SEC Chapter 27 The Boulder
Chapter 27 The Boulder
After Urokodaki finished speaking, he left Mizuko standing there alone.
"Nezuko, you are the most talented child I have ever seen in all these years. However, the Demon Slayer Corps' assessment is too dangerous. If you don't do well, you could die. Tanjiro is your only family left, and you are Tanjiro's last little sister. If... you have to give up!"
Urokodaki walked away slowly with his head down, his heart filled with deep worry for Mizuko.
As the trainer of the Demon Slayer Corps, only Giyu Tomioka has passed the selection process over the years.
In the years that followed, or even before, dozens of children he had nurtured perished at Fujishiyama.
Even Sabito, who had the highest talent and aptitude, failed in that selection.
Thinking about this, a deep sense of loss welled up inside me.
After the death of the rabbit, he often fell into self-doubt, feeling that he was not worthy of being a qualified breeder.
He was the one who pushed those children into the abyss of death.
That's why he hasn't taken on any disciples in all these years, until the appearance of Nezuko and Tanjiro.
Tomioka, I may have to break my promise to you.
Urokodaki's steps slowed further, his eyes filled with remorse.
This brother and sister have already suffered enough; their family was destroyed, their brother became a demon, and they shouldn't lose either of them. Perhaps letting Nezuko stay safely by Tanjiro's side is the best choice.
He reminisced about the nearly one year he had spent teaching Midouzi.
From that frail but determined little girl to the swordswoman who has mastered the art of water breathing.
He noticed every bit of progress Mi Douzi made.
But the more he saw her excellence, the more he was reminded of the children who went from him to Fujisaki Mountain and never came back.
Gradually, his mindset began to waver.
What if Mizuko's talent is just an illusion? What if I'm really getting old, and my vision is becoming dull, which is why I think she has extraordinary abilities?
If that's really the case, then sending Nezuko to participate in the Fujikasane Mountain selection would be a death trap.
Urokodaki couldn't help but look up at the sky; the thick clouds blocked out the sunlight.
Just like his mood at this moment, he felt so depressed that he could hardly breathe.
He didn't know if his decision was right or wrong, torn between Midouzi's determination to protect and save her brother.
On one side is a life-or-death test so cruel it can devour everything.
This choice was so heavy that he could hardly bear it.
Meanwhile, standing beside the boulder, Mizuko watched Urokodaki's retreating figure.
Her heightened senses allowed her to perceive Urokodaki's sense of loss.
[Mr. Urokodaki is probably worried that I won't be able to cut this boulder and thus fail the test!]
Mizuko took a deep breath and looked at the sword that Urokodaki had left behind.
Then, she put down the wooden sword in her hand and picked up the Nichirin Blade that belonged to Urokodaki.
【Mr. Urokodaki, I will definitely not let you down, and I will definitely become a true member of the Demon Slayer Corps!】
Midouzi made up her mind, then closed her eyes and began to breathe rhythmically.
The next second, she suddenly opened her eyes, raised the Nichirin Blade in her hand, and slashed at the boulder.
"Hey! Hey!"
A clear, low shout rang out.
Immediately afterwards, a loud "Clang!" rang out as the Nichirin Blade collided violently with the boulder, sparking countless bursts of light.
The next second, a strong, tingling sensation swept along the blade, instantly spreading through both arms and then throughout the entire body.
She forced herself to steady herself, but the expression on her face had already changed.
His eyes were wide open, and his mouth was uncontrollably agape into an "O" shape.
His cheeks twitched slightly from the tremor.
That adorable face was filled with a blank, innocent look, as if asking, "Who am I? Where am I?"
She shook her head vigorously, and after regaining her senses, she glanced at the blade and found that it was intact.
"Wow, that's a Nichirin Blade! It's amazing!"
After praising it, her gaze returned to the boulder in front of her, her eyes becoming even more focused.
The slashes just now, relying solely on brute force and basic breathing, were clearly insufficient to cause any substantial damage to the boulder.
This time, she was no longer in a hurry to succeed. Instead, she slowly adjusted her breathing and decided to combine it with the Water Breathing technique to gather her strength for a slash.
With a breath from Mizuko's mouth, she slammed her feet into the ground, and the Nichirin Blade in her hand rose rapidly as her body spun, the blade creating a wave of water as it slashed towards the boulder.
"The Breath of Water, Second Form—The Waterwheel!"
A crisp, low shout rang out, and the spinning blade resembled a rapidly turning waterwheel.
This time, she no longer pursued brute force, but instead used the inertia of rotation to allow the power to accumulate layer by layer with the rhythm of her breathing, as long and sharp as a surging stream.
"clang--!"
Another deafening roar followed as the Nichirin Blade struck the boulder with pinpoint accuracy, unleashing sparks even more dazzling than before.
A strong recoil force struck again, but the bean used the momentum of its rotation to dissipate most of the force.
Although my arm was still numb, I wasn't as disheveled as before, and finally landed steadily on the ground.
When Mi Douzi turned his head to look with a hint of excitement, the boulder was completely unmoved, without even a scratch on its surface.
A hint of disappointment crept into my heart, but it lasted only a moment.
She immediately straightened her back, readjusted her posture, and the determination in her eyes quickly dispelled the gloom.
This time, she held the Nichirin Blade horizontally in front of her chest with one hand, her body slightly turned to the side, her feet firmly planted on the ground, and all the power in her body gradually gathered at the tip of the blade.
"call--"
A series of heavy yet steady breaths rang out, and all the power flowed from the hilt to the tip of the blade.
The next second, a soft shout rang out again.
"Water Breathing, Seventh Form - Shizuku Ripple Thrust!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Midouzi suddenly darted forward, moving as fast as an arrow released from a bow.
The Nichirin Blade in his hand thrust straight out, its tip carrying a condensed azure energy, aiming precisely at a spot on the surface of the boulder.
The Seventh Form emphasizes the high concentration of power, breaking through the surface with a single point.
Break through the toughest defenses with the most precise explosive force.
"clang--!"
A sharp metallic clang exploded, more piercing than ever before.
The tip of the Nichirin Blade was pressed firmly against the boulder, and sparks flew several inches high.
A strong recoil force swept along the blade.
Midouzi gripped the knife hilt tightly with one hand, the veins on his arm bulging slightly, his body trembling slightly from the exertion, yet he still managed to keep his balance and did not retreat even half a step.
However, this time, even with all his strength, he only managed to leave a small dent on the surface of the boulder.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
Mi Douzi withdrew his arm, pressed the tip of his knife against the ground, and gasped for breath.
"No, my strength is still too weak!"
Mizuko attributed everything to his own power.
This time, she no longer focused on cutting down the boulder, but instead began the most basic strength training day and night.
Two more months passed, and the power of the beans increased significantly.
When she returned to the boulder, she gripped the blade tightly with both hands, her eyes exceptionally focused.
That lovely face was full of determination.
She took a deep breath, slowly closed her eyes, and adjusted her breathing rhythm.
The next second, Nezuko suddenly opened her eyes, pushed off with her feet, and leaped high into the air, raising the Nichirin Blade in her hand.
The energy generated by the blade, like a converging stream, instantly condensed into a powerful column of water.
"The Breath of Water, Form Eight—Takitsubo!"
With a crisp, low shout, the Nichirin Blade slashed fiercely at the boulder.
The essence of this move lies in condensing power and energy into a swift and powerful attack like a waterfall, descending from above with overwhelming force, perfectly unleashing the power she has honed over the past two months.
"Boom—!"
A deafening roar echoed through the mountains and forests.
The Nichirin Blade collided violently with the boulder once more, sending powerful shockwaves sweeping outwards and scattering fallen leaves and pebbles across the ground.
The strong recoil caused the beans to stagger back three steps before regaining their footing.
She shook her slightly numb arm and immediately looked up at the boulder.
"Why...why? Why? Why?"
The boulder remains intact, with only shallow scratches remaining.
This intensified Midouzi's frustration.
She unwillingly raised her Nichirin Blade and swung it wildly, but even so, the boulder remained unmoved and intact.
"Brother, I...I can't do it, what should I do? What should I do?!"
Mi Douzi knelt before the boulder and couldn't help but sob. The training she had undergone over the past few days had left her hands worn and bloody.
Even though her hands weren't fully healed, she continued to train, and no matter how tedious or tiring it was, she never gave up.
In the end, however, only a shallow scratch remained.
"Should I give up? No, I don't want to, I don't want to anymore, I can do it, I can do it, I definitely can..."
Just as Midouzi was gritting her teeth and encouraging herself, a cheerful and arrogant voice rang out!
"Hey, you're so noisy!"