Final Selection 6

-Blake-

We finished slaying dozens of demons that were coming to devour us, well most of them were my kills since most of them can't multitask.

All of them signed in relief after that, however, none of them celebrated, aware that it isn't the time to do so, the night has yet to end, the last time they celebrated was the moment they almost lost their lives to the demons.

So they learned it the hard way, all of them were catching their breath preserving their energy because who knows a demon might pop out of nowhere, they have to be cautious around.

Even with me around, they knew that I won't always protect them, they have to save their own asses, that is always the reminder that I give them.

And surprisingly they understood, which is a relief if some of them complained. I would beat them to the point that their mothers won't even recognize them!

Though most of the people in my group don't have any families anymore in the first place, it's the reason why they wanted to become demon slayers, for revenge, for justice, and some for their family honor.

Today was the last night and if they survive today, they would become full-fledged demon slayers.

So they have to be sure that they stay alive, then I looked at them and said, "Let's get moving, we can't stay here anymore if we stay here any longer, the demons will know where to find us."

They agreed with my words, after that I moved at a speed that they could keep up because I didn't want them to get lost or something. I don't want to be responsible for that.

Just playing safe, then at my side was Makomo, she could keep up with my current pace without much trouble, while the others were having a bit of a hard time.

That's the difference between a common demon slayer and a Hashira training their students, a big difference.

Along the way, we encountered a few demons. I let them take care of it because I know they are capable of handling demons at this level and also I consider this as gaining experience.

Like I stated before I can't protect them every time, so they have to learn how to handle these demons without my help because if I did help, they would become too dependent on me which immediately destroys the purpose of the final selection.

I will only help if it's necessary, they are here to learn how to handle demons, to slay them, not to get an ass saving.

Suddenly I stopped my movement, as I saw a huge demon that was covered by a lot of hands. I know this demon, it was shown in the series. I'm surprised that this thing is still alive.

From what I heard from Makomo, Sabito and Giyu passed the final selection last year so I thought they already handled this fatass, but I was wrong. I guess they didn't encounter it, no wonder Sabito got out alive.

The demon noticed us, and then it smiled creepily like a pedophile that was about to devour a loli, "There's…a lot…of…you! Must've…been…my…lucky…night!"

Then the demon shifted its attention toward Makomo, as it noticed the fox mask that she was wearing, "Ah…you..are..also…that…man's…. student…! Do…you…know? I killed…13…of…you…? Some..of…them…begged…for..mercy…and…I…gave…them…false..hope…the.. despair…in…their…faces…was…AMAZING…! I CAN'T…GET…ENOUGH!"

Makomo's veins started to appear in her head, she was affected by the demon's taunt, but despite that, she didn't dash out of anger toward the demon, because she knew that it was a trap.

Good, she was learning and by this action alone. I knew she was going to be different from the original timeline, she wouldn't die an early death, as she could control a bit of her anger.

"Makomo, you're doing a good job, keep it up in the future, you mustn't lose your cool whenever you face a demon, calmness is the key." It made me a bit of a hypocrite really as my breathing technique is a mixture of rage and calmness.

Though I was still working on my personal breathing form, while I'm still far from completing it, I did make some progress.

If I was making a degraded version of the Sun breathing technique. I've already completed it a long time ago, but my aim was to rival or surpass it.

That's why it's still in process, but I'm getting there surely.

Makomo's rage vanished as I said those words to her, replacing a bashfulness, "Y-yes! I'll surely live to your expectations!"

She said it is a very happy tone. This was the first time I praised her, so that's why she's happy.

"O-oh you don't have to, anyway I believe that demon is yours to kill." 

Then her expression changed to a serious one, seeing this I thought, 'Is this the legendary mood swings of a girl? First, she's angry, a moment later she's happy then becomes serious the next second.'

"Yes, please let me handle this demon. If what this demon said is the truth then, I have to avenge my fellow students!" Makomo glared at the demon, who looked disappointed.

"You…didn't…lose.. yourself…to…anger…like…the…others? How…. disappointing…"

Makomo didn't say anything, then she thought, 'That would probably happen to me if I was alone. I would have blindly attacked you in rage..but…he's here with me, I'm not alone, and staying with him made me learn something, anger would lead you to death!'

She started to remember the demon slayer in training that lost their partners, as they lost themselves to rage, they almost died if it wasn't for his intervention.

Nothing good comes out of anger, while you might lose your fears and feel invincible at the moment, in reality, you're not, as you will lose your valuable ability and it's the ability to think rationally.

Makomo closed her eyes as she breathed in and out, and when she was finally calm, she controlled the excitement on her veins and they became visible around her body.

"Breath Of The Water First Form: Water Surface Slash." Makomo moved at an inhumane speed and jumped at the demon as she tried to end it in one slash.

However, the demon realized her intention, and her hands were shot toward her like they were bullets!

Makomo managed to avoid a few of the hands that were shot to her by the demon mid-air, and the rest she slashed it with her blade, all of the ones that were hit by her blade were cut off like they were tofu.

Then she gracefully landed at one of the arms of the demon and used it to move forward, she dodge, slash, dodged, slashed.

Breathe..

Breathe…

Breath…!

Her movement became faster and faster, her slashes were also getting sharper as she countered the demon's hands.

I was looking at her in surprise, she was improving in real-time, she was becoming more and more proficient with the total concentration breathing technique!

At first, I let her challenge this demon because I wanted her to know that sometimes retreating was also an option. I knew that she can't beat a demon at this level with her current skills.

However, I did not predict this and with her constant improvement she would be able to slay this demon on her own, honestly, this was really entertaining to see.

To my point of view, it's like looking at the birth of a legend, it was amazing.

Makomo becomes faster and faster to the point that the demons couldn't keep up with her anymore, she's finally at the range where she could reach her blade to the demon's neck!

"Breath Of The Water Second Form: Water Wheel!" More veins started to appear in her body, as she used every ounce of her physical strength in this one slash!

The demon slash thoughts were, 'There's no way a little midget like her could cut my neck off! I protected it with my hardened arms!'

Makomo's blade ripped the flesh of the demon, and successfully beheaded it!

"What….? I'm…possible…" The demon's body started to turn into ashes.

Makomo's body slowly falls, but before she hits the ground. I caught her and now I'm holding her in a princess carry position.

I smiled at her and said, "I didn't expect you to actually slay it, good job you were amazing."

After hearing my praise, her face started turning red, and replied, "T-thank you.."

Suddenly I felt like I managed to raise a red flag.

(End-)

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