"I didn't expect the initial plan to actually succeed."
"Blade of Despair? Hmm, I'd rather have a suit of armor."
However, a discovery made Kurozawa's breathing catch in his throat. He tightly gripped the Blade of Despair. In the skill column, the suffix for Water Breathing Sword Forms had changed.
Water Breathing Sword Forms, Second Tier (Upgradeable).
"So that's it. The gray-white can only enhance things that belong to me. When I can condense a blade, I can enhance the corresponding abilities."
"From now on, I, Kurozawa, will be a Sword Form genius, haha!"
Looking at the Blade of Despair in his hand, Kurozawa couldn't help but burst out laughing. He had a feeling that he would soon possess the power of a true Marked Swordsman, not just the corresponding physique.
...
Three days later, on Mount Sagiri, Kurozawa stood on the mountaintop platform bathed in the morning light. His upper body was bare, and the dark blade in his hand unleashed Water Breathing Sword Forms one after another.
Surface Slash! Kurozawa's slash was like a raging waterfall plummeting down, the momentum terrifying. Sharp blade light shot out from the blade, striking a boulder more than ten meters away.
The blade light struck the boulder, but couldn't penetrate it, only leaving a sword mark that was neither deep nor shallow, just average.
"...Just for show, weak and powerless."
Kurozawa walked forward and touched the sword mark he had made, veins popping out on his forehead.
He had thought that with the Blade of Despair, he could try practicing the Sword Forms again, and maybe even improve them on his own. But reality was cruel; Kurozawa's Sword Forms were still unsightly.
It wasn't that they were very weak, it was just that compared to his current level with the Demon Slayer Mark activated, his use of the Sword Forms was too ordinary.
To put it in perspective, Kurozawa could skillfully use the Sword Forms, but it was like using skills in a game – simply following a template, unable to adapt, and often stiff.
"Hmph, if I didn't lack Potential Points, leveling this mountain would be nothing."
After comforting himself, Kurozawa casually put on his clothes and glanced at the newborn sun in the distance, which had just risen above the horizon, bright but soft and not dazzling.
"My junior disciples have all gone out on missions. Mount Sagiri is quite deserted now."
Currently, only Sakonji Urokodaki, Iguro Obanai, and Kurozawa were on Mount Sagiri. Kurozawa had just returned last night and hadn't met with Sakonji Urokodaki yet.
When he arrived last night, Sakonji Urokodaki was already asleep. Kurozawa didn't disturb him. Instead, he excitedly ran to the mountaintop to develop various uses for the Blade of Despair.
"I wonder what Master will think of this Demon Slayer Mark on me."
Touching his cheek, Kurozawa seemed to see strange, dark patterns. He had already seen his current appearance; it wasn't bad. The Demon Slayer Mark had a strange beauty and didn't decrease his attractiveness; in fact, it made him much more noticeable.
With a grip of his hand, the Blade of Despair transformed into a ball of flame and returned to Kurozawa's body.
Then, humming a relaxed tune, he walked down the mountain step by step.
In the early morning, the areas above the mid-slope of Mount Sagiri were covered in mist. This mist wouldn't completely dissipate until noon. Now, with the sunlight mixed in, Mount Sagiri gained many fragments of golden light, which floated in the mist, like a dream.
With the beautiful scenery before him and his strength greatly increased, Kurozawa was in a good mood.
He didn't quicken his pace, just leisurely enjoyed the beauty of Mount Sagiri, walking for over half an hour before reaching the mid-slope. Here, the mist of Mount Sagiri was gone, losing its distinctiveness and looking like an ordinary large mountain.
On a clearing on the mid-slope was where Sakonji Urokodaki trained his disciples. The place where Kurozawa and the others lived was at the foot of Mount Sagiri.
From a distance, Kurozawa saw a familiar, sturdy figure.
It was probably around six in the morning. Sakonji Urokodaki was already awake, strictly instructing Iguro Obanai.
Morning, as the start of a new day, was generally the best time to learn the Breathing Technique. Kurozawa could see Iguro Obanai sitting cross-legged on the ground, his face showing pain, while Sakonji Urokodaki stood beside him, occasionally tapping Iguro Obanai's body.
Seeing this familiar scene, Kurozawa smiled.
He remembered his childhood.
Because he had transmigrated to another world, Kurozawa didn't deliberately hide it. Even as an infant, he showed a maturity different from ordinary children – well-behaved, obedient, not crying or fussing, with calm and mature eyes.
But Sakonji Urokodaki didn't notice Kurozawa's strangeness at all, or perhaps because he hadn't been around children, he might have thought all children were like Kurozawa.
At that time, Sakonji Urokodaki was still in his prime. As the active Water Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, Demon Slaying Missions were very demanding, but Sakonji Urokodaki never troubled others. Many times, he would hold baby Kurozawa in his left arm and wield his Nichirin Blade in his right, slaying Demons one by one.
Kurozawa's lack of reaction to the bloodiness of his first battles was also related to this experience.
When Kurozawa grew a little older and reached the age to practice the Breathing Technique, Sakonji Urokodaki helped him regulate his breathing, just as he was helping Iguro Obanai now. His expression was strict, but his technique was very gentle, alleviating much of the physical pain Kurozawa suffered from practicing the Breathing Technique.
When he first started practicing the Breathing Technique, the chaotic flow of energy inside his body, and the feeling that his blood vessels were about to burst, was extremely uncomfortable.
Knowing the dangers of the Demon Slayer world, Kurozawa trained very hard, reaching his physical limit many times and almost collapsing. Sakonji Urokodaki didn't say anything or stop Kurozawa, but he often continued to help regulate his breathing after he fell asleep.
Often, Kurozawa would wake up the next day feeling refreshed, while Sakonji Urokodaki might have dark circles under his mask.
Walking closer, Sakonji Urokodaki also saw Kurozawa approaching. He looked up at him, then focused back on tapping Iguro Obanai's body.
The memory stopped, and Kurozawa chuckled.
When he watched the anime in his previous life, the word "bond" appeared many times. And Kurozawa's bond in this world was with the people of Mount Sagiri, especially his master, Sakonji Urokodaki.
"They say a sign of getting old is liking to reminisce about the past."
"Am I already old?"
"No, a man is a youth until death. I, Kurozawa, will always be eighteen."
The eighteen-year-old Kurozawa, seeing that Sakonji Urokodaki wasn't looking closely at him, put on the Fortune-Dispelling Fox Mask he always carried and pulled down his sleeves, covering his Demon Slayer Mark on his arm.
He was going to give Sakonji Urokodaki a scare—no, a surprise.
Stepping towards Sakonji Urokodaki, Kurozawa lightly coughed. "Master, it's been a while."
Glancing at his troublesome disciple, Sakonji Urokodaki said, "Your mission was less than a week. From your appearance, it wasn't easy."
"My strength still needs improvement."
Kurozawa hadn't changed his clothes; they were tattered and ripped by Rui's blood threads, covered in shocking battle scars.
Though he said that, Kurozawa could tell Sakonji Urokodaki had relaxed. He had been worried about him and only felt relieved after seeing him return safely.
"Of course. The opponent was a Twelve Kizuki."
"A Twelve Kizuki?" Sakonji Urokodaki's tone showed surprise. He turned to face Kurozawa directly, paused, then continued, "Are you sure?"
"It said 'Lower Moon Five' in its eyes, a Twelve Kizuki mark. No Demon would impersonate one, and its Blood Demon Art was quite powerful."
"I didn't expect you would actually encounter a Twelve Kizuki and still escape unharmed." Sakonji Urokodaki seemed lost in thought.
The hidden injuries on his body were sustained during a battle with a Lower Moon Twelve Kizuki when he was young. At the time, it was almost a certain death situation, but Sakonji Urokodaki broke through at the critical moment and defeated the opponent. It was also thanks to the merit of slaying a Twelve Kizuki that he quickly became the Water Pillar.
Kurozawa grinned and flicked his fingers. "I, Kurozawa, am a man destined to slay the Demon King. I told you before, a mere Twelve Kizuki can be extinguished with a flick of my finger."
At the same time, due to the movement of his body, the Demon Slayer Mark on Kurozawa's wrist was exposed and seen by Sakonji Urokodaki.
His gaze narrowed, and he finally noticed that Kurozawa had covered most of his skin.
"Kurozawa, why are you wearing a mask?"
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