Demon Slayer : LEveLing uP

As the dust settled in the middle of the forest, the remnants of the battle lay scattered around Kazuki and Karin. The air was still thick with tension, the scent of scorched earth mingling with the sweet fragrance of Karin's ethereal flowers. The butterflies that had aided her attack fluttered gracefully around her, slowly dispersing into the open forest air.

Karin approached Kazuki, who was struggling to push himself up from where he had been thrown. His body ached from the impact of crashing into the tree, pain radiating through him with every slight movement. Despite his best efforts, he winced and fell back against the rough bark, breathing heavily.

"You shouldn't try to move just yet," Karin advised, her tone calm and professional. "The impact you took was severe. It's better to rest for a moment."

Kazuki chuckled weakly, attempting to lighten the mood despite the pain. "And here I thought I'd impress you with my resilience," he joked, though his voice was strained.

Karin arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement breaking through her otherwise composed demeanor. "Resilience is important, but knowing your limits is even more crucial. You're no good to anyone if you're out of commission."

Kazuki nodded, acknowledging her point. "Yeah, I guess you're right. That demon packed quite a punch, didn't it?"

"It did," Karin replied, glancing at the now lifeless form of the snake demon. "But we managed to take it down. That's what matters."

Kazuki attempted to shift his position, grimacing as he did so. "I didn't expect to get thrown around like that. It's been a while since I've faced a demon that strong."

Karin crouched down beside him, assessing his injuries with a critical eye. "Your ribs might be bruised, and you probably have some internal bruising too. You should really rest and let your body heal."

Karin stood up, casting a quick glance toward the deeper part of the forest. Her expression was resolute, though her words remained measured and detached.

"Kazuki, I'll head further into the forest," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "Ishida might not handle everything on his own."

Kazuki nodded, recognizing the necessity. "Yeah, he probably needs backup. You should go."

Karin looked at him, her gaze steady. "Are you sure you can manage here alone?"

Kazuki gave a slight, pained grin. "I'll be fine."

Karin gave a small nod, acknowledging his words without any unnecessary sentiment. "I'll leave, then."

With that, she turned and began to move swiftly through the forest, leaving Kazuki to rest and recover.

---

'She's getting quicker,' Ishida thought as he leaped from one tree branch to another. He was desperately looking for an opening to launch his attack, but her speed kept increasing, while his own fatigue was beginning to slow him down.

[FATIGUE: 45/100]

[HP: 560/610]

[MP: 530/580]

'My HP okay for now, but I'm running low on MP,' he realized. He dodged yet another attack and swiftly jumped down to the ground, only to spring back up to a nearby branch, trying to keep up with her relentless pace.

"What!? Are you just going to keep running? Is that all you can do now?" she taunted, once again, just like she had been doing for the past ten minutes.

"Your taunts are getting more repetitive than my dodges, you know that, right?" Ishida shot back as he avoided another attack. He was getting a bit bored with all the dodging. 'This is getting old. Plus, if this drags on, she has the upper hand. Being a demon, she can probably fight all night without a problem, and with this dense forest, she might even manage in the sunlight. I'm the one who needs to wrap this up quickly,' he thought, letting out a sigh. Dodging her attacks wasn't too hard for him yet, even though she was speeding up. The real issue was how long he could keep up this pace; unlike her, he had limits.

[FATIGUE : 50/100]

[HP : 560/610]

[MP : 530/580]

'I can feel it building up every second,' Ishida thought with a sigh as he glanced at the screen. Suddenly, he snapped his attention back to the incoming attack. Instead of dodging, he stood firm on the branch and raised his sword in front of him. "Alright, here goes nothing," he muttered.

Ishida braced himself, feeling the fatigue pressing on him, yet he knew this was the moment to act. Aya's attacks were nonstop, and while dodging had kept him safe so far, he needed to turn the tide. He steadied his grip on the sword, ready to make his move and regain control of the fight.

As Aya's tendrils whipped up from below, Ishida's focus sharpened. "Third Form: Loathsome Moon, Chains!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the forest. With precise swings of his sword, he sent out a series of crescent-shaped slashes. These arcs of light danced and twirled through the air, forming a lethal pattern that sliced cleanly through the attacking tendrils.

Aya, however, seemed unfazed by the loss of her vines. She moved with a graceful power that hinted at her strength, her eyes glowing with a mix of challenge and delight. It was clear she enjoyed testing her abilities against such a worthy opponent. She sprang from the ground, her movements fluid and shadow-like, launching herself at Ishida with astonishing speed.

Ishida, anticipating her advance, leaped backward to another branch, keeping his distance while his mind raced through his options. He needed to conserve his energy yet deliver a decisive blow. As he landed, Aya was already upon him, her claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. He barely managed to parry the blows and block some, each clash of her claw and Ishida's blade resonating through the trees.

Aya's speed was incredible, her attacks a whirlwind of motion that seemed to close in from all sides. Ishida could feel the air pressure from her blows, each one a testament to her relentless pursuit. He knew he had to match her pace, pushing himself beyond his current limits if he wanted to find an opening.

As Aya pressed her assault, Ishida's mind focused on the rhythm of their battle. Waiting for the perfect moment, he could feel the ebb and flow of their movements. Then, seizing a brief opening, he made his move.

"Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy!"

[MP : (-50) = 480/580]

With a swift, powerful motion, he spun his blade in a wide arc, creating a typhoon of slashes that spiraled outward. The force of the attack was immense, a vortex of crescent energies that surged toward Aya, threatening to engulf her in its fury.

Aya's eyes widened at the sudden onslaught, but she reacted with remarkable agility. Her body twisted and turned, weaving through the tempest of slashes like water flowing through a rocky stream. The edges of the crescents barely missed her, but she continued to advance, her resolve unyielding.

As the typhoon dissipated, Ishida found himself face-to-face with Aya, who was now within striking distance. Her eyes locked onto his, a fierce intensity burning brightly. She lunged forward, her claws aimed directly at Ishida's chest.

In that instant, Ishida knew he had to act. With a burst of speed, he sidestepped her attack, feeling the rush of air as her claws passed mere inches from his side. Pivoting on his heel, he brought his sword up in a fluid motion, aiming for the opening he had been seeking.

Aya, caught off guard by his sudden maneuver, turned her head just in time to see Ishida's blade descending. The strike was swift and precise, slicing through her neck in a clean motion. Her eyes widened in shock as her momentum carried her forward, her body collapsing to the forest floor in defeat.

[EXP. Received : 10,000]

[Level : 25 [Exp. 2,800 Needed to Level UP]

[Skill Unlocked : Moon Breathing Fourth Form: Crescent Moon [MP : 25/per use]

The notification popped up before him, but , he had no time to focus on that, as his mind almost immediately switched Focus to the other demon... As he turned around, the demon was still there, with a slight smirk showing in his face, as Ishida looked confidently towards the demon, 'My Fatigue will start to go down now… I even got some exp. , though I didn't level up , which is understandable. But , I am sure I can take him on, right now.' he thought, as he looked down, at the place the previous demon, Aya, disappeared moments ago, 'It was too easy to be true, I don't even know what to expect from him now,' Ishida thought with an expressionless face, as he again turned to the demon, who hasn't moved yet from the place he was. What was his plan !? If he wanted, he could have double ganged on Ishida , and tried to overpower him, but he didn't, he let Ishida fight one v one against Aya, But Why !?

"Don't think too much, kid," the demon spoke, its voice a smooth blend of amusement and finality. "My work here is done. So, I will leave now."

Ishida, still on edge, tried to decipher the demon's intentions. "What do you mean, your work is done? Why didn't you join the fight with Aya?"

The demon simply chuckled, a sound that echoed eerily through the trees. "Let's just say it wasn't necessary. Besides, the real fun is yet to come."

With that cryptic remark, the demon began to slither away, its serpentine body moving fluidly through the trees. Ishida, unwilling to let it escape, immediately gave chase. His instincts told him that letting this demon go would be a mistake, and he wasn't about to let it slip away without a fight.

He lunged forward, sword at the ready, aiming to cut off the demon's escape. But the demon was swift, its movements agile and deceptive. It slithered with a speed that made it difficult for Ishida to keep up, darting through the dense forest with ease.

Ishida swung his blade, attempting to land a strike, but the demon dodged effortlessly, its body weaving through the branches and foliage. Despite Ishida's efforts, each attack missed its mark, the demon always a step ahead.

As Ishida pressed on, he noticed the faint light of dawn beginning to filter through the canopy. The realization hit him suddenly—the demon was retreating because sunrise was approaching. Even in the thick forest, daylight would soon make it unsafe for demons to remain.

The demon glanced back at Ishida, a sly smile playing on its lips. "We'll meet again soon, Ishida. Consider this just the beginning."

With those parting words, the demon disappeared into the shadows, leaving Ishida standing amidst the trees. His frustration was palpable, but he knew he couldn't pursue any further. The rising sun was both a blessing and a reminder of the limits of the demon's reach.

As the forest gradually brightened with the coming day, Ishida took a moment to catch his breath. The battle had been intense, and while he had won against Aya, the escape of the other demon left him with unanswered questions.

He sheathed his sword, feeling the weight of everything that had happened that night.

'What did he mean by "we'll meet soon"?' Ishida pondered, deep in thought. Suddenly, a screen appeared in front of him.

[New Quest Unlocked: ?]

[Do You Want to Accept?] [Y/N]

Ishida looked at the screen, his expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. 'Why a quest all of a sudden?' he wondered. It had been quite a while since his last quest, even before the final exam. Since then, he had been caught up with Demon Slayer Corps missions and hadn't received anything from the system. Why now, out of the blue? Perhaps, in time, the reason would become clear.