Once the Kakushi arrived at the scene to clean up the aftermath of the battle, the Stone Hashira left, while Ryou and Kyojuro prepared to go their separate ways for their next mission.
"See you again, Kyojuro. Be safe in your missions. The next time we meet, it will be as Hashira," Ryou said with a smile.
Kyojuro nodded and spoke in a booming voice "Indeed. I have faith we'll make it. See you, Ryou!"
With that, they parted ways, each heading toward their respective destinations. Following the guidance of his Kasugai crow, Ryou headed north.
On the way, He checked his status panel: He had earned '6' Demon Points from the recent battle. Combined with his existing 4 points, he now had a total of '10' Demon Points.
He wasn't in a hurry to assign them, so he decided to leave the points for now and allocate them after accumulating some more.
--
Time passed by as Ryou continued to slay the demons. His tireless job as Demon Slayer made him travel to various places, encounter different people, and enjoy various delicacies.
More than a year went by, tracking, fighting, and killing the demons. Yet, he didn't meet a single Upper or Lower Moon during this time.
So, his plan to slay the Lower Moons and reach the rank of Hashira remained unfulfilled. Of course, considering his impressive demon kill count of nearly a hundred demons, he was more than qualified to become a Hashira.
He heard from Kanae that Ubuyashiki was planning to promote him to Hashira soon.
During this time, he accumulated nearly '100' Demon Points. Combined with his existing '10', his demon points reached '110'.
With that, Ryou maxed out his Tekkai skill and improved his breathing style to the Advanced level. He opened his status panel to take a look:
[~ Name: Ryou
Physique: Nature [Intermediate - 99%]
Skill: Nature Breathing - Advanced [51/200], Tekkai [Max], Sharingan[Not upgradeable]
Demon Points: 0 ~]
'It's time to push the physique to the next level.' Ryou mused and looked at the sky. It was evening, and the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in a warm golden hue.
Soon, Ryou found a quiet stream to practice his Nature Breathing style. The sound of the water cascading over rocks was relaxing, creating the perfect backdrop for his practice.
He took a deep breath before beginning to execute each form with precision and elegance. His breathing synchronized with Nature with each inhale and exhale, as he became one with the environment.
As he completed the final form, a strand of Natural energy seeped into his body bringing forth a wonderful sensation.
The energy broke into tiny fragments and coursed through every part of his being, strengthening his flesh, bones, and blood vessels. It was as if the very essence of nature was merging with him, enhancing his physique.
Suddenly, Ryou could feel his physique reaching new levels of power. It was as if an invisible shackle within him broke free. He knew instantly that his Nature Physique had advanced to the next level, but he couldn't care less about this.
A wonderful sensation took hold of him, enveloping him in a deep connection with nature that transcended anything he had experienced before.
It was as if he had become 'One with Nature'.
He could feel the whisper of the wind, the gentle flow of water nearby, the pulse of the earth beneath his feet, the fiery essence of the Sun, the shifting patterns of the cloud, his lingering shadow that follows, the gravitational pull that binds all things, the passage of time, and the vast expanse of space that encompasses everything.
Ryou felt intimately connected to the world around him as his senses expanded dramatically, allowing him to perceive every life form with astonishing clarity. He could feel the presence of animals, insects, and even the subtle movements of plants.
"What an extraordinary feeling!' Enjoying the world with his senses, Ryou took a deep breath, drawing in the rich natural energy.
Nature Energy rushed into his body in a steady, invigorating stream. A wonderful transformation took place. His eyes turned golden, and sun-shaped marks appeared on both of his palms, like a tattoo.
"Is this the Nature Mode? What a power!" Ryou marveled, feeling every fiber of his being brimming with life force and strength.
Next, he found the changes in his body; the golden eyes and sun-shaped marks on his palms.
In Nature Mode, Ryou could feel his strength had reached an unprecedented level. A single punch could obliterate a being as powerful as a Lower Moon demon.
He's eager to test the limits of this Nature Mode and what kind of abilities it possesses.
But, before Ryou checks them out, his extraordinary perception senses the presence of a crow flying toward him. It was not his Kasugai crow, but rather one belonging to someone else.
As the crow descended and perched on a nearby branch, Ryou observed it and recognized the distinctive purple scarf adorning its neck. It's Ubuyashiki Kagaya's Kasugai crow.
"Mister Ryou, nice to meet you! I have a message from Ubuyashiki-sama!" the crow announced in its clear and mature voice.
"Yes," Ryou nodded, gesturing for it to continue.
"First, Kagaya-sama gives his heartfelt thanks for your efforts and dedication in slaying demons and protecting countless lives in the process. You have proven yourself again and again by displaying exceptional strength and mastery over your breathing style.
It is with great honor that Kagaya-sama extends to you the invitation to take the position of Hashira. Your new title will be Nature Hashira. If you don't like the title, you can change it to the one you like.
Please report to the headquarters; an official ceremony for your promotion will be held in the presence of other Hashiras."
The position of Hashira was the highest honor a demon slayer could achieve, a testament to one's strength and skill. But, Ryou remained quite calm upon hearing the news.
Considering his exceptional strength, it seemed only natural that he would be granted the title of Hashira. The only thing that caught him off guard was his designated title: Nature Hashira. However, he liked it very much.
"Thank you for informing me," Ryou told the crow. "I will head to the headquarters immediately."
"Then, I will notify Kagaya-sama about your arrival at the headquarters!" the crow nodded in acknowledgment before taking off into the sky.
Ryou watched the crow disappear into the distance before setting off toward the headquarters.
--
P@tre0n/FanficMortal