As soon as Ishida stepped into the area beyond the wisteria forest, where the selection test was happening, he could feel demons all around him.
"There are a lot of strong demons here. This is going to be an interesting fight," Ishida thought. Just as he was about to move forward, he suddenly sensed someone nearby. It was Sakura, standing right next to him. "Whoa, what!?" he exclaimed.
Sakura smirked, "Oh, you knew I was here without even looking. By the way, you haven't told me your name yet."
"I'm Ishida... Just Ishida. Now, you can head your way, and I'll go mine," he replied, as he continued to walk deeper into the forest.
"Okay, whatever. It's not like I need any help. I just thought teaming up might make it easier to complete the trial since there are so many demons. But if you're not interested, fine," Sakura replied with a shrug.
Ishida gave a slight nod, and they parted ways, with him following his instincts deeper into the forest.
After a while...
"I have to stay here for seven days," Ishida reminded himself. "That means I shouldn't get into fights unless I have to. But I bet they're judging us on how we handle ourselves here. So, in every battle, I need to stay calm and perform well," he thought, pushing further into the dense forest.
Suddenly, he sensed demons around nearby. as out of nowhere two demons jumped at him at the same time. With incredible agility and speed, he evaded both demons as they almost clashed into one another.
[Level. 3]
[Level. 4]
"Huh, these are low-level demons," Ishida thought, as the demons looked at him with bloodlust. They tried to attack him, almost racing with each other to strike first. "Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace." he said
In an instant, the crescent-shaped slashes left by Ishida's sword hit both demons in a single cut at their necks, causing their bodies to fall to the ground and turn into ashes.
'Good' He said to himself, as he continued walking again.
"I wonder what she's up to," he thought, picturing Sakura in his mind. But he quickly pushed the thought away. "Why should I worry about her? I've got my own mission to focus on. Besides, she seems tough enough to handle herself. Plus , I Don't even know her," he reasoned to himself.
Close to where Ishida was...
Sakura carefully navigated the forest after splitting up with Ishida. She was confident in her ability to fend off any demons lurking about. As she moved, her senses were heightened, every rustle and shadow putting her on edge. She was determined to prove her strength and bravery in this daunting task.
Out of nowhere, she heard a rustle in the thick foliage. Before she could fully react, a demon sprang at her with a fierce intent. Its hideous face twisted with a sinister grin as it spotted her alone, seemingly an easy target.
Reacting swiftly, Sakura jumped back, just escaping the demon's sharp claws. Her heart was racing, but she steadied herself by focusing on her training. "Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel!" she shouted, her voice resonating through the forest.
She twirled gracefully, her sword slicing through the air in a smooth arc. The demon was caught off guard by her agility and precision, making it stumble back, though it wasn't done yet. With a growl, it charged at her again, its eyes blazing with anger.
Sakura gritted her teeth, feeling the intensity of the battle. She knew she had to stay calm and collected, just like her mentors had taught her. As the demon lunged, she sidestepped, using its own momentum against it.
"Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!" she announced, her motions turning into an elegant yet deadly dance. Her blade cut cleanly through the demon's neck, reducing it to ash.
Catching her breath, Sakura took a moment to gather herself, her heart still pounding with adrenaline. She scanned her surroundings to ensure there were no more threats, then allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.
"Not too shabby," she murmured, pushing a stray lock of hair from her face.
Meanwhile, Ishida kept moving forward, encountering and defeating a couple of low-level demons that dared to attack him along the way. With each encounter, he dispatched them with ease, his movements sharp and efficient. The Final Selection continued, testing his skills and resolve as he pressed onward through the challenges the night brought.