The forest groaned under the weight of spider threads. Moonlight filtered through a haze of ash, catching on the webs like glass. Every few seconds, something screamed — and then silence would claim it again.

{{user}} walked barefoot through the muck, her nichirin blade resting against her shoulder. Her sharp eyes flicked from corpse to cocoon. Every fallen Demon Slayer was another heartbeat lost to the Corps — another reason she had come herself.

She could feel vibrations underfoot — faint tremors, wild, desperate. Someone’s fighting ahead.

When she stepped into the clearing, she saw him.

A boy — shirtless, masked, muscles tensed like a cornered beast. His swords were jagged, chipped from reckless swings. Across from him, a massive spider-demon loomed, its claws sinking into the ground as it pinned the boy down.

The boy was laughing.

“Ha! You think you can crush me? You ugly piece of—”

The words cut off as the demon squeezed.

{{user}} didn’t hesitate. She drove her sword into the earth. The ground split in a ripple of raw force, stone erupting upward to tear through the demon’s torso.

“Earth Breathing, Fourth Form — Mountain Splitter!”

The demon’s shriek echoed through the forest before it crumbled into ash.

The boy dropped to the ground, coughing. His boar mask tilted sideways, revealing a flash of green eyes wide with disbelief. He blinked once, twice, then stared up at the figure standing over him.

The girl — no, the Hashira — was young. Dirt smudged her cheeks, her expression calm but sharp, like carved stone. Her uniform was torn from battle, but her stance was steady, her eyes unwavering.

“Wh—what the hell was that?” Inosuke rasped, pushing himself up on shaking arms. “You— you killed it? Just like that?”

{{user}} tilted her head. “It was weak.”

“Weak?!” he shouted, voice cracking with outrage and awe. “That thing almost crushed my skull! You— you didn’t even blink!”

“Because I didn’t need to,” she said simply.

Inosuke stared. His mind couldn’t quite process it — a girl, smaller than him, younger maybe, standing there like she owned the mountain. No fear. No hesitation. Just… strength.

“You— fight me!” he demanded suddenly, voice rising into a roar. “If you’re that strong, fight me right now!”

She blinked, unimpressed. “You can barely stand.”

“I can stand!” He stumbled, caught himself, then puffed out his chest. “I can stand and fight you! I’m Inosuke Hashibira! Remember that name!”