Demon Slayer World
Having tested Hamon/ripple and mailed the Water Breathing notes to Tatsumi, Tanjiro received a reply.
At Tatsumi's tactfully worded critique, Tanjiro's eyes turned into tiny dots and he gave an awkward laugh.
He realized that any normal person would find his 'Water Breathing' guide impossible to follow.
Red-faced, he asked Sakonji to organize a proper training regimen.
Sakonji Urokodaki also possessed an multiverse projection—otherwise Tanjiro couldn't have gotten an answer within minutes, not even by crow.
In many ways, multiverse projection was incredibly convenient.
A short wait later, Sakonji replied, first praising Tanjiro's talent—he'd actually mastered Ripple Breathing from another world and proved its power.
The old hunter had seen Rengoku's footage: under Ripple, demons vanished as if hit by direct sunlight.
The sight made the veteran Slayer sigh, sensing Water Breathing's era might be ending.
From today on, Ripple Breathing would become the Demon Slayer Corps' main training target.
As Rengoku quoted Joseph: for a vampire to use Ripple is to bask in sunlight—i.e., suicide—unless it's an Ultimate Life Form immune to the sun, and so far no such demon, not even Muzan, had appeared.
Another benefit: some former Slayers had turned into demons, grown vastly stronger, and slaughtered their ex-comrades.
Now, if they tried to fight with Ripple, they'd blow themselves apart.
Ripple thus served as a built-in deterrent against Slayers tempted to become demons.
Sakonji felt that with Ripple around, other Breaths would soon fade.
Knowing this, he happily handed the Water Breathing manual to Tanjiro for Tatsumi.
''Thank you, Sakonji-san.'' The ever-helpful boy forwarded the new notes at once.
Afterward he breathed easy; Tatsumi had offered rewards—training methods, medicines, forging secrets—but Tanjiro left the choice to him, wanting only friendship.
The video had shown Tatsumi losing every teammate and dying to protect civilians; if he could avert that future, Tanjiro would gladly help.
''All done?'' Rengoku asked, seeing the boy relax.
''Yes, sir!''
Tanjiro nodded. ''Where to next?''
''Home for now.'' Still smiling at the lad's energy, Rengoku decided they should return to the Insect Hashira's estate; outside was too risky.
As the first and only Slayer wielding Ripple, Tanjiro had to stay safe.
With that, Rengoku turned to leave—only for countless 'eyeballs' to surface from the nearby shadows.
''!!!!!''
Rengoku's blade flamed to life, its heat washing over Tanjiro.
''Whoosh—!!!''
In the next instant, Rengoku Kyojuro vanished from where he stood, leaving only flames flickering in place.
In a flash, Rengoku Kyojuro obliterated every one of the 'eyeballs' on the ground. His expression grave, he looked at Tanjiro and said, "We've been found—we have to pull back at once.
Although Rengoku Kyojuro had wiped out the 'eyeballs' at top speed, in that split-second he had also revealed his own position.
If Rengoku Kyojuro had been alone, he would not have feared how many demons came.
But the situation was different now; Tanjiro was at his side, and as the Flame Hashira he had to protect the boy.
Yes, sir!
Seeing the seriousness on Rengoku Kyojuro's face, Tanjiro understood how grave things were.
The two of them quickly departed.
Inside the Infinity Castle.
"I've located them, Lord Muzan," Nakime spoke, fingers gliding over her shamisen. "Tanjiro and a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Where?"
Kibutsuji Muzan, dressed as a noblewoman, curved her lips into a smile; ever since acquiring Nakime, the woman had never once disappointed her.
A pity—she had already bestowed her own blood upon Nakime once; she could not do so again for some time.
Otherwise Nakime would most likely drop dead on the spot.
Merely finding Tanjiro was already merit enough for Kibutsuji Muzan to grant Nakime another taste of her blood.
"It's—" Nakime slowly named the location, and Kibutsuji Muzan's satisfied smile widened.
"When night falls, send Kokushibo and the others to search. The Demon Slayer Corps members don't matter—just bring Tanjiro back."
Although she stood within the Infinity Castle, Kibutsuji Muzan knew full well that outside the sun still rode high in the sky.
Dispatching Kokushibo and the rest to seize Tanjiro in broad daylight would be suicide.
"Understood."
Nakime inclined her head, voicing no objection to Kibutsuji Muzan's order.
"Hm?"
Just as Kibutsuji Muzan was about to speak further, she noticed a new image flickering into existence on the black multiverse projection screen.
It was the brief prelude to the next clip about to play.
Oh? Starting already?
Kibutsuji Muzan's lips curled in intrigue; she could hardly wait to see the next countdown video.
Because the black screen faded, replaced by a single line of text.
No. 2—Hang in there, big bro flying the spaceship!!!
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