Demon Slayer: Strength Gained with Every Swing of the Sword

A large pile of food was quickly devoured by Kyojuro Rengoku.

"Smack!"

"Thank you for the meal!" Kyojuro said loudly with a smile, his hands pressed together in gratitude.

Senjuro, standing nearby, was no longer surprised. He silently began to clean up the bowls and chopsticks.

"Thank you, Senjuro. Feng Yu , let's go!" Kyojuro called out, motioning toward the training ground.

The two made their way to the area where they practiced swordsmanship.

"Feng Yu , as members of the Demon Slayer Corps, we are not allowed to harm each other. Let's keep this to a friendly sparring session!" Kyojuro said, his voice full of energy.

His presence was overwhelming. The flame-patterned haori on his back fluttered in the air, and the white hilt of his sword, adorned with a flame-shaped guard, stood out against the black-and-white scabbard, emphasizing his formidable stature. His tall frame alone exuded a sense of security to those around him.

"Understood." Feng Yu nodded, feeling the burning spirit in Kyojuro's voice. It stirred something deep within him.

"Very well, Feng Yu . I can see your determination! Let's begin!" Kyojuro exclaimed with a hearty laugh, slowly unsheathing his black-Swordd Nichirin sword.

"Here I come!" Kyojuro was fast, his movements quick and sharp. Feng Yu drew his sword, ready to face him.

The powerful aura around Kyojuro stirred the dust in the air, creating a whirlwind as they clashed.

"Ha ha ha, Feng Yu ! You've sparked my fighting spirit!!" Kyojuro roared, laughing heartily, and launched an even fiercer attack.

Feng Yu parried, countering Kyojuro's strikes while looking for openings.

The two engaged in a back-and-forth match, each blocking and countering the other's attacks with precision.

But Feng Yu noticed a strange shift. Kyojuro seemed to be surrounded by a faint, yellowish aura that grew stronger with each passing moment.

"Is that... fighting spirit?" Feng Yu wondered. He knew that Kyojuro's battle spirit had been honed to perfection, nearing the highest levels. In the original series, Kyojuro even earned the recognition of the Upper Rank Three demon, Akaza.

The fight intensified, and soon both were employing Breathing Styles.

"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowable Fire!" Kyojuro swung his sword, unleashing a torrent of red flames toward Feng Yu .

"Light Breathing, First Form: Moonlight Slash!" Feng Yu responded with a precise and swift slash, creating a wave of light that clashed with Kyojuro's fire.

Boom!

The two locked in a deadlock. Neither of them could gain an upper hand, so they switched tactics and changed their attacks.

"Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Flame!" Kyojuro shouted, unleashing another fiery strike.

"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!" Feng Yu swiftly countered with a calm, flowing movement.

...

Senjuro stood quietly off to the side, watching the battle between the two, his eyes reflecting a sense of longing.

How he wished he had the talent to become a swordsman, so he could help his older brother share the burden.

His hands clenched tightly, and the words Feng Yu had said earlier echoed in his mind.

"I will help others in my own way..."

"I will, definitely..."

Kyojuro and Feng Yu were oblivious to the passing time, both feeling an immense sense of satisfaction and freedom in the fight. They were not concerned with winning or losing, only with enjoying the pure thrill of combat.

"Good, very good, excellent! Ha ha ha, Feng Yu , I recognize your strength!" Kyojuro laughed joyously.

"Ha ha ha, thank you for the recognition!" Feng Yu responded, smiling.

As the battle raged on, both fighters began to show signs of injury. But neither of them cared. They were so absorbed in the moment that the pain from their wounds didn't even register.

The training ground was in disarray, with wooden posts shattered and scattered all around, the aftermath of their fierce battle.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally paused, both of them breathing heavily.

"Ha ha ha, Feng Yu , that was exhilarating!" Kyojuro laughed loudly.

"I agree, Kyojuro-san, thank you for the lesson," Feng Yu replied with a smile.

In fact, when Kyojuro had said, "I've recognized your strength," the system prompt indicating a successful challenge had already appeared. But the fire in Kyojuro's words had ignited Feng Yu 's competitive spirit, pushing him to give his all in the fight.

By that point, Feng Yu had stopped worrying about winning or losing. Every moment of the spar had made him stronger.

"Kyojuro-san, eat this. It will heal your wounds quickly," Feng Yu said, handing him a healing pill. He popped one into his mouth himself and then offered another to Kyojuro.

Though he knew these minor injuries were nothing for Kyojuro, it was a gesture of goodwill.

"Oh? Isn't this the new healing pill from the organization? This one seems even more potent than the ones we've received," Kyojuro commented as he accepted the pill, popping it into his mouth.

Before long, the wounds began to heal at a visible speed.

"This effect... it's far stronger than the ones distributed by the organization!" Kyojuro exclaimed, laughing. "Thank you very much for the pill, Feng Yu !"

Afterward, Feng Yu stayed at Kyojuro's house for a while. He didn't want to return to the Butterfly Mansion and face Shinobu Kochou just yet.

There was another reason for his stay, however—Senjuro.

The night before he left, Feng Yu pulled Senjuro aside and handed him a small pouch.

"Feng Yu -san, what is this?" Senjuro asked, confused.

"If you want to continue living as you have, you should never open it. But if you want to make a change, use it," Feng Yu explained. "I believe it will help you..."

"Think carefully about it."

After Feng Yu left, Senjuro couldn't resist. He opened the pouch.

"This is..." he murmured, staring at the contents.

"Feng Yu -san, thank you..." Tears welled in Senjuro's eyes as he clutched the pouch tightly.

The next morning, Feng Yu bid farewell to both Kyojuro and Senjuro. Before leaving, he glanced at Senjuro, who had clearly opened the pouch.

"Goodbye, Kyojuro-san and Senjuro."

"Goodbye, Feng Yu !" Kyojuro called.

"Goodbye, Feng Yu -san," Senjuro added softly.

...

As Feng Yu walked away, he spoke to Xiao Bai, perched on his shoulder, "Xiao Bai, what do you think Senjuro's future will be like?"

"Master, Xiao Bai doesn't know..." Xiao Bai responded, sounding slightly pitiful.

"Don't worry, it's not your fault," Feng Yu said with a smile. "I think I'm starting to look forward to what Senjuro's future holds..."

He looked back toward Kyojuro's house, filled with a sense of anticipation.