𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕖𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟 𝕠𝕗 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔻𝕣𝕒𝕘𝕠𝕟 [𝔻𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕟 𝕊𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕖𝕣]

(Chapter 14) The End of Final Selection

"We need to stick together in order to survive.
All other groups will go on top of mountain were they will wait for others.
Come on guys I believe in all of you."

Kyojuro was running with a group of people who were left at the bottom of the mountain.
"We have only one day left. We will make it!"

(I am glad that our plan is succeeding Takeo!)

Before the Final Exam...
Takeo and Kyojuro were on their way to Fujikasane Mountain.
They were looking at the past while the texts were walking together.
Kyojuro was swinging a stick as if it were a sword.
"I can't wait!"

Takeo looked at him and smiled!
"Me too!"

But Takeo started to think deeply about the Exam.
"But what about others?"

Kyojuro looked at him.
"What do you mean"

"The other participants!I heard that around only the half of them survive the Exam or even less."

Kyojuro started to feel sad .
"I understand your concern very well and I have thinked about it too.
But... my father denied us to stay together."

They wanted to keep the promise but seeing others die while they can help was just too cruel for both of them.

Takeo started to think and he suddenly came up with an idea.
"I found it!"

Takeo was looking at Kyojuro as he smiled.
Kyojuro feel the happiness of Takeo and smiled too.
"Really?!"

Takeo nodded.
"Our Master denied us from staying together but he didn't say we can't help others!
We won't break the promise!"

Takeo came up with a plan and he started to tell Kyojuro about it.
The plan was not too difficult but required great care to achieve success.
The two boy will split up in the mountain Takeo on the west and Kyojuro at the east.
Takeo took the dangerous path himself because he didn't want Kyojuro to get hurt by his plan.
At the west Takeo will search for few people and he will tell them about the plan.
The word will spread all over the mountain so it can be easier for the plan.
The people at the west will build traps for the demons at the day.
They will leave blood on the stones and trees so that the demons can be attracted by the smell of blood during the night.
During this time they would leave to the east as the sun rises earlier and there the others would be sent to a safe place which Kyojuro had found.
The boys will give just few direction and the others will take care of it so they can focus on the Exam for themselves.
........

The group left and Kyojuro was alone.
He looked at the sun that was raising and was worried about his best friend.
"I hope Takeo is okay!"

The Next Day
With Takeo...
Takeo was laying on a tree and he was asleep.
In his mind were passing blurt figures of persons that were unknown to him.
They surrounded him him and it seemed that it wasn't a good thing.
"Cursed!
Demon!
Devil!
Calamity!
Garbage!"

Everyone were insulting him and he started to cry.
No one heard him no one cared about him...

Suddenly a demon showed up behind everyone.
He started killing all of them continuously!
Terror took over Takeo as he watched all that blood flow.
At one point the demon stopped and looked at all the corpses.
He turned his head to Takoe as he was the only one staying alive there.
Takeo could remember easily the glittering red eyes.
Those eyes of the demon that killed his brother!
The fear made Takeo wake up from that nightmare.

He looked around and it was already morning.
His head started to hurt but he rembered what he had done the last night.
He looked at his body that was bandaged and that someone took care for him.
A guy suddenly appeared and he was surprised.
"I am glad you woke up!"

He was the boy Takeo saved from that demon.
Takeo tried to move but the pain was too much to handle.
The boy approached him and tried to help him.
"Please let me help you!"

Takeo got up by the boy help and they started to talk to each other.
Why are you doing such a thing for me?"
The boy smiled
"I owe you this because you saved my life .
When you killed that demon I thought you died too but you just fainted on the ground.
I was worried about you and I took care for you all that the day long."

Takeo was a little embarrassed from the kindness of the boy and smiled.
"Thank you!"
The boy watched him.
"I am the one that should thank you!"

"What day is this?"

The boy looked forward.
"Oh I forgot!
You sleep all the day and today the Exam should finish!"

Takeo got worried.
(I did not fulfil my mision completely!All those persons I should have protected during that day and night...
It is all my fault!)

At the Top of The Mountain...
Only few of the participant wasn't part of the group that assembled at the top of the mountain.All of them passed the exam and now they were ready to finish it.
All of them were happy that they survived except Kyojuro who only looked at the enternance waiting for Takeo.
He was all worries and couldn't hide his sadness.
"Takeo!
Please!
Don't break our promise!"

The old man showed up in front of all the survivors!
"Welcome back and Congratulations!"

I am pleased to see *cough* that you have returned safely!"

All the particapants were listening to him.
"First I shall issue you all the uniforms..."

Suddenly the voice a someone not far away were heard.
Immediately Kyojuro looked happy and started to run.
"TAKEO!!!"

Kyojuro looked at Takeo hugged him tightly.
"I am so happy now!"

Kyojuro helped Takeo and the other boy and they entered the top of the mountain.
The old man seemed happy too.
"It seems that the number of the participants grew again isn't this awesome!"

The old man continued speaking.
"There are ten ranks in all...
Kinoe
Kinoto
Hinoe
Hinoto
Tsuchinoe
Tsuchinoto
Kanoe
Kanoto
Mizunoe
Mizunoto.
Currently,you are at the lowest rank,Mizunoto."

"Today I will let you choose the ore for you swords to be crafted.
And Now..."

The old man clapped his hands and crows began to show up.
An crow sat down on Takeo head and he seemed angry.
"*Craw* Brat!
*Craw* Why you were late!"

The old man talked.
"I will not assign each of you your own Kasugai Crow!"

He removed a curtain from a table with different ores.
Now please, each of you need to come here to select an ore."

It was now Takeo's turn and he didn't have a single clue which to choose.
He calmed himself down and he choosed an ore.

In the Headquarter Mansion...

An crow with a purple ribbon approached a boy sitting alone.

"I see!
Nearly all of them survived!"

He seemed very happy.
"The number of my beloved children has risen again!"

The crow continued to tell him more about the exam and he was surprised.
"Shinjuro's son was there too!
And another boy who use Breath of The Dragon?!
I can't wait to see what a great swordsmans they will become in the future!"

Takeo and Kyojuro passed the exam successfully and they returned home.
Iguro and Senjuro were too much happy to see them both back.
Thay stood near Ruka and tell her about their jurney.

The two boys were now part of the Demon Slayer Corp.