Chapter 1: Landing on Natagumo Mountain!
Demon Slayer World – Natagumo Mountain.
A desolate mountain shrouded in silence, deep in the wilderness.
The pale moonlight spread across the forest floor as a full moon hung high in the sky, quietly illuminating the confusion etched across the face of a young man.
"Did I just… travel through time?"
A handsome young man—his appearance almost rivaling that of the reader—slowly opened his eyes.
At this moment, Akira was filled with confusion.
A heavy scent of blood lingered in the air. Cold wind blew through the trees. Scattered across the ground were the corpses of fallen Demon Slayers. Somewhere nearby, cries of despair echoed through the night.
It was then Akira realized… this was no illusion. He had indeed arrived in another world.
Suddenly, a clear mechanical sound echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Traveler detected in the Demon Slayer world. To increase survival rate, granting unique talent: Extraordinary Comprehension!]
In an instant, Akira's mind cleared.
His vision sharpened. The chaotic battlefield around him snapped into vivid focus. His senses became hypersensitive—he could perceive even the most minute details in the environment.
With the system's announcement and the surrounding carnage, Akira quickly deduced where he was.
Natagumo Mountain.
The territory of Lower Rank Five, Rui.
"Crap…"
Akira's heart tensed.
His cheat ability was growth-based, but at this point, he had neither skills nor weapons. If even a low-level demon showed up, he might be dead before he could do anything!
He silently began to pray.
Let me just sneak away quietly. I'm a nobody. A ghost wouldn't even notice me, right?
With that hopeful thought, Akira cautiously tried to move.
But the moment he turned around—
"Hehehe…"
A spine-chilling laugh echoed from the shadows.
Akira's eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me…"
From the darkness, something began to slither closer.
Though he didn't want to believe it, the grotesque face emerging from the shadow left no room for doubt.
He had run into a demon.
It was tall and burly, its expression twisted with hunger as it fixated on Akira like fresh meat.
Drool leaked from its jagged mouth.
"Hungry… You smell delicious…"
The situation was terrifying, but something unusual happened.
[You observed the demon's teeth and gained insight: Crooked Smile!]
[Your heartbeat accelerated from fear. You've unlocked the skill: High-Frequency Pulse.]
[Sensing the opponent's bloodlust, you gain inspiration and create a unique breathing style—
Heat Breathing!]
"What the hell?!"
Akira was stunned.
Ideas had flooded his mind uncontrollably—he'd just invented an entirely new Breathing Style?! Was this the power of Extraordinary Comprehension?
His delight was short-lived. A wave of dizziness hit him.
Seems like overclocking his brain had taken a toll. That much thinking in such a short time… He felt like his blood sugar had plummeted.
Meanwhile, the demon could no longer hold back its hunger.
It lunged, jaws aimed at Akira's neck.
But Akira's instincts kicked in. He twisted his body, dodging effortlessly.
His body felt strangely powerful—his temperature was rising, his strength increasing!
Suddenly, a figure descended from the treetops above.
Light as a feather, graceful as a butterfly.
A Nichirin Blade with a floral motif rested at her side. Her haori resembled butterfly wings, trailing behind her in the wind. Purple-tipped hair framed her serene face, held in place by a wisteria-patterned butterfly clip.
Kochou Shinobu.
One of the Nine Hashira—the Insect Hashira. Renowned for her speed and deadly poisons.
She landed softly before Akira.
In a blink, her sword was drawn.
Her movements were like a dance—fluid, precise, beautiful.
But Akira saw every motion clearly.
[You observed Kochou Shinobu's graceful swordsmanship. Your mind was stirred. Skill acquired: Elegant Blade Technique.]
"Insect Breathing, Butterfly Dance: Caprice!"
Kochou twirled in the air, her blade slicing through the demon with elegant precision.
Poison coursed through the demon's veins. The creature screeched before collapsing, its body quickly withering.
Victory achieved, Shinobu retracted her blade.
Her butterfly-patterned haori fluttered as she approached Akira, a gentle smile on her lips.
"You're not hurt, are you?" she asked softly.
"I'm okay," Akira replied, though his brain felt like it had just run a marathon. His vision blurred slightly from the mental strain.
Then, unexpectedly, Shinobu leaned in closer.
Her serene, spring-like smile seemed to melt the cold air around them. Her violet eyes studied him closely.
Akira could smell the faint fragrance of wisteria on her.
Her gaze slowly dropped…
From his face…
To his neck…
Then to his chest.
She froze.
"Those are… Stripes?!"
Shinobu's eyes widened. Her smile briefly faltered.
She had seen something like this in her pharmacology studies—Demon Slayer Marks.
Such markings only appeared in rare cases. Those who awakened them experienced a massive boost in physical ability—often comparable to a Hashira.
But this boy wasn't wearing a Corps uniform. He clearly wasn't a member.
And yet… he bore the markings of one with Hashira potential.
Shinobu quickly composed herself and smiled again.
"My, my… what's your name, sir?"
"Akira."
"Akira-san… Do you have a home to return to?"
Akira shook his head. "I don't. I'm an orphan."
Shinobu's face lit up.
"Is that so? How tragic. Well, many in the Demon Slayer Corps are orphans. Why not come with me?"
Akira lowered his head in thought.
His Extraordinary Comprehension required observing combat techniques to grow. And right now, he was still weak. The demon side was unpredictable, dangerous, and their values vastly different.
But the Corps?
A treasure trove of Breathing Styles. A place filled with capable swordsmen and kind-hearted women. Not to mention the occasional opportunity to flirt…
The choice was obvious.
"I'll go with you."
Shinobu beamed. "Wonderful! Then let's head to the Butterfly Estate. I'll examine you there. You must be exhausted from that encounter."
Akira nodded, but the moment he stood, dizziness struck him hard.
His mental overexertion finally caught up.
He stumbled… and collapsed straight into Shinobu's arms.