If Link ever decided to get a license plate for the Master Cycle Zero, it might read “Slaying demons since 1986.” Since The Legend of Zelda, Link has waged an endless war against the Demon King Ganon and his horde of minions. With demon slaying seemingly baked into his digital DNA, it makes perfect sense to merge Link with the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba. For those unfamiliar with the anime, it recounts the story of a war between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons who have been terrorizing humanity. And for those who wanted to see this Reese’s-esque pairing of Link and Demon Slayer, DasGnomo has provided the perfect piece of art with her work entitled “Kimetsu No Yaiba Link.”
While there are cherry blossoms in the background, the majority of the piece is dominated by a determined-looking Link who is about to quickly draw his blade. One detail of note is that Link’s face looks pretty much the same as it is usually portrayed. His hair color is unchanged, and he still has the earring he’s been rocking for a while now. Even the fact that his hair is tied up in the back is pretty similar to Link’s default ‘do in Breath of the Wild.
This is where the similarities end though. Instead of wearing his Champion’s Tunic or his iconic green garb, Link is wearing an outfit that more closely resembles a samurai’s hakama than anything in his Hyrulean closet. Though the look of the equipment is different, it references Link’s history through its use of color and patterns. The sleeves and belt bear the bright blue of the Champion’s Tunic, while the bottom and top parts of the hakama are a green color reminiscent of Link’s past incarnations. The top green part also features a striking pattern of forest green and lighter green triangles that combine to form repeating Triforces.
The Master Sword is nowhere to be seen in the art, as it has been replaced by a katana, but there are some subtle references to it. First, the scabbard is a rich, deep blue similar to that of the Blade of Evil’s Bane. The second similarity comes from knowing a little of the lore of the Demon Slayer series. In the anime, part of what makes the demons especially dangerous is the fact that they can only be killed in a few ways. One of those ways is by using weapons crafted from an alloy called Sun Steel. Similarly, the Master Sword is the only weapon blessed by the Goddess Hylia that allows our hero to slay the Demon King.
Through her art, DasGnomo has shown us what Link may have looked like had he been born into the Demon Slayer universe rather than Hyrule. Surprisingly, not much has changed. Link’s just fated to stand against the darkness no matter the universe. He’s an old-school demon slayer that way.
