Demon Slayer: Strength Gained with Every Swing of the Sword

"Is this the mountain before us...?"

Feng Yu, holding the Xiao Bai, arrived at the foot of the mountain named "Mist Island Mountain."

From the middle of the mountain down, the trees were dense, but as one ascended, a thick smoke began to emanate.

"It looks like this is an active volcano..."

Mist Island Mountain, located at the southern tip of Kyushu, Japan, is part of a volcanic cluster straddling the border of Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures.

Above the halfway point, there were no trees—just barren land—but below, the air was visibly thick with miasma.

Ever since Feng Yu arrived at the base, he could feel a faint toxic gas in the air.

To be cautious, Feng Yu decided to take an antidote pill, uncertain whether his body could resist the toxic miasma.

"Little White, take this."

Feng Yu offered the antidote pill to the Xiao Bai, but it turned its head away, signaling that it didn't need it. Instead, it gestured that something unusual was present on this mountain.

Feng Yu nodded in acknowledgment. He could sense that there was something supernatural on this mountain, though he wasn't sure of its exact nature or number...

Seeing the fox's behavior, Feng Yu woke up the Xiao Bai, intending to give it the antidote as well.

The Xiao Bai opened its eyes and shook its head.

"Master Feng Yu, I will not be going into the mountain. From here on, it's up to you..."

After consuming five Marrow-cleansing pills, the Xiao Bai had noticeably improved its speech and behavior.

Feng Yu didn't expect much help from the two of them at this moment. He was simply concerned for their safety.

But since the Xiao Bai refused to enter the mountain, it seemed that he would be going in with the Xiao Bai alone.

Suddenly, a loud roar echoed from deep within the mountain.

It sounded like a beast's growl, but also like the cry of a Demon...

Feng Yu's eyes darkened, and he slowly drew his Sun Wheel Sword, preparing for battle.

"Xiao Bai, go into the box..."

Feng Yu and the Xiao Bai ventured into the mountain.

Once inside, Feng Yu immediately felt that the dense foliage blocked all light, and the air carried the smell of volcanic ash.

This environment was not only humid but also unbearably hot.

After walking a short distance, sweat began to drip down Feng Yu's back. It was clear that few people had come to this mountain recently—there were no paths, and Feng Yu had to use his Wind Swift technique to move swiftly.

But in this dense forest, strange and entangled vines made it difficult to maintain his speed.

The entire forest gave off an oppressive feeling—dark, and seemingly endless. The slightest misstep would lead to being trapped by the vines, leaving one unable to find their way back.

Time passed, but Feng Yu did not encounter any Demons.

However, he felt that ever since entering the forest, he was being watched, his every move under scrutiny.

Feng Yu knew this was one of his weaknesses: he lacked the ability to sense the presence of others.

Unlike Tanjiro, who had a sharp sense of smell, or Inosuke, who could feel the movement of beasts, Feng Yu's senses were not as keen.

"A lack of perception is a real headache..."

Feng Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead, muttering.

"Perhaps I could develop something like Inosuke's Beast Breathing technique to improve my perception..."

The more Feng Yu thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea.

The only problem was that he had never witnessed Inosuke perform the Beast Breathing in person. He didn't know where Inosuke was at this moment—he would have to wait for the reunion of Tanjiro and his companions.

Just as Feng Yu was lost in thought about the future of his own Breathing technique, Xiao Bai suddenly let out a loud cry.

Feng Yu immediately became alert.

"Roar!"

Xiao Bai leaped out of its box and began growling towards a specific direction.

Following the fox's gaze, Feng Yu saw that the vines, which were previously still, were now writhing and moving on their own. They had completely blocked off the path they came from.

Feng Yu gripped his Sun Wheel Sword tightly.

He cursed himself for becoming distracted in such a place, his desire for improved sensory abilities growing stronger.

The vines slithered toward Feng Yu, and just as they were about to strike, he swiftly cut them down.

"Swish, swish!"

Feng Yu easily severed the attacking vines.

However, as soon as the vines were cut, new ones rapidly grew back.

Feng Yu furrowed his brow.

The regeneration of these vines was remarkable. This was clearly the blood demon art of the forest Demon.

"Looks like you want to use these vines to wear me out, huh..."

"Unfortunately, you've underestimated me..."

Feng Yu's face turned grim, and for the first time, he felt somewhat frustrated. He couldn't locate the Demon behind the vines, and it felt as if he were being toyed with.

This was intolerable!

And the result of this frustration was that the Demon would soon pay.

Looking at the vines encircling him from all directions, Feng Yu took a deep breath and gripped his Sword.

"Total Concentration, Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel!"

A massive blue water wheel formed around Feng Yu's body, spinning through the air and severing any vines or trees it touched.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The surrounding trees were felled with resounding crashes.

However, new vines quickly emerged.

But this allowed Feng Yu to carve out a sizable space for himself.

"Ying!"

Xiao Bai cried out again.

"Xiao Bai, are you saying the Demon is in that direction?" Feng Yu asked.

Xiao Bai nodded, then leaped into the air. Feng Yu quickly followed, his Sun Wheel Sword never stopping as he sliced through the advancing vines.

Xiao Bai used its claws to clear a path ahead.

The two worked in perfect synchrony.

"Damn it, that fox actually spotted me!"

Deep within the forest, a large green demon growled, its face twisted in fury.

The demon's hands and feet had transformed into vines, which burrowed into the ground, controlling the vines to impede Feng Yu and the Xiao Bai's progress.

Seeing that the two were unaffected by the vines, the demon snarled, "You forced my hand. Once I catch you, I'll devour you both!"

"Blood Demon Art: Soul Tree!"

As the demon's words faded, Feng Yu stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing.

Before him, the trees had suddenly transformed into humanoid tree-like creatures with glowing red eyes.

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

The tree people let out loud roars and began to attack Feng Yu.

Xiao Bai, now at its normal size, easily dodged the clumsy movements of the tree people.

Feng Yu, on the other hand, was hindered by the vines and trees surrounding him, making it difficult to avoid their attacks.

Noticing this, Feng Yu stopped dodging.

"I was hoping to end this quickly with a single strike, but it looks like I'll need to show some real strength now..."

"Fine. No more playing around. These tree people are weak!"

Feng Yu took a deep breath.

"Total Concentration, Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!"

Using the basic form of Water Breathing, Feng Yu's Sword swept through the tree people, cutting them into pieces wherever the tip of his Sword touched.

"Damn it! How is this person so strong? Could he be one of the Hashira from the Demon Slayer Corps...?"

"Why is there a Hashira here...?"

"Is he here to hunt down our master...?"

The demon began to panic. In its moment of distraction, the control over the vines faltered.

"Boom!"

The dense forest was suddenly cut open, and Feng Yu cleared a path.

And there, before him, stood the instigator.

"It seems like it's you..."

Feng Yu pointed his Sun Wheel Sword at the forest demon, its green Sword still dripping with the blood of the tree people.

Drops of blood fell to the ground.

The forest demon's eyes widened. It wanted to flee, but its hands and feet were still rooted in the ground by vines.

"You... don't come any closer... If you kill me, my master will tear you apart!"

The forest demon stared at Feng Yu, its forehead drenched in cold sweat, fear filling its heart.

"Oh? Is there a stronger demon than you in this forest?"

"Very well, then. You can die."

Feng Yu's expression was as cold as his Sword.

"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!"

The blue Sword flashed, and the forest demon's head fell to the ground.

Its disbelieving eyes stared at its own body as it crumbled into ashes.

"I can't believe... I can't believe I was decapitated... I'm disappearing..."

"Demon Slayer... You will soon be killed by my master... I will wait for you in hell..."

The forest demon disintegrated into ash, vanishing into the air.

"Heh. A stronger demon?"

Feng Yu sheathed his Sun Wheel Sword, a smile spreading across his face, a smile reminiscent of his earlier days when facing Tanjiro.

"Looks like this mission might turn out to be a big win!"

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