"The Hashira Training is underway, and the demon slayers are struggling to keep up," Tanjiro thinks to himself.
The group of demon slayers was running down a steep, jagged mountain pass, sweat dripping down their faces and their limbs aching from the intense exercise.
Y/n, was at the front of the pack, his legs pumping and his arm swinging with ease. He was clearly a veteran of this grueling training, and he was setting the pace for the rest of the group.
Tanjiro was struggling to keep up, his legs burning and his heart pounding in his chest. He knew that this training session was special, since hashiras were known to only train their tsugokus, or junior members of their demon-slayer corps.
As they ran, the demon slayers passed by a cluster of rocks, and Tanjiro heard a familiar voice.
"Tanjiro! Come on, you can do it!" Y/n shouted, his voice carrying across the rocks.
Tanjiro rallied, his own energy returning as he ran alongside Y/n. Tanjiro was surprised to see Y/n approach him with a smile on his face.
He had expected Y/n to be angry with him after the meeting the day before, but instead, Y/n was acting as if nothing had happened. Tanjiro couldn't help but feel a tingle of excitement in his chest.
"Tanjiro," Y/n said with a smile, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad to see you here. This session is going to be tough, but it'll be worth it. I promise."
Tanjiro nodded, his expression turning serious. "I know," he said, "but I'm willing to push myself to get stronger."
Y/n nods, his smile widening.
"That's what I like to hear. We all have to hold ourselves accountable if we want to become the best demon slayers we can be."
Tanjiro realized that the anger Y/n had expressed towards him yesterday was misplaced. He thought that Y/n would hold a grudge and give him the silent treatment, but as he found himself smiling back, he realized that wasn't the case at all.
Y/n was kind and he was was disciplined. He's a person who was willing to forgive and move on. This realization made Tanjiro feel grateful, knowing that he had a true friend by his side.
-_-Timeskip-_-
Y/n walked through the night in a trance state, his mind a complete blank. The past few days of intense training had taken quite a toll on him, and he just needed some time to himself to let all the tension go.
He walked aimlessly, his mind focused on the moment and not on the long road ahead of him. It was a peaceful night, with a slight breeze rustling the leaves and the stars shining brightly above him. He was grateful for the moment of calm, knowing that he would need to face the battles of tomorrow with a clear head.
*sfx BOOM!
Y/n stumbled back, caught off guard by the sudden earthquake-like tremors that shook the ground beneath his feet.
In front of him, a massive crater had appeared, spewing smoke and dust into the air. Y/n could see debris and shattered pieces scattered across the area.
He blinked, struggling to process what had just happened. It was as if something had exploded right in front of him. His mind raced as he scanned the scene, searching for any signs of what had caused the destruction.
As Y/n approached the crater, he noticed an unfamiliar energy emanating from the center. It was as if the very earth was alive.
Suddenly, shapes of crescent moons and patterns emerged from the ground, shooting out in all directions, aiming directly for Y/n.
He took a deep breath, trying to steel his nerves, and raised his sword to meet the oncoming attack. It was a moment of truth for him, and he had to be ready to fight no matter what was coming.
Y/n raised his sword and summoned his Sun Breathing, focusing his energy into his blade, as he burns his sword with searing fire.
The crescent moons came hurtling towards him, he held his sword aloft, preparing for the counterattack.
"Sun Breathing."
Scorching Crimson Mirror
With a swift motion, Y/n's sword burst into flames, the fire coursing through its steel. He unleashes two powerful horizontal slashes, creating a scorching, crimson mirror that reflected the lunar attack back at the source.
The heat and light of the mirror was blinding, and the crescent moons were no match for its power. One by one, the moons were repelled.
Y/n lowered his sword. The lunar attack was over.
"Show yourself!" Tsugi said, as the crater was still covered with dust and smoke.
As Y/n's knees slammed onto the ground, he raised his head to look up at Kokushibou. The Upper Moon 1 was towering over him, with a blank expression on his face.
"W-what are you.. doing here?!" Y/n stares at him, shocked.
Kokushibou spoke, his voice as sharp as a blade, "Look what we have here. The descendant of Yoriichi, reduced to nothing but a weak and frightened mouse." He said, his tone calm yet harsh.
Y/n's breathing was shallow, his body still shaking from the power that Kokushibou had just unleashed upon him. He tried to gather his voice, to find some shred of bravery within him.
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kokushibou's six eyes stare at his, "What do I want? That's an easy question to answer, Y/n. I want you dead."
Y/n's heart sank at Kokushibou's words. He knew that this was a battle that he might not be able to win, but he also knew that he couldn't let the Upper Moon 1 go unscathed. He had to fight, no matter the cost.
Y/n knew that he needed to act fast. He swung his sword, infusing it with the power of the Sun Breathing. The blade exploded into flames, and Kokushibou could sense the familiar aura of his long-dead brother Yoriichi.
Kokushibou was amused by the display, and he acknowledged the strength of Y/n's breathing style.
"Sun Breathing, truly a marvel to behold," he said, his voice filled with a sense of nostalgia and admiration.
"Sorry, Michikatsu. I'm here to win. And you're not going to beat me with your stolen techniques." Y/n said implying to his demon powers and the fact that Moon Breathing is deprived from Sun.
"And what, are you going to beat me with *your* stolen techniques?" Kokushibou replies. as much as Y/n hates to admit it, Sun Breathing wasn't his after all.
Before Y/n could even react, Kokushibou burst into action, his demon-altered katana glinting in the moonlight. He swung his sword in a downward arc, and a flash of light filled the air as the steel blade sliced through the night.
"Moon Breathing."
Moon-Dragon Ringtail
A massive long-ranged curved slash that leaves dozens of crescent moon blades along its path, cutting through the air with a roar of power. The crescent moons followed the path of the saw-like slashes, flying at Y/n with a speed and precision that was almost unfathomable.
Y/n knew he had to act fast, he grabs his scabbard and pulled the trigger, as the sword launches to his hand at lightning speeds, Y/n uses the;
"Sun Breathing."
Waltz (modified horizontal circular)
The circular slash that completely covers around Y/n, met the saw-like slashes head on, forming a spectacular collision of power and fire. In the midst of the clash, Y/n knew that he had to find a way to turn the tide of the battle in his favor.
Kokushibou burst forth in a rush, his demon-altered katana glistening in the moonlight. He charged forward, his movements swift and powerful.
The latter stood his ground, his own flaming power flickering around him like a burning halo. He raised his katana, the flame imbueing the steel with a strength and power that belied its size.
.
In one swift movement, the two of them clashed, the impact of their katanas ringing out like a bell. It was a clash of power and skill, of fire and moon, as the two of them collided in a dance of epic proportions.
Their blades locked together, with
Y/n's hand clutching the handle of Kokushibu's demon-altered katana.
It was a battle of skills, of power and strength, as their katanas clashed together again and again, creating a symphony of fire and moon that shook the earth beneath their feet.
"Such beauty displayed. It's unfortunate that this potential is going to die soon."
The crescent moon blades followed their movements, slicing through the air in a blur of steel and light. It was a deadly dance, with each strike and parry carrying the weight of life and death. And still, the two of them fought on, determined to prevail, determined to survive.
"Sun Breathing."
Bone Burning Sun
Y/n's Sun Breathing came to life, as he rotated his body in a beautiful, fluid motion.
In a split second, he raised his katana, and with a swing of his arm, discharged a powerful 360-degree slash directed at Kokushibou.
The slash sent a ring of fire cascading outwards, with Y/n at its center.
Kokushibou was forced to back off, his face contorted in surprise as he saw the flames around Y/n grow brighter and hotter.
The ring of fire continued to expand, and he could feel the heat radiating off of it. The flames twisted and turned, taking on strange, ethereal forms as they grew larger and more menacing. It was a display of power that even Kokushibou himself couldn't ignore.
Despite his surprise, Kokushibou was quick to compose himself, his face once again taking on a dangerous expression. He knew that he couldn't afford to underestimate Y/n, even with his newfound power.
Without warning, he sprang into action, his lunar blades spinning and flashing with an otherworldly might as he instantly destroys his ring of fire.
"I should skidadle." Tsugi said, as he dodges the slash.
Y/n knew that he had to be careful, that this would not be an easy fight. But he was determined. He would not let Kokushibou get the better of him, not after everything he had been through.
-_- Later -_-
Y/n and Kokushibou fought for hours, exchanging blows and moves in an intense battle of wills, skill and determination.
The night grew darker and the air grew cooler, but the two warriors were still fighting on, with neither showing any signs of giving in.
Kokushibou seemed to be enjoying the challenge, a slight grin on his lips as he parried and slashed, his demon-altered katana flashing with the power of the moon.
Y/n, on the other hand, was starting to feel the toll of the battle. He had multiple cuts and had bled all over his body, and his movements were starting to slow down.
"Dammit!" He grunts.
Y/n and Kokushibou clashed swords for the last time, each of them giving everything they had in a final, desperate attempt to gain the upper hand.
Their katanas rang out, the clashes like thunder cracking across the night sky. It was a battle of wills and skill, of strength.
Finally, their katanas separated, and the two warriors stood there, catching their breath.
There was a pause in the action, an unspoken moment of respect between two fierce opponents. Finally, Kokushibou spoke, an invisible smile on his lips.
The enviroment was filled with trees on fire. as Y/n's exhaustion fills the silence, blood visibly dripping from his mouth.
"You are quite the fascinating opponent," he said, his voice calm and controlled.
"And quite the formidable warrior, as well. I must admit that I haven't had such a challenge in decades."
Y/n was too exhausted to reply, his lungs heaving and his body covered in sweat and blood. "Where..."
'Where the fuck is everyone..' Y/n thought to himself. wondering why the back up hasn't arrived yet.
"Tell me when that arm starts to get numb, brat. Then I'll start trying." Kokushibou said, his tone still collected.
"Ugh!" He grunts as his left hand was in no use already.
With one final burst of energy, Y/n drew on the strength of the Flame, and with his katana in hand, imitated Rengoku's move.
He changed his breathing pattern, his body tense and powerful, as he channeled all of his remaining strength into the technique.
As he held the move, a blazing heat started to fill the air around him, the ground around him cracking and caving in.
The terrain seemed to buckle under the intense heat and flames, and Y/n had to concentrate all his energy into keeping the technique contained.
"With one arm?" Kokushibou watched him gather his energy into that one arm.
With every passing second, the flames grew larger and hotter, the ground shaking and cracking beneath his feet. And still, he held the technique, his stance unwavering as he gathered his remaining strength, every fiber of his being focused on the final move.
Finally, with a final outburst of energy, Y/n finished copying the move in a blaze of fiery glory.
"This.. is the power of stolen techniques." Y/n whispers, as he grunts, and readies to release the Esoteric Art.
.
.
.
Kokushibou starts laughing.
"MAGNIFICIENT. ONE LAST STAND AGAINST ME."
"A CLIMACTIC SHOWDOWN!" Kokushibou then exploded in energy, a swarm of cresents moons start to surrounding him.
"HWRGHAAA!" He shouts out, as the slayer mark grows from his chest.
.
.
.
"FLAME BREATHING."
ESOTERIC ART
NINTH FORM
-___-___-___-___-
2300+ words omg. but massive cliffhanger lmao.
I'm actually really glad I was able to give this book daily updates now :3
Welp, See you next time in...