Chapter 12 - End of Exam (Finally)

Six nights. Six tough nights of dodging claws, blocking fangs, and basically kicking demon butt. I was getting pretty good at this whole demon-slaying thing, and my kill count was climbing. I could even tell the different types of demons apart now. There were the usual snarling, drooling ones, the ones that looked like nightmares, and the ones that tried to trick you with their good looks before trying to eat you.

Variety is the spice of life, I guess, I thought, dodging a gross-looking tentacle. Or in this case, the spice of death.

But tonight was different. It was the last night of the Final Selection. The air felt tense, and the wisteria flowers seemed to glow with an eerie light. The demons knew their time was almost up, and they were getting more desperate and dangerous.

I had already fought three demons that night, and each fight was tougher than the last. My muscles burned, and I was out of breath, but I wasn't giving up. I was so close to the finish line, so close to becoming a real Demon Slayer.

Just a few more hours, Akio, I told myself. You can do this.

As I went deeper into the forest, I came across a clearing. A huge demon with sharp claws and glowing red eyes was waiting there. It snarled at me, and its bad breath made me shiver.

"Well, well, well," I said, trying to sound brave even though my heart was pounding. "Looks like it's time for the final boss fight."

The demon roared and swung its claws at me. I dodged its attack, moving smoothly like water.

Ni no Kata: Ryūten / Second Form: Redirection!

I blocked its next attack, feeling its power flow into my arm. I twisted my wrist, using that energy to swing my katana and cut the demon.

The demon screamed in pain, and its anger made it even more aggressive. It lunged at me, its claws a blur.

But I was ready.

San no Kata: Ikioi Rengeki / Third Form: Momentum Surge!

I attacked with a series of fast strikes, each one building on the power of the last. The demon stumbled back, surprised by my speed and strength.

The air crackled with the energy of our fight, and the ground shook beneath us. The demon roared in frustration, its confidence fading.

With one final, powerful strike, I cut through the demon's neck. Its head fell to the ground, and its body turned to ash.

I stood there, breathing hard, my body shaking from exhaustion. But I had done it. I had survived the Final Selection.

As I stumbled into the clearing, I was greeted by a sight that made me do a double take. The once-crowded space was now eerily empty, save for a handful of survivors.

"Damn," I muttered, surveying the scene. "Guess not everyone made the cut."

Out of the dozens who had entered the forest, only twenty remained. I spotted Sabito and Makomo leaning against a tree, looking a bit worse for wear but otherwise unharmed.

I sauntered over to them, a playful grin on my face. "Well, well, well," I said, "look who survived. Didn't think I'd see you two again."

Sabito rolled his eyes, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I could say the same about you," he retorted.

"Ouch," I feigned hurt. "That's gratitude for you. Saving your life, and all I get is sass."

Makomo giggled softly, her gentle eyes sparkling with amusement.

Just as Sabito was about to retort, a familiar figure stepped into the clearing. Ubuyashiki Amane, the enigmatic woman who oversaw the Final Selection, stood before us, her serene expression a stark contrast to the carnage we had just endured.

"Congratulations to all of you," she said, her voice soft but carrying an undeniable authority. "You have proven yourselves worthy of becoming Demon Slayers."

A collective cheer erupted from the survivors, a mix of relief, joy, and disbelief. I couldn't help but grin, a sense of accomplishment washing over me.

Ubuyashiki-sama continued, her voice taking on a more formal tone. "Allow me to explain the ranking system within the Demon Slayer Corps. You will all begin as Mizunoto, the lowest rank. As you gain experience and slay more demons, you will progress through the ranks: Mizunoe, Kanoto, Kanoe, Tsuchinoto, Tsuchinoe, Hinoto, Hinoe, Kinoto, and finally, Kinoe."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over us. "And for those who demonstrate exceptional skill and dedication, there is the highest rank of all: Hashira, the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps. They are the most powerful swordsmen among us, and they stand as the last line of defense against the strongest demons."

A wave of awe rippled through the group. Hashira... the very word sent shivers down my spine. It was a title reserved for legends, for those who had truly mastered the art of demon slaying.

Ubuyashiki-sama then instructed us to choose an ore for our Nichirin Blades and to have our measurements taken for our uniforms.

I eagerly approached the selection of ores, my "Walmart Byakugan" scanning each one, searching for the perfect match. I settled on a particularly large and sturdy piece, its inner structure radiating with power.

"I'll take this one," I told the attendant, handing him the ore. "And make it an Odachi, please. Gotta go big or go home, right?"

The attendant looked at me with a raised eyebrow, clearly surprised by my choice. But hey, who was he to judge? I liked my swords big and flashy. Plus, it would give me an excuse to skip arm day at the gym.

After getting my measurements taken (and enduring some awkward stares from the tailor), I rejoined the group, eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Kasugai Crow.

One by one, the crows descended, each landing on the shoulder of its chosen slayer. But when it was my turn, a large, black bird swooped down from the sky and landed gracefully on my arm.

It wasn't a crow. It was an eagle owl, its golden eyes piercing and intelligent.

"Whoa," I exclaimed, staring at the majestic creature. "Did I get an upgrade or something?"

Sabito and Makomo looked equally surprised.

"An eagle owl?" Sabito muttered. "That's... unusual."

Makomo tilted her head, her eyes filled with curiosity.

I shrugged, a grin spreading across my face. "Guess I'm just special like that," I said, stroking the owl's feathers. "Welcome to the team, buddy. Let's go kick some demon butt!"

I stared at the eagle owl on my arm. Its golden eyes stared back, looking super smart. Okay, buddy, you're way cooler than a regular crow, I thought. Time for a badass name.

I tried out a few names in my head. Jetstream? Shadow Wing?

Nah, too cheesy. I needed something special, something that fit this awesome owl. I looked into its eyes again, and it was like they held secrets of the universe or something.

"Fuyume," I said out loud. "That's it. Fuyume, the Midnight Guardian."

The owl hooted, like it agreed. I grinned and petted its feathers. We're gonna be an awesome team, Fuyume.

Sabito nudged me, breaking the moment. "So, Akio," he said, "what's next?"

I shrugged. "I dunno, maybe explore a bit."

Sabito looked at Makomo, then back at me. "Why not come with us?" he asked. "We're going back to our teacher, Urokodaki-sensei. He trained us for this test. You might learn something from him."

Makomo nodded, smiling gently.

Wow, they're actually being nice, I thought. Guess they don't hate me for showing them up back there.

"Sure, why not?" I said, trying to act cool even though I was excited. Hanging out with real Demon Slayers? Sweet!

(To be Continued)

Akio tilts his head, looking curiously at Fuyume perched on his shoulder. "Hey, Over9000words, where did this eagle owl come from, anyway? Not that I'm complaining, mind you. Fuyume's pretty awesome."

Over9000words shrugs nonchalantly. "Well... I thought it would be cool to have a different kind of bird. You know, mix things up a bit."

Akio raises an eyebrow. "So, it doesn't have any deep backstory or hidden significance? No tragic past or secret powers?"

Over9000words shakes their head. "Nope. Just a cool bird."

Akio sighs dramatically. "Sigh... I shouldn't have expected anything more from you. I guess I'll just have to come up with my own backstory for Fuyume. Maybe he's a reincarnated ninja owl or something."

AI-sensei chimes in, a hint of amusement in their voice. "While I appreciate Akio's creativity, I must admit, I find Over9000words' lack of foresight... perplexing. A well-developed backstory could add depth and intrigue to Fuyume's character."

Over9000words chuckles. "Relax, Sensei. It's a fanfic, not a Shakespearean tragedy. Besides, I'm sure Akio's imagination is more than capable of filling in the blanks."

Akio nods, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh, you bet it is. Fuyume's got a secret past, a hidden agenda, and maybe even a tragic love story involving a lost princess and a cursed amulet. Just wait and see!"

End of Chapter 12