Before Tanjiro could even process what was happening, he found himself hauled back to the training grounds to begin his "Blitz Training."
The specifics of the process had been mentioned several times before, so there was no need to dwell on the technicalities. Suffice it to say, the regimen was grueling.
At the start, Tanjiro managed well enough.
By the midpoint, he was gritting his teeth, his muscles screaming as he forced himself to endure.
But as the training entered its final stages, even a boy possessed of Tanjiro's legendary resilience began to falter.
It wasn't for lack of will. It was simply that Horitake's training was merciless—a meat grinder of a session designed to squeeze every last drop of effort from a person, pushing them past their absolute breaking point.
Why was Horitake pushing Tanjiro so much harder than he had pushed Zenitsu or Yae?
The answer was simple: Tanjiro's resilience.
Oftentimes, a person's sheer "grit" determines their ultimate potential and growth rate. When Horitake designed these blitz sessions, he didn't just account for physical strength or existing skill; he calibrated the intensity based on the student's mental fortitude.
If a person had weak resolve, the training was dialed back. Of course, the results were correspondingly lesser.
But if a person had an iron will, the training was intensified to match. The harder the pressure, the more brilliant the diamond.
Without a doubt, in a contest of pure tenacity, both Zenitsu and Yae fell short of Tanjiro. Consequently, the sheer exhaustion Tanjiro faced was on a completely different level than what Horitake's junior brother and sister had endured.
Horitake hardened his heart, acting as a relentless taskmaster as he hammered Tanjiro into shape.
Watching from the sidelines, Master Urokodaki occasionally found it difficult to look on. He felt Horitake was being perhaps a bit too heavy-handed.
And yet, the old master could see the results. Under Horitake's brutal pressure, the fragmented pieces of Tanjiro's training were being forged into a cohesive whole. With every passing hour, the power Tanjiro was able to manifest grew visibly stronger.
Seeing that the results were so profound, Urokodaki decided there was no need for misplaced pity.
Unable to watch any longer, he eventually turned back toward the house to look after the sleeping Nezuko.
This left only Horitake and Tanjiro alone on the mountainside.
Horitake continued his relentless assault, and Tanjiro continued to endure, his jaw locked in a permanent grimace of effort.
The boy truly lived up to his role as a protagonist. His resilience was nothing short of miraculous—a trait rarely seen in this world.
There were several moments where Horitake was certain Tanjiro would finally collapse, yet the boy somehow found a hidden reservoir of strength. He didn't just survive the sessions; he pushed through them with a ferocity that defied logic.
Each time he reached the brink and refused to fall, Tanjiro's strength took another leap forward.
On the surface, Horitake remained stern and demanding. Internally, however, he was in awe.
In truth, Horitake felt a sense of self-deprecation. Though he was powerful and his foundations were rock-solid, he knew that if it came down to a test of pure, unadulterated grit, he couldn't hold a candle to Tanjiro. In that regard, he had already lost.
Finally, a full day of blitz training drew to a close.
The moment the session ended, a wave of pure elation washed over Tanjiro.
He was exhausted—so tired he was on the verge of tears—but the results were undeniable.
Tanjiro could feel it in his very marrow. The combat effectiveness he could now tap into wasn't just thirty percent higher than before. It was forty percent—perhaps even more.
His heart soared with joy.
This was the direct result of his high resilience. Because Yae and Zenitsu lacked Tanjiro's level of grit, their gains were capped at thirty percent. But Tanjiro's spirit had allowed him to squeeze out nearly fifty percent more power.
In a single day, he had effectively become 1.5 times stronger than he was the day before.
It's a literal miracle, Horitake thought to himself.
He didn't keep his praise internal. Looking at the trembling, sweat-soaked Tanjiro, Horitake couldn't help but offer his sincere admiration.
"Tanjiro, the training is over. You did phenomenally! The growth in your combat effectiveness is nothing short of a miracle. I trust you can feel the difference yourself."
Tanjiro was gasping for air, his lungs burning, his legs shaking as he struggled to remain upright.
Even though he felt as if he might collapse at any second, his eyes were bright with excitement. He looked down at the hand gripping his katana, clenching it into a tight fist.
"Yes... I feel it," he wheezed. "My movements... my strength... it's all so much clearer now. Thank you, Horitake-senpai. It's all thanks to your training."
If it had been Zenitsu or Yae thanking him, Horitake would have accepted the gratitude with a smug grin. But facing Tanjiro's earnest, pure-hearted thanks, he actually felt a bit embarrassed.
He waved his hands dismissively. "No, no... don't thank me. To reach this level, it all came down to you. It was your persistence that made this work. At most, I was just a guide standing on the sidelines."
Catching his breath, a sudden spark of ambition lit up in Tanjiro's eyes, and he asked a question very similar to the one Yae had once asked:
"Horitake-senpai... can we do this again tomorrow?"
Horitake shook his head immediately. "No way. It's called 'Blitz Training' for a reason—the key is the suddenness and the short duration."
He stepped closer, his expression serious. "In a very short window, this kind of training can dramatically spike your performance. But it has a 'shelf life.' If we continue past a day, the returns diminish rapidly."
He placed a hand on Tanjiro's shoulder. "More importantly, the physical toll is terrifying. Doing this for more than a day would cause irreparable damage to your body. The cost would far outweigh the benefits. This is a one-time boost, not a permanent routine."
Hearing this logical explanation, a hint of disappointment crossed Tanjiro's face. "I see. That's a shame."
Horitake grabbed Tanjiro's arm, slinging it over his shoulder to help the boy walk. "That's enough, Tanjiro. You've pushed yourself to the absolute limit. You've done more than enough."
As they began the slow trek back toward Master Urokodaki's cabin, Horitake continued:
"Now, your job is to go back and rest. Sleep for a full day, eat a feast, and recover your energy. You need to be in peak condition for the Final Selection."
Tanjiro gave a weak, wry smile as he leaned on Horitake. "You're right, Senpai. I can feel it—my body really has been squeezed dry. If I kept going, I think I'd just break. The Final Selection is right around the corner; I have to be at my best before I leave this mountain. I can't exactly pass the exam if I can't even stand up."
And so, the exhausted but transformed Tanjiro was hauled back to the cabin by Horitake.
Over the next two or three days, things proceeded exactly as Horitake had suggested.
Aside from light daily maintenance to keep his form, Tanjiro spent his time resting and recovering his strength.
Master Urokodaki and Horitake frequently went out to hunt wild game, preparing massive, nutrient-rich meals for Tanjiro. They spared no effort in nourishing his body, ensuring that when the time came for the Final Selection, he would step onto that stage in the best shape of his life.
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