Anime/Manga: Bankai Starting with Demon Slayer

This promise made him feel that the knife he wielded would be more powerful, or rather, more valuable.

Shinobu's hands were trembling, not only because Asuka had confirmed once again that he had indeed dreamt of the details of his sister's death.

Asuka's words reminded her of many years ago—

That day, a demon broke into the house and killed the father and mother.

If it weren't for Lord Rock Pillar arriving in time to slay the evil spirit, I and my sister would probably have lost our lives as well.

I was sobbing uncontrollably, terrified.

Kanae Butterfly, her older sister also reached out and gently hooked her little finger in the same way:

We must kill more demons, Shinobu!

We must never let this pain fall on anyone else.

We made a promise.

pat.

A tear uncontrollably slid down her cheek.

Shinobu lowered her head, her slender wrists trembling, but her fingers were tightly gripping Asuka's little finger.

"...Asuka...you're such an annoying guy."

"Saying things like that will make a girl cry..."

Tears streamed down her face, as if emotions suppressed for an unknown period of time had finally collapsed, making Shinobu Kocho unable to look directly into Asuka's eyes.

"Then it's settled! No one is allowed to die before that day!"

She trembled, pressing her thumb heavily onto the bird's thumb, her voice trembling with laughter amidst her sobs:

"Don't call me 'senpai' anymore, we're not that much older than each other... just call me Shinobu."

"Shinobu? Isn't that very rude?"

"It's okay, we're good friends, Asuka."

Chapter 50 The Train That Devours Life

During the Taisho era, Western things were constantly flowing into the country, which presented both opportunities and challenges.

The world is constantly changing, and our daily lives—clothing, food, housing, and transportation—are all undergoing transformation.

In the old days, people only needed an oxcart or simply two legs to carry bamboo baskets from the countryside to Ueno to sell goods without complaint. But now, more, faster, and larger steam trains are needed to meet the demand.

In order to break free from dependence on Western technology, the railway administration went from importing and imitating to independent design, and finally developed a standardized and mature product in recent years - the Type 8620 steam locomotive.

It is called the Mugen Train.

Night falls, inside the third-class carriage.

The electrically powered incandescent headlights, which should be brand new tungsten wires, flicker as if the current is unstable.

Sawako and Kondo Isami were leaning against the window, quietly observing everything inside the carriage.

They are Demon Slayer Corps members, Level 1.

Not long ago, the ark brought news—

A bizarre disappearance has occurred on this busy railway line, with ten victims already identified.

The official newspaper, Chung Pao News, reported that a murderer is lurking along the railway line, and that he is known to commit crimes at night. Passengers are urged to be vigilant.

Therefore, the Demon Slayer Corps dispatched two members to investigate and determine whether it was caused by human intervention or by demons.

Disguised as a merchant couple, they concealed their Nichirin swords within their cargo packages, searching for the demon's trail while carefully watching out for the armed railway police on each station platform.

Waaah—

The horn sounded, and the wheels clattered again as the train began to plunge deeper into the night.

"Do you think it's a ghost?" Sawako asked her partner in a low voice, yawning lazily. "It's already past midnight, and we still haven't noticed anything unusual."

Kondo Isami shook his head: "I don't know. You should get some sleep first. I'll wake you up if anything happens."

"I feel so bad, we're on duty together, how could I be the one slacking off..."

"It's because your husband told me to take better care of you. Besides, I'm getting old and don't need much sleep."

Kondo Isami reluctantly patted his pockets, wanting to light a cigarette, but after thinking about it carefully, he realized that smoking here might break the rules, so he reluctantly pulled his hand back.

The female swordsman pulled the package to her side, leaned against the car window and chuckled, "Then you won't be polite, goodnight."

To be honest, the two of them had circled the car several times under various pretexts, but they hadn't found a single trace of a ghost.

Maybe he really was some kind of murderer...

These days, the cabinet is insane, and so is the military. It's not surprising at all that two guys would run out from inside and start hacking people.

Inside the carriage, passengers either slumped over and dozed off, or stared blankly out the window at the unfathomable night, quietly waiting for the train to arrive at the next station.

A yawn...wait?

Sawako had only been asleep for a short while when Kondo Isami suddenly realized that he was also feeling a bit sleepy.

That's really not right. Did you not get enough rest yesterday?

He pinched the web of his hand hard, the brief stinging pain bringing a sliver of clarity, but it was quickly overwhelmed by an even stronger drowsiness.

"Hello...please show me your ticket..."

Just as Kondo Isami was patting his temples, trying to clear his head a little, the flight attendant arrived.

He looked somewhat haggard, as if he hadn't slept well for many days, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Oh, sorry, sorry, here you go." Kondo Isami reached into his pocket and handed both his and Sawako's tickets to the conductor.

The other party didn't seem to want to confirm; they just mechanically stamped the ticket twice with the ticket pliers and then silently left.

"Are you alright, buddy?" Kondo Isami poked his head out, looking at the other person with some concern.

But before he could even put the ticket away, an irresistible drowsiness washed over him.

"...Just take a nap, it should be fine, right?"

He adjusted his posture, dozed off, and soon drifted into the deepest sleep...

"Dad! You're back!"

A clear, bell-like call woke Kondo Isami.

He suddenly opened his eyes and was momentarily stunned.

Inside the small room, the stove was burning brightly, and the air was filled with the delicious aroma of stewed dishes.

Before him, a three-year-old girl in a red kimono nestled into his arms like a warm little sun.

"Hehe, Daddy, I missed you." She blinked her bright eyes and hugged Kondo Isami tightly.

How could that be?

They are not...

His memory began to become blurry and hazy; he couldn't remember some things clearly.

Who died in the fire? Miyoko wasn't killed by a ghost...

What is a ghost....

The little girl frowned slightly, worried by Kondo Isami's dazed look, and quickly waved her chubby little hands, saying, "Mommy! Daddy's a little silly!"

mother? Miyoko?

Kondo Yu was taken aback. He hugged his daughter, Xiaoxia, tightly and looked towards the side door of the hut in a daze.

A gentle-looking woman, wearing thick gloves, walked out of there with a smile, carrying a steaming pot of soup.

"Yo, you've had a long day. Put Xia down and eat first." Even in hell, Kondo Yo will never forget that elegant long dress and that gaze that was always full of care and love.

This is his wife, Miyoko! She didn't die! It really was just a nightmare...

Kondo Isami seemed to have all his strength drained away, collapsing onto the tatami mat, panting heavily, feeling that everything had happened so suddenly and so blissfully.

He gently put Xia down, then jumped to Miyoko's side in three quick steps and took the soup pot from his wife's hands.

"Ouch, it's so hot!" The temperature of their fingertips touching made him grimace and his eyes burn, but he just didn't want to let go, so he quickly moved the soup pot to the center of the low table on the tatami mat.

"Oh dear, Yong, are you alright?"

His wife looked over with concern, but only saw Kondo Isami's silly grin. Helplessly, she tapped his sturdy back with her glove.

He sat by the fireplace, watching his wife gently serve rice to Xia, and listening to his daughter chattering away in her childish voice about the day's events. He felt warmth enveloping every cell in his body.

He dreamed of such days every night, but never had them come true.

Huh? Why am I dreaming? Isn't this just an ordinary day? What was I thinking just now?

Kondo scratched his head, but quickly gave up the idea.

Why think about these things? We still have to go to the fields tomorrow.

Oh dear, should I plant potatoes or radishes at this time of year...? I feel a bit out of practice...

His lips involuntarily curled into a smile, a genuine and utterly satisfied one.

But just as this feeling of happiness reached its peak, and the soul was completely immersed in a moment of supreme satisfaction—

click!

A sudden, crisp sound rang out.

The happy and content smile on Kondo Isami's face was forever frozen in time.

He sat peacefully by the fireplace, listening attentively to his wife and daughters, like the happiest wax figure.

The fire still flickered, the aroma of rice still lingered, and the figures of his wife and daughters remained warm and comforting...

Only he grew colder.

Unlimited train, third class carriage.

Kondo Isami and Sawako remained seated, their backs against the cool carriage wall.

Their heads were tilted slightly to one side, their eyes were gently closed, and their faces held an unusual serenity and tranquility.

A blissful smile played on Kondo's lips, as if he were embracing the beauty of the entire world in a dream.

A confident and glorious smile appeared on Sawako's face, perhaps because she had just reached the pinnacle of her career.

However, both of them had a piece of hemp rope tied to their hands, which was connected to the wrists of two other thin boys sitting next to them.

The carriage was deathly silent; everyone was fast asleep.

A figure in a train attendant uniform silently entered the first carriage of the train.

He knelt respectfully on the ground, silently awaiting instructions from the person before him...

No, that wasn't a person...

The guy turned his head, his smile grotesque and twisted:

"You should thank me, this is a dream only demon hunters can have..."

"Although it's a bit troublesome, dying happily in a beautiful dream is the greatest blessing..."

His eyes moved, revealing blue pupils—

[Part 1]

Chapter 51 Class A Squad

Ten days later.

boom! boom! boom!

With Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke working frantically, the three giant gourds were blown apart one by one!

This is the last lesson in the complete collection of lessons. Being able to do this means that their physical condition has been greatly improved.

"Congratulations, it seems you have recovered."

Asuka stood not far away and said to Tanjiro and the others, "Now that your bodies are no longer a problem, let's set off today."

"Departure? Where to?"