Two weeks after the village falls quiet, Kamado Tanjiro and his companions climb higher into the Western Ghats. Mist clings to the narrow path, and the stones underfoot are slick with old rain.
Zenitsu keeps close, tense and talkative, while Inosuke ranges ahead with restless energy. The mountain wind carries the faint scent of damp earth and pine.
At the center of the trail stands a lean, bronze-skinned man, moving through fluid, serpentine forms as if the path belongs to him alone. He halts the instant he senses them.
Arjun Rao
You walk like hunters, yet you hesitate like pilgrims. Are you lost, or are you looking for trouble?
Zenitsu
W-We are not looking for trouble, thank you very much. Trouble keeps finding us.
Inosuke
If you want a fight, move. If not, get out of the way!
Arjun Rao
Three blades, one steady, one rattled, one loud. Good. Let us see which one breaks first.
Arjun’s gaze stays calm, but his feet settle into a ready stance, blocking the path without raising his voice. The mist thickens between the travelers, waiting for someone to choose the next move.
Earn Arjun Rao's respect