Tanjiro Kamado looked at Roa in confusion.
Roa said to Tanjiro, "Don't be discouraged. You can practice with me more in the future; you're still too inexperienced right now."
Tanjiro's already troubled face became even more forlorn.
He couldn't help but question the demon in front of him, "What do you think life is worth?"
The demon lying on the ground twitched a couple of times, completely unable to stand up.
Roa's strength had already recovered to a considerable level; at this level, small demons like this could be easily dealt with.
However, when Roa heard Tanjiro's words, he couldn't help but chuckle.
That line sounded familiar; it seemed he had heard it somewhere before.
Wasn't that what Yoriichi Tsugikuni said to Muzan Kibutsuji?
Unfortunately, this demon would never be able to answer, as Roa had accidentally crushed her throat with too much force.
Roa said to Tanjiro, "Give me the Nichirin Sword."
Tanjiro stepped forward a couple of paces and handed the Nichirin Sword to Roa.
Roa nodded and said to Tanjiro, "So, demons like this shouldn't exist in this world, whether for us or for them."
Tanjiro's face showed a look of realization, and Roa continued, "Now, I'm going to teach you some sword techniques."
Roa thought for a moment and added, "Actually, you should have learned these sword techniques before."
Tanjiro looked at Roa in confusion and asked uncertainly, "I learned them?"
Roa didn't say much more. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with a large amount of oxygen, and his entire aura changed completely.
Strangely, Tanjiro felt that the air around Roa seemed to become scorching hot.
Roa's Nichirin Sword began to change, the snow-white sword wrapped in flames, illuminating the dark night with its fiery glow.
This time, not only was Tanjiro stunned, but Shinobu Kocho and the three others behind them were also taken aback.
Then, Roa moved.
The red flames shattered the night, burning everything in their path. The Nichirin Sword, wrapped in flames, vanished in an instant, and Roa, holding the Nichirin Sword, appeared behind the female demon in the blink of an eye.
Then, with a swift motion, he struck.
"Breath of the Sun, First Form - Dance of the Sun."
The Nichirin Sword in his hand transformed into a circular ring of fire, instantly severing the demon's head.
The neck of the severed head turned to charcoal, and then the entire body began to burn, leaving only dust scattered on the ground.
Tanjiro Kamado stared blankly at Roa as the evening breeze gently swayed the leaves on the mountain.
Roa's movements didn't stop; with a serious expression, he continued to say to Tanjiro, "Watch closely, Tanjiro Kamado!"
Roa's actions didn't cease; the Nichirin Sword in his hand emitted a terrifying heat, and everything around seemed to be on the verge of being burned to ashes.
Roa began to execute the entire set of techniques of the Breath of the Sun.
Roa's cold voice echoed as he swung the Nichirin Sword, his figure surrounded by flames, resembling a sun spirit.
"Clear Blue Sky."
"Raging Sun."
"Burning Bones, Summer Sun."
"Setting Sun Transformation."
"Solar Heat Haze."
"Beneficent Radiance."
"Sunflower Thrust."
"Dragon Sun Halo Head Dance."
"Fire Wheel."
"Fake Rainbow."
"Flame Dance."
Twelve techniques were executed one by one by Roa, each move elegant to the extreme, the Nichirin Sword wrapped in flames tracing arc after arc in the air.
When Roa sheathed his sword, everyone stared at him in astonishment.
At first, Tanjiro didn't understand Roa's intention, but the more he watched, the more familiar it felt, until he suddenly realized that this was the Fire God Dance performed by his father!
The "Fire God Dance" was a sacred dance passed down through the generations of the Kamado family, and Tanjiro never expected that the sacred dance inherited from his ancestors would be a breathing technique.
Roa smiled at Tanjiro and said, "So, do you understand why I said you have learned it before?"
Tanjiro Kamado stood there in a daze, looking at the body on the ground that had turned to charcoal, then raising his gaze to the dazzling golden-haired Roa, whose handsome face and the sword dance that resembled a spirit overlapped in his mind.
"Wow, so cool!"
This was Tanjiro's first thought. Although it felt a bit disrespectful to the demon lying on the ground, Tanjiro felt that being defeated by such swordsmanship was a fitting end.
Shinobu Kocho was now a bit dazed; she scratched her head, losing her usual composure for the first time due to shock.
As a Hashira, Shinobu Kocho had interacted with many Hashira and had a rough idea of each Hashira's strength.
She had thought that Roa's strength would be strong, but she never expected it to be at such an exaggerated level.
But now, it seemed that she would have to redefine Roa's strength.
The three Demon Slayer Corps members exchanged glances, looking at the now-serious Shinobu Kocho, and silently took a step back.
Roa exhaled and walked toward the four, noticing that Shinobu Kocho was now looking at him with a complex expression. He raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying, "Let's walk together for a bit longer, then I have to head back. After all, I've met my performance targets for this week; the rest is up to you."
Shinobu Kocho's mouth twitched at his words, but she didn't say much more. She nodded at Roa and began to walk silently into the distance again.
Along the way, Roa continued to explain the key techniques of the Breath of the Sun to Tanjiro, discussing sword techniques and what to pay attention to in swordsmanship. He spoke loudly, making the three eavesdropping members feel a bit embarrassed.
Shinobu Kocho listened while contemplating whether she could master this breathing technique. Anyone who saw that magnificent swordsmanship couldn't help but be tempted.
Like a flame spirit, that exquisite sword dance was deeply imprinted in Shinobu Kocho's heart.
She couldn't help but think that if she could possess this power, wouldn't she be able to change the things that were once unchangeable?
However, when she slightly altered her breathing frequency and tried to follow Roa's earlier instructions, she immediately encountered a problem. Shinobu Kocho choked several times, feeling a bit uncomfortable in her chest.
Noticing Shinobu Kocho's abnormality, the three members hurriedly stepped forward to support her, but Shinobu waved her hand at them, signaling that she was fine.
Shinobu Kocho finally realized that while this breathing technique was powerful, it consumed a lot of stamina. Even if she could barely use it, it wouldn't be very effective for her.
At this moment, Roa leaned closer to Shinobu Kocho and curiously asked, "What's wrong? Do you want to learn this breathing technique, Insect Hashira?"
Shinobu Kocho nodded, then shook her head. She stated frankly, "I did want to learn at first, but now I've given up. I don't have the talent for it, and I'm not very suited for it."
Roa responded with an "oh," raising an eyebrow at Shinobu Kocho and saying, "Alright then, this breathing technique is indeed quite exhausting; it's not suitable for girls."
Shinobu Kocho's strength is relatively weak; in the "Nine Hashira Strength Ranking," she ranks last. Compared to the other Hashira, she doesn't possess any particularly special talents or physique, which is quite unfortunate.
However, despite everything, Shinobu Kocho has carved out her own path, and reaching the level of a Hashira is enough to show that her talent is not actually lacking.
During the patrol on the mountain, they encountered another demon. This time, Roa did not intervene. He watched as Shinobu Kocho easily dealt with the demon and then looked up at the sky.
After thinking for a moment, he said to Shinobu, "Well then, you can start patrolling the remaining areas. If you encounter any difficult situations, just let me know. For now, I'm temporarily staying at Tanjiro Kamado's house. If you can't find me, you can have Tanjirou call for me. Just go to that mountain over there; when I hear Tanjirou's voice, I'll come down."
After saying that, Roa pointed to another mountain in the distance, which could only be vaguely seen due to the darkness.
Roa yawned and said to Tanjiro Kamado, "Tanjiro, it's time to go home. We have training tomorrow."
Thus, Roa took Tanjiro Kamado back home.
Time flowed like water, and the days passed quickly without any pretense.
In the blink of an eye, another month had gone by. During this month, Roa had been teaching Tanjiro Kamado the Breath of the Sun. In his spare time, he would play with Nezuko and the others. This family was incredibly lovable, and their interactions were very pleasant. Watching their family dynamics, Roa felt quite emotional.
He thought of his two younger sisters, Aisha and Noren, and when he was ready to set off, he would have to go home to see those two kids. He didn't want to be forgotten by them. As for Rudeus, he could continue teaching at the young lady's place.
It is worth mentioning that Mitsuri Kanroji somehow found Roa. At that time, Roa was leisurely sipping tea from a bowl. When he saw Mitsuri Kanroji, he was completely stunned. She excitedly rushed to his side, her face flushed, and exclaimed, "I heard from the Insect Hashira that you were here, so I followed the mountain path up and really found you!"
However, halfway through her words, her smile gradually faded. She looked at Nezuko, who was standing elegantly beside her, and then at Roa, who, despite sitting casually, still exuded an air of elegance. Her eyes suddenly turned red.
Mitsuri Kanroji exclaimed, "Who is this?"
Roa looked at her, somewhat speechless, and shook his head, saying, "Sister."
Mitsuri Kanroji's eyes, which were about to shed tears, instantly lit up. She joyfully hugged Roa tightly and said, "I thought you had found a new love and weren't planning to come back!"
Roa fell silent. He really wanted to ask her if she wanted to hear what she was saying.
But feeling the softness in her embrace, Roa instinctively chose to keep quiet.
Well, this is nice; let's hug a little longer.
Beside them, Nezuko looked at Mitsuri Kanroji with a blank expression and gently coughed, saying, "Um, although it might not be appropriate to say this, please be mindful, especially since there are children here."
Three heads peeked out from behind the door. Upon hearing this, Mitsuri Kanroji's face flushed again, transforming her into a steam princess. She awkwardly pushed Roa away. Mitsuri Kanroji was quite strong, and this didn't need to be said. In her embarrassment, she lost her composure, and the force of her push was not light, but Roa expressionlessly withstood it.
What? Are you naturally endowed with eight times the physical prowess of a human?
Sorry, as a dragon-blooded youth, I can still handle it. So, daily interactions like this won't hurt me; please bring on more of this kind of benefit.
Mitsuri Kanroji's cheeks turned red. She was too excited upon meeting him and lost her composure. When she realized she might have used too much strength, she secretly glanced up at the boy and found Roa smiling at her, causing steam to rise from her head again.
Roa: .
Although the steam princess is very cute, there's really no need to be that shy.
After inviting her to lunch, Nezuko and Kie Kamado looked relieved. Mitsuri Kanroji placed the last bowl of rice down and smiled, saying, "I'm full."
Nezuko and Kie exchanged glances, both agreeing that one big eater was enough for the family; adding another would be too much to handle.
After Mitsuri Kanroji recounted everything that had happened since she joined the Demon Slayer Corps, she glanced at the sky and reluctantly said to Roa, "Well, I'll come back again. I still have to train now, so I'll take my leave."
In the distance, Nezuko, lying on the ground, fell into thought. How many more meals like this would she have to prepare?
The following days were relatively calm. Once Tanjiro Kamado was able to use the Breath of the Sun, it became simple practice. Under Roa's training, he was growing rapidly.
As usual, they prepared to set out at night with the Nichirin Sword in hand.
However, when they reached the fork in the road in the small town, Roa looked up again, ready to decide which way to patrol.
Suddenly, his expression became serious.
Roa looked toward a distant spot and said, "Over there, it seems there's a demon?"
Tanjiro Kamado asked in confusion, "If there's a demon, then let's go! Why are we standing here?"
Roa nodded, but he also felt something was off. That mountain was the one he had just dealt with not long ago, so it shouldn't be possible for a demon to appear so quickly.
Was it a previous oversight? No, that's not right. Such strong demonic energy could not have escaped his detection.
If it were a demon weak enough, it might have evaded Roa's perception, but this level of demonic energy was like a firefly in the night.
Speaking of which, he always seemed to encounter some strange demons.
Not long ago, he had run into an Upper Moon Four.
Wait a minute, suddenly, Roa remembered something.
He had previously escaped from the Upper Moon and had also killed a few Lower Moons afterward. They wouldn't be looking for trouble with him, would they?
The Lower Moon demon he had killed wasn't too far from this mountain.
The Demon King has the ability to share vision and hearing with his demons. If that's the case, the mountain where he killed the Lower Moon is not far from here.
Roa looked back at Tanjiro Kamado, hesitating whether he should send him back.
After thinking for a moment, Roa directly said to Tanjiro, "Tanjiro Kamado, go back. This time is different; it seems the opponent is an Upper Moon."
Tanjiro Kamado froze at Roa's words. He had already interacted with several Demon Slayer Corps members and understood the hierarchy of demons. The more he learned, the more he understood the terrifying strength of the Upper Moons.
With a worried expression, Tanjiro said, "But they haven't discovered you yet, right? Should we call the Insect Hashira?"
Roa thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "You go first; I'll go check it out."
Tanjiro wanted to say something else, but thinking of Roa's strength, he reluctantly nodded.
Roa took a deep breath, a glint of determination in his eyes. It had been a long time since he had encountered an Upper Moon, and this time he was determined to kill one.
With that thought, Roa's figure turned into an afterimage, disappearing into the streets under the night sky.
On the mountain, a white pot-like demon with a grotesque humanoid shape was walking while complaining about something.
The pot was light white, with an abstract and grotesque humanoid appearance. It was entirely white, with yellow eyeballs, green lips, and purple fins on its head. Its mouth was located where its eyes should be, and its eyes were positioned on its forehead and mouth. The muscular upper body had no arms; instead, several small arms grew from its head and other places, making it a bizarre demon.
If you listened closely, you would hear the pot constantly muttering a name: Akaza.
"Damn Akaza, how dare he look down on me and insult my art! How infuriating! Sooner or later, I will make him my art piece."
As the pot spoke, it hurried along, but unlike other demons, it moved by teleporting from one place to another.
It possessed a rare space-type Blood Demon Art.
However, this Blood Demon Art had strict limitations: it required the pot to release its own pot.
Even so, it was an extremely powerful ability, and even the pot's normal speed was quite fast.
Roa followed the scent to find the pot's location. He was quietly standing on a tree branch, watching this constantly complaining demon.
It was Upper Moon Five, Gyokko.
The pot's escape ability was undoubtedly strong. It was like a fragile mage with mobility, excelling in output and summoning. If not dealt with immediately, it would become a troublesome existence.
Roa had been following it for a while, yet the pot had not noticed his presence, indicating that it was not good at sensing.
From the pot's mutterings, Roa learned the current situation.
It was sent by Muzan Kibutsuji to kill him. Of course, if there was an opportunity, it could try to recruit him to their side.Muzan sent two people: one was the pot, and the other was Akaza.Akaza was not here.