Chapter 840: Growth
Chapter 840: Growth
"Finally, success."
Tamae looked at the potion in her hand, a hint of satisfaction finally appearing on her face.
After obtaining the formula from Feng Ye, she had spent countless years searching for alternatives to the many extinct ingredients, some deliberately destroyed by Muzan Kibutsuji. Now, after countless attempts, she had finally created a new medicine with the same effects.
Even without testing it, she knew as a Demon that the potion was a success.
"Although it lacks the Blue Hydrangea, it has the same effect as the one Muzan used all those years ago."
Tamae took a breath and, after a soft murmur, decisively raised the test tube and drank its contents.
Gulu.
The potion entered her body and quickly merged with her blood.
Tamae instantly felt her blood transforming, as if it were boiling and burning throughout her body, causing intense pain that made her feel like she was dying.
The pain was so overwhelming that she couldn't stand and fell to the ground, curling up into a ball.
But as time passed.
The boiling sensation in her blood gradually cooled, and the pain slowly dissipated, replaced by an unprecedented feeling as if her entire being had been elevated.
Although she had modified her body to free herself from Muzan's control, it had only been a form of suppression. Now, her blood had truly broken free from Muzan Kibutsuji's mark at its root!
"Success."
Tamae slowly sat up, clenching her fists as she felt the power coursing through her.
She had exhausted all her efforts to obtain this power, not for immortality or world domination, but for a single purpose: to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji!
"I've become stronger, very strong... but I'm still not at his level."
Tamae murmured softly.
With the original medicine, she had achieved the same state as Muzan a thousand years ago. However, during this millennium, Muzan had devoured countless humans and continued to grow stronger with each kill.
She was now akin to a newly born 'King of Demons', at her most tender state. Despite transcending the Upper Moons, she was still like a child compared to Muzan Kibutsuji.
Consuming humans to increase her strength was not an option.
"So, the next step is to try something else."
Tamae's eyes glinted with determination.
If she couldn't defeat Muzan with brute force, she would have to resort to other means. With the original medicine in her possession, she could analyze it and create 'poisons' that would be lethal to Muzan, such as a cure to restore Demons to their human form or a drug to dismantle Muzan's cells.
If she could develop these and inject them into Muzan, there was hope that she could weaken and ultimately kill him!
Furthermore.
She could also consider collaborating with the Demon Slayers.
In any case, the grand plan to kill Muzan Kibutsuji could now be set in motion!
...
"Is that the medicine Muzan Kibutsuji used initially?"
Mitsuri Kanroji looked at the image of Tamae, her expression filled with curiosity.
Feng Ye nodded slightly, "Yes, I gave her the formula a long time ago, and she's finally managed to create the medicine."
"That sister is amazing."
Shinobu, sitting beside them, spoke softly. She, more than Mitsuri, understood the difficulty of such a feat, having researched Demon blood for many years herself without making much headway.
Even with the original formula, finding alternatives for the missing ingredients was incredibly challenging and required an extremely deep understanding of pharmacology.
Kanoe, sitting beside Shinobu, whispered, "She's actually a few hundred years old if you count her age."
Shinobu's mouth twitched as she glanced at Kanoe, conveying with her eyes that such a reminder was unnecessary. Mitsuri Kanroji also stiffened slightly at the comment.
Feng Ye averted his gaze, turning back to focus on Tanjiro's progress. In the vision, Tanjiro had just slain another Demon and was now making his way to the battlefield at Mt. Natagumo.
Unlike in the original story,
Tanjiro now had a clearer goal: to become a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps.
He had learned from his master, Sakonji Urokodaki, that in order to obtain information that could restore his sister Nezuko to her human form, he would have to kill the Twelve Demon Moons and become a Pillar. This newfound knowledge fueled his determination to hunt Demons with even greater fervor.
Mitsuri Kanroji couldn't help but be amazed by Tanjiro's performance at Mt. Natagumo.
"Tanjiro is so amazing!"
"He finally used the Sun Breathing!"
Mitsuri exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she enjoyed her post-meal dessert.
Watching Tanjiro grow and improve, and then witnessing his perilous journey at Mt. Natagumo, had kept her on the edge of her seat. But seeing him use the Sun Breathing Style made her feel like a proud parent, and she applauded with delight.
However, even with the Sun Breathing, Tanjiro, already injured and with a broken Nichirin Blade, couldn't kill Lower Moon Five— Rui. In the end, he collapsed, unable to move a finger.
"So close..."
"If only..."
Tanjiro's eyes were filled with regret as he lay on the ground.
His strength had grown tremendously, and he had come so close to killing a member of the Twelve Demon Moons. According to his master, defeating a Moon would bring him closer to becoming a Pillar, and he had almost achieved his goal.
Tanjiro struggled to move, but he could only watch helplessly as Rui's blood line sliced towards him.
Just then.
Swoosh.
A butterfly shadow flitted by, causing the approaching blood line to swiftly disintegrate.
"Oh dear, you're quite injured, but you did well to hold on until I arrived."
Butterfly Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, appeared silently beside Tanjiro, a charming smile on her face as she held his Nichirin Blade.
After all, the current Pillars were stronger than they were supposed to be at this point in the story.
"So fast..."
Lower Moon Five, Rui, gritted his teeth and broke into a cold sweat as he faced Shinobu.
He had been aware of her arrival because she hadn't bothered to conceal her approach to Mount Natagumo. She had simply charged straight in.
He had sent his 'family' ahead to set up traps and deal with Shinobu, but now it seemed that not only had they failed to defeat her, they hadn't even been able to stall her. Her strength far exceeded his initial assessment.
"Are you a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"You guessed right."
Shinobu Kocho smiled and replied gently, "But there's no reward for that, I'm afraid. After all, you've killed far too many people. It seems you've eaten quite a number of them, so I'm afraid I'll have to send you straight to hell."
Rui felt a bone-chilling cold as he looked at Shinobu's smile. She exuded an incredibly oppressive aura, not as overwhelming as Muzan's, but still terrifying. It was the first time he had encountered such a sensation.
Any thoughts of fighting were immediately extinguished.
"Blood Demon Art, Murderous Net!"
Rui spread his hands, and a web of crisscrossing blood-red threads appeared in his palms, instantly weaving into a large blood-colored net that enveloped Shinobu.
Tanjiro, lying helplessly on the ground, couldn't help but call out, "Be careful, Shinobu-san..."
But before he could finish his sentence, he saw Shinobu smiling as she lightly swung her Nichirin Blade twice, causing the oncoming threads to disintegrate and shatter into pieces.
Without hesitation, Rui turned and fled!
"You don't even have the courage to fight? How disappointing."
Shinobu revealed a faint smile, and her figure silently glided forward, like a ghost, covering dozens of meters in an instant, appearing behind Rui. Her Nichirin Blade traced an arc through the air.
Rui's body froze, and a thin line of blood appeared on his neck before his head flew forward.
"So strong..."
Tanjiro's eyes widened in awe.
He had almost cut off Rui's head with his 'Fire God Sky Dance,' and it had made him feel that his strength might be approaching that of a Pillar. But encountering Shinobu again, with Rui as a benchmark, he now had a clearer sense of just how powerful the Pillars truly were. Even with his current improvements, he still had a long way to go!
"Don't be discouraged. You still have room to grow."
Shinobu had somehow returned to Tanjiro's side and was inspecting his injuries with a smile.
At the same time, she was amazed by Tanjiro's innate talent.
When she had first met him, she hadn't noticed anything special about Tanjiro. It was only later, when Shinobu Kocho mentioned that Tanjiro was not ordinary, that she started to pay a little more attention. Even then, she hadn't been too concerned, as Tanjiro had just passed the Final Selection and become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
But now, in the short time since Tanjiro had joined the Demon Slayer Corps, he had not only survived an encounter with one of the Twelve Kizuki but had also, judging from the traces of the battle, engaged in a perilous fight. This prompted her to marvel at his progress.
Just a simple inspection revealed to her that Tanjiro had not yet mastered Total Concentration: Constant.
If he completed his training in Total Concentration: Constant, Lower Moon Five would undoubtedly be no match for him. After that, if he honed his swordsmanship under Shinobu Kocho and improved his foundation in various aspects, he would truly reach the level of a Pillar!
Initially, Shinobu had not thought that Tanjiro could become a Pillar, as just passing the Final Selection was difficult enough. To then stand out among the countless life-and-death battles after that seemed like an impossible task. But now, it seemed that Tanjiro did possess that level of talent.
"There, now. Rest easy."
After examining Tanjiro's injuries, Shinobu smiled and put him into a forced sleep.
She then instructed the arriving Demon Slayer Corps members to take Tanjiro and his sister, Nezuko, back to the headquarters. Tanjiro's injuries were too severe, and he needed to recuperate properly at the Butterfly Mansion. She also intended for him to complete his training in Total Concentration: Constant.
"Tanjiro and Nezuko are coming to headquarters!"
Mitsuri Kanroji's face lit up with excitement. She had been eager to meet Tanjiro and Nezuko.
Especially Nezuko, who was just too adorable. Even as a girl, Mitsuri found herself enamored.
"Feng Ye, have they arrived?"
Mitsuri turned to Feng Ye and asked.
Feng Ye nodded slightly. "Yes, they're here, but Tanjiro is still unconscious. You can go and see Nezuko if you like."
"Then I'm off!"
Mitsuri rushed out of the wooden house, full of enthusiasm.
The scene then shifted to a corner of the headquarters at the Butterfly Mansion, where the adorable Nezuko was curled up in her wooden box. Mitsuri burst into the room and opened the box, playfully rubbing Nezuko's cheeks.
"?"
Nezuko looked at Mitsuri with a questioning expression in her large eyes.
Just then, Tanjiro's voice sounded from outside.
"Nezuko!"
Tanjiro, wearing a patient's gown and with bandages wrapped around his body, walked into the room.
As he entered, he saw Mitsuri ruffling Nezuko's hair and stood there, dumbfounded, for a moment before stuttering, "Ah, um... who are you?"
"Oh, don't mind me."
Mitsuri turned to face Tanjiro, finally letting go of Nezuko, and said with a smile, "Keep up the good work, young man. I'm rooting for you."
She patted Tanjiro's head and then dashed out of the room, disappearing from view.
Tanjiro was left standing there, bewildered.
(End of Chapter)
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