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.

At nightfall, the candidates are instructed to ascend the stairs leading to the mountaintop shrine and await the commencement of the event. Nearly twenty young swordsmen usually participate in each iteration. Kiriya Ubuyashiki and Kanata Ubuyashiki, representing the Ubuyashiki family, act as the event organizers and will arrive together to brief the candidates on the rules. The exam entails surviving seven consecutive nights on the mountaintop, relying solely on their own resources without external assistance. Candidates who manage to survive all seven nights successfully are granted the opportunity to join the esteemed ranks of the Demon Slayer Corps as official Demon Slayers.

After seven days, the exam ends in the early morning and the surviving candidates gather once again near the mountaintop shrine. The Ubuyashiki organizers extend their congratulations and announce that the successful participants will be provided with their very own Demon Slayer Corps uniform. Measurements are taken to ensure a proper fit, and their rank is engraved, starting at the initial Mizunoto rank. The newly inducted Demon Slayers are also given the opportunity to select their preferred ore for their Nichirin Sword, which will be crafted by skilled swordsmiths and delivered to them two weeks later. Additionally, each member is assigned a Kasugai Crow, a messenger essential for communication with the Corps.

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.

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