Demon Slayer: Start With Heroic Spirit Legacy System

The night passed quickly.

Makomo, who hadn't rested properly all week, found peace and tranquility in Zhou Yi's arms for the first time. She slept deeply and soundly.

When Zhou Yi woke, Makomo was still asleep, her hand gripping his wrist tightly.

Gently, Zhou Yi pried her small hand free and tucked it under the blanket.

"No... not there..." Makomo mumbled in her sleep.

"Senior, don't accuse me wrongly! I was just helping you with the blanket!" Zhou Yi sighed helplessly and quietly slipped out of the room.

It was almost time for his meeting with the three Hashiras.

As the shoji door closed softly, Makomo suddenly opened her eyes. Half her face was hidden beneath the quilt, but her flushed cheeks were faintly visible.

"Stupid junior!"

The room fell silent once more.

Training Ground

Led by Kondo, Zhou Yi arrived at a spacious training area.

"Wow, I didn't expect such a large place for sparring!" Zhou Yi couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

As expected, the Demon Slayer Corps was as wealthy as rumored!

Unlike certain stingy employers he had encountered before!

"Ah, you've arrived in a flashy manner!"

"How about starting with me?"

Although it wasn't quite time yet, Tengen Uzui seemed to have been waiting eagerly. Upon seeing Zhou Yi, he couldn't hold back any longer.

Zhou Yi made no objections, nodding to signal his readiness to exchange a few moves.

"The Demon Slayer Corps has a rule: team members cannot draw their blade against one another," Zhou Yi remarked.

"However, since this is a sparring match, I hope Sound Hashira will go all out."

"Otherwise, you'll lose miserably."

The moment Zhou Yi stepped into the arena, his previously gentle demeanor gave way to an oppressive aura that was utterly terrifying.

"Hey, is this kid really only 12 years old?"

"I'm 4 years older than him, but this pressure is insane!"

Tengen Uzui wasn't one to be easily intimidated, but even he was taken aback.

"Relax. I'll let you witness my unique Sound Breathing!"

"Now, prepare yourself!"

The match began.

When it came to offense, Uzui believed it held far greater advantage than defense, especially for someone like him with a ninja background.

"Let me teach you something: battles aren't just about raw power. You have to consider multiple factors!"

"And I excel at that!"

The white bandages behind Uzui's back unraveled, revealing two swords connected by a chain.

The hilts of the dual blades were red, with green-edged guards and a mix of crimson and gold in the center. The black blade bore golden patterns, and engraved on the side was the iconic inscription: Destroyer of Evil Demons(Akki Messatsu).

These were Tengen Uzui's unique Nichirin Blades!

With the speed of a rabbit leaping forward, Uzui's muscles tensed as he flashed towards Zhou Yi.

He noticed Zhou Yi hadn't even reacted, let alone drawn his Nichirin Blade. Uzui allowed a confident smile to creep across his face.

"As expected, there's still a gap. Even though you're strong, in the face of a surprise attack, you're no match for—"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Yi finally moved.

With a slight bend of his body, Zhou Yi's dodge caused Uzui's blade, crackling with explosive energy, to barely miss him, cutting only the cord tying Zhou Yi's blade to his back.

In an instant, Zhou Yi grasped the hilt, drew his blade, and slashed towards Uzui midair.

"What! That reflex!"

Uzui realized he had no way to dodge in midair and silently cursed his predicament.

Out of options, he resorted to a more... creative solution.

A black pellet suddenly appeared in Uzui's mouth, which he spat out forcefully. With a chivalrous air, he even issued a warning:

"Watch out! This explosive pellet is my special creation!"

Hearing this, Zhou Yi shifted his target mid-attack, aiming for the pellet instead of Uzui.

"What? Is he planning to slice through my explosive with his sword?" Uzui thought incredulously.

"Naive! The moment your blade touches it, the explosion will detonate! This pellet is crafted with special materials—there's no way it'll split apart! Instead, the shockwave will break your weapon!"

"Sorry, Mr. Haganezuka, but your blade might not survive this," Uzui muttered, sparing a moment to apologize to the swordsmith.

But what happened next shocked him beyond belief.

Zhou Yi's blade sliced through the pellet with ease, splitting it into six precise pieces. Not a single fragment retained the power to explode.

"What just happened?!"

Uzui landed and instinctively retreated, wiping sweat from his brow.

"If he had aimed that blade at me instead, I'd be dead for sure!"

Only now did Uzui fully understand—the young Water Hashira standing before him was a genuine powerhouse.

Those unlucky Lower Moons he had defeated before? They were probably nothing more than warm-up practice for Zhou Yi!

"Show me your real strength. Without going all out, you're no match for me."

Zhou Yi's words were arrogant, but Uzui had to admit—they were true.

"At this point, I can't hold back anymore."

"Sound Breathing, First Form: Roar!"

Uzui charged forward, delivering a ferocious strike with his dual blades.

[Ding! The host has observed a new technique. Heroic Spirit inheritance progress increased: 35% → 36%.]

Progress had increased again! Ever since Zhou Yi invested 5,000 exchange points, every new discovery pushed his understanding forward.

"Good move!" Zhou Yi bent his knees slightly, ready to counter.

Boom!

The slash triggered a massive explosion accompanied by a deafening roar.

Derived from Thunder Breathing, Sound Breathing was known for its destructive power.

Just then, the Stone and Flame Hashira arrived together.

Looking at the smoke-filled training ground, they speculated: "Who won?"

"Smoke without wounds—that's common sense," one of them murmured.

As the smoke cleared, Zhou Yi stood unscathed. In contrast, Uzui's figure was covered in ash, looking rather disheveled.

"I don't know how you made your Nichirin Blade cause explosions," Zhou Yi said nonchalantly, sheathing his weapon.

"But such a trick won't work on me."

As he spoke, his blade shifted, becoming colorless and transparent.

"This blade is called 'Mono-Gantō,' formless and shadowless—be careful."

Now, it was Zhou Yi's turn to counterattack!