"Natagumo Mountain"
Several days after the encounter with Muzan Kibutsuji in Tokyo, three figures approached Natagumo Mountain.
One was Tanjiro, carrying Nezuko in a box on his back.
The second was Inosuke Hashibira, wearing a boar mask, a loincloth, and boar pelts, wielding two Nichirin Swords. He used his self-created Beast Breathing and still harbored resentment over his previous defeat by Aoki, eager for a rematch.
The third was Zenitsu Agatsuma, a fellow Demon Slayer from Aoki and Tanjiro's graduating class, wielding Thunder Breathing and wearing a yellow haori with a triangular pattern.
After recovering from injuries sustained during the Demon House incident, they received their next mission: Natagumo Mountain.
By nightfall, Tanjiro and Inosuke had entered the mountain, Zenitsu lagging behind due to his fear of demons.
"What's this?" Inosuke exclaimed, discovering sticky white threads on his hands.
Tanjiro examined them, noticing a vast network of spiderwebs throughout the forest, teeming with spiders.
"So many webs. Annoying," Inosuke grumbled, trying to brush them off.
"Inosuke," Tanjiro said, "Thank you."
Inosuke: "???"
Tanjiro smiled. "Having you here makes me feel safer. The mountain has a twisted, evil aura. It scared me a little. Thank you."
Inosuke stood dumbfounded.
Tanjiro's relaxed expression vanished, his face tightening. He pointed towards a figure on a nearby slope, seemingly a Demon Slayer, nervously looking around. "Let's go."
They ran towards the figure. As the figure nervously looked around, a hand landed on his shoulder. It was a tense young man.
Instinctively, the young man reached for his Nichirin Sword, only to see Tanjiro and Inosuke.
"We're here to support you," Tanjiro said softly. "I'm Tanjiro Kamado, a Mizunoto-rank slayer."
"Mizunoto-rank?" The young man looked disappointed. "Why not a Hashira? More Mizunoto-rank slayers won't make a difference."
Before he could finish, Inosuke punched him in the face.
"Inosuke!" Tanjiro tried to stop him, but Inosuke grabbed the young man's hair. "Your existence is pointless. Explain yourself, weakling!"
Smoke puffed from Inosuke's boar mask, ruffling the young man's hair.
The young man's thoughts: "What's going on? I'm the senior here!"
Despite his anger, the young man explained the situation.
"The crows gave orders. Ten Slayers came here. Soon after entering the mountain, they started killing each other. I…"
The young man trembled, recalling the events.
Meanwhile, at Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat with his children, a crow perched on his hand, its feathers ruffled from a hurried flight.
"You've worked hard," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said. "My children are almost all dead. There might be an Upper Moon there. We need to send Hashira."
Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho appeared.
"Giyu, Shinobu."
"Yes, Master!" they replied, kneeling.
"Oh, and," Kagaya Ubuyashiki added, "Since there might be an Upper Moon, let's call Aoki. That Devour Hashira isn't exactly popular."
Shinobu Kocho's expression subtly changed. "Yes, if he wants to gain acceptance, Aoki-kun needs to kill an Upper Moon."
Meanwhile, Aoki was fishing by a pond near headquarters, his basket empty. He was dozing until a crow's call startled him awake.
"Order from headquarters! Devour Hashira Aoki, proceed immediately to Natagumo Mountain to rendezvous with the Water and Insect Hashira. An Upper Moon may be present. Order from headquarters! Devour Hashira Aoki, proceed immediately to Natagumo Mountain to rendezvous with the Water and Insect Hashira. An Upper Moon may be present."
Startled, Aoki scrambled to his feet, brushing himself off.
"An Upper Moon? I see."
____________________
for more advance chapters visit my p@treon
[email protected]/kane45
Casual Reader - 20 Advance Chapters
Intermediate Reader - 40 Advance Chapters
Expert Reader - 60 Advance Chapters