeting.
It's quite ironic, really. The Ubuyashiki Family, because of Scum Boss Muzan, the Demon King, was punished by the gods.
They could only intermarry with children from the Shinto priest family for generations to delay the curse and live to be 30 years old.
According to the timeline, a year ago, Kagaya, at only 13 years old, married Amane.
He was now the father of twin daughters.
But Ryosuke knew that these twin daughters, Hinaki and Nichika, were just the beginning.
It must be said,
to continue the family, Kagaya was quite dedicated, almost constantly making babies with Amane, with an incredibly high birth rate.
Unaware of Ryosuke's internal grumbling, Kagaya nodded slightly to the three.
"My apologies. In this Final Selection on Fujikasane Mountain, due to the Demon Slayer Corps' negligence in oversight, a demon far exceeding the assessment standard was lurking within, causing immense danger."
"Had it not been for your strenuous efforts to slay it, the casualties of this selection would have been unimaginable."
"This is the Demon Slayer Corps' fault, and I, as the Master, am solely responsible. I apologize here to you, and to all swordsmen who experienced this danger."
He bowed slightly, his posture humble and solemn.
Moriyama Akira was so moved that his eyes reddened, and he spoke incoherently.
"N-no… I wouldn't dare! The Master speaks too highly! It is my honor to serve the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Shota Kiritani also nodded vigorously, his face full of the excited glow of being recognized.
Only Ryosuke yawned, feeling nothing inside, even a little sleepy.
Nothing else, he was too full of his previous life's leaders' empty promises; this life, he couldn't stomach it anymore.
"Mr. Yasui."
Kagaya looked at him, chuckling softly: "You are an interesting person."
Ryosuke twitched his lips, with a tired honesty.
"It's nothing, I just want to survive."
You too.
For yourself, and for the continuation of your family.
We, all just want to survive.
"I see."
Kagaya nodded, his voice still gentle: "To survive is the fundamental strength that supports all demon slayers in wielding their blades through the long night."
"May this strength guide Mr. Yasui, to carve out his own path."
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