Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi

"Tetsuko!"

Watching the raw ingot fall, Tetsukawa roared, about to drop his tools and rush to the rescue. But in that life-or-death moment, the few meters between them felt like an insurmountable chasm. After just two steps, Tetsukawa knew he wouldn't make it. He shut his eyes, unable to watch his nephew's head be smashed.

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, a great wind seemed to sweep through the sweltering room, and the sound of something slicing through the air whistled past the ears of Kinsaki and the others.

It was Sisho!

He kicked the ingot, sending it flying to the side. At the critical moment, Sisho had saved the unconscious Tetsuko!

Opening his eyes, Tetsukawa saw that Tetsuko was alive, saved by Sisho. "Sisho, thank you—"

He was about to express his gratitude, but Sisho cut him off. "This isn't the time for that. We can talk after the forging is done."

After a quick check, Sisho found that Tetsuko had simply fainted from extreme exhaustion. "He's fine, just drained of stamina and energy from the forging. I'll take over his work. You all can count on me to handle the rest."

With those few words, Sisho managed to dispel the tension in the room. A great weight lifted from Tetsukawa's heart. He let out a long breath and bellowed, "Of course we can! Alright lads, let's show Sisho what we swordsmiths are made of!"

The other smiths roared in response, throwing themselves back into their work. After moving Tetsuko to a cooler spot, Sisho took his place at the anvil. A quick observation told him what Tetsuko's job was: to smelt and forge raw iron chunks into refined steel. It was a process of purification. The work was relatively simple but demanded immense stamina and energy. For an ordinary person, it would be grueling. But for Sisho, it was just a matter of mechanically swinging a heavy hammer.

He picked the largest hammer and began the purification work. The clang of metal, the crackle of burning flames, and the heavy breathing of the swordsmiths wove together, becoming the main rhythm of the room.

Time slowly passed, and the forging neared its end.

"Here, this is the last piece." Handing the final material to Sisho, an exhausted Kinsaki collapsed to the ground. He could hardly believe that this child, who looked no older than eight, had more stamina than all of them combined. He had not only completed two tasks but had also persevered until the very end.

"Thanks." Sisho nodded and placed the final piece into the mold.

Only he and Tetsukawa were still standing. The fact that these top-tier swordsmiths were so exhausted spoke to the incredible difficulty of this project. And the more difficult it was, the more Sisho looked forward to the finished blade.

Raising their hammers high, Sisho and Tetsukawa began the final forging.

Clang, clang, clang!

With one strike after another, the hammers beat down, shaping the material in the mold toward its final form.

One swing, two, three… after an unknown number of blows, Tetsukawa finally collapsed. He was an ordinary man; no matter how good his stamina was, he couldn't compare to Sisho, who was empowered by the Breath of the Sun.

In the room, only Sisho remained, still hammering away.

Slumped on the floor, Tetsukawa's chest heaved. He knew his mission was over. The rest was up to Sisho.

One hammer blow, two, three… After countless more swings, Sisho's stamina was long past its limit. Even so, he persisted. If the forging process was stopped midway, it would almost certainly cause irreversible damage. It could even ruin everything!

Gritting his teeth so hard he didn't realize his gums were bleeding, Sisho focused. Just… one… last… strike!

Raising the hammer high one last time, Sisho mustered every final ounce of his strength and swung down with all his might!

CLANG!

CRACK!

A crisp, metallic ring was followed by the sound of the hammer shattering. After countless strikes, the tool had finally reached its end.

But the forging was complete.

Looking at the final product before him, a tired smile graced Sisho's face.

"Quick, into the quenching water!" an impatient Tetsukawa urged from the side.

Using a pair of tongs, Sisho carefully walked to the quenching trough.

SSSSSSSSSS~

The moment the blade touched the water, a massive cloud of steam erupted, instantly filling the entire room. Unable to bear the humid heat, Kinsaki and the others opened the door and rushed outside.

"Cough, cough, so much steam!"

"Yeah, I've never seen anything like this before."

"I bet this Nichirin Blade is going to be a masterpiece!"

As Kinsaki and the others were talking, Tetsukawa frowned and turned to shout, "Quiet! Sisho hasn't come out yet!"

At the village chief's command, the noisy swordsmiths instantly fell silent. They all stared at the doorway, like chicks waiting for their mother to feed them. For them, seeing the final product was the greatest happiness.

Gulp.

As they swallowed nervously, footsteps echoed from within the room. Suddenly, Tetsukawa and the others felt a chill run down their spines, and a cold sweat broke out. A moment later, an indescribable coldness brushed against their skin. With their hairs standing on end, they saw Sisho walk out.

And with him, a Nichirin Blade.

The jet-black body of the blade was streaked with threads of bright red, as if blood was flowing within it. Though the sun was high in the sky, Tetsukawa and the others felt the air around them turn cold.

"Is this…" Tetsukawa swallowed hard and took a few steps forward, trying to find the words.

Sisho nodded. "I remember that Nichirin Blades are also called 'Color-Changing Katanas,' right?"

"Yes," Tetsukawa replied. "But without a certain level of swordsmanship, the blade won't change color." As soon as he said it, he realized it was a foolish thing to say. As Yoriichi's disciple, the one who had personally retrieved the Crimson Jade Ore, how could Sisho be unable to make the blade change color?

Raising the Nichirin Blade high above his head, Sisho pointed it toward the sun. He silently circulated the Breath of the Sun, and an indescribable sensation spread through his body. A current of energy from within him was drawn into the sword, slowly infusing the blade.

Then, before the stunned eyes of Tetsukawa and the others, the Nichirin Blade began to change color. A touch of red ignited from the hilt and spread up the length of the blade. Finally, the jet-black Nichirin Blade turned a brilliant, vivid red.

Eyes wide, Tetsukawa's lips trembled as he murmured, "A peerless blade… the Crimson Red Sword."

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