NOVEL WEB Chapter 96: DSWS: Chapter 96
"Tanjiro's Special Training"
While they were talking, Aoki, engaged in a fierce battle with the Yoriichi Type Zero, finally defeated it using his swordsmanship.
Knowing how difficult it would be to repair, he hadn't inflicted excessive damage, despite the Yoriichi Type Zero already being significantly worn.
After defeating the Yoriichi Type Zero, Aoki approached Tanjiro and Kotetsu, drenched in sweat and looking somewhat disheveled.
Tanjiro wanted to laugh but suppressed the urge out of self-preservation.
"Tanjiro, that mechanical battle doll was interesting. I vented all my anger on it," Aoki said, wiping sweat from his brow, breathing heavily.
"Yeah, Aoki-senpai, you did great. Fighting a doll like that can't be easy," Tanjiro chuckled.
A mischievous smile spread across Aoki's face. "Tanjiro, I think this doll is even stronger than a Lower Moon demon.
Fighting it will drastically improve your skills. From now on, you'll fight it until you win."
"I'll do my best!" Tanjiro exclaimed, then realized something was wrong. "Wait? Now? I have to fight this doll that overpowered Aoki-senpai until I win?"
"Yes! Train with the Yoriichi Type Zero, become stronger than your senpai and that poker-faced kid, Tanjiro-nii! I'll help you!" Kotetsu chimed in.
Tanjiro: Silence.
The scene shifted to a despondent Tanjiro facing the Yoriichi Type Zero, Kotetsu behind him, offering encouragement and motivation.
"Tanjiro-nii, become stronger! Once you surpass that guy, tell him this for me!"
"Is that all you've got? You useless seaweed head! Shave your hair, you short, stubby, ugly thing! Shameless! Go commit seppuku!" Kotetsu's voice was sharp, his eyes burning beneath his mask.
"Um, Kotetsu, that's a bit much!"
"Tanjiro-nii, would you prefer public decapitation?!"
"No, no, no! He's a Hashira! I can't say that!"
"No! You must!"
Tanjiro: Silence.
Ignoring Kotetsu, Tanjiro focused on the Yoriichi Type Zero, recalling Muichiro Tokito's characteristics.
"Ignoring their attacks, Tokito is incredibly strong, on par with Aoki-senpai. He's younger and smaller than me…"
"I can't lose to him! I have to get stronger!"
Tanjiro's eyes narrowed. He lunged, his sword striking at the Yoriichi Type Zero.
But with a slight movement, the Yoriichi Type Zero sent Tanjiro flying over ten meters with a single blow.
"No, no! Too strong! Six arms are too strong!" Tanjiro yelled from the ground.
Kotetsu ran to Tanjiro's side, offering a strange mix of comfort and criticism.
"Tanjiro-nii, the Yoriichi Type Zero has six arms, but its performance is significantly reduced compared to before. Its combat power is weakened. You're not a weakling who gives up at the slightest difficulty!"
"Come on! Look up! Let me emphasize this again."
Tanjiro looked up as Kotetsu began his critique.
"Your fighting habits are terrible, Tanjiro. You always observe your opponent's movements before reacting, right? That's why you're getting beaten. Your fundamentals are terrible! You're lucky to even be in the Demon Slayer Corps!"
"From now on, I'll ruthlessly correct all your weaknesses. Until you meet my standards, you're not eating a single grain of rice!"
Tanjiro resigned himself to his fate.
Aoki, watching from a tree, burst into laughter. He hadn't noticed Kotetsu's sharp tongue before.
The Yoriichi Type Zero, which even he had struggled against, would be a brutal challenge for Tanjiro without food.
Kotetsu had been subdued by his father's death, but Muichiro Tokito had rekindled his sharp wit.
Kotetsu was also a keen analyst.
This allowed him to accurately identify his technical shortcomings. At only ten years old, he felt his future was bleak, falling into despair.
Anger, indeed, is a powerful motivator.
Aoki also didn't know something Kotetsu hadn't mentioned yet, mostly because he'd started fighting before Kotetsu could speak.
Besides the key on its neck, the Yoriichi Type Zero's movements could be controlled another way.
Kotetsu produced a small, intricate wooden box.
He explained that the box opened only by moving its parts in a specific sequence; the Yoriichi Type Zero was similar, though the manipulation points differed.
Rotating the wrists and fingers in a specific pattern controlled its movements.
Swordsmiths programmed it with attacks targeting swordsmen's weaknesses for realistic training.
This meant the doll's true power was unleashed only under its master's control.
Tanjiro, who should have been happy, felt even more hopeless.
On the fifth day, Tanjiro was again defeated by the Yoriichi Type Zero, sent flying tens of meters.
Despite using only wooden swords, the Yoriichi Type Zero was terrifying. Tanjiro genuinely feared death.
Kotetsu's analysis was sharp, but his swordsmanship training was inhumane; he didn't understand human limits.
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