The dense forest surrounded Akira, its towering trees casting long shadows over the forest floor. The wind whispered through the leaves, carrying with it the scent of impending danger. Akira's senses were sharp, his hand hovering near his sword. He wasn't alone.
Out of the shadows, four hulking demons emerged, their glowing red eyes fixated on him, saliva dripping from their fanged mouths. Their grotesque, clawed limbs scraped the ground, and their twisted grins promised violence. These demons were far more dangerous than the usual fare. They radiated malice, their presence suffocating the forest.
Akira smirked. "Looks like you lot picked the wrong day to mess with me."
With a flick of his wrist, his scythe materialized from thin air, gleaming under the faint light filtering through the trees. He could hear Mitsuri's voice faintly from behind him, her breath caught in her throat as she watched the scene unfold. She was safe for now, but these demons had clearly sensed her strength and were determined to take her down.
The first demon snarled and lunged forward with a sickening speed, claws aiming straight for Akira's throat. Without hesitation, Akira leaped into action. **Sun Breathing: Fourth Form—Burning Bones, Summer Sun!** His blade slashed forward, igniting with a searing orange light as he cleaved through the demon's torso. The demon let out a guttural roar before disintegrating into ash.
But the fight was far from over.
The second demon launched a massive fist at Akira, its strength causing the ground to shake beneath them. Akira teleported, appearing behind the creature in the blink of an eye, as if space itself bent to his will. With a quick motion, he extended his hand. **Gravity Control!**
The demon was suddenly pinned to the ground, unable to move under the immense weight pressing down on it. It roared in frustration, clawing at the dirt, but Akira didn't give it time to struggle. A sharp swing of his scythe ended the creature's life, its body collapsing into dust.
Two demons left.
As the third demon charged, Akira could feel the tension rising. This one was faster, more cunning, as it circled him with eyes full of malice. The demon launched itself toward Akira's blind spot, but with a swift motion of his hand, a glowing blue barrier materialized. **Barrier Magic**. The demon smashed into it with full force, its claws scraping uselessly against the barrier. Akira smiled and clenched his fist. The barrier shattered outward, sending shards of magic that pierced the demon's body, disintegrating it into a pile of ash.
The final demon stopped, clearly unnerved by the way Akira had easily handled its companions. Its eyes darted between Akira and Mitsuri, who was watching from behind, her grip on her weapon tight. The demon grinned and made a beeline for her, its massive legs thundering across the ground as it sought to take her out.
"Not so fast." Akira's voice cut through the air. He extended his hand once more. **Telekinesis.**
The demon's body froze in mid-air, held in place by an invisible force. It thrashed wildly, trying to break free, but Akira wasn't done yet. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the demon hurtling backward, smashing it against a tree. Before it could recover, Akira disappeared in a flash and reappeared beside it, his sword igniting with blinding light.
**Sun Breathing: Ninth Form—Dragon Sun Halo Head Dance!**
His blade moved like a serpent, slicing through the demon with incredible speed. The demon let out one last scream before it dissolved into ash, leaving nothing behind but silence.
Akira exhaled slowly, the adrenaline still pumping through his veins. He glanced back at Mitsuri, who was staring at him with wide eyes. She was safe, but the awe in her gaze told him everything he needed to know—he had made an impression.
"Are you alright?" Akira asked, his voice steady as he walked toward her, sheathing his sword.
Mitsuri nodded, though her hands were still shaking slightly. "Y-Yes. Thank you…"
Akira smiled softly. "No need to thank me. I'm just doing what I do best."
With the danger passed, Akira activated the system shop, casually buying three bentos. They materialized in his hand, causing Mitsuri's eyes to widen again, but she didn't question it. There were far too many mysteries surrounding Akira, and yet, for some reason, she felt safe around him.
They sat down on a fallen log, the tension slowly easing as they began to eat the meal in peaceful silence.
---
Six Days Later
Akira, Shinobu, Mitsuri, Tomioka, and Kyojuro finally arrived at **Fujikasane-yama**. The mountain loomed before them, marking the next step in their journey as demon slayers. After passing the brutal final selection test, the weight of their success—and the losses they had endured—hung over the group.
Akira looked around the solemn group, his thoughts briefly touching on Makomo and Sabito. They had died in the selection, just as he had expected. He had no intention of changing that part of the story. After all, Tanjiro would need them to guide him later. Their fates were too important to interfere with.
Above them, crows circled in the sky. One broke away from the flock and landed on Akira's shoulder, its beady eyes staring into his. This was it—the final stage before they received their official swords.
As the group gathered to select their ores, Akira watched as Mitsuri and Shinobu stood before the stones, excitement and anxiety etched into their faces.
"Shinobu, Mitsuri, are you excited?" Akira asked, his voice cutting through the silence.
Shinobu and Mitsuri both nodded, but their worry was palpable.
"Yes, but... what if we pick the wrong one?" Mitsuri said nervously, her gaze flicking to the stones. "What if it's just a normal ore?"
Shinobu shared the same concern, her brow furrowed in thought.
Akira gave them a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it. You'll do fine."
"Why are you so sure?" Mitsuri asked, her eyes narrowing at him with playful suspicion.
"It's just a feeling," Akira said with a grin. He stepped forward, glancing at the stones. "Anyway, it's my turn."
He approached the selection, his eyes scanning the ore-stones laid out before him. "System" he thought, "appraise these for me."
| Stones |
Stone 1: Scarlet Ore
Stone 2: Scarlet Ore
Stone 3: Scarlet Ore
Stone 4: Scarlet Ore
Stone 5: Scarlet Ore
Akira smirked, satisfied. All of them were top-tier scarlet ores, perfect for crafting his blade. With a nod, he chose one and stepped aside, waiting for the girls to make their selection.
As he leaned back against a tree, he thought about what was next. The demons weren't going to wait for them to be fully prepared, and Akira had his own plans in mind.
This was just the beginning.
To be continued...