Chapter 3: A beautiful moon

The sun settled as the moon took its place in the night sky. Moonlight illuminated the path as a lone Anzhong walked it carrying two katana's on his waist.

Wearing a light green kimono with a wavy pattern that was complemented with a crimson haori that had white spots near its center he silently walked towards a mountain that seemed to be covered in wisteria flowers.

About four more years had passed since his last encounter with those four demon slayers. Since then he had dedicated all his time and effort to raising his Fa Jin reserves.

Over this period of time, he also realized that Fa Jin is the thing that helps demons manipulate their blood demon arts. That would imply that the crimson spider lily that turned Muzan into a demon must have some relation with it.

Regardless during his traveled Anzhong had encountered couple more slayers with varying ranks that he killed and consumed. From a few of them, Anzhong was able to pinpoint the location and time of the final selections of demon slayers.

'So this is it...the final selections...' Anzhong thought as he started to walk on the path provided while glancing towards the Wisteria around him. Over the years he had built a slight immunity over wisteria but it still made him nauseous to come too close to it.

'wisteria...I have yet to find a cure for it...I must get the blue spider lily to archive perfection' Anzhong thought as he walked the road to start the final selection.

'But first I need my Nichirin blade' Anzhong thought as he saw a couple more people of varying ages getting ready to take the test.

'I don't see anyone related to the plot present at the moment...except maybe fodder...' Anzhong thought as he scouted the people waiting for the selections to begin.

'I should be joining the slayers before most of the main cast Hashira...should I aim for that rank as well with my Nichirin blade' Anzhong thought as he looked towards the moon that was shining in the sky surrounded by countless stars.

'I guess the moon pillar is not a bad title to carry on even in other lives.' Anzhong thought for a moment before his attention was taken away by the entrance of a man.

The man had light skin and black shoulder-length hair. He has a curse mark near his eye making it seem as if he was rotting from that part. He had lavender-colored eyes and he was wearing a black kimono covered with a white flame patterned haori.

'Kagaya...himself?' Anzhong thought a little surprised to see the master of the demon slayers himself was starting the demon slayer's final selections.

"Greetings my children...I am Kagaya Ubuyaksi but you can refer to me as Oyakata-sama like many do. I am the leader of the Demon Slayers and today I am here to witness the final selections."

"You have trained for years and mastered sword forms for this very moment. You have learned from your mistakes and trained under your master's safe shadow. This is it, the end of your old journey and the beginning of a new one!"

"So live your lives with your heads lifted as it is time for you to harvest the fruits of your labor. The final selections are done in a simple way, you must survive seven days and nights over the top of this very mountain Fujikasane. "

"Those who have survived will be allowed to choose an ore of their liking to forge a stronger Nichirin Blade than you might currently possess. With that, I hope that you all prioritize living rather than winning." Kagaya finished his speech signaling the start of the final selections.

'That man truly has great charisma...truly a great leader' Anzhong said as he admired Kagaya's way with words.

'In any case, it is time to start rolling this place to the ground' Anzhong said as he speed blitz his way towards the top of the mountains. His speed was so great that a dust cloud was left as he passed all the contestants.

'Well then let's start the show' Anzhong thought as he pulled out a rather normal-looking blade. The katana had a circular guard with a white wrapped hilt that ended with a bronze tip. The blade itself had a slight blue hue that shined in the dark.

'Wind Breathing' Anzhong thought as he took in a deep breath and prepared his stance.

'First form altered: Weaving Winds,' Anzhong thought as he dashed forward at blinding speeds and slashes continuously in a horizontal cyclone pattern.

Wind Breathing First Form altered: Weaving winds was one of the wind breathing techniques Anzhong created by modifying the already existing form. Originally the first form only allows the user to dash forwards to use it efficiently however due to having a smaller frame and flexible body Anzhong was able to continue the moment and change directions simultaneously.

Just like a natural calamity, Anzhong was unstoppable. He slashed and killed any demon that came in his way and almost cleared the whole mountain on the first night.

'Now then...I guess I can sleep the rest of my stay here' Anzhong thought as he searched for a cave to sleep in for the rest of the duration of the final selections.

"Curse youuu!!" A shrill shout took Anzhong's attention as a demon with a long tongue charged towards him. ' I was positive that cleared the nearby area' Anzhong thought as he simply diced the demon in small parts using his Nichirin Blade.

'Are there demons that can hide their energy? I am sure my observation haki would have caught on him...' Anzhong thought as he again activated his observation haki to check his surroundings.

'hm...this must be the hand demon...there is no interaction between us so I guess I will leave him be for the moment. hmm, Kagaya-san seems to have taken a camp between the wisteria field near the base of the mountain.' Anzhong thought to himself as he noted the information picked by his observation haki.

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"That boy...he seems to be in the level of Hashiras with just his strength and speed alone, that too at such a young age...admirable," Kagaya-san said as his daughter Hinaki nodded. Despite being of a young age she has been training hard to become the next head of the demon slayer corps.

"Although he seems to be missing something," The man with a tengu face mask said.

"It seems that he will have a long journey ahead, right Sakonji-san," Kagaya-san said as he let out a gentle smile.

"Indeed" Sakonji responded. He was none other than the current water hashira Sakonji. He was going to retire in a few days and give his title to his pupil Tomiyoka Giyuu. However, he decided to stay till the final selection to guard Kagaya-san.

"That being said I heard that your successor Tomiyoka Giyuu is quite impressive as well. He managed to create a new water breathing technique by himself that too at this young age of 16" Kaguya said as he poured two cups of tea.

"You don't have to Oyakata-sama. I should be the pouring it" Sakonji said as he too sat down and offered to pour tea for both of them.

"Please don't be like that by age you are my elder it would be disrespectful of me, and this might be our last meeting as well...so please," Kagaya-san said as he let out a smile and poured tea for both of them.

"I see, on that topic indeed my student has been doing well although I care about his mental state more considering all the things he had lost. As a teacher, it pains me to see his current state." Sakonji states as he lifts his mask a little to sip the team.

"Indeed despite sending him with teams they have reported uncooperative behavior from him. That being said I will try my best to make sure he has company with his fellow Hashira." Kagaya-san reassured as he too sipped his tea with a smile.

"That being said it seems that this year we are having a lot more slayers...almost as much as we had two years ago...Sabito truly was a great candidate for the title," Sakonji said as he let out a sigh and continued to sip his tea.

"Sabito...I heard about him from my dear father. Even though he was only able to hear his feats he truly admired his presence. On that day there were over 12 new demon slayers that were added to the corps for that even I am thankful. Sabito may have died earlier than expected but his will is still alive with Giyuu." Kagaya-san said as he consoled Sakonji and continued to sip his tea.

"And now...it seems we are going to have a new wind Hashira soon..." Kagaya-san commented as he tried to change the subject.

"Indeed...although it seems like something is wrong with him. He seems depressed if I am being blunt...more depressed than Tomiyoka...he seems empty" Sakonji said as he remembered the slight aura Anzhong had around him.

"Is that so? it seems I still lack quite a few skills in a few departments." Kagaya-san said being sad about his failure of understanding one of his future children.

"No it, is not your incompetence it is just that...he is similar to Giyuu right after he lost Sabito but unlike Giyuu he seems to be in even more darkness. " Sakonji said as he sipped his tea.

"It seems that we have a lot more problem children in this generation." Sakonji joked to lighten the mood.

"So it seems," Kagaya-san said as he let out a soft smile.

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'The moon is beautiful today as well' Anzhong thought as he gazed towards the shining moon that lit the mountain top.

"aaahhhhhhhhh!" A loud moan of pain emerged from the forest that took away.

"hmm?" Anzhong hummed as he activated his observation haki to see the situation. With his observation haki, Anzhong was able to detect two people a demon and a human.

'The demon seems to have taken hold of the slayer's blade...' Anzhong thought before he disappeared from his resting spot in a burst of speed.

"This is the last time I am protecting brats" Anzhong muttered as he confronted the demon in front of him.

"Huh!? where the fuck did you drop from?" The demon yelled as he charged towards Anzhong. Two pointed bones extended from his wrists as he tried to use them to pierce Anzhong.

'Moon Breathing' Anzhong thought as he took in a deep breath. Preparing his demon-slaying blade. In a quick motion, he swiftly slashed the neck of the demon that was approaching.

'First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace' Anzhong finished as he turned towards the girl who was panting heavily. Her ribs seems to be broken as she muttered a few random words.

"It seems you are going to die soon...is there something you wish to archive?" Anzhong asked as he kneeled before the girl's head.

"...live...I...want...to live...I will....not...die" The girl muttered between coughs of blood as she was unable to breathe properly.

Anzhong's words froze right there as he dropped his blade in shock. 'Those words...just like...her...' Anzhong thought as he couldn't help but see the figure of his old vice-captain...rosita overlapping with the girl.

Anzhong extended his hand as he caressed the cheek of the girl. "*cough**cough*" The girl's bloody cough woke Anzhong from his daydream as without saying a word blue flames appeared from the hand that was touching the girl engulfing her in flames.

"I healed you...your life and death from here on depends on how you follow the path" Anzhong gave his final words as he disappeared from there.

"Thank you" Anzhong heard a faint mutter of thanks as he was leaving. He then returned to his previous spot as he continued to stare at the moon.

'The moon truly is beautiful today'