Chapter 17 and thus training begins

I couldn't help but laugh at some of the slayer's training as I walked around. Mitsuri's was one of the worst personally, but Gyomei's was one of the best. I mean not a lot of slayers focus on their legs at all so it makes them weak, Gyomei pushes them to the breaking point and beyond with his training and meanwhile Mitsuri makes them even more flexible to evade attacks and dish out devastating counters. So far barely any slayers have made it past Gyomei's training and those who do don't want to deal with mine, so I have had ample amount of time to just relax and make sure everything is okay.

As I walked around, I knew I was being followed by Miyuki secretly and as I walked through the other training grounds I stopped around the corner and watched as she snuck over and screamed when I stared at her face as she turned the corner.

"You don't have to keep following me Lass" I laughed helping her off the ground.

"s-sorry Lord Nikolaos it's just without knowing where to go or what to do I just think I should stay close to you" Miyuki said a bit startled.

Smiling I rubbed her head and said, "I must admit Rengoku really knows how to pick his wife wisely you're a kind woman…and I think I know a way you can help out"

A bit confused Miyuki said, "h-how can I be of service?"

Smiling I said, "the slayers will be starving after the long day of training and I managed to talk the other hashira into agreeing that training will end for the night at sundown so that everyone can actually enjoy a hot meal at the bronze pavilion, I don't have nearly enough chefs to prepare food for everyone who is participating in the training so I wish to ask you to help out and in return I will train your children personally"

This shocked Miyuki as she said, "you may be Rengoku's tsuguko BUT I FORBID YOU TO TAKE MY CHILDREN INTO WAR WITH YOU!"

Laughing I said, "by the gods! No, I will never take children into war with me I just want them to be prepared in case we fail…if we do it's up to them to carry on the mantle"

Miyuki looked at me a bit shocked by took a deep breath and said, "look I will allow it, but it will ultimately be up to me if they become demon slayers"

Nodding, I patted her head and showed her to the kitchens where she got to work helping out the other trainers and cooks to prepare the mighty feast.

"rengoku sensei…I vow on my life and on my soul I will do everything in my power to keep your family alive…mine may be far gone and there may be nothing left in my homeland for me…but I swear I will never let anyone go through my pain" I smiled as I watched Miyuki laugh.

Walking outside to see Tanjiro walking by I laughed and said, "fwehahahahahah young tanjiro! What brings you to my humble abode!"

Looking at his leg I was a bit shocked and said, "wait were you cleared for active duty!"

Tanjiro shook his head and said, "I am here to ask mr Giyuu to join me for hashira training at the request of the master, I heard he was here"

Nodding I said, "he's in the estate near the river north of here, I hope your endeavors go well, and when your cleared for active duty, report to lord tengen at the base of the forest where you faced eclipse 3, that's where your training will begin"

Bowing eagerly tanjiro said, "yes sir!" and rushed off

As he did a kasugai crow landed on my shoulder with a letter from Shinobu sensei wishing me well with the training as she will be busy cooking up all the needed poisons and antidotes for the many different demons we will be facing.

Sighing I said, "there are days where I wish I could just sit back and relax but today is not one of them" before putting on my helmet and going to my area in the forests where I saw a couple of slayers were waiting for me.

Ayano looked a bit worried as she came by and said, "none wanted to do my training, so I thought I'd drop by and see how you're doing but it looks like you have had barely anyone come by…"

Smirking I said, "so you're the few who wished for this level of training?"

One of them stepped forward and said, "lord Nikolaos I am Murata! And we are all ready for instruction!"

Raising an eyebrow I said, "we? I only see 5 of you"

Murata then shouted, "he's here!" and I was in awe as I saw 295 more slayers come out of the forests.

Murata then said, "out of the 9345 slayers who have undergone training so far we 300 are the only ones ready to train with you! mold us as you see fit!" before dropping down his sword.

Grinning Ayano looked at me with dread and said, "Nikolaos I know what you're about to say, no don't do it"

Laughing I said, "I have my mighty 300! Good very good indeed!" I then went over to a log and took the tarp off of it revealing a bunch of shields and training swords and spears.

"I want you all to grab a shield and a weapon and head to the bottom of the mountain!" I laughed pointing to the aspis shields.

They all nodded and grabbed the shields and headed to the bottom. Meeting them at the bottom of the mountain I showed them how to interlock their shields before laughing.

Ayano looked at me and said, "I am scared about what you have planned"

Smirking I said, "work together! Use all your strength to push what I roll down the hill back up the hill!"

Murata and the others shouted, "yes lord Nikolaos!" before taking up a stance

Brimming with pride I rushed up the mountain and dragged a log over and said, "coming down!" before rolling the log at them.

I half expected the slayers to be flattened but they were really fighting hard which got my blood pumping happily as I watched them get halfway up the mountain.

"hey Niko you know what would make this better?" Ayano asked.

Smiling I said, "what?"

She then sliced a couple trees and rolled the logs down bringing the total up to 5 logs. Now the slayers were struggling.

Roaring loudly, I said, "this training was devised to get you ready to fight the deadliest of demons! Ones whose sole intent is not only to kill but torture! This training was designed to teach you how to withstand the fury of a mighty eclipse!"

This shocked Murata who shouted, "a- an eclipse! But lord Nikolaos aren't you the only one who can!"

Leaping forward onto the logs and bopping Murata with the butt of my spear I shouted, "that is no way to talk! You are all slayers the pride and joy of the corps! We'll keep this up and continue this training till I see you are all ready to kill eclipse 1! I will mold you from slayers into spartans!" before throwing my spear to Ayano who threw me a wooden version of my spear.

Grinning I said, "your objective is simple push the logs up the mountain while also stopping me from ruining your advance!" before twirling the spear in my left hand and bopping another slayer on the head.

This broke their guards completely and the logs nearly crushed them but a few slayers from the back row rushed forward to stop the logs from crushing the others as I sighed and said, "you decided to take my training and this is what I get! Slayers coming out of the bronze pavilion have done rougher training than this! The agoge challenge has broken hundreds of slayers and yet this isn't even that tough! You insult me with your lack of commitment!"

Growling I easily rolled the logs back up the hill and shouted, "form a shield wall and try it again!"

Looking at Ayano I said, "you know what must be done".

Ayano nodded picking up a wooden sword and rushing down the hill as I rolled the logs down.

Sitting down I heard a couple slayers shout, "oh shit its lady Ayano! Aaahhh!" followed by the sound of wacking and roaring as Ayano said, "OI NIKO CAN I TRAIN THESE DUMBASSES!"

Laughing I said, "sure go ahead!" as I picked up a rock and threw it behind me hitting Inosuke in the head.

"hehe I was wondering when you would show up Tsuguko" I laughed looking back at Inosuke.

Bowing Inosuke said, "I am ready for training master just tell me what is needed"

Giving him a pat on the shoulder I said, "meet up with lord tengen and start the training with him, once you have made it past Gyomei's training I will personally train you one on one"

Inosuke gave a determined nod and rushed away leaving me with two children. Haruko and Homura.

Smiling I said, "aahhh I assume your mother sent you?"

Homura nodded and said, "momma said you were going to train us how to defend ourselves"

Nodding I said, "unfortunately at the moment I do not have the right equipment to train you, however I know someone who does"

Whistling for Kotoyami i lifted out my arm and watched as my bird landed.

"help guide these two to the butterfly manor" I said before attaching a note to his leg.

Looking back at the two children I said, "I will send a member of the kakushi with you so that you don't get lost but once there tell lady Aoi I sent you for breathing training and tell her to put you through the spartan regiment for it"

Nodding I watched the two children head off and looked back to see Ayano finishing up on training them to make a perfect shield wall.

Laughing I said, "are they ready!"

Ayano gave me the thumbs up and I rolled down a couple more logs and repeated the process this time leaping on the logs and slamming my spear violently into the shields breaking their defenses more than once. However this time they managed to get the log farther and farther up the hill.

They looked weary but I kept at it hitting their arms and heads and even their legs trying to make them fall over as they tried and struggled till Murata took over shouting, "we need people to also defend against Lord Nikolaos, second row ready your swords and shields! Form a spiked top barrier! Do whatever it takes to stop him from hindering us! Third row keep helping us push!"

They all roared in unison and kept to their strategy keeping their shields tough as I said, "a good defense indeed! You all must have been through the rigger with Lord Himejima and lady Kanroji! Fwehahahahaha you think their training or fighting style is rough you forget you are dealing with the mighty Greek lion! The mighty lion of sparta! NIKOLAOS ARISTOKLES ONLY KNOWN TSUGUKO OF LORD KYOJURO RENGOKU!" before breaking their formation easily.

However, as I went in for another attack in their broken formation Murata shouted, "now!" and I watched as a couple of them shot their wooden spears and swords up trying to stab me.

As they did, I was forced to lunge back in shock and tripped on a log falling on my ass.

As I did, I laughed and said, "not bad! Fwehahahaha not bad at all! You guys have really impressed me indeed" before getting back up.

What shocked me is they didn't even bother to try and move the log even though they had knocked me off they kept their ground and just waited for me.

Smiling I said, "not bad, now then explain to me why you are all waiting for me!"

Murata shouted, "you are our leader we wait for our leader!"

This made my stomach burn with fire as I said, "not bad at all! Fwehahahaha lets do this and tonight we feast like gods!"

As Ayano and I were taking a break from training the 300 I heard gunshots in the forest and said, "Genya"

Ayano chuckled and said, "wanna check up on him? I think I can manage the slayers here for you"

Smiling, I nodded and walked over to see him training on loads of smaller targets.

Watching Genya fire at the targets and miss a couple I could hear the rage in his voice as he said, "uugh every time! Every damn time I miss a target is another demon that could kill me! Why! What am I doing wrong!"

"For starters your treating a trench gun like it's supposed to be accurate, it's not" I said putting down my spear and shield walking over to him.

Holding out my hand Genya put the gun in my hand, and I said, "did I ever tell you I served in the military?"

Genya looked like I caught him off guard and said, "no I don't think you have…"

Nodding I said, "yeah I used to serve as a cavalry officer in the Balkan wars and trained with a multitude of guns, the shotgun being one of them however I was more accustomed to the lever action style than the break action" before taking a couple shells and bobbing and weaving between targets like an absolute demon destroying every target in sight.

Handing it back to him I said, "it's a good design however its ineffective, may I make a suggestion?"

Genya nodded and I gave him a letter and said, "sign this and hand it to the first messenger heading out of Honnoji trust me you'll thank me in about a week"

Genya read it and said, "a lever action shotgun?"

I nodded my head and said, "I knew a guy back in the balkans who was bragging about his connections to an American gun smith by the name of john browning who designed a lever action multi shot double barrel shot gun that might be up your alley"

Genya looked at me and said, "so you're familiar with guns? Can, can you train me to better understand how to fight with one"

Smiling I nodded and started showing him the basics by showing him how to take cover, how to quickly reload and how to use a bayonet which I had specially forged from scarlet ore to make it a nichirin bayonet.

"Good very good genya keep it up!" I shouted as I watched him twirl behind a tree and take pot shots at a target.

Roaring Genya bolted from behind the tree and pulled out the bayonet and started slicing through the targets like a true spartan.

Genya kept fighting till finally I thought he had what it took and went back to the bronze pavilion and went into my bag which I haven't looked at for ages and pulled out some shotgun blanks from my time in the military.

Walking back over to him and throwing him the blanks I said, "I will be your opponent now, if you can get two shots on my chest with these blanks I will clear you for tougher training, more specifically I will teach you pantheon breathing"

Genya looked shocked saying, "but I- I don't think I can do it! I didn't have the proper training!"

Giving the boy a pat on the shoulder I said, "lucky for you I had about two weeks to learn flame breathing on a boat from Singapore to Japan, if I can learn it so can you" before picking up my shield and a training spear.

Genya's face lit up like a fire and he took up a stance shouting, "got it lord Nikolaos!" and then he ran into cover faster than anyone I had have ever seen.

Grinning, I rushed him and fought him like the mighty lion I am before having my shield torn away by the bayonet and two shots being shot right into my chest. We kept going at this training for hours and hours till finally we were both tired.

Grinning like a major idiot as Genya fell down panting from the exercise I said, "not bad! Not bad at all! Fwehahahahah!"

I then spent the next two weeks training him in pantheon breathing as best as I could without a spear and shield, while also training Homura and Hakuro in flame breathing.

The twins really understood what it meant to fight and Homura really took to flame breathing every day she reminded me more and more of rengoku sensei and it made my heart hurt knowing he would never see her grow up into a fine woman.

Hakuro on the other hand developed a form of pantheon breathing relying on a kopis instead of a katana he called frost breathing which relied more on Pantheon and in turn flame breathings graceful movements with devastating attacks. Hakuro would have made a great spartan if only he grew a spine. He was timid and hesitant when we fought relying on his sister to start the assault while he would only go in for the cheap shots.

Twirling my spear and slamming my foot into the ground I shouted, "are you ready?"

Homura smirked taking up a stance similar to her father's shouting, "I am ready uncle Nikolaos! Brother stay behind me and only attack when his guard is weakened"

Laughing I struck my shield with my spear and charged forward shouting, "there are no weaknesses in a spartan's guard!" before thrusting forward with the spear.

Homura managed to dodge out of the way while Hakuro lunged forward shyly saying, "frost breathing 2nd form snowflake of the first snowfall" aiming his kopis like a scalpel for my chest. As he did he would dash from side to side in a pattern of a snowflake falling from the sky, unpredictable yet elegant.

Grinning, I kicked him right in the face and slammed my spear's shaft into him as his sister tried to flank me.

"just as planned! Flame breathing 1st form unknowing fire!" Homura shouted trying to dash at me.

Gripping my spear tighter I thrusted backwards hitting her in the gut with the mace head and then swung it picking them both up by their collars throwing them into a tree before twirling my spear again laughing.

Slamming the mace head into the ground and taking up a phalanx stance I said, "not bad! Not bad at all you two really have mastered what I have taught you! fwehahahaha!"

Homura puffed out her chest and said, "I had the best mentors! I will not give up at all even if its against you uncle Nikolaos!" before rushing me.

Hakuro kept a calm and collected gaze as he rushed me from the side saying, "frost breathing 4th form dancing avalanche" rushing me along with his sister.

Grinning I pushed my shield forward and said, "pantheon breathing 8th form Hephaestus iron guard!" bringing up my defense as their weapons bounced harmlessly off my shield/

"now witness my counter attack! Pantheon breathing 12th form bountiful counter of Demeter!" roaring as I twirled my spear and bapped them both on the head sending them flying into a tree.

Grinning I watched as they groan and stumbled to get up as Miyuki giggled walking by with a huge tray of onigiri.

"okay you three I think that is enough" Miyuki smiled as Inosuke snuck up behind her.

Laughing I watched as Homura and Hakuro ran to their mother for food while Inosuke walked up to me covered in bruises and gashes.

Chuckling I said, "let me guess, Sanemi's training?"

Nodding Inosuke said, "his training is the hardest I have ever seen! He's like a demon himself but I will manage, how is Genya doing?"

Smiling I said, "he has potential in fact I was gonna go and continue his training" before walking up to Miyuki and taking a small onigiri.

Biting into it I was surprised by the taste of toasted sesame oil instead of rice vinegar and the fact it was filled with grilled salmon with teriyaki sauce.

"this is pretty good!" I said eating another.

Miyuki smiled and said, "that kamado boy has been coming by a lot to help out when he can so I was able to finally perfect this recipe, are you going to see Genya?"

Nodding I said, "I was gonna finish up his training"

Miyuki then handed me a package and said, "I prepared him a bento box with some grilled salmon onigiri and a couple slices of watermelon, I know its his favorite"

Laughing I took the bento and said, "I am sure he'll greatly appreciate this! Thank you" before walking off.

Before I did I grinned and said, "inosuke do a couple rounds of sparring against Homura and Hakuro before going on to lord Gyomei's training"

Hakuro and Homura gave me a look of existential dread while Inosuke looked like he was in heaven.

Laughing I said, "go easy on them Tsuguko"

Meeting up with Genya I said, "oi boy Rengoku sensei's wife made you this you best enjoy it" before handing him the box.

Genya would develop this and use what Gyomei had tried teaching him of stone breathing and his brother's wind breathing into what he called gunner's art which focused on quick shots and focusing along with using the bayonet on a bolt action Mannlicher–Schönauer rifle which I had imported from Greece as a makeshift spear. He was a good kid and a very fast learner so training him was a lot easier.

Sweating a bit I said, "the sun's going down, I say we end training here for the day, you've really grown as a slayer Genya" punching him slightly in the arm.

Smiling he said, "thank you sensei! I had two good teachers"

As we returned to Honnoji the smell of roasted beef and moussaka hit our noses causing us both to start drooling.

Grinning I said, "last one to the pavilion has to take Mitsuri's training again!" before running at full speed.

Genya screamed, "oh hell no not again!" before running after me.

Roaring in laughter I was getting closer to the entrance where Ayano was walking by when Genya shouted, "Lady Ayano stop Nikolaos from entering the bronze pavilion and he'll have to retake Mitsuri's hashira training!" LIKE A GOD DAMN ASSHOLE.

THE BETRAYAL THE DAMN BETRAYAL.

Shocked at this I watched as Ayano peered from the gate of the bronze pavilion like a cat and I screamed, "Genya you traitor!" before getting pounced on by Ayano ruining my chances.

I was still sort of ahead of genya and tried crawling as Ayano said, "this race is all yours Genya!".

Looking up at her as I crawled like a cockroach I said, "why must you betray me!"

Ayano looked at me smugly as Genya laughed passing through the gates and I cried as Ayano gave me a head pat and said, "hey its okay big guy hope you like tights"

Sighing as I passed through the gate I was approached by Shinobu sensei who smiled and said, "ahhh lord Nikolaos I was waiting for you, I have been looking everywhere for you"

Raising my eyebrow I said, "whats wrong sensei?"

Shinobu sensei smiled and said, "I wish to spar with you"

Grinning like a mighty lion I said, "good! I have been waiting for a chance to fight you one on one!"

Smiling I twirled my spear and took up my stance and said, "fwehahahahah I am ready sensei! Tsuguko, Ayano witness how a true demon slayer fights!"

Insouke roared shouting, "kick her ass master! Show that pretty butterfly the might of a lion!"

Ayano laughed saying, "try not to kill him to much lady Shinobu! I still want to have his babies after all"

With my eye twitching I looked at ayano and said, "no faith in me"

Shinobu sensei took up her stance and said, "don't underestimate me my dear tsuguko, Rengoku may have drilled in the raw power of flame breathing but don't forget who taught you the speed and grace of insect breathing"

Laughing I circled her and said, "trust me sensei I have never forgotten!" before attempting to goat her into an attack.

My attempts failed though as Kanoe cheered on shinobu sensei saying, "you got this master show that Greek what we Japanese are capable of!"

Smiling softly Shinobu sensei rushed me, and I thrusted forward hoping to catch her by her Haori but like a butterfly she dashed out of the way into what she thought was my blind spot saying, "insect breathing butterfly dance caprice!" going in for my armor.

Thinking quickly, I turned to face her, allowing her blade to bounce against my bronze chestplace letting it reverberate up her arm stunning her a bit before laughing.

"that's a neat trick! But let me show you, my variation! Pantheon breathing 12th form Demeter's bountiful counter!" I laughed before bashing her in with the shield and then hitting her in the chest with the blunt end of the spear sending her back aways before taking up my phalanx stance again.

Blocking her became easy but soon I realized what she wanted and I said, "time out, allow me to change weapons" before going over to Ayano handing her my spear and shield and exchanging it for my nodachi.

Smiling as I went back to her Shinobu sensei smiled and said, "about time you understood what I wanted"

Taking up a low yet well defended stance I said, "hehehe sorry about that now then lets go!" before rushing her with the katana staying on the offensive to keep her on her toes.

Her gracefulness did make her a tough opponent as she weaved in and out of my blindspots but I grinned keeping up with her soon becoming as fluid as water as well before finally shouting, "shinbou sensei witness this! Insect breathing dance of the fire ant: hundred army stings!" letting my blade turn to a mix of what could only be described as fire ants on actual fire as I struck forward a hundred times cutting her haori and disarming her.

This excited Shinobu sensei as she said, "a perfect blend of insect breathing and flame breathing! Rengoku would be most proud with how far you have come Nikolaos!" as she came up and hugged me.

Grinning like a lion I said, "I can't wait to see what kind of training you do sensei I am sure it will be magnificent!"

Shinobu said, "actually I wanted to talk to you and Kanoe about that in private" before walking away.

Following her with kanoe we met in the shrine dedicated to Kanae and she said, "Kanoe you don't remember this as you were still very young and Nikolaos…you were still training with urokodaki and rengoku when it happened but…I will tell you the story about how big sister Kanae died, the demon responsible, and how to kill that demon"

As Shinobu sensei told the story and revealed it was douma who killed Kanae I felt sick remembering how in my early years as a slayer I ran into douma a lot and could have avenged Kanae senpai but as Shinobu Sensei told us her plan to allow douma to take her just so the lethal amounts of poisons she's been slowly introducing into her body could kill him I felt even sicker.

"shinobu sensei…I know this is probably the only course of action but think of what Kanae would think! You quite literally broke her, she wanted you to live a simple and happy life, yet you didn't to avenge her which is understandable BUT YOU ARE QUITE LITERALLY OFFERING YOURSELF UP AS A SACRIFICE! Kanae sensei wouldn't want that" I said in rage but also sorrow.

Kanae nodded and said, "I don't think it is wise to do that either but it's too late you have already started introducing the poison…master please tell us is the poison the only way?"

Shinobu nodded and said, "douma is one of the strongest as beheading him doesn't seem to work…this is the only way"

Sighing heavily I got up and said, "the feast will be starting soon, come and join us when you are ready…sensei I may not approve of this route you are taking to kill douma but if it will sooth your pain…I will fight alongside you"