Mount Fujikasane.

The place where the final selection for the Demon Slayer Corps is held.

Scattered across the slopes and foothills of this fog-covered mountain, hidden among the dense trees, man-eating demons are imprisoned—captured by official Demon Slayer members and then released into the wilds.

And the only condition to pass the trial?

Survive here for seven days.

Most of the demons wandering this place aren't especially strong. But over time, some of them manage to survive trial after trial, feasting on inexperienced swordsmen... evolving into terrifying monsters that rookie Demon Slayers have no chance of defeating.

One such creature—was the infamous Hand Demon.

Tachibana Kyūjō knew very well that the Hand Demon wasn't an exception.

He was proof.

How many promising young swordsmen...

How many once-in-a-generation talents had been buried on this mountain?

And who's to say that the ordinary boys entering this trial today wouldn't one day grow into Hashira?

They weren't supposed to die here.

In Kyūjō's eyes, these young hopefuls deserved a second chance more than the common citizens outside the mountain walls. Cold? Maybe. But that was the reality of this battlefield.

Instead of constantly sending Hashira to chase demons out there, they should come to places like this too...

…to give these candidates one more option—a real chance to survive.

— — —

Watching the brave teens walk into the misty woods without hesitation, Kyūjō silently followed their backs with his eyes.

He took a long, quiet breath.

Then made a vow to himself.

'Brave young warriors...'

'I won't let a single one of you die in vain on Mount Fujikasane.'

'That's my promise—Tachibana Kyūjō's promise.'

— — —

Of course, he wouldn't dare make such a bold promise without the strength to back it up.

Without drawing attention, Kyūjō slipped into the crowd of examinees—blending in like he was just another participant.

He hadn't been idle during this past year. As his body adjusted to the Normal Form of Thunder Breathing, his physical strength skyrocketed far beyond normal human limits.

And not just strength.

His five senses—and the sixth sense born of his blade—had grown terrifyingly sharp.

The range of his combat awareness, which once barely stretched a few meters, had expanded to a full three hundred meters.

Comparable to mid-tier Observation Haki from another world.

Even his core techniques had evolved.

He no longer wielded only six forms of Thunder Breathing.

Now, there were nine.

— — —

⚡ Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash

A single flash of lightning, fueled by the full explosive force of Thunder Breathing channeled into the legs.

Kyūjō vanishes in a blur, slicing through the air like a falling star. In a blink, his blade reaches the enemy's neck—too fast for human eyes, or even a demon's, to track.

It's the most basic form, and ironically, the hardest to master. Without immense lower-body strength, you can't even launch it.

— — —

⚡ Thunder Breathing, Second Form: Rice Spirit – Modified

A chain of intersecting lightning slashes that strike from every direction in rapid succession. The number of strikes is completely under the user's control.

A perfect counteroffensive: it deflects incoming attacks while striking back in the same flowing motion.

— — —

⚡ Thunder Breathing, Third Form: Thunder Swarm – Modified

Kyūjō spreads lightning energy through his entire body, enhancing his agility and reflexes.

As he moves, his figure leaves behind rippling electric afterimages—blinding, flickering illusions that mislead his enemies.

Chasing him becomes a deadly game of tag with lightning itself.

— — —

⚡ Thunder Breathing, Fourth Form: Distant Thunder – Modified

Originally a close-range move, Kyūjō reinvented this into a long-range technique.

Instead of closing the distance with speed, he discharges a bolt of electricity straight from his sword—shooting it across the battlefield.

It doesn't have the killing power to finish off a demon. But it stuns, paralyzes, and scrambles motor control—making it the perfect support technique in team battles.

— — —

⚡ Thunder Breathing, Fifth Form: Heat Lightning – Modified

His Nichirin blade crackles with searing electrical heat—each slash delivering not just a cut, but a burn.

The added paralysis effect is especially dangerous. And when paired with a Crimson Blade, its destructive power spikes dramatically.

— — —

⚡ Thunder Breathing, Sixth Form: Rumble and Flash – Modified

An area-of-effect technique with high explosive power. Kyūjō unleashes all the stored lightning around his body, forming a cascade of slashes in every direction.

Think of it as a more advanced version of the Second Form—perfect for mowing down hordes of demons.

— — —

⚡ Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form: Electromagnetic Sense

A technique created entirely by Kyūjō.

It's not an attack, and it doesn't involve his sword.

Inspired by modern physics, he devised a way to harness electromagnetic fields to detect his surroundings.

With this, Kyūjō can sense the electric reactions of living beings within a full kilometer—including demons, who possess distinct bio-electrical signatures.

An organic radar.

His natural sixth sense.

— — —

⚡ Thunder Breathing, Eighth Form: Sword of the Thunder God

No, it's not the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique.

This is Kyūjō's tribute to the warriors of other worlds.

A technique for dual-wielders only—one of his blades is supercharged with lightning and driven into a demon's body.

As long as the blade remains embedded, lightning continues to pour in—immobilizing the target until their energy is drained dry.

He once used this on Lower Moon Six – Kyōgai.

The result? The demon couldn't move a muscle until dawn.

By then, his body had turned to ash.

— — —

⚡ Thunder Breathing, Ninth Form: Sword of the Thunder Caller

A form that still exists only in theory.

Kyūjō has never used it—because the conditions are too extreme.

It requires a mountaintop, or the highest point nearby. And a raging thunderstorm.

He would use his body as the conduit, and his Nichirin blade as the trigger, to call down an actual bolt of lightning from the sky.

The real thing.

It's wildly dangerous.

If he fails to summon the bolt, the technique fizzles.

And worse—if his body can't withstand the heavenly energy... he'll be the one struck down instead.

But if it works?

Even Kibutsuji Muzan—if hit directly—might need decades to recover.

— — —

As the fog grew thicker over Mount Fujikasane, Kyūjō calmly gripped his sword.

Tiny sparks danced at his fingertips—not a loud crackle, but the gentle murmur of a storm forged through time and perseverance.

The boys had stepped into the jaws of death...

…and he would not let history repeat itself.

— — —

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