Chapter 13

Looking at the giant before him, Zero’s head formed a “?”—he didn’t understand what this vehicle was.

“How many weapons did I even make?” Zero muttered to himself.

The giant before him was entirely white, at least six meters long from front to back and nearly three meters tall.

[Dark Alloy Armored Vehicle]

The entire body was wrapped in dark alloy armor, appearing like an invincible mobile fortress.

Two large headlights adorned the front, and with the white body paired with flowing blue light, under the sunlight it resembled a slumbering giant beast.

Helplessly, Zero used [Analyzing Glasses] to scan the data of the armored vehicle before him.

[Name: Dark Alloy Armored Vehicle—Guardian]

[Weapons: Spikes, Small Tracking Missiles, Missile Cannon (roof), Automatic High-Rate Machine Gun (front)]

[Spikes: When activated, a row of ten sharp rotating cones emerges from the front, each with blood-draining grooves—any enemy struck is instantly torn apart.]

[Small Tracking Missiles: When activated, ten small missiles launch from either side of the vehicle, automatically homing in on enemies and detonating on impact.]

[Missile Cannon (roof): When activated, a missile launcher appears on the rear roof, letting enemies savor the agony of bodily explosion.]

[Automatic High-Rate Machine Gun (front): When activated, the hood splits open to reveal a high-rate machine gun that automatically targets any enemy ahead.]

[Description: The Dark Alloy Armored Vehicle was constructed by Zero during his tenure as a reserve member of the Time Patrol Unit, after spending a year designing it to withstand beast invasions. Wherever the vehicle travels, all beasts are obliterated!]

Zero: “...”

“Ah, whatever. Even if I don’t know when this was made, since I built it, I might as well use it as transportation.”

He then stored the [Dark Alloy Armored Vehicle] back into his nanospace, preparing for his role as Tengxishan examiner in three days.

He stood up, stretched his body: “Time for training. During this time spent searching for information, I’ve neglected training!”

He took out some weighted gear from his nanospace, strapped it to his wrists, ankles, and back, then left the Butterfly House courtyard and began sprinting through the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters’ forest...

The next morning, Zero received a message from Higurashi Snow that Ubuyashiki Kagaya had requested his presence at the Ubuyashiki residence.

“Zero, you’ve come.”

“Yes. What did you need me for?”

“Tomorrow is the Tengxishan examination. I’d like you to help watch over my two children.”

“Your two children are also participating?”

“Yes. In the past, my two children have always overseen this examination.”

“Fine.”

“Thank you, Zero.”

“No need for thanks.”

After chatting with Ubuyashiki Kagaya, he left the courtyard. With nothing else to do, he wandered aimlessly—until he encountered a strange man.

Not far ahead stood a burly man holding a jug of alcohol, walking unsteadily yet with a grounded, deliberate step no ordinary person could manage.

Like Rengoku Kyojuro, he had long hair streaked with yellow and red, sharp eyebrows, but he looked disheveled and bearded.

Zero used [Analyzing Glasses] to scan the man before him.

[Analyzing... Analysis complete]

[Name: Rengoku Makisaburo—male]

[Age: 40 years]

[Identity: Former Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps]

[Wife: Rengoku Ruka (deceased)]

[Sons: Rengoku Kyojuro, Rengoku Chisaburo]

[Breathing Style: Flame Breathing]

[Family: Rengoku Clan]

[Description: Once as cheerful and fiery as Kyojuro, he was shattered after his beloved wife Ruka died of illness. He became deeply despondent, abandoned his duties as Flame Hashira, and now drinks daily to drown his sorrows.]

“Former Flame Hashira... no wonder he looks just like that little brat Rengoku Kyojuro...” Through [Analyzing Glasses], Zero now knew who this man was.

“What are you staring at?! Get out of my way!” As Zero was scanning, Rengoku Makisaburo approached him, glaring at the strange red-eyed, white-haired boy blocking his path, and shouted angrily.

He reached out to shove Zero aside—but Zero merely shifted a step, reappearing behind Rengoku Makisaburo.

“So fast! This kid...” Rengoku Makisaburo turned, startled, staring at the white-haired boy behind him.

He had once been a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps—his strength was no joke—yet this white-haired boy had evaded him effortlessly and appeared behind him.

“Hmm... this kid’s really hot-headed,” Zero thought, but seeing Rengoku Makisaburo’s state, he wouldn’t try to counsel him.

He never intervened in others’ suffering—he didn’t believe in telling people to be good when he hadn’t walked their path.

He had seen too many similar cases before becoming a reserve member of the Time Patrol Unit. He was no saint, nor a do-gooder.

Watching Zero’s retreating back, Rengoku Makisaburo somehow felt loneliness and weariness from him—as if he’d endured countless partings and deaths.

“What has this guy been through? Why do I feel this way?!” That was Rengoku Makisaburo’s thought at that moment.

Suddenly, Zero paused, took a transparent bottle from his nanospace—white liquor, which he’d discovered while checking his nanospace yesterday.

He tossed it backward, landing precisely in Rengoku Makisaburo’s hands, and said: “For you.”

Then he walked away without looking back.

Rengoku Makisaburo stared at the large bottle of white liquor in his hand, puzzled—he’d never seen liquor like this.

He recalled how the man had pulled the bottle from empty space beside him, with nothing visible nearby.

Driven by curiosity, he unscrewed the cap—immediately, a strong alcohol aroma flooded out, stimulating his nose and taste buds.

Smelling this potent fragrance, the jug of liquor he’d bought earlier suddenly seemed tasteless.

He took a small sip—the flavor flooded his tongue, his throat burning as if set aflame.

“Gulps~ Ah! What a fine liquor!” He wanted another sip, but seeing he had only one bottle, and glancing at where the white-haired boy had vanished, he didn’t know where he’d gone.

So he capped the bottle, tucked it into his chest, and picked up his original jug to drink.

But compared to the bottle in his chest, its taste was vastly inferior—he pulled out the white liquor again and took another small sip...

Time passed slowly, and soon it was the third day—the day Zero first served as Tengxishan examiner.

After final preparations, he left Xiao Yue at the Butterfly House and, under Higurashi Snow’s guidance, departed the Demon Slayer Corps for the examination site.

At the outer edge of the Demon Slayer Corps, he took out the [Dark Alloy Armored Motorcycle], draped himself in a hooded cloak, mounted it, inserted a power crystal, and followed Higurashi Snow as he continued onward.

He’d considered using the [Light Energy Flyer] to fly directly—but that would draw attention, so he chose the motorcycle instead.

Besides, the Tengxishan examination began at night—riding was sufficient.

After several detours and hours of travel, he arrived at the foot of Tengxishan .

The group climbing the steps to take the exam stared at this strange figure, curious—they’d never seen anything like it.

But when they saw Zero simply store the motorcycle into his [Nanospace], they gasped in astonishment.

Then Zero climbed the steps, vanishing from sight in mere breaths, reaching the summit.

“Who is that guy? So fast!”

“I don’t know... is he here to take the exam too?”

“If so, we should team up with him—we’ll definitely pass!”

The exam candidates, seeing Zero’s power, each had their own thoughts...

At the summit lay a wide open area, surrounded by purple wisteria trees stretching halfway up the mountain, their branches heavy with blossoms.

Ubuyashiki Kiriya and Ubuyashiki Hina had already been waiting there. Their attire, aside from hair color, was nearly identical—yet why did Kiriya dress like a little girl?

“Zero Hashira!” Ubuyashiki Kiriya and Ubuyashiki Hina bowed together as Zero arrived, smiling as always.

“No need for formalities. How long until the exam begins?”

Kiriya: “After sunset.”

Hina: “That’s when the exam starts.”

“After sunset...” Zero gazed at the distant sun—still hours from setting. He stood with them on the stone platform, Higurashi Snow perched on his shoulder.

Thus, Zero stood in the center, Ubuyashiki Hina and Ubuyashiki Kiriya flanking him left and right—three statues motionless, making the incoming exam candidates stare oddly.

Those who’d seen Zero before wondered why the white-haired boy stood there—wasn’t he here to take the Tengxishan exam too?

The sun set behind Mount Riluoxi, night descended.

On the night of Tengxishan , the purple wisteria blossoms looked eerily beautiful, the air thick with their unique fragrance.

The open area now held nearly fifty swordsmen gathered for the exam.

Ubuyashiki Kiriya and Ubuyashiki Hina spoke in unison: “To all swordsmen, thank you for enduring hardship to participate in the Demon Slayer Corps’ final selection!”

Hina: “Within this Tengxishan , we’ve imprisoned many demons captured by our swordsmen—but they cannot escape.”

Kiriya: “Because from the mountain’s base to halfway up, purple wisteria blooms year-round—the one thing demons detest.”

Hina: “But once you enter Tengxishan , you will no longer see those blossoms—and demons will appear.”

Kiriya: “The condition to pass the final selection is to survive seven days within this mountain.”

Hina/Kiriya: “Now, please welcome the Demon Slayer Corps Hashira—Zero Hashira—to address you.”

“Hashira... Hashira-level swordsman?!” one exam candidate gasped.

Another nearby asked curiously: “What’s so special about Hashira-level?”

“My trainer told me Hashira are the strongest fighters in the Demon Slayer Corps—the pillars of the organization. Each one is incredibly powerful!”

“So powerful?”

Zero, standing atop the high platform, removed his hood, revealing his exquisitely refined face—but his crimson eyes, glowing in the night, were so eerie that none of the candidates dared meet his gaze.

Zero scanned the crowd, then clapped his hands: “The exam is simple—but like a battlefield, demons won’t give you any mercy!”

“If your life is threatened during the exam, someone will intervene to save you—but that also means you lose your eligibility. You’ll have to wait for the next exam.”

"Also, don’t think you can sneak through by hiding in safety—once I spot you, you’ll lose your chance to pass the trial!"

"The trial begins now!"

Yagami Hikariya: "Then, good luck to all of you!"

With that, everyone stepped into the trial grounds. A few ignored Zero’s warning, convinced they could see through it—they didn’t believe him.

Zero didn’t care what they thought, and even if he did, he wouldn’t intervene. You can never wake someone who pretends to sleep.

I’ve said all I needed to say. Whether they listen or not? What consequences they face? Let them bear it themselves.

Just as Zero prepared his next move, he noticed something odd about the last person in the trial group: long black hair with faint green tips, expressionless, almost vacant.

Once he entered the trial grounds, Zero stopped paying attention to him, Quchu from his nanospace twenty 【Destroyer Mini Drones】, linked them to his 【Analytical Glasses】, and began controlling them to fly into Tō Xi Mountain to monitor the trial participants.

The 【Analytical Glasses】 activated their projection mode, displaying every drone’s footage on the screen.

Yagami Hikariya and Yagami Hikariya’s hearts were stunned by this method, yet their faces remained smiling.

"Snow, you’ve worked hard these past few days!" Zero said to the war hawk on his shoulder.

"Yes, Zero-sama!"

He snapped his fingers, and ten swordsmen appeared around him—one A-rank swordsman, the rest between B and D rank.

"Do not intervene unless absolutely necessary!"

"Yes, Zero Pillar-sama!"

It was the first night of the trial, and less than half an hour had passed when three trial swordsmen were already eliminated.

One still protested, insisting he only needed to survive seven days to pass—but Zero subdued him in a single strike.

Feeling the icy killing intent radiating from Zero, and the sheer power behind it, he had no choice but to accept the outcome and leave the trial grounds, planning to try again next year.

Afterward, five or six more swordsmen were eliminated, all saved by Zero’s drones just before they were about to be devoured by demons.

Worried the drones’ high-explosive rounds might kill the low-tier demons, Zero switched to paralysis rounds.

This allowed him to rescue the trial participants without killing the demons, ensuring the trial could continue.

He then used the drones to inform them they had lost their eligibility and must wait for the next trial.

Finally, they left the trial grounds under the guidance of Snow the war hawk; a few were rescued by high-rank swordsmen.

"Sigh... these trial participants seem awfully weak... Nearly one-fifth were eliminated on the first night alone... I hope the rest improve..."

After that, no more eliminations occurred that night. The remaining participants endured the first night until the second day arrived...

Five days had passed since the Tō Xi Mountain trial began, and many participants had already been eliminated, returning to their trainers to continue their practice, waiting for another chance.

"Zero Pillar-sama!" A high-rank A-class swordsman approached Zero to report—his name was Murata Shinichi.

He claimed he had taken the trial alongside the current Water Pillar, Tomioka Giyu, and was the only A-rank swordsman among the ten.

"Murata, how is the situation inside the Tō Xi Mountain trial grounds?"

"About twenty people are still holding out."

"So... only five days in, nearly three-fifths of the participants have been eliminated... This year’s trial candidates are truly weak..."

Murata Shinichi flushed at the remark, but the truth was undeniable.

"Let everyone rest well. Two days remain."

"Yes, Zero Pillar-sama!"

Zero retrieved from his nanospace some dried rations and water, handing them to Murata Shinichi to distribute to the other nine high-rank swordsmen, then retrieved two more portions for Yagami Hikariya and Yagami Hikariya.

After all, he had promised Yagami Yōjirō he would care for his two children during the trial.

"Hikariya, Hikariya, eat something, then rest."

"Yes, Zero-sama."

Yagami Hikariya and Yagami Hikariya took the rations from Zero and followed his instructions.

Watching them chew slowly, standing quietly to the side, Zero sighed: "Sigh~ These two kids haven’t changed at all..."

Over these past days, he’d noticed Hikariya and Hikariya always smiled, regardless of wind or sun.

Even when Zero told them to eat and rest, they refused—until he made it an order, then they obeyed.

He gave up trying to change them, standing alone with arms crossed, gazing at the blue sky, lost in thought...

"I wonder how everyone at the Time-Space Station is doing now? And how is Luo Li?"

Recalling the words Luo Li had spoken to him before he prepared to die alongside the Void Worm Matriarch in the starry void, a strange feeling stirred in his chest.

He didn’t know when he’d felt this before—it was familiar, yet painful. Why did it come? Had he experienced this somewhere, sometime?

Time passed slowly. Night fell again—the sixth night of the trial. Zero continued monitoring through the 【Analytical Glasses】’ projection.

As before, many trial swordsmen were eliminated—either rescued by Zero’s drones or by high-rank swordsmen.

But Zero noticed one participant stood out: the black-haired boy he’d noticed on the first night.

When facing demons, he showed no fear, dispatching them swiftly. Including tonight, he’d slain at least twenty-five demons.

"This kid is truly unusual... If nothing goes wrong, he’ll pass the trial for sure. Interesting!"

He retrieved another 【Analytical Glasses】 from his nanospace and placed it on his right ear, scanning the boy’s data.

【Analyzing... Analysis complete】

【Name: Tokitō Muichirō—Male】

【Age: 11】

【Brother: Tokitō Ichirō (Deceased)】

【Status: Demon Slayer Corps Swordsman (Under Trial)】

【Breathing Style: Mist Breathing】

【Profile: Descendant of Kibutsuji Igan, the first Breath Style swordsman. Born with innate talent for swordsmanship.】

Tokitō Muichirō was born into a family of woodcutters. Both his parents died when he was ten; he then lived with his older brother, Tokitō Ichirō.

After Ichirō was mortally wounded by a demon, Muichirō, consumed by rage, killed the demon—but was gravely injured himself. Ichirō died from his wounds; Muichirō, near death, was rescued by Yagami Amane.

Afterward, Muichirō lost all memory. Due to amnesia, he lacked emotion, spoke little, and remained cold toward others.]

"Huh? Descendant of Kibutsuji Igan?" Zero was surprised. He hadn’t expected Kibutsuji Igan, now a demon, to have any living descendants.

"I’ll have to ask Yagami Amane about this when I return..."

"Mist Breathing... Probably a new branch derived from one of the five foundational Breathing Styles..."

The sixth night passed, and another seven or eight trial swordsmen were eliminated...

On the seventh night, the trial continued.

On the projection screen, some swordsmen fought desperately against demons; others hunted for them.

Those who had tried to sneak through now began killing demons after being warned—but a few still got eliminated.

Only Tokitō Muichirō, after slaying a demon, kept moving forward, as if he wouldn’t stop until every demon was eradicated.

Along the way, he casually rescued several swordsmen about to be killed, yet his face remained expressionless.

"What an interesting kid... Tokitō Muichirō... 'Mu'... Hmm~ Infinite potential? Infinite power?"

Time ticked away. Minutes remained until dawn and the trial’s end. One by one, participants passed—including Tokitō Muichirō, who had trailed behind the group.

Just as Zero prepared to recall the drones, he noticed something odd: in the dense forest, a long green hand was slowly retracting.

Before he could send a drone to investigate, the arm vanished—as if it had never been there.

"An illusion? Or a mutated demon?" He couldn’t figure it out. He decided to drop it for now and send high-rank swordsmen to investigate later.

The sun rose over Mount Riluoxi. Seven days had ended. Only five remained on the empty grounds, including Tokitō Muichirō.

Looking at the five, Zero sighed inwardly: "Less than one-fifth passed the trial..."

Zero stood in the center, with Yagami Hikariya and Yagami Hikariya flanking him.

Yagami Hikariya/Hikariya: "Welcome back."

Hikariya: "First, congratulations."

Hikariya: "You’ve passed the trial and returned safely."

Hikariya: "Next, we will issue you your uniforms."

Hikariya: "Before that, we’ll take your measurements and engrave your rank."

Demon Slayer Corps ranks, from highest to lowest, are: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J. Those who pass the Tō Xi Mountain trial begin at the lowest rank: J.

Hikariya: "All of you currently hold the lowest rank: J."

Hikariya: "Today, you may choose the 【Jade Steel】 you’ll use to forge your sword."

Hikariya: "Forging a sword takes at least ten to fifteen days. Also, one more thing."

Hikariya clapped her hands, and five war hawks flew down from the air, landing on the shoulders of the passed swordsmen.

The war hawk assigned to Tokitō Muichirō was a female crow. Upon seeing him, she landed on his shoulder and nuzzled his cheek affectionately.

Hikariya: "From now on, your war hawks will remain by your side."

Hikariya: "War hawks are used to deliver messages to you."

Hikariya: "Now, choose your 【Jade Steel】."

Zero turned, lifted the red cloth covering the table behind him, revealing over a dozen irregularly shaped pieces of Jade Steel.

The passed swordsmen stepped forward one by one to select their Jade Steel. Tokitō Muichirō was the last.

He approached the table, studied the pieces for a moment, then chose his.

"Now, you only need to wait ten to fifteen days. Someone will deliver your forged swords to you personally."

In the end, after Zero had settled a few matters, the swordsmen who passed the evaluation had already left the testing grounds and returned to their cultivators to wait for their blades.

“Xue, how’s the situation?” Zero turned his head and asked the messenger crow perched on his shoulder.

“All is well. No anomalies detected so far.”

“Is that so? I hope it’s just my imagination.” Recalling the footage captured by the drone, Zero had a persistent feeling that the figure was no ordinary person.

So he had just sent his messenger crow, Xue, to investigate—but found nothing.

“You’ve worked hard, Xue. We’ll head home soon, and you can rest properly.”

“No trouble at all.”

Zero gathered the remaining Jade Steel, took the small hands of Yagami Hikari and Yagami Kiriya in each of his, and descended the steps toward the mountain’s base, followed by ten high-rank swordsmen.

At the foot of the mountain, Zero retrieved the [Dark Alloy Armored Vehicle].

Boom!

A ripple appeared in the space before Zero; with a thunderous crash, a massive white vehicle materialized before them.

Everyone was stunned by this display.

“Let’s go, everyone. You’ve all worked hard these past few days.”

Zero opened the rear hatch and let the ten swordsmen enter, then led Hikari and Kiriya to the front passenger door, placing them side by side in the seat—there was more than enough room.

He closed the door, took his place in the driver’s seat, inserted a power crystal, and activated the vehicle to begin the return journey.

The messenger crow Xue rested curled up in Yagami Hikari’s arms.

Inside the rear compartment, the ten swordsmen continued discussing Zero.

“My god! What kind of vehicle is this?! It feels so imposing!”

“It’s more than that—how did Zero manage to summon it out of thin air?! How is such a massive vehicle even possible?!”

“Murata, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Ah… n-nothing… hahaha.” Murata recalled the scene from the first night of evaluation, when the eliminated swordsman had been subdued on the ground.

He had been closest to Zero then, and had felt that chilling, piercing killing intent firsthand! The memory alone terrified him—he never wanted to experience it again!

“Enough, enough. Don’t talk anymore. Rest while you can—we’re heading out again tonight.”

The ten swordsmen fell silent, leaning against each other on the seats, slipping into brief rest.

In the front passenger seat, Yagami Hikari and Yagami Kiriya leaned their heads together, drifting into rest.