Demon Slayer : LEveLing uP

After taking down the demon that looked like a snake, Ishida got back on his feet. He couldn't rest yet because he still felt the presence of other demons hidden in the forest. It was important for him to find and defeat them to keep everyone safe.

"This demon wasn't very strong," Ishida thought to himself. "But it mentioned something about not letting me into their place. If I remember right, it said something along those lines." He figured it must have been a guard or a gatekeeper, which is why it was weaker. "That makes sense, right?" Ishida asked himself, shaking his head to stay focused. "No matter what, I need to get to the bottom of this."

With that determination, Ishida put his sword back in his inventory and checked his stats. He noticed he had earned nearly 3000 experience points for defeating the demon. Oddly, the demon's level didn't appear above its head like the others he'd encountered before. [AN: The experience points weren't shown by mistake; they'll be displayed from now on.]

Ishida kept moving through the forest, veering slightly to the right. He wondered, "I wonder what Kazuki and she are up to right now? Should we think about meeting up again?" The thought crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. "No, they can handle themselves," he reassured himself as he pushed onward.

[Just a little while earlier...]

Kazuki, after parting ways with his team, felt a bit anxious. Even though he's been on missions longer than Ishida, he knew he wasn't at Ishida's level, especially considering how quickly Ishida had advanced as a demon slayer. Despite this, Kazuki was determined. He knew that no matter how tough things got, he had to keep going and fight for the reasons he became a demon slayer, to prove his worth.

He pressed on deeper into the dense forest, climbing the steep mountain path with long strides. His goal was to cover as much ground as possible and reunite with his two teammates quickly, all the while hoping he wouldn't encounter any demons alone. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side.

As he advanced, he moved with extra caution. Suddenly, a faint rustling sound caught his attention. He froze, scanning the area for the source but saw nothing. Just as he was about to dismiss it as his imagination, he heard a hissing noise. "What on earth is that?" he wondered, quickly drawing his sword and getting into a defensive stance.

Time seemed to stretch as he stood there. The forest returned to its eerie stillness, with no sounds or signs of movement. Everything was completely silent, and he remained perfectly still, waiting for any hint of danger.

Hearing birds chirping above, he glanced up. "Yeah, right, keep it up. I'm already on edge!" he muttered sarcastically as the chirping quickly faded away.

He turned back in the direction he had been heading and was about to sheathe his sword to continue on when the sound of rustling leaves startled him again. Panic began to creep in once more.

Without him noticing, vines had been quietly spreading across the ground around him. They began rising, with branches twisting and curling towards him. "What the heck?" he exclaimed, realizing the danger. Instinctively, he swung his sword at the encroaching vines as they surged in his direction.

Kazuki's heart raced as he watched the vines twist and coil around him as if they had a mind of their own. They erupted from the forest floor, weaving together to create a tangled web that aimed to trap him completely.

"Flame Breathing First Form: Unknowing Fire!" he shouted, channeling the fiery energy into his blade. With all his strength, he swung his sword, and the flames roared to life, slicing through the encroaching vines. The air was filled with the sharp scent of burning leaves as he fought to break free from their grasp.

The vines were relentless, regenerating faster than Kazuki could slice through them. They seemed to pulse with life, each cut tendril giving rise to two more. His muscles ached from the effort, and his breaths came in ragged gasps as he faced the endless assault.

Just as he was beginning to feel overwhelmed, a low, sinister laugh echoed through the clearing. The vines parted, revealing the demon behind them—a massive, serpent-like creature with dark green scales that shimmered in the dappled sunlight. Its eyes were narrow and cunning, filled with a malevolent intelligence that sent a chill down Kazuki's spine.

"A little mouse caught in my trap," the demon sneered, its voice a chilling whisper that seemed to creep into Kazuki's very bones. "You've ventured too far into my territory, human."

Kazuki stood firm, sword raised defiantly. "I mean, it's kinda what my job is, you know. But nothing personal," he said, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness.

The demon slithered closer, its muscular arms ending in razor-sharp claws that glinted ominously in the light. It moved with a sinuous grace, its tail coiling around the trees as it circled Kazuki, searching for the right moment to strike.

Kazuki knew he had to act quickly. He launched into a flurry of attacks, his sword a blur of fiery arcs as he struck at the demon. "Flame Breathing Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!" he exclaimed, leaping into the air to deliver a powerful overhead slash aimed directly at the menacing creature.

The demon was lightning-fast, its tail whipping up to block the attack. Kazuki lost his footing and hit the ground hard. Seeing its chance, the demon lunged forward with its claws ready to finish the fight.

Just as the claws were about to hit Kazuki, a figure darted out from the shadows and placed themselves between him and the demon with a quick, decisive move. "Butterfly Breathing, Eighth Form: Emperor's Venom!" Said the newcomer in a girly voice swinging their sword in a deadly arc. The blade shimmered with a dangerous, colorful light as it sliced toward the serpent-like demon.

The demon hissed and pulled back, sensing the threat. It twisted its body with incredible agility, just managing to dodge the brunt of the attack. However, the tip of the blade grazed its scales, leaving a faint, gleaming mark.

The demon's eyes narrowed, showing a mix of anger and caution. It slithered back a bit, taking a moment to reassess its opponent. Kazuki, scrambling to his feet, felt a wave of relief wash over him when he realized the newcomer was none other then Karin.

"And here I thought you didn't care!" Kazuki said, glancing at Karin, who stood protectively between him and the demon, which had been pushed back by her attack.

"You should focus on your fighting techniques and footwork instead of cracking bad jokes; it might help you stay alive," she retorted without even glancing back at Kazuki, who had finally gotten back on his feet.

Ishida ventured deeper into the forest, leaving Karin and Kazuki in a tense standoff with the demon that nearly overpowered Kazuki. Thanks to Karin's timely intervention, the tide turned. But what fate awaits them now? Find out in the next chapter.