Chapter 192: Upper Moon Six (Part 2)

For the Hand Demon, the person he hated most in his life was undoubtedly Sakonji Urokodaki. Just as he had become a demon and was ready to wield his newfound power, he encountered Urokodaki, who captured him and brought him to Fujikasane Mountain, turning him into a target for the Demon Slayer Corps' trials.

This deep-seated hatred drove the Hand Demon to relentlessly hunt Urokodaki's disciples after gaining power. It would have been difficult to identify Urokodaki's disciples, but Urokodaki had the habit of giving them masks. The same mask he wore when capturing the Hand Demon. Unable to defeat the old master, the Hand Demon vented his anger on the younger disciples, targeting those with the distinctive masks.

After learning of this from Tanjiro, Urokodaki deeply regretted his actions. What he had intended as a protective charm for his disciples had turned into a death sentence.

Over the years, every generation of his disciples died during the Corps' trials, leading Urokodaki to doubt his own capabilities as a mentor. He began to think he wasn't a good trainer, questioning why his disciples always perished.

This guilt led Urokodaki to become increasingly strict with his trainees. He believed that if his disciples couldn't pass the trials, it was because they were too weak. Thus, the final test of cutting a rock grew larger each year, culminating in the massive boulder Tanjiro faced, which was even bigger than the one Sabito had cut.

Even Kagaya Ubuyashiki hadn't realized that a powerful demon lurked within Fujikasane Mountain, far beyond the capabilities of ordinary trial participants.

The Hand Demon was exceptionally cunning. He ensured that everyone who saw him was killed, but always left enough survivors to avoid drawing attention from the Corps' leadership.

"Boy, who gave you that mask?" the Hand Demon asked, stopping about three meters away from Daniel.

"Sakonji Urokodaki," Daniel replied calmly.

"So, it was him. Are you his disciple? I didn't expect to meet another one this year. Hahaha," the Hand Demon laughed maniacally.

At the same time, the ground beneath Daniel's feet began to swell, and a massive blue fist shot up from below, aiming at him.

The Hand Demon's Blood Demon Art allowed him to grow extra hands, and he aimed to disable Daniel before slowly torturing him to vent his long-standing grudge against Urokodaki.

Swish.

A cold light flashed as Daniel's Nichirin Blade unsheathed, instantly severing the fist. In the next moment, the Hand Demon's other arms launched a flurry of attacks, akin to a barrage from a rubber machine gun.

While Tanjiro would have had to dodge such an attack, Daniel effortlessly cut through the incoming arms with a few swift movements.

"This can't be happening," the Hand Demon muttered, stepping back involuntarily as his severed arms regenerated. He had never encountered anyone who could cut off all his arms so quickly. Not even the formidable Sabito had managed more than four severed limbs.

The Hand Demon knew how tough his arms were. Most trial participants' Nichirin Blades couldn't even pierce his skin.

Despite his limbs regrowing, the Hand Demon hesitated, stunned by Daniel's prowess.

"Over the years, haven't you killed enough people wearing this mask? Why are you afraid now?" Daniel taunted, stepping forward as the Hand Demon retreated.

"You..."

Fury surged within the Hand Demon, but the stark disparity in strength kept him from voicing his retort.

"Room, Slaughterhouse." Daniel activated his spatial technique, slicing the Hand Demon into several segments.

"This guy is quite clever, isn't he?" Daniel mused as he dragged the dismembered demon into the cave where he had been hiding. The spacious cave, likely dug out by the Hand Demon himself, provided a secluded place away from other demons.

Daniel began analyzing the demon's genetic material. "The DNA and ATP are vastly different from humans. Why is Nezuko so unique?" Even demons needed energy, which they got from consuming humans, but Nezuko didn't. Was it a matter of willpower?

"Never mind, if I dig too deep, the questions just multiply," Daniel thought, tossing the Hand Demon into a transmutation array for a Philosopher's Stone.

Many aspects of demons could be studied, such as why sunlight was deadly to them, why Nichirin Blades could kill them by severing their necks, and why wisteria poison was so effective. But pursuing all these questions would require too much time. Daniel wasn't a dedicated scientist like Tony Stark; his priority was personal training.

Demons' regenerative abilities didn't hold many secrets for Daniel, as they were related to the number of souls they consumed, similar to the homunculi in Fullmetal Alchemist.

Creating weapons infused with wisteria poison was easy for Daniel, even mass-producing them. Such weapons would drastically increase the Demon Slayer Corps' efficiency. However, the current era's technology lagged far behind the Marvel universe's.

Without the Philosopher's Stone transmutation array, Daniel might have resorted to making those weapons. But now, he had a more efficient method.

"Too bad the breathing techniques' sword skills are just special effects. In reality, they're pure swordsmanship without elemental attributes like water, fire, or lightning," Daniel noted.

With the Hand Demon dead, Urokodaki could finally find some peace, and future trials at Fujikasane Mountain would be safer. "In a few years, once Muzan is dead, this place will probably be abandoned," Daniel thought, sealing the cave entrance with wisteria flowers to prevent other demons from entering.

He sent two letters: one to Shinobu to be forwarded to Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and the other to Urokodaki, delivered by the Demon Slayer Corps.

At the Ubuyashiki residence, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's condition had improved slightly, although the curse markings on his face had spread. After reading the letter from Shinobu, he sighed deeply. "I didn't realize such a thing was happening at Fujikasane Mountain. It's my failure. Those poor children."

He handed the letter to Shinobu, who read it with a puzzled expression.

"A powerful demon at Fujikasane Mountain?" Shinobu's face turned pale.

"I underestimated the demons. Luckily, he discovered it this time. Who knows how many more would have died otherwise," Kagaya said. Daniel had provided a plausible explanation in his letter, stating that he had captured a newly turned demon intended for the trials and discovered the Hand Demon by accident. The details from the Hand Demon's confession made the story airtight.

"We need to change the trial procedures at Fujikasane Mountain. There could be more hidden threats," Kagaya said. A simple solution would be to have a Pillar inspect the mountain before each trial.

"Sabito, Makomo, it was my fault," Urokodaki wept after reading his letter. Thirteen disciples, all lost due to a demon he had inadvertently captured years ago. His guilt weighed heavily, but the truth brought some relief.

"Giyu and Sabito were in the same class. Sabito died saving Giyu. Did Giyu not see the Hand Demon back then?" Daniel wondered as he continued hunting demons. His prowess quickly made him a renowned figure within the Demon Slayer Corps, drawing both admiration and jealousy. His feats were known to all the Pillars.

Ordinarily, a Demon Slayer couldn't constantly hunt demons due to the risk of injury. Only the Pillars could consistently battle demons without rest, thanks to their exceptional abilities.

Injuries required healing, and humans didn't recover as quickly as demons. Thus, an average Demon Slayer might kill one or two demons every few months, making Daniel's relentless hunt noteworthy. Many admired him, but some, like Zenitsu Agatsuma's senior, resented his success. This senior joined the Corps not for justice but for power and later became a demon, causing his teacher to commit seppuku in shame.

In the history of the Demon Slayer Corps, few had turned into demons, the most notable being Yoriichi Tsugikuni's brother.

"Has my Nichirin Blade been forged? It's time to return to the Butterfly Mansion for a rest," Daniel decided after receiving a message from his sparrow.

"This is my specialized Nichirin Blade," Daniel said, admiring the blade forged with advanced techniques, making it more durable and sharp than standard blades. Love Pillar Mitsuri's blade was the most unique, resembling a whip rather than a traditional sword, a feat even Daniel couldn't replicate with alchemy.

While Daniel could create Nichirin Blades using alchemical techniques, he preferred those crafted by skilled blacksmiths, valuing the craftsmanship.

"It's like the difference between handmade and mass-produced items," he mused. "Standard Nichirin Blades aren't needed in the modern world, but the Corps' uniforms are great."

The uniforms were made of special fibers, breathable, lightweight, moisture-resistant, and fireproof, with some defensive capabilities. While these features offered minimal protection against demons, they would be a major selling point in the modern world.

Taking a deep breath, Daniel blew into a large gourd, which exploded with a loud bang, delighting the three young children watching.

As support staff of the Demon Slayer Corps, the children practiced the Flower Breathing technique, derived from Water Breathing. Although their progress was slow due to their age, it was enough for their current duties.

Daniel had formed a bond with the children during his stay at the Butterfly Mansion, often treating them with homemade pastries and candies.

"Fire, Water, Thunder, Flame, Wind—five basic breathing techniques," Daniel noted. During his time at the Butterfly Mansion, he occasionally helped as a doctor and studied the breathing techniques.

The Demon

 Slayer Corps wasn't secretive about the basics of these techniques. Anyone could apply to study them, though only the foundational forms were available. For instance, only the basic forms of Fire and Water Breathing were accessible at headquarters; advanced forms were family secrets.

Rengoku's family guarded the advanced forms of Fire Breathing, each generation enhancing its power.

"Thunder Breathing is impressive. Maybe I can find a way to learn Sun Breathing from Tanjiro. Given his personality, he probably wouldn't mind sharing," Daniel thought.

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