Chapter 24: The Strongest in the Exam

### Chapter 24: The Strongest in the Exam

Kintaro sprinted towards the source of the lightning-like sound, his keen senses alert to every detail in the oppressive darkness of the forest. The dense canopy above blocked most of the moonlight, creating an eerie atmosphere filled with shadows that seemed to move with a life of their own. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the metallic tang of blood, remnants of the demons that had been slain.

As Kintaro drew closer, he saw flashes of yellow, green, and blue light, rapidly changing colors as they moved between demons, slicing off their heads with the precision and speed of a lightning bolt. When the scene finally came into view, he saw demon bodies disintegrating into smoke, and the yellow robe of Zenitsu swaying side to side as he finally came to a stop.

Zenitsu, in his sleepwalking state, stood calm and focused, his breathing steady and deep, ready to dash again at any moment. Kintaro was momentarily awestruck, recognizing the familiar stance resembling his own Thunder Breathing's First Form.

Not far away, seven demons sensed the imminent danger as they witnessed Zenitsu's terrifying prowess. They began to flee, fear evident in their frantic movements.

"That kid is unnatural!"

"Impossible! He exudes the aura of a Hashira! What is he doing here?"

"There's no way he's a Hashira, you fool, but he's incredibly strong."

"Regardless, we need to escape!"

Zenitsu's eyebrows twitched as he sensed the cluster of seven demons fleeing through the forest after witnessing their comrades' demise. He took a slow, deliberate breath, readying himself for another powerful dash.

The forest seemed to hold its breath, the oppressive silence only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant cries of demons and examinees. The trees stood tall and foreboding, their branches intertwining to create a natural barrier that obscured the view and added to the sense of isolation.

"Thunder Breathing, First Form!"

WHOOSH!

Zenitsu launched himself like a blue and yellow lightning bolt towards the fleeing demons. At that moment, Kintaro's eyes glowed with excitement. He mirrored Zenitsu's stance, feeling a surge of energy course through him.

"You're right. This stance makes me feel like I can move even faster!"

"Electro Breathing, First Form: Cutting Thunder!"

ZAP!!

Kintaro shot forward like a purple lightning bolt, leaving scorched ground in his wake. He moved so fast that the earth beneath him blackened, a testament to the intense heat of his lightning.

Slash! Zenitsu decapitated the first demon and prepared to strike the second, but Kintaro sped past him, taking the head of the second demon. It became a game of demon hunting between Zenitsu and Kintaro, their yellow-blue and purple lightning illuminating the forest in a dazzling display.

The remaining examinees, scattered throughout the forest and battling their own demons, felt the repetitive sounds of lightning strikes and looked towards the source.

"What is that?"

"It feels like we're in the midst of a thunderstorm."

"Is it a demon?"

"I hope not, because we'd be dead for sure..."

Zenitsu, still in his sleepwalking state, sensed Kintaro's presence nearby. Despite recognizing that Kintaro had adopted his stance, he couldn't help but notice Kintaro's incredible speed.

The challenge ended with Zenitsu taking down three demons, while Kintaro eliminated four. Zenitsu had lost the speed race this time.

Kintaro looked calmly at Zenitsu's face and remarked, "No doubt about it, this fool fights while he's asleep. How is that even possible?"

He closed his eyes slowly, then looked up at the moon and the star-studded sky, whispering, "It doesn't matter. Surviving here for seven nights? That's not what I want. Tonight, I will exterminate all the demons here!"

Purple electric sparks surrounded Kintaro's body as he began to run through the forest. He approached a fallen tree, using it as a springboard to launch himself into the sky.

ZAP!!

He ascended like a purple flash, his jump surpassing the height of the forest trees. As he soared, the electric sparks around his body expanded, covering the entire forest.

"Electro Breathing, Second Form: Charged Atmosphere!"

Everyone in the forest—demons and swordsmen alike—felt the strange aura touch their bodies, as if a light had brushed against them without causing harm. Some looked around, checking their surroundings, uncertain of what was to come.

In the sky, Kintaro assessed the number of demons and their locations. "One hundred and fifty-four, one hundred and fifty-eight, one hundred and sixty."

He could pinpoint every demon in the forest. He took a deep breath, tightened his grip on his sword, and locked onto the nearest demon.

"Electro Breathing, Fourth Form: Lightning Strike!"

WHOOSH!!

ZAP!

Kintaro became a purple lightning bolt, striking his target with lethal precision. He began a relentless assault, cutting down demons and severing their heads one after another.

That year, in the Demon Slayer exam, the swordsmen no longer fled from demons to survive for seven days. Instead, they sought out demons to kill at least one before the demons were completely eradicated from the forest.

The final tally of the exam was as follows:

- Kintaro Ozan: 154 heads

- Kanao: 13 heads

- Zenitsu: 12 heads

- Kamado Tanjiro: 7 heads

- Inosuke: 6 heads

- Genya: 3 heads

All this happened in a single night, a night so insane that the demons vanished entirely from that mountain.

Every examinee had seen Kintaro passing by like lightning, effortlessly decapitating demons with skill and ease. It was clear to them that he was on an entirely different level.

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