Argentum: Well here we are, a big fight with Val'gin.

Val'gin: Time to crush all ya'll pathetic insects!

Zenitsu: I don't quite like the sound of that.

Grel'Slyfer: Of course you wouldn't you yellow pansy!

Zenitsu: Says the sadistic wraith of evil!

Val'gin: Even I have to agree with that one master Grel.

Grel'Slyfer: …Whatever.

Tanjiro: How do you work with this guy?

Val'gin: It's easier than you think.

Argentum: Oh my.

Tanjiro: My condolences.

Grel'Slyfer: I will decapitate you!

Val'gin: Honestly Master Nel is a lot easier to work with.

Zenitsu: You don't say?

Argentum: Okay as interesting as that conversation is we should get a move on. Since this is basically a chapter you get to shine in. How about you start us off Val'gin?

Val'gin: Sounds good to me. Ahem… The Dark Guard productions do not own anything besides reality building concepts and Oc's. Everything else belongs to their rightful owners. Now without further ado…

Everyone: Here's the story!

Hello= Regular talk

Hello= Thoughts

[Hello]= Radio

(Hello)= Telepathy/Mind reading

Chapter Thirty Nine: How I caused hundreds of thousands in property damage or… How we all started hating Abysswalkers…

Flashing forward Zenitsu was the first to try and make an opening, unfortunately for the zappy boy… "Too slow." Simply jumping to the side Val'gin grabbed Zenitsu's arm. "Have a nice flight!" Smirking with malice the Abysswalker tossed Zenitsu towards the ceiling. Thankfully before he could get hurt, Nezuko jumped up and grabbed him. Landing on the ground as I charged in, joining my attacks with Kyojuro's. Having trained with him for so long the two of us naturally flowed together. Didn't mean anything to enemy though. "Nice synergy! But what else could I expect from master and student?"

Gripping his longsword with two hands he swung, creating a gust of wind that blew the both of us back. However as we were launched out of the fight, Kanao and Inosuke jumped in, looking around I noticed that Tanjiro was simply standing still. His eyes closed as if he was focusing on something. Deciding to let him be I slowly stood up as I watched the boar boy and flower girl attack.

"Hahahaha! If I beat you! The one who's giving even a Hashira trouble! Then I'll for sure become one myself!" Val'gin laughed at this as he parried his dual swords.

"Ha! Got to say I like your spunk kid! Too bad we're on opposite sides." Kicking out he caught the boar boy in the chest, sending him flying into the remains of a broken pillar. Ducking underneath the flying Inosuke, Kanao used her fourth form, weaving her blade in a barrage of flower petals. "Pretty technique little lady, but otherwise pathetic." As he redirected each slash Mitsuri struck.

"Take this! Ichi no Kata Hatsukoi no Wananaki!" Jumping in from behind the Abysswalker she used her first form. Seeing the attack coming Kanao jumped out of the way, Val'gin however seemed to dash from one point to the other. Dodging each strike with ease, this left Mitsuri open to retaliation. "Oh no."

Grinning he seemed to dash right in front of her. "Oh no indeed!" Raising his sword Val'gin prepared to cut her down the middle. However before he could do so he jumped back, a chunk of earth missing him by a hair's breadth. Looking over at Nezuko he frowned. "What monstrous strength you have." Using his distraction Mitsuri jumped up and kicked the Abysswalker in the face. As me and Kyojuro waited for an opening, we watched as Val'gin was sent crashing into the far wall. "Okay… so the both of you have super strength. Least by human standards." Freeing himself he ducked as Zenitsu cut into what was left of the wall.

"Damn!" As Zenitsu cursed Kyojuro flashed forward. His sword raised and bathed in flame, quickly bringing it down on the Abysswalker. Clicking his teeth, Val'gin dashed to the right before swinging his sword at the pillar's side.

Knowing it was now or ever, and still wanting to conserve as much magic as possible, I sheathed my sword. Jū no kata! Senko Moyasu! While not as fast as Zenitsu's thunder clap and flash. I was able to zap forward in a trail of flames, blade ignited as I redirected Val'gin's attack with another form. Ni no kata Nobori En Ten! As my blade flashed upwards so too did the direction of his sword. His eyes widened in shock at my maneuver.

Quickly taking advantage of his distraction, Kyojuro jumped up and struck with Kien banjo. Attempting to cut him in half, however the Abysswalker allowed himself to fall onto his back. Dodging the flaming sword before rolling to his feet, flicking his left hand at us a wave of energy pushed us back once again.

"Ha! You're improving quickly, yet you're still no mat-" He was interrupted by a red blade coming for his neck, raising his blade the Abysswalker not expecting the strength behind the blow grit his teeth. "What in the… You!" It was Tanjiro and I noticed that he had his mark fully activated. "I know that mark! So you really did awaken it? Must be easier for a dragonknight to use, am I right?" I narrowed my eyes as I got back to my feet. I didn't like how quickly Val'gin realized what Tanjiro was.

With narrowed eyes Tanjiro began trading blows with the Abysswalker. "So what if I am?! No matter what I still consider myself human!" That seemed to strike yet another nerve in Val'gin, for in retaliation for his question he battered Tanjiro's sword aside with his own. I then winced as he punched Tanjiro in the face.

"So what if you are huh? Ha! Why in all of reality would you want to keep being human? I can count on one hand just how many humans have reached true greatness! The only thing humans are good for is sacrificing themselves!" As he began swinging his sword at Tanjiro he ranted more. "Just look at yourself! You realized your human limitations and became a dragon! And all you had to do was sacrifice your mortality. A good deal if you ask me!"

Spitting out blood Tanjiro retorted. "As if I care about becoming something great! I just wanted to have the strength to save more people!" With a yell their swords clashed once more and Val'gin pushed Tanjiro back. Knowing that he needed help, Kyojuro and I rushed forward. Joining the sun breather in the fight, however even with the demon slayer mark making Tanjiro, Kyojuro's temporary equal. It wasn't enough to gain any ground on the Abysswalker.

"See?! Humanity is overrated! You should've embraced who you are now! That's what I did!" My eyes widened at that bit of information, even as I had to bend backwards to avoid losing my head.

He used to be human?! I had no idea before then, I simply thought he was some servant found in the Abyss. Shows what I know doesn't it?! Jumping in from behind was Inosuke. The only sign I saw that Val'gin noticed was a slight turning of the eye. Deflecting both mine and Kyojuro's attacks he grabbed Tanjiro's arm and threw him at the boar boy.

"I got you n-OOPH!" As they flew back Mitsuri whipped her blade at him. Barely bothering he grabbed her sword and used it to toss her against another broken pillar. Suffice to say things were not going well for us. Even as flashed in to join in our offensive, Val'gin was just too fast. His sword seemed to flash between offense and defense. Looking back I could see Kanao healing Tanjiro, sweat pouring down his face. The mark was starting to take a toll on his body. I guessed that with healing he could only keep it up for fifteen more minutes.

We need to find a way to end this soon! Jumping down from a pillar with an axe-kick, Nezuko attacked the Abysswalker. Barely moving he slashed upwards.

"Gyah!" She let out a yell of pain as her leg was sliced off.

"Nezuko!" Yelling in anger Zenitsu flashed forward, grabbing the demon girl before flashing at the demon. "Ichi no kata Hekireki Issen! Hachiren!" With eight consecutive strikes he tried to get within Val'gin's guard. On the last pass our enemy struck, swinging his sword as Zenitsu passed by him. "Gah!" Rolling across the floor he held his side as it bled. I could only glare at the Abysswalker, thanking the stars that I had taught Zenitsu healing magic. Out of the corner of my eye I could already see him closing the wound.

Standing up Tanjiro re-entered the fight. His form flickering as he used the fake rainbow dance. Unfortunately Val'gin was fooled by his after images, and blocked Tanjiro's attack. Swinging his sword the Abysswalker shouted.

"Personal space!" With a gust of power all three of us were sent flying into different walls. In a fit of irony Tanjiro hit his wall head first. As he instantly recovered even Val'gin had to take a moment to think. "How strong is your head?!" Tanjiro didn't answer as he closed the distance between them, attacking once more with all he had. Joining him was Kanao and they both struck with all the fury they had. Coughing out some blood I healed my wounds and stood up.

"This is getting us nowhere! We need to come up with a plan!" Looking around I watched as Nezuko quickly tested out her regrown leg. She seems fine now at least. Looking over I saw Mitsuri heal the rest of her wounds, looking over at Zenitsu I saw the same thing. Alright what about our strongest fighter? Looking over towards my mentor I saw him standing, his eyes closed and his form relaxed. "What is he doing?" I was about to call out to him when his eyes opened. Then with speed I'd never seen before, he seemed to teleport back into the battle with a yell.

"Ichi no kata Shiranui!" Even Val'gin was surprised and barely avoided decapitation, receiving a cut along his neck. As they exchanged blows at speeds I simply couldn't keep up with, I was shocked to hear what had happened from our enemy's mouth.

"You as well?! Great now there's two of you with those demon slayer marks!" My eyes widened as the fight turned to show me Kyojuro's face. On the upper right side of his forehead was a mark, it spread to cover down to his neck and the left side of his forehead. "Your talent is seriously going to waste as a human!"

Kyojuro narrowed his eyes at the Abysswalker. "I don't know about that! For while I understand and even admire young Kamado for becoming a dragonknight. I still wish to stay as a human! For while our lives our fleeting! While most of us won't reach the heights you and your masters reach! There is beauty in our fleeting lives! And I won't sacrifice that for-" His speech was interrupted by Val'gin laughing in his face.

"HAHA! Won't sacrifice?! Won't sacrifice what?! Your humanity! You fool! By gaining that mark you did just that!"

Jumping back Kyojuro looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean by that?" Val'gin grinned as he pointed at my mentor's new mark.

"You are sacrificing your very life force to that mark. It's like a parasite! And you're just feeding it your humanity for more power. Funny little thing ain't it?" At all of our shocked looks he sighed. "The only one to ever have mastered that mark was the monster of a man Yoriichi. Even then he was pretty much a demigod, blessed by the gods of this world. You aren't him! You'll just be sacrificing yourself to that mark! So what was that again about your humanity?" The battle came to a lull as we thought on his words. For a moment he closed his eyes, thinking on what the Abysswalker had told him.

Then gripping his sword Kyojuro spoke calmly. "I see… I had no idea the demon slayer marks did that. Yet I have no choice but to use it to fight opponents such as yourself." Val'gin smirked before Kyojuro asked one last question. "What would happen if I were to feed the mark everything?" Smirking Val'gin answered the Hashira's question.

"Simple… for most they'd simply die, however for someone of your caliber… well to put it simply you'd become a husk… a revenant… a demon in other words." All of us couldn't help but look at Kyojuro in worry. However there was a feeling in the back of my mind. I couldn't quite place it, but later on it would be something I would berate myself for.

Instead I watched and waited to hear what Kyojuro would say next. "I see… and the mark is the only way to fight stronger foes and protect those they target?" Val'gin nodded and the flame pillar sighed. "I suppose I only have two choices left for me then! I either kill myself before that happens, or I accept my Tsuguko's offer from some time ago!" I couldn't help but look at him in confusion, not remembering what I had offered him. However before I could ask anything of him, my mentor got into a stance. "For now let's continue shall we?!"

Val'gin grinned before preparing himself as well. "Yes! Let's!" With a yell the two titans began clashing once more.

I the line break suggest we light coal on fire! Let's go!

I couldn't keep up with them anymore; the five times power boost the mark gave my mentor proved to be a huge boon. Though I worried about the whole sucking the life and humanity out of him thing. Currently the only ones able to remotely keep up were Tanjiro in his enhanced state, and Mitsuri whose face was lit up in worry.

Gritting my teeth I couldn't help but punch the ground in anger. Dammit! I'm completely useless like this! Using Lyb'Craeft I looked at both of those who were marked, trying to see exactly what was going on. I had done this before with Tanjiro, however now with something to compare to I hoped to discover the secret of the mark. I can see it! But I can't seem to force it like I did with total concentration breathing! Calming myself down I tried a different approach. Remembering Kyojuro's and Tanjiro's actions just before they used the marks, I tried to do what they did. Alright calm myself and through meditation increase my heart rate and body temperature.

After a few moments I could feel my heart beat faster as my body felt warmer, yet I wasn't anywhere near what I needed them to be. Even as the sound of battle rang out around me, I stayed calm and continued in my endeavor. Using all my training in meditation to drown out everything around me. Unfortunately that's when I realized something. My body temperature has always been a bit higher… does that mean I need to go even beyond the thirty nine degrees? Deciding that it did mean that as I reached the thirty nine mark I couldn't help but growl. For once my dragon physiology is back firing!

At a yell of pain I opened my eyes to see Kyojuro get kicked into a wall. "I don't have any more time for this!" Looking around I instead decided to use my brain instead of just brute force. The issue was that I was sure that Val'gin was both smart and strong enough, to counter almost anything I tried. Thinking for a moment I turned to Mitsuri. "Mitsuri San!" She looked over to me as I asked the question that would decide my next actions. "Do you know what kind of mine this is? Depending on what it is I might have an idea!" Her eyes sparkling for a moment she answered me.

"It's a coal and iron mine!" I was actually surprised at that, having two different ores in a mine was actually pretty rare. However it did solidify my idea and I gave her a thumbs up.

"Great! Just prepare to run!" This time everyone heard me and looked towards me in confusion. Looking around I spotted a broken pillar and ran up to it. Searching through it I ignored the sounds of pain from my mentor. The Abysswalker was currently beating the ever living daylights out of him.

"Is that all you got?! Ha! Even sacrificing yourself to the mark is failing you! What an absolute joke! You complete amateurs! Don't you know that sacrificing your life force is the weakest form of sacrifice?" Kyojuro gritted his teeth before using his first form to build up some speed.

"Ichi no kata Shiranui!" Val'gin deflected the form with ease. Knowing I had to do something quickly I finally found what I was looking for. A few pieces of coal, I just hoped that we would be able to escape the area without prosecution when I was done.

Turning to everyone I yelled out to them. "All of you need to leave now! Let me and Kyojuro Sensei handle the rest!" Everyone looked about ready to protest but then saw my smirk. While they didn't exactly know what I was planning, they knew me well enough to know I had something up my sleeve. So reluctantly they started running, even though Mitsuri had to grab Inosuke.

"Put me down! The great Inosuke Sama doesn't run away from danger!" As I looked back towards the fight I could see Val'gin narrow his eyes at me. Ignoring that I used Lyb'Craeft to look for more coal and iron, upon finding them I used my telekinesis spell to smash a large amount of it together. Using the fight as a distraction.

Once I had enough molded in a certain way I looked back over to the fight. Teleporting over I dropped the amalgamation of coal and iron, before grabbing Kyojuro's shoulder. I then teleported to the exit of the cavern. My mentor was breathing heavily and was bleeding from multiple places. The Abysswalker on the other hand was completely fine.

"Just what do you think you're doing little dragon?"

Grinning I formed a small disk of black fire in my left hand. "I'm about to cause a whole lot of property damage." For a second he looked confused, but when I threw the disk of black fire, expanding it to engulf the whole cavern his eyes widened in realization. "Prepare for a big boom!" When the fire touched my little iron coal ball, it exploded in the Abysswalker's face. At the same time the entire place caught on fire thanks to the rest of my flames. "We should leave."

"Don't need to tell me twice my young Tsuguko!" We then both turned around and ran as fast as our legs could carry us. Behind us we could hear multiple explosions, as iron melted and coal caught on fire. Already we could feel the heat rising at an astounding rate. Thankfully without the lower moon delaying us, it was a rather straight shot out of there. Once we were out we saw the others waiting in worry, though Kanao was supporting a clearly exhausted Tanjiro.

Upon seeing us Mitsuri waved, her face clear with relief. "You made it! Glad to see whatever scheme Michael Kun came up with worked. What was it anyways?" I was about to answer when, accompanied with the sound of an explosion, a torrent of flame spat itself out of the mine. "Oh. Oh…" There wasn't any need for an explanation after that.

Sucking in some air through my teeth I made a suggestion. "Let's run now." No one argued with that idea and we all ran for it.

I the line break suggest we light coal on fire! Let's go!

Somehow we managed to make it back to town without anyone noticing us. Deciding to go over everything we've learned we stopped inside a tea house. Poor Tanjiro and Kyojuro looked quite out of it however. My mentor in particular was having it rough, his head lying on the table as he groaned in pain. Tanjiro wasn't much better, but was instead leaning on Kanao's left shoulder groaning in pain. Our little group must've been quite the sight. Ripped clothes and covered in soot and dust. It honestly wouldn't take long for people to look into things, and based on our appearances, we would be the prime suspects for what happened to the main mine.

However being so exhausted we didn't have much choice but to rest up. As Kanao and Nezuko used healing magic on Tanjiro, me and Mitsuri used it on Kyojuro. It was taking up a lot of strength from all four of us, to get them to marginally okay condition. However it would be easier to get out of town if we didn't have to support them.

After a bit of time our tea and dango arrived and I spoke up. "Sooo… anyone have anything to say about what just happened? Because honestly I can only say that all of that sucked!" Everyone even my mentor nodded in exhausted agreement before said mentor spoke up.

"It indeed, as you put it, sucked my young Tsuguko. However! Ugh… it hurts to talk loudly." We couldn't help but give him pitying looks as he continued. "We did learn valuable information, especially when it came to the demon slayer marks. We Hashira will discuss this in more detail at the next monthly meeting. For now we'll send the information to Oyakata Sama." That reminded me of something that he mentioned earlier.

"Sounds good but speaking of the marks. What did you mean that one of the options was to take up my offer earlier? I don't quite remember offering anything to any of you." The man chuckled before sitting up and turning to me.

Then putting a hand on my shoulder he reminded me of an idea we all had a long time ago. "Remember when we first discovered you were a dragon?" I nodded as he continued. "Now while it wasn't exactly you who offered, Judan Sama said something about all of us becoming dragonknights." After a moment my eyes lit up in remembrance. I did remember that conversation, it was right after I saved Mukago. "Now while I'm still thinking on my choices, which I now realize, I have five. Two of them I'd rather kill myself then accept. Based on what Val'gin said about sacrifice, I'm beginning to think your option is pretty good. Especially seeing how young Kamado and Mukago Chan are doing as dragonknights."

I didn't quite know what to say to that. I never expected Kyojuro of all people to consider becoming something other than human. But thinking on it more, it did make sense in some ways. Also like Tanjiro said before, it wasn't about what we wanted. No doubt my mentor wanted to stay human, however with him under risk of either killing himself or allowing himself to become a demon. He didn't have much choice, and becoming one of my knights would at least allow him to keep his humanity.

After a few moments Kanao spoke up glaring at me a bit. "If Michael San starts turning those with marks into dragonknights, then I want to be one as well." I was about to say something to that when Inosuke spoke up.

"HA! As if I would ever become a dragon! I'm already a superior boar!" For a moment we all couldn't help but look at him before deciding to not dignify his words. Instead we turned to Zenitsu who shook his head.

"Well you all can do that, I think I'm fine the way I am. However if I end up getting a mark I'll think about it." Next to him Nezuko nodded.

"I'm sort of with Zenitsu Kun on this one. Besides I'm already a demon so what would be the point? Plus I'll only be one until we can get rid of Muzan or the others make a cure. So I don't see a point for myself at least." We nodded at that, it made sense after all. Finally Mitsuri spoke up, giving her opinion on the matter.

"In a way I'm like Zenitsu Kun. However I'd be more than willing to become a dragon if I get a mark. Besides…" We couldn't help but look at her warily as she grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It might be fun to be a dragon! Especially when I get to become a true dragonknight! Imagine me flying around and setting things on fire!" Everyone but Inosuke, who looked intrigued by the idea, was now quite wary of the love Hashira.

Coughing into my hand I spoke up. "You'll have to wait a bit longer; I have no idea when I'll be able to make true knights." She pouted adorably at my words as I moved on. "However before anyone makes any kind of decision I would implore you to think carefully on this. For like Val'gin said you would be sacrificing your mortality for this." Tanjiro shrugged at my words.

"While I can't say much about it, seeing how I already got you to turn me. I will say it isn't that bad being one, plus I'd rather sacrifice that then my humanity." We all had to concede to his words, it was definitely a better sacrifice. "Speaking of sacrifice I can see that there are worse deals to make. Using demons as an example as a bad deal, I say I got one of the best out of this." Again we had to concede to his point.

Sighing I leaned back in my chair. "I suppose that's true, another example would be Val'gin. Pretty sure he traded his soul for servitude and power. I'd personally hate working with an evil creature such as a Darkwraith." More nods around the table as I sat up and took a sip of tea. "Again do what you will; I'll help you no matter your choice. Just once more think carefully on it-" I was interrupted by Kanao who was giving me a rather serious look.

"I meant what I said before; I still want to become one. Now more so than ever." I couldn't help but sigh at that.

It was starting to get harder to deny her, so I used my last ditch effort. "Kanao… we've been over this, but if you really want to become one of my knights. Then you should really talk to your sister about it. I for one wouldn't want her to be angry at me because I turned you without her input." That actually got Kanao to pause and grimace.

"I can imagine a few things she might do." After a moment of thinking she sighed. "Very well, I shall talk to her, however! If my mind isn't changed by then I will make my choice known to you once again." I could only nod, knowing that I could say nothing to dissuade the girl.

Chuckling Kyojuro spoke up again. "Seeing young Kanao so adamant about this moves my spirit. I shall think on everyone's words here today, and make my decision soon." I nodded at that before taking a bite of dango.

"Whatever you may want Sensei." Kanao gave me a dry look at my words. "What?"

"You certainly caved into Rengoku San's request easily enough now didn't you?" I couldn't help but look away at her words. "Hmph! I can see favoritism at play right now." I didn't say anything to that, for what could I say? Fortunately or unfortunately as some might say, a couple of police officers entered the tea house.

"We are looking for those responsible for the destruction of our main mine! Anyone see any suspicious looking characters?" Everyone in the tea house looked towards us, and noticing everyone's stares the officers looked at us. "I see! All of you! We'll be taking you in for questioning." Looking between ourselves we all stood up, left some money on the table, and booked it out of there at top speed. "What the?!" That was all we heard as we raced out of town.

What could we say? We destroyed your mine because it was infested with demons and Abysswalkers? Yeah at that point we decided discretion was the better form of valor at that point. Needless to say we wouldn't be welcomed back in that town for quite some time.

I the line break suggest we light coal on fire! Let's go!

Argentum: Well there it is, another fine battle if I do say so myself!

Kyojuro: I also got the mark! Unlike my deceased cannon counterpart.

Val'gin: At least your death in cannon was glorious.

Tanjiro: While I wouldn't use those exact words, I do agree with that sentiment at least.

Kyojuro: Thanks!

Kanao: Blatant favoritism…

Argentum: Heh heh heh… you've become a lot more vocal haven't you?

Kanao: I have you all to blame for my behavior.

Nezuko: Fair enough.

Tanjiro: We do have a rather infectious group attitude don't we?

Kyojuro: Even I have been affected by it!

Argentum: Yeah… that's what happens when you spend months with people. You tend to rub off on them.

Nezuko/Kanao: Ain't that the truth.

Val'gin: How do you think I became the way I am?

Tanjiro: You poor soul.

Argentum: Alright enough with that! Time to end this chapter off! Nezuko you're up!

Nezuko: Okay I can see that I was randomly chosen but whatever. Ahem… This has been a Dark Guard production now signing off!

Everyone: Goodbye!