Demon Slayer : LEveLing uP

"What did you do?" Kazuki yelled at Karin, as they watched the demon fall to its knees, screaming in pain.

Karin quickly replied, "No time to explain. We need to act now. You go from the right, and I'll take the left."

Kazuki nodded, determined. "Right and left, got it," he said, readying himself for the fight. He was already in pain, knowing full well that after this battle, he might need more than a week to heal from everything he'd been through. But since he'd already endured so much, he figured, why not just finish it? With that thought in mind, they split up, each heading in opposite directions. The demon tried to get back on its feet, but the pain was just too overwhelming.

In reality, Karin's first move was with the eighth form of her Butterfly Breathing technique, called Emperor's Venom. This attack allowed her to inject venom into the demon's body through the wound she inflicted. As the name suggests, the venom seeped into the demon without it even realizing, spreading throughout its body to eventually render it helpless. However, Karin was worried because her sword barely scratched the demon with that initial strike. It made only slight contact, which was enough to momentarily weaken the demon, but would it be enough to keep it down for long?

"We need to strike fast before it recovers," Karin thought, as she and Kazuki readied their next attack. They both moved in sync, aiming to hit the demon while it was still writhing in pain.

Deep in the forest, Ishida was lost in thought, trying to guess the demon's powers. "What could her abilities be? Will she have the same strength as the last demon?" he wondered, watching Aya, the demon, as she circled him, her eyes locked on his.

"What's the matter? I thought you'd make the first move!" Aya taunted with a wicked grin. "Well, if you're not going to start, I will," she declared, launching her attack with incredible speed. Ishida was ready, though, and quickly blocked her barehanded strike with his sword.

She increased her strength, forcing Ishida to struggle as he tried to fend off her relentless attack. Her power was formidable, but Ishida wasn't weak either.

Just then, she smirked, ready to make her next move. But before she could, Ishida summoned all his might and pushed her back with his sword. She skidded a few feet away, while Ishida stood firm, his eyes fixed on the demon with a serious expression.

Despite being pushed back, the demon's smile didn't fade, which puzzled Ishida for a moment. Still, he didn't dwell on it. He raised his sword, preparing for his next attack. But suddenly, he realized he couldn't move. His legs felt rooted to the spot. "What's happening?" he wondered, glancing down at his legs. Then it hit him—he was trapped.

Vines, like those used by a previous demon, were wrapped around his legs. However, these felt much stronger. "So, she caught me without me even noticing," he thought, recognizing the power of these vines.

"What? Are you scared now, kid?" Aya taunted, her smirk unwavering, filled with confidence and not a hint of fear.

Ishida looked down briefly, then faced her with a sigh. "You really think these can stop me?" he retorted, his voice calm yet defiant, making her raise an eyebrow in surprise. He strained against the vines, trying to break free, but after a couple of attempts, he realized they were much stronger than he expected. 'These are tougher than I thought. I guess I'll have to...' he mused to himself.

"You can't break them. You're going to die here," she interrupted, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Ishida let out a small chuckle, raising his sword to cut the vines around his legs. But before he could swing, a vine suddenly shot out and wrapped around his right arm, the one holding the sword, halting his movement.

"I told you, you can't break free. Are you trying to make me look like a liar?" she exclaimed, her voice dripping with mockery.

With his arm restrained and the vines tightening around him, Ishida closed his eyes for a brief moment, centering himself. He could feel the energy coursing through his veins, a testament to his Moon Breathing training. Summoning every ounce of his strength, he focused on the power within him.

"You're not the only one with tricks," Ishida murmured under his breath. With a sudden surge of power, he invoked the "Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy." His sword began to glow with a brilliant, silvery light, and he swung it with precision and determination. The energy from his blade erupted in a vortex, slicing through the constricting vines with a force that sent them recoiling.

[MP :( -50) = 530/580]

[FATIGUE : 30/100]

[HP : 575/610]

The vines snapped, freeing his arm and legs in a spectacular display of moonlit energy. Aya's eyes widened in disbelief, her mocking grin replaced by a look of genuine surprise. She hadn't anticipated that Ishida could break free so effortlessly.

"You underestimated me," Ishida stated calmly, his voice carrying a confident edge.

Aya, recovering her composure, quickly retaliated by summoning more vines. They shot towards Ishida with the speed and intent of striking serpents, aiming to wrap around him once more. But Ishida was already a step ahead.

With agility honed from countless battles, he leaped into the air, narrowly evading the grasping vines. In mid-air, he twisted his body gracefully and propelled himself toward the safety of a nearby tree branch. He landed lightly on the branch, his movements fluid and controlled.

From his vantage point, Ishida looked down at Aya, who was glaring up at him with a mix of frustration and determination. The forest around them was a tangle of shadows and light, the vines still writhing below like angry serpents.

Ishida stood tall on the branch, exuding an air of calm confidence. A faint smile played on his lips as he met Aya's gaze. "You'll have to try harder than that," he called down, his voice steady and unwavering.

As the vines writhed below, Ishida's gaze shifted to the demon observing the battle with keen interest. The demon's presence was a stark reminder of the greater challenge ahead. Ishida needed to focus on freeing himself, but he also had to keep an eye on the demon, ensuring he wouldn't be caught off guard by another attack.