During the day, after ascending the mountain, all the candidates—except for the two suffering from severe cold—gathered at the mountainside. Whether it was Kimura's group or the other scattered teams, everyone remained within the same general area.
Although Kimura was displeased, he couldn't openly drive the others away. Acting arrogantly in front of everyone would only make him seem narrow-minded and damage his authority as a leader.
Night fell quickly, and tension spread through the group.
Some had encountered demons before; others had not. Yet without exception, everyone could sense something was wrong—the faint, unsettling smell lingering in the air.
As the forest darkened, Kimura and Eimi exchanged a glance. Rising from the stone platform, they stepped into the center of the crowd.
Seeing this, Kimura's teammates immediately stood as well. Clearly, they already recognized him as their leader.
The smaller groups—those with only two or three people—either hesitated where they sat or quietly stood up, attempting to blend into Kimura's team. After all, they were strangers; slipping into a larger group wouldn't be easily noticed.
Kimura swept his gaze across the crowd. Despite his young age, he carried himself with calm authority, his sharp eyes commanding attention.
Silence fell. Everyone waited for him to speak.
"Everyone," Kimura began, his voice steady, "night has fallen, and demons will soon begin hunting. I'll say this one last time—Final Selection is not a game. This is life and death."
"If anyone wishes to withdraw, take your belongings and head to the wisteria forest below. It is the only safe zone on this mountain."
He then fell silent, waiting.
Sure enough, four or five candidates, unable to endure the suffocating atmosphere, quickly grabbed their packs and retreated toward the wisteria grove.
Once they were gone, Kimura continued.
"Good. Since no one else is leaving, we move together. We'll enter the forest and find terrain that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. If we cooperate, we can survive the seven days."
His words immediately stirred unease.
Enter the forest—at night?
Many felt it was safer to remain where they were. If a demon appeared, they could fight or retreat to the wisteria grove. But deep in the forest, escape wouldn't be so simple.
Some even doubted Kimura's judgment.
Why not enter during the day? Why choose the most dangerous time, when demons are strongest?
Kimura seemed to anticipate these thoughts.
"If you have questions, ask them now," he said. "We're a team. Doubt left unspoken is like a crack—it will break us when it matters most."
Three male candidates huddled together. After a brief discussion, a tall one stepped forward.
"Wouldn't it be safer to stay here? Why must we enter the forest?"
Kimura nodded slightly, unsurprised.
"I understand your thinking," he replied calmly. "But since you chose to participate, you shouldn't rely on luck or avoidance. That mindset will only endanger those who are serious about surviving."
The tall candidate lowered his head, embarrassed.
Kimura raised his voice slightly.
"We came here prepared to risk our lives to join the Demon Slayer Corps. If anyone is here just to 'wait and see,' then stay behind. My group has no place for hesitation."
His words ignited murmurs of agreement.
Some candidates even mocked the hesitant ones, their voices filled with scorn.
Kimura continued, cutting through the noise.
"This location is exposed—flat terrain, no cover. If a demon attacks, there's nowhere to hide. In the forest, however, we can use the environment to our advantage."
Laughter and jeers followed, further isolating the doubtful few.
Kimura pressed on.
"As for why we didn't enter during the day—it's simple. We needed rest. If we had gone in earlier and fought immediately, we'd be exhausted by nightfall. Now, we are at full strength."
This time, his reasoning resonated.
Doubts faded. Confidence grew.
"Any more questions?" he asked.
Silence.
"Then we move."
Under Kimura's direction, the group formed a wedge-shaped formation and advanced into the dark forest. It was a balanced structure, capable of handling attacks from multiple directions—something Kimura had studied carefully before arriving at Mount Fujikasane.
Soon, the forest swallowed them.
Only the three hesitant candidates remained behind.
They exchanged uneasy glances, regret evident on their faces.
Should they stay?
Or retreat to the wisteria grove?
As they argued in hushed voices, none of them noticed the presence creeping closer through the shadows.
It did not resemble a human.
Six legs carried its body low to the ground, while two distorted arms dragged behind it. Its pale, bald head twitched unnaturally, and its movement was fast—far too fast.
This was no ordinary demon.
It had completely abandoned human form.
A grotesque fusion of flesh and instinct.
A Spider Demon.
And it was already hunting.