1 The Adventure Begins

1st person Pov

Thoughts = ()

talking = " "

The sun shines upon me and I heard the birds chirping after I wake up under the tree. I slowly opened my eyes and rubbed my head.

(So, this is the demon slayer world not bad. The air is fresh, and the weather is good.)

I looked around me after getting up from the ground and saw a road near me. (So, I only have the clothes on me. Oh well, let's go toward Urokodaki's house.)

I begin to walk toward the direction I'm facing and looked at the scenery that surrounded me alongside the road.

(I feel a cool breeze with the birds chirping in the distance and a beautiful sunset. Nature's beauty is truly the best.) And I got in the mood to sing.

"Almost heaven, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River....

Take me home, country roads..."

After walking for a while, I saw a house in the distance. When I reached in front of the door, I got my hand up for a knock when I felt chills on my back.

"Who are you and what are you doing here." I heard a man's voice behind me.

I tense up and without turning around answered, "My name is Reilly, I heard that a demon slayer trainer is here, and I want to become a demon slayer."

I heard the man took back the blade pointed at me and put it back in its sheath.

"Reily, that an uncommon name."

"Yeah, if it's hard, you can call me Ren Kosuke. My ship got wrecked at sea and I'm travelling right now."

"I heard about demon and demon slayers, and I want to become one. I know it's not a game. I'm willing to try hard so …. Please Train Me!"

I turned toward him and bowed as I waited for an answered.

Sakonji Urokodaki Pov

(Hum, so he is a foreigner. His story has some holes, and he seems lacks to determination. But he has a faint scent of potential and my sense of smell hasn't failed me yet so far.)

(Let's test him to see if he can qualify to be a demon slayer.) " Follow me" I said as I took off to the mountains without waiting.

After getting to enough height, I says " If you can go back down from the mountain before dawn then, I will consider training you." before leaving.

1st person Pov

"I will consider training you." he said before turning a blur and disappearing.

I scratched my head. "I know I ask for this, but I hope I don't die."

I turned back to the way I came up to go back down the mountain. As I run down the mountain I tripped from a rope.

(Dodge!!). I rolled over and narrowly avoided some rock that come for my face and fall into a pitfall trap.

Huff

After getting up from the pitfall, I stepped on another trap and bamboo strike me in the back.

"Shit that hurt." I crouched down and touched my back that was in pain.

Huff

(The air is thin, it's cold and I don't have good instincts nor Tanjiro's sense of smell. I'll just have to run really fast and just fake it till I make it!!!).

After a while,

BAM

"I'm made it back ya shitty old man." I said as I forcefully opened the front door exhausted with my bleeding arms, my numb legs and barely conscious. I saw him sitting near a fire and I heard "Very well Ren, I accept you as my student."

I mumbled "You better, after making me like this." before felling unconscious from the pain and exhaustion.

THE NEXT DAY

After bandaging me up, he explained about demon slayers and demons to me.

"The Demon Slayer Corps is an organization that has existed since ancient times, dedicating its existence to protecting humanity from demons. There are hundreds of Demon Slayers within the organization, however they are not officially recognized by the government."

"Demons, their normal food is Human flesh. They kill and hunt human. Their body have immense strength and their wounds heal in no time."

"Some demons have special abilities called 'blood demon arts'. The only way to kill them is the sun and a special sword called the Nichirin blade, which is forged by Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Ore which is found on Mount Yoko."

"As they constantly absorb sunlight, decapitating demons with Nichirin Swords can permanently kill them. Once their neck-bone is slashed by the weapon, their heads and bodies disintegrate into ash in a similar fashion to when exposed to sunlight."

"However, Nichirin Swords are less effective when used to slash other parts of a demon's body, making beheading the only viable option for Demon Slayers."

"To join the demon slayers, you have to survive the final selection at mount Fujikasane."

"The exam requires the examinee to survive seven nights on the mountaintop, without any outside aid. Candidates who successfully survive the seven nights are then permitted to become official members of the Demon Slayer Corps."

"I'm a mentor, I teach people in swordsmanship. There are as many students as there are many stars in the sky and it's a mentor's job to train them into fine Demon Slayers. Each of them teaches in their own style. So, I don't want to hear any complaints on how I train you, got it!"

"Yes!"

(Starting from today, I'm going to be train by Urokodaki so that I don't die in the final selection as well as to survive in this world. I going to do my best.)

Day after day I climb up and down the mountain, which is full of traps, I learned how to avoid most traps which involve running really fast after tripping or falling.

Thank to that, my strength, endurance and agility as well as my sense of sound and instincts started improving leap by bound. And I had to improve because the traps are becoming more and more dangerous.

I would've thought that he's trying to kill me if I didn't watch the show and knew of his personality. But I can't be certain because he is a living breathing human, not a character, and humans tend to change.

BUT does he seriously have to use real knives!! After 3 months, he gave me a katana to carry while climbing and going down the mountain. It was a pain trying to avoid tripping while running with a katana, I wonder how they do it easily.

--------

After another 1 month, I swing my sword a thousand time a day. I've been doing it basically every day for a while now. Sometime my arm feels like it going to fall off.

(He explained that Katanas breaks easily and that is why you must apply the force alongside the blade. He also said that if the blade breaks, then he'll break my bones, which I don't know is a motivation or a threat.)

....

Today, he said that I'm going to face him bare handed. "As a demon slayer you must be able to survive no matter what. Even if your blade breaks, you have to know how to fight with other things. And if you fall, you have to be able to get back up quickly".

I charged with the intention to tackle him, but he flips me over before I know it. And then he beat me up until I can't get back up anymore saying that it's for training.

....

Today he's going to start teaching me about breathing techniques. "Today, I'm going to teach you water breathing and all of its forms."

"First Form: Water Surface Slash - The user generates enough momentum to create a powerful single concentrated slash."

"Second Form: Water Wheel - The user leaps and vertically spins forward in the air while releasing a flowing attack in a circular motion."

"Third Form: Flowing Dance - The user swings and bends their blade in a winding motion along with their body and dances in a flowing pattern, slicing everything in its path."

"Fourth Form: Striking Tide - The user makes multiple consecutive slashes while twisting their body and sword in a flowing fashion to deliver multiple blows simultaneously."

"Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After the Drought - The user changes the grip on their sword and decapitates the opponent in a single flowing strike that causes little to no pain. It is a "sword strike of kindness" used when the enemy willingly surrenders."

"Sixth Form: Whirlpool - The user fiercely twists their upper and lower body, creating a whirlpool of air that cuts anything caught in it. Its effect and efficiently is enhanced underwater, where the user can draw water around their weapon to enhance their slashes."

"Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust - The user performs a fast and accurate stab, capable of reducing the impact of a moving target."

"Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin - The user cuts the target vertically in a flowing motion which is most effective when they are falling downward."

"Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow, Turbulent - The user changes their footwork in a way that minimizes the landing time and surface needed when landing, allowing the user to move without limits. Ideal when fighting in a place with no solid foothold."

"Tenth Form: Constant Flux - The user performs a continuous flowing attack which seemingly takes the form of a water dragon that increases in strength and power with each rotation due to momentum."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

"Take a deep long breath into your body and blood flowing into every part of your body. This will enhance your body capability as well as stabilize your mind and body."

"Relax your upper body and widen your stance. All right, breathe."

Bam!

"Wrong!"

I started doing breathing exercise and he continued to hit my stomach when I get it wrong. He hit me so hard that one time I puked my lunch out.

Next, he told me to become one with water and kicked me into a lake from a cliff. "Wait!! I don't know how to swimm!!Ahhh.. "

Splash

---------

The descend from the mountain became more dangerous and the air is really thin, but I think I am getting the hang of it. Time and time again I thought about giving up, but I have to endure so that I can survive in this world. The only thing that kept me motivated is that reason.)

I 'm running down the mountain and triggered a trap.

Swif

Clash

But I blocked it with my katana. I took in a deep breath of air and its've been 1 and a half year since I arrived in this world.

One morning he said, "I have nothing more to teach you, the rest is up to you whether you have a true understanding of what I have taught you or not. Come with me."

We arrived at a part of the mountain that's snowing. There was a large boulder in the middle of a clearing deep in the mountain.

"If you can slice through this boulder then, I'll allow you to attend the final selection."

(It's the boulder that Tanjiro cut through, but I don't know if I can do it. Sigh, I'll give it my all as usual.)

"Yes!"

And over the months, I have tried to cut the boulder again and again but nothing but a few sparks. I trained again and again of the things that Urokodaki taught me, but nothings improved.

Except, I've learned to hold my breath for 30 minutes and my flexibility and agility improved so now I can move like a ninja from the trees.

After 6 months have pass and my hands is full of calluses and bruises, but the boulder doesn't have a cut whatsoever.

(Think Ren think! what are you missing. DARM IT!!) I punched the boulder as my knuckles started bleeding. I started thinking about things related to swordsmanship.

Then realization hit me like a train moving like a 180 mph, (Of course, why didn't I think of it sooner, this world with demons and samurais, this is just like Shinkenger.)

(Wait, don't think about it now.) I hit myself. (Ahh, I don't know anymore. I'll just clear my mind, remember what he had taught me, focus and strike it with all I've got.)

I readied my blade for this one strike, breathe, calm my thoughts, clear my mind and dashed toward it and cut it with all I've got. But before my blade touched the boulder, I felt my mind clear as I forget everything around me.

I didn't care about death, life or anything. I just focused on committing this one action, this one cut.

Shing

(I..I can't believe that worked.) "I DID IT!!"

As I ran back to Urokodaki' s house I got to the front door, opened it and shouted "Urokodaki! I DID IT!! I CUT THE BOULDER!"

He walked toward me from where he is usually sitting and said, "I had no intention of sending you to the final selection because I thought that the demon slayer lifestyle was not for you."

"I didn't think you would be able to do it, but you did. Good job Ren." He hugged me, and I started tearing up and crying.

The Next Day

"Urokodaki-san, is it possible for a demon slayer in training to learn two different breathing styles?"

"Yes, but normally the demon slayer sticks with one style and hone it. Why do you ask?"

"I want to learn another style, ahh not because your style is not good, but because I want to cover my weaknesses."

"And those are?"

"I want to be faster. I feel like my speed is lacking and Water style has a speed limit for me. I want to be quick on the field and be able to react enemy attacks.

"I see, I do have an old friend that used to be a former Thunder Hashira. I can ask him to train you if he's free."

"Really, thank you very much." I bowed my head at him.

"Yeah, I will message him with my crow. So, wait for a day or two."

The Next Day

CAW

The crow came back and Urokodaki said" It seems that he's free and willing to train you. Are you ready to go?"

"Yes! Thank you for everything that you have taught me until now."

"Take this fox mask with you for good luck charm." I took the mask put it in my bag, took the nichirin sword that he gave me and walked away.

I thought about not saying anything, but this might be the last time I see him if I fail.

When I thought back to all those nights where he took me back to bed after I passed out from training in the mountain or the time where we would drink tea and he would tell me stories about his younger days.

When I thought back to all of those times, I couldn't hold back some of my tears. I turned around and shouted "Goodbye Grandpa! Thank you, and I will definitely come back after passing the final selection!! So, wait for me!"

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