Final Selection

Final Selection is a selective process for individuals who seek to become a recognized Demon Slayer of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Overview
Final Selection takes place on Mount Fujikasane, where Wisteria flowers bloom every season from the mountain's foot to its slope. The area around the mountaintop does not have any Wisteria flowers and is infested with demons, which were caught alive and placed on the mountain by existing Demon Slayers. Since Wisteria is poisonous to demons, they remain trapped inside the mountain and cannot leave. Most of the demons captured are relatively weak, and have only killed up to two or three people, presenting enough of a challenge for candidates to test their skills. However, there was one example of an abnormally strong demon that managed to kill and devour over fifty candidates for decades.

The candidate is asked to climb up the stairs to the top of the mountain at night and wait near the shrine for the start of the event. Every event is usually attended by nearly twenty young swordsmen. Kiriya Ubuyashiki and Kanata Ubuyashiki from the Ubuyashiki family will serve as curators who organize the event. They will arrive together and explain the rules to the candidates. The exam requires the candidate to survive seven nights on the mountaintop, without any outside aid. Candidates who successfully survive the seven nights are then permitted to become official members of the Demon Slayer Corps.

After seven days, the exam ends in the early morning and the survivors gather at the mountain's top again. The curators congratulate them and inform them that they will receive their own Demon Slayer Corps uniform. The Corps will also take their measurements and then engrave their rank. They all start at the bottom rank of Mizunoto. The new Demon Slayers also get to choose their own ore for their Nichirin Sword, and will receive the katana two weeks later after it is finished by the swordsmiths. Lastly, they assign the members a Kasugai Crow each, which are used for communication.

Usually only a handful of candidates survive. The Corps' leader Kagaya Ubuyashiki is satisfied with any number, as the amount of Demon Slayers would nevertheless increase with each Final Selection.

History
When exactly the Corps started organizing the Final Selection and the number of editions held thus far remain unknown.

During the Meiji era, a particularly noteworthy Final Selection took place, characterized by a surprisingly high number of survivors. Among the participants were Giyu Tomioka, Sabito and Murata. During the selection, Giyu was attacked by a demon at an early stage and injured to the point he was drifting in and out of consciousness. Sabito intervened, saving Giyu from the demon and entrusted him to another participant before rushing to aid another participant in distress. When Giyu regained consciousness, the selection had concluded already. Sabito had single-handedly defeated every demon on the mountain, rescuing all the aspiring slayers, but he himself tragically lost his life in a battle against the Hand Demon when his blade broke on the demon's thick neck.. Among the candidates, Sabito was the sole fatality of that year's Final Selection, while the others were all accepted as Demon Slayers. Giyu carried a deep sense of unworthiness as a Demon Slayer due to his failure to eliminate any demon and being unconscious during the Final Selection. This belief took root within him and persisted even after he became a Hashira.

During the Taisho era, multiple Final Selections were conducted, showcasing a variety of participants and outcomes. Mitsuri Kanroji stands out as a remarkable candidate who underwent training for just six months before successfully passing the selection. Muichiro Tokito and Aoi Kanzaki participated in the same selection, with Muichiro swiftly ascending to the rank of Hashira within a mere two months. Aoi, however, attributed her survival to pure luck and considered herself a coward for avoiding direct combat during the selection. Despite passing the selection, she chose to assist injured Demon Slayers at the Butterfly Mansion instead of pursuing a further career as a Demon Slayer. In another selection, Tanjiro Kamado, along with Kanao Tsuyuri, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Inosuke Hashibira and Genya Shinazugawa, were the sole survivors among approximately twenty swordsmen.

Trivia

 * Most prospective Demon Slayers train for at least one year before going to the Final Selection.
 * Tanjiro Kamado trained for two years.
 * Mitsuri Kanroji, Gyomei Himejima and Muichiro Tokito are exceptional cases among Demon Slayers, as they managed to enter Final Selection without undergoing the usual year-long training. Mitsuri successfully passed the exam after just six months of training. Muichiro and Gyomei achieved an even more remarkable feat, as they not only passed the exam but also ascended the ranks to become Hashira within a mere two months after picking up a sword.

Navigation
Tria Final Финальный отбор 最終選別