Demon Slime | Demon Slayer x Rimuru

Chapter 16: The Two With The Fox Masks

Tanjiro progression chapter here.

Also, Sabito and Makomo! :D

Enjoy the Chapter!

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Narrator POV

Six months...

Six months have passed, and Tanjiro remained unable to cut the boulder.

At this rate, they weren't going to be ready for Final Selection.

Every day, Tanjiro practiced for the Final Selection. With the support of Rimuru, he would practice over and over what he learned from Urokodaki. 

The basics like holding the breath and flexibility... He performed them all according to what he had written in his journal. Frankly, he was glad that he had written them down.

But...

Even after suffering through grueling training, even after being supported and taught by Rimuru, he still couldn't slice the boulder.

~

Tanjiro stood in front of the boulder, sword at the ready and gasping for air. His throat burned, his entire body was sore, and he felt like he could pass out at any moment.

Was he that hopeless? Was Nezuko going to die without ever waking up?

Tanjiro shook his head, trying to dispel the thoughts. If he thought like that, he'll almost give in! He'll break down!

Finally, he smashed his head into the large boulder.

"Keep working, Tanjiro! You can do it!"

"Oi, Tanjiro!" Rimuru shouted, approaching.

Tanjiro smashed his head into the boulder again.

"Shut up!"

A voice came from above. Tanjiro flinched, moving back and looking up.

Atop the large boulder sat a boy. He had flowing pink hair. a patterned kimono, and a white haori. However, his most defining feature was his mask:

A Fox Mask.

He sat, a wooden sword at his side. "A man shouldn't whine. It's unseemly." The boy muttered.

Rimuru looked at the boy. 'When did he show up? He has a fox mask, and- what's with this aura?'

The boy simply continued, despite the confused looks on both RImuru and Tanjiro's faces. "No matter how you suffer, bear it in silence..." The boy stood up. "If you're a man."

The boy flipped off the boulder, sword ready for an overhead swing. Rimuru jumped back and Tanjiro blocked the attack with the hilt of his sword. The boy then countered by twisting his body, kicking Tanjiro in the face.

The kick sent Tanjiro flying. He landed painfully, rolling into a sitting-up position. The taste of crimson blood in his mouth as he groaned in pain. 

The boy simply stared forward, uninterested.

"Slow. Weak. Immature." The boy noted.

"That's not what you call a man."

"What are you doing?" Tanjiro questioned. "I'd like to know what you think you're doing." The boy responded. 

"What do you mean? I'm training."

"How long do plan to keep your butt on the ground without even taking a stance?"

Tanjiro gasped, quickly getting up and taking a stance. "Come on. Come at me." The boy taunted. "But you have a wooden sword and I have a real sword," Tanjiro said.