Chapter 63: End of the Final Selection

In fact, most of the demons captured and brought to Fujibayashi Mountain by the Demon Slayer Corps were weak, specifically intended as training targets for newcomers.

Demons like Hand Demon, who grew stronger by devouring large numbers of their own kind, were rare; such anomalies were nearly impossible for the Demon Slayer Corps to anticipate.

On the second day of the Final Selection, Makomo awoke, but her legs, injured, had temporarily lost mobility.

Throughout the period of hunting demons within Fujibayashi Mountain, Chu Yang carried her on his back.

Yet even with an extra person on his back, his movement was unaffected in the slightest.

Only then did Makomo realize the true extent of Chu Yang’s strength.

Fighting demons alone and fighting demons while carrying someone are entirely different things.

This proved that Chu Yang’s power existed on a completely different level from the demons in this mountain and the young swordsmen taking part in the selection.

By the seventh day, Chu Yang began descending the mountain with Makomo.

Upon reaching the torii at mid-mountain, he discovered far more survivors had returned than expected.

Most of the swordsmen who entered the selection survived—thanks entirely to Chu Yang—but many of those who survived chose to leave, also because of Chu Yang.

The powerful demons had all been killed by Chu Yang; for them, those seven days felt more like ordinary wilderness survival.

Many among them had witnessed firsthand Chu Yang’s brutal slaughter of demons.

Upon seeing again this boy who seemed like a monster, everyone’s expressions turned complex.

Fear, dread, reverence, and gratitude—all mingled.

No matter which emotion dominated, their gazes remained fixed on Chu Yang.

Chu Yang didn’t care how they viewed him; he couldn’t even be bothered to glance at them, walking straight toward the official overseeing the selection.

The young swordsmen instinctively parted to let him pass, drawing the host’s attention, who regarded Chu Yang with a long, meaningful stare.

Chu Yang set Makomo down on the ground and said loudly, “Please take this girl to Butterfly House—her feet are injured and need treatment.”

Immediately, members of the “Hidden” unit stepped forward, took Makomo from Chu Yang’s arms, and began emergency treatment.

“I heard Itachi nearly wiped out all the demons in the mountain by yourself?” the host teased with a half-smile. “Thanks to Itachi, many candidates passed this trial without proper training—now the Demon Slayer Corps is flooded with useless new recruits.”

Chu Yang sneered in retort, “Most of them will die anyway—but better to die later than sooner. Better to survive these seven days and take a few demons down with Itachi when Itachi finally go.”

“Honestly, I don’t understand why Itachi’re so eager to send these swordsmen—lacking any real combat experience—here to die. This isn’t a selection; it’s just feeding the demons in the mountain.”

“This is a stupid, irresponsible selection method.”

They could easily have trainers accompany these newcomers to build up combat experience—but they never do. Instead, they force beginners who only know breathing techniques into extreme survival trials.

If Itachi’re going to do this, at least give them more real combat experience first!

Chu Yang’s dangerous words turned the host’s face pale, for the Final Selection was a tradition passed down through generations of the Demon Slayer Corps’ leadership—his words were a direct attack on the Ubuyashiki family.

The host glared at Chu Yang with hostility. “Didn’t your trainer tell Itachi not to speak recklessly?”

“Every demon inside Fujibayashi Mountain was carefully selected by us as suitable for novice combat and deliberately placed there. If they can’t survive this, it only proves they lack the strength to become members of the Demon Slayer Corps.”

“Hmph~” Chu Yang smirked, mimicking the host’s earlier half-smile. “What if I told Itachi one demon in there ate fifty of its own kind—and also devoured over a dozen candidates? What do Itachi think its strength level was?”

The host froze. Seeing Chu Yang’s expression, he didn’t seem to be lying—if such a demon truly existed, it was at least a demon capable of using Blood Demon Art.

Most of the candidates who entered were indeed just bait for that monster.

But then the host’s expression hardened, his voice resolute: “Once Itachi officially join the Demon Slayer Corps, situations like this are countless. Most of the time, we fight demons stronger than ourselves.”

“Since demons first appeared a thousand years ago, it’s always been this way—we have no choice…”

His words made Chu Yang pause and reconsider—after thinking it through, he realized the host was right.

For a long time, every member of the Demon Slayer Corps had fought with this same resolve.

He admired the sentiment, but still thought the Final Selection was foolish—there were far better training methods available.

After a brief silence, the host did not argue further with Chu Yang, but turned to the others and said, “Because the number of survivors this time far exceeds the historical average, we lack sufficient ore and Hashira crows. Therefore, your right to choose your weapon has been revoked.”

A murmur of outrage spread through the crowd.

“Itachi all know why Itachi passed the Final Selection…” The host’s icy gaze swept over them, his presence overwhelming; the murmurs gradually died down.

“But not everyone will lose their right to choose.” The host shifted his gaze to Chu Yang. “Given your personal performance, your right to choose remains intact.”

Chu Yang smiled, driving his massive greatsword deep into the earth—the terrifying force made the ground tremble, and the crowd shuddered in unison.

“Do Itachi have ore this big?” Chu Yang pointed at the greatsword and said bluntly, “If not, I’ll take this blade. Technically, it still belongs to the Demon Slayer Corps.”

After the slaughter in Fujibayashi Mountain, Chu Yang knew the greatsword’s weight and dimensions perfectly—he wielded it with increasing ease. Switching weapons now would only force him to spend time readjusting.

To Chu Yang’s surprise, the host nodded without hesitation—Chu Yang had fully prepared for a long argument.

The host replied to Chu Yang’s astonishment with one sentence: “This is privilege granted to a genius. The sole purpose of the Demon Slayer Corps is to exterminate every last demon. To achieve that goal, we never hoard resources.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the host whistled. A dark shadow glided down from the sky and landed on Chu Yang’s shoulder—a crow with dull gray eyes.

“This is your Hashira crow. It will handle daily communication with the Demon Slayer Corps and deliver intelligence on demon locations.”

Chu Yang gently stroked the crow on his shoulder—now, information on demon positions would come from this little creature.

Thus ended the Final Selection, under an unprecedented and astonishing turn of events.

(End of Chapter)