The dense forest of Mount Natagumo was ablaze with the ferocity of combat. The air was thick with the smell of scorched earth and the sound of clashing steel. Amidst the towering trees and under the watchful gaze of the moon, Kage and Kazan were already entwined in a vicious dance of death.
Kage's movements were a blur, his form barely discernible as he darted around Kazan. The demon's unstoppable fury of magma pillars forced the slayer to stay on the move. "Is this all you've got? Your friends put up a better fight," taunted Kazan, her voice a serpentine hiss amidst the roar of flames.
Kage's response was a snarl before he took a small breath. "Shadow Breathing Third Form: Nightfall Dash," he mumbled. Then, he became nearly invisible, a ghostly figure darting in and out of visibility as he dashed toward Kazan.
Seeing the approaching slayer, Kazan merely laughed. "You finally come to me," she said before grinning. In an instant, Kazan's mastery over magma turned the battlefield into a hellscape.
Molten rock geysers burst forth in a deadly display of power. Thankfully, Kage navigated this inferno with unparalleled agility, and his every dodge and weave was a testament to his resolve.
As he got closer, Kage's twin blades glinted in the moonlight before he swung up. However, Kazan saw this attack coming and jumped over his strike. "Not even close," she taunted. She followed up with a down kick, from which Kage rolled away.
Sliding away, Kage saw the scorched earth where Kazan's foot had connected. "Remember the last time this happened?" she asked as Kage's expression darkened. "Poor girl didn't see it coming and turned into grilled meat," Kazan cackled before tapping her chin.
"What was her name again?" wondered Kazan before laughing loudly. "Who cares, right?" she asked as Kage's grip tightened around his swords. "...her name was Mariya," mumbled Kage but only heard Kazan's laughter.
"That's the one!" she said before smirking at the slayer. "But to me..." lingered Kazan as a vicious look appeared in her eyes. "She was just another meal," she said as Kage gritted his teeth angrily.
"But since you want to remember them again, why don't I help you?" asked Kazan as her hands reddened. "Blood Demon Art..." she mumbled as Kage's eyes widened in remembrance. "I-Im burning! Please make it stop!" he remembered the cries of another fallen comrade. "Faran..." called Kage as he saw Kazan draw her fist back.
"Scorch Eruption!" she shouted before a fist of pure magma expanded toward Kage. Narrowing his eyes, Kage tightened his grip and rushed at Kazan. He danced through the flames as Kazan cackled at his resolve. "You're as slippery as ever," taunted Kazan, her voice echoing through the trees like a fire crackling.
"I remember your friends crying for mercy in their last moments..." lingered Kazan as Kage closed in on her. "Will you do the same?" she jeered as Kage's gaze hardened. "The only cries will be yours. I will see to that," he retorted, slicing his blades and cutting Kazan's midsection off.
However, she didn't seem slightly worried and only grinned at the slayer. "Your determination reeks of desperation. Is that what fuels the likes of you?" she spat, swinging her magma-coated fists. Thankfully, Kage managed to back away just in time not to be turned into ashes.
"You talk too damn much," shot back Kage as Kazan merely laughed at him. "And you're too pathetic to realise that your vengeance is futile," she retorted, smirking at him. "What do you think you are, huh?" she asked as her body reformed instantly.
"You're not a hero nor a vigilante. You're just someone who will become my next meal!" she said as Kage's hair hid his eyes. His mind drifted to similar words he had heard before.
"We don't need you to act like a hero! We can fight alongside you," said Mariya before smiling at him. "So don't put too much pressure on yourself," she reassured Kage. Beside him, Faran chuckled. "Yeah, dude! We are like the best slayer trio of the corps, I bet!" he boasted before taking a small pose.
"I'm sure we can handle anything thrown at us!" he encouraged, making Kage smile before nodding. "Yeah, you're right," he said before Faran wrapped his arm around his shoulder. "I'm sure in the future, we all will become hashiras!" he said, making the two laugh.
"You always dream so far," Mariya realised, making Faran huff and look away. "What's wrong with that?!" he asked but only heard a chuckle from Kage.
The two looked back at him, seeing a smile gracing his face. "I like this idea," he said, making the two pause. "Let's all become hashiras so we can help more people," he said, making his two companions nod and cheer at this vow.
"...no, I'm no hero," whispered Kage before glaring at Kazan. "And never will be as long as I'm not strong enough to protect anyone," he concluded. Hearing this, the demon merely cackled as she put her hands together.
"You weren't strong enough the first time. So don't think it will change now," she said before pulling her hands away. "Blood Demon Art: Magma Hound," said Kazan as her hands gained magma claws.
"Let me show you how delusional you truly are," she said before rushing at the slayer. Taking a deep breath, Kage tightened the hold on his swords. "Shadow Breathing Third Form: Nightfall Dash," he said, dashing toward Kazan.
Their battle was a spectacle of fury and skill, a deadly ballet choreographed amidst the forest's stillness. With her dominion over flame and earth, Kazan unleashed her wrath in waves of searing magma. Each swing she took at Kage was a testament to her destructive might.
On the other hand, Kage knew he couldn't let Kazan hit him, or it would be the end for him. With every move, Kage embodied the spirit of his lost comrades, their hopes and dreams fuelling his every strike. However, none of his strikes could be decisive as only Kazan's laughter and the flicking flames around resonated.
"Where is this vengeful spirit? Did it cloud your mind once again?" she asked before feeling Kage slice her cheek. "Have you forgotten how to kill a demon?" she taunted as Kage's gaze hardened, but he didn't reply.
"But don't worry..." she lingered before swinging her arm at Kage, but this time, she managed to hit his leg, making the slayer hiss. "I haven't forgotten how to kill you humans," said Kazan as Kage jumped away before wincing in pain.
Looking down, he saw the result of Kazan's magma fangs on his leg. 'I was too careless,' he cursed himself, gritting his teeth against the pain he felt. "Little slayer, I have a proposal for you..." began Kazan, making Kage furrow his brows.
"You can meet your companions again..." she said, viciously grinning at him. "But only when I'm done eating you. How does that sound?" she asked as Kage became silent. Suddenly, a smirk grew on his face before it turned into laughter. "I didn't realise a demon could be so stupid," he taunted, making Kazan narrow her eyes.
"How long have you been alive for you not to have a brain?" he asked before hearing Kazan cackled. "I tried to find you an easy way out," she said in fake sadness. "But it's fine if you want to be turned into ashes!" she said before rushing again with her magma-coated fists.
Closing his eyes, Kage changed his grip. "Shadow Breathing Fifth Form:..." he lingered, waiting for Kazan to get close to him. Then, exhaling loudly, he twirled as he dodged Kazan's arms. "Dusk Reversal!" he said, cutting both her arms where the magma didn't reach, which shocked the demon.
'He waited for me to get closer?' she realised before seeing a glint of Kage's sword. 'Too close!' she acknowledged, leaning back at the blade that went through her neck but not enough to sever it.
Jumping away, she saw Kage closing on her, making the demon narrow her eyes. "You managed to hit me, but it was only by chance," said Kazan before smirking at him. "Now, let's see who is too close," she whispered.
"Blood Demon Art: Crimson Fangs!" shouted Kazan. She created a magma wave, looking like a fanged doghead, before launching them at Kage. However, she didn't see a hint of worry on his face as Kage suddenly smirked at her.
"I see that it will become useful," he mused before grabbing something inside his haori. Kazan saw Kage pull out a gourde, which confused her before the slayer threw it at her magma doghead.
A thick stream layer took over the battlefield when it made contact, blocking Kazan's view. 'He used my magma against me?' she realised before hearing Kage's voice in the steam cloud. "Shadow Breathing Sixth Form..." lingered Kage as Kazan seemed to perceive his form in the cloud. 'I got you,' she cackled before swinging her arm at Kage.
However, it hit nothing, which shocked her even more. "What?" she exclaimed. "Twilight Mirage," said Kage as he moved around Kazan at such speed it seemed to leave afterimages of him.
With the steam and how Kage was moving, Kazan could do nothing, which irritated her. Worst, she felt Kage's swords slicing her now and then as it got closer to her neck. Finally, with a resonating shout, she released a massive magma pillar, hoping to burn Kage in the mix.
Unfortunately, a flow of gourdes landed on her, creating even more thick steam before she felt movements on her right. "He is here-" she couldn't finish her sentence before her eyes got sliced. 'I can't see a thing!' she realised before hearing movements behind her.
Kage swung his twin blades before cutting Kazan's arms off. "What happened to all the fun you were having?" he asked. Groaning in pain, Kazan regrew her eyes before seeing a glint of steel above her. She saw Kage in a reverse grip, glaring down at her. "You wanted to play, so let's play," he said before taking a deep breath.
"Shadow Breathing Seventh Form: Waning Moon Edge!" he shouted before twirling toward Kazan, who couldn't do anything. 'I'm going to die,' she realised as Kage approached her. 'His blades will kill me if I don't do anything!' she told herself.
*Clank*
*Clank*
Suddenly, a clanking noise resonated in Kazan's mind before the back of a shadowy figure appeared. 'Who is that?' she wondered, seeing the person raise their arm before bringing it down on something. 'What are they hitting?' she asked, hearing the clanking again. Then, the shadowy figure stopped and seemed to turn toward Kazan.
"You're still spying on me, huh?" asked the person, a hint of amusement in his voice as he paused his work and stood up. The forge's glow illuminated his features, casting long shadows behind him. "I told you I don't mind teaching you how to make swords. So come here," he said, gesturing her warmly.
Yet, she hesitated, rooted to the spot by awe and uncertainty. The man tilted his head, his eyes softening. "What are you waiting for, Mizu? Come on," he urged, his chuckle echoing slightly.
Mizu, known to the villagers simply as the quiet girl who wandered the streets with a curious glint in her eyes, hesitated. With its fiery heart and the clangour of creation, this place had always held a certain allure for her. Taking a tentative step forward, she entered the master's domain, where raw metal was transformed into art.
Smiling at her, the blacksmith took his hammer and sat before the anvil. "Making a sword isn't just about metal and fire. It's an art, a dance between the elements," he explained, his voice a soothing cadence against the crackle of flames. Nodding, Mizu watched as the metal slowly took shape, which caused a smile to grow on her face.
As days turned into weeks, Mizu found herself lost in the world of blacksmithing. Each strike of the hammer, each glow of the molten metal, felt like a language she was born to understand. But despite this, none of the blades she forged remained steady.
"I failed again," she grumbled, looking at the broken blade before hearing a chuckle on her right. "What did I tell you already?" asked the blacksmiths as Mizu crossed her arms and looked away.
At her lack of answer, he looked over his shoulder and smiled. "Make a thousand kitchen knives. Then you may be ready to make a sword," said Mizu before sighing. "But I want to be as skilled as you!" she said as the blacksmith hummed in thought.
"Tell me, Mizu..." he paused, making the girl lock eyes with him. "What is a sword?" he asked as Mizu lowered her head. "It is the soul of a warrior," she replied, making the blacksmith shake his head."It's a line," he said, making Mizu glance at him and see him motion for her to come closer.
Sitting beside the blacksmith, she watched as he took a sword in hand. "On one side of the line is life..." he said, slicing his head to the hilt of the sword. "The other his death," he explained, putting his finger on the edge of the blade.
Then, looking at Mizu, "The edge we forge cuts the line between life and death," explained the blacksmith. He picked up his hammer and turned back to his anvil. "All must be pure for the sword to be pure," he said before bringing his hammer down.
*Clank*
"The metal you use..." lingered the blacksmith, hitting the anvil again. "The maker..." he said side, glancing at Mizu before striking the metal harder. "And the one wielding it," he said before cooling the sword in water.
"You don't become an artist after doing something once," he explained, looking at Mizu with a soft smile. "You become an artist when your craft is mastered to satisfy not only the one you share it with but also yourself," he said, patting Mizu's head.
With those words in mind, Mizu turned and restarted, trying to make a sword. Seeing her, the blacksmith smiled before frowning softly after. 'Is it time to bring it up now?' he wondered. Thankfully, it seemed like fate was on his side as Mizu stopped hammering and turned to him.
"Swordmaster..." she called, the name she had referred to him for the past weeks. "I-I was wondering..." she lingered nervously, twirling her thumbs together. Humming, the blacksmith tilted his head before seeing Mizu sigh and glanced up at him.
"Could...you become my dad?" she asked, shocking the blacksmith. The heavy and unspoken question hung in the air, making Mizu lower her head. "I-I have no parents. So I was wondering..." she whispered, her words barely audible.
Then, a soft chuckle broke the silence, making Mizu look at the blacksmith. "Everyone has parents, Mizu. But the worth of some is less than the steel we discard," he replied, offering a semblance of comfort.
"I can never replace your real parents, but I will be glad if you see me as your father," said the blacksmith, a beautiful smile graced Mizu's face. Then, rushing toward him, she hugged him. "T-thank you, swordmaster," she sobbed as the man patted her back.
Over the years, their bonds and reputations only grew, and Mizu could not ask for anything more. They became so notorious that one day, a group of men working with a noble sought their help for swords. Honoured by such a request, Mizu and the blacksmith accepted and took this mission seriously.
Mizu and the blacksmith toiled day and night, the forge never cooling, their hands never resting. The swords they crafted were their pride, each a testament to their skill and dedication. Unfortunately, that pride turned to ash when they learned the truth.
Marauders had wielded their creations, their artistry tainted by blood and betrayal. The news struck Mizu like a physical blow, her spirit seething with anger and despair. "How could they defile our work so!?" she cried, her voice raw with emotion.
"We even repaired their broken sword," she growled before feeling a hand on her shoulder. "Souls like that are drowned in blood. There is no stopping them," he explained with a soft frown. "Then we should strike them back!" proposed Mizu, but she saw the blacksmith shake his head.
"Revenge is like gold. It does not rust. It will wait," he remarked, hoping to lead Mizu away from the path of retribution. But fate, with its cruel and indiscriminate hand, had already cast the die.
The marauders, like a storm of malice, descended upon their village. Their swords gleaming with the promise of bloodshed were a testament to this betrayal. Mizu and the blacksmith stood side by side, their resolve a fragile shield against the tide of violence.
In a final act of desperation, Mizu fought to protect what little she had left. But the marauders were merciless, their laughter a cacophony of cruelty as they set the blacksmith's shop ablaze. The flames, once Mizu's ally in the dance of forging, became her undoing. The heat seared her flesh, and the fire consumed everything she held dear.
As the world turned to flame around her, Mizu's last thoughts were of the blacksmith, her mentor...her father. The man who had shown her kindness in a world that had offered none. 'I hate them...I hate them...I hate them!!!' were the last thoughts of Mizu...or so it seemed...
Amidst the chaos around her, a figure stood before plunging their finger and seemingly sending a cursed power inside her. "Revenge is the sweetest treat of them all," said the person as Mizu's eyes popped open before her body convulsed.
From the ashes of despair rose Kazan, a demon born of vengeance. And so, over the years, her powers, an echo of the fire that had claimed all she held dear, forged into her roaring rage.
'Revenge is like gold. It does not rust. It will wait,' Kazan remembered as she watched Kage's blades closing on her. 'You were right...the path of revenge is tortuous,' she thought before closing her eyes. 'I followed the path you told me not to...I didn't deserve my closure compared to him,' she concluded before Kage severed her head.
Kazan suddenly felt a warmth on her head as her body crumbled in dust. "I did not train you to be a demon or a human," she heard, causing her eyes to widen. "...swordmaster," mumbled Kazan, which gained Kage's attention. "I showed you how to be an artist...and you were amazing at it," she heard the blacksmith say.
"...thank you...father," mumbled Kazan as tears leaked from her eyes before she looked at Kage, who walked toward her. "...you have grown strong," she managed, her voice fading like the last embers of a dying fire. "Perhaps...in another life...we could have been...on the same side..." she said before disappearing into dust.
Looking at where the demon was, Kage sheathed his swords. "What are you doing, Faran?" wondered Mariya, seeing her fellow slayer putting his hands together. "I'm making a prayer for the demon to have a better life in the future," he said before walking toward the two.
Tilting his head, Kage furrowed his brows." Why?" he asked, seeing Faran smile at him. "Because some of them didn't ask for this. Even if they do cruel things, they were human before," he reminded the two.
Then, Faran looked at the sky. "Even if I fight a demon that killed many, I would wish for his next life to be better," he said, making Kage and Mariya exchange looks before smiling.
With a soft chuckle, Kage put his hands together and closed his eyes. "Despite all the pain you caused me..." he lingered. "I hope your next life will be better than this one," he said before taking a soft breath. As he stood there, Kage's shoulder shook softly.
"I did it...I avenged you," he mumbled before shaking his head and looking at the moon. "May this be the end of our shared torment," he whispered, the night air carrying his words away. Faran and Mariya's faces appeared in his mind, earning a chuckle from the slayer. "I will miss you two," he said.
As he turned, Kage saw the result of his fight with Kazan. "How did she not manage to burn the whole forest?" he wondered before shrugging. Suddenly, a bright light caught his attention. "Is that...a person?" he asked, seeing someone suspended by threats. Then, this person brightened up and seemed to release fire.
"What just happened?" wondered Kage before shaking his head. "I should go help whoever is still fighting," he concluded, returning toward the light he saw.
As Kage ran, his mind shifted to Shirayuki and Ayuna, making him slow his pace. 'Will they be alright?' he wondered before huffing and shaking his head. 'I'm sure they will be,' he concluded, resuming his run.
~~~~~oOo~~~~~
The dense cover of Mount Natagumo barely contained the ferocity of the battle below. The air was thick, not just with the forest's humidity but with the tension between the two slayers and Shun.
Ayuna and Shirayuki, moving with lethal grace and precision, had Shun encircled. Each strike from Ayuna's swords was followed by a swift swing of Shirayuki's blade. Their combined assaults were a dance of death against their formidable foe.
"Blood Breathing One Sword Style First Form: Convulsing Tact!" Ayuna's voice rang out clear and determined. She unsheathed her sword at lightning speed, glinting menacingly in the moonlight. The air seemed to crackle around her as she unleashed her attack.
She aimed at Shun's limbs to sever them and reduce the demon's ability to fight. However, Shun was no easy prey, as shown by his smirking, which spoke of countless battles and untold cruelty.
He danced away from Ayuna's strike, his movements a blur of speed and malice. "Oh, you nearly got me," he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. It was a game to him, a perverse form of entertainment derived from the slayers' efforts.
Not to be outdone, Shirayuki took a deep breath, her concentration palpable in the air that seemed to grow colder around her. "Ice Breathing Sixth Form: Chilling Haze Dance," she whispered, her voice a serene counterpoint to Ayuna's fiery aggression.
In the next instant, she became a blur, her form multiplying into afterimages that surrounded Shun in a bewildering display of speed and precision. Her blade, a flash of silver in the dim light, found its mark, severing one of Shun's arms with a clean, decisive strike.
The demon staggered, his composure momentarily broken by the unexpected pain. "Not so tough, are we?" came Ayuna's voice laced with satisfaction, her eyes alight with the thrill of the battle.
Unfortunately, Shun's laughter filled the air, a chilling sound that seemed to mock their efforts. "You entertain me more than I thought," he conceded, his tone almost admiring. Yet, there was a dangerous edge to his words, a promise of retribution that sent shivers down Ayuna's spine.
And so, the battle raged on with a relentless exchange of blows that tested the limits of both slayers' skills and endurance. Ayuna and Shirayuki pressed their advantage, moving with a synchronicity born of countless battles fought side by side. Their combined assaults pushed Shun back, his smirk gradually fading as the reality of his situation became apparent.
With a defiant roar, Ayuna launched herself at Shun, her swords a blur of deadly intent. "Blood Breathing Two Sword Style Third Form: X-ray Shredder!" she cried, her crossed blades aiming to end the demon. Seeing the approaching attack, Shun was about to counter it, but he heard Shirayuki's voice beside him.
"Ice Breathing Fifth Form:..." lingered Shirayuki, swinging her sword and cutting Shun's hand. "Boreal Avalanche," she said before dropping her sword in her other hand and cutting a part of Shun's head. Before he could comprehend, Ayuna managed to slice his torso, forcing Shun to stagger back in desperation.
As his wounds slowly regenerated, the demon found himself on the defensive, his earlier confidence replaced by a growing realisation of the slayers' prowess. Each strike from Ayuna was met with an equally devastating counter from Shirayuki, their dance a testament to their resolve and the depth of their training.
They soon managed to bypass Shun's defence as their swords closed in on his neck. But just as their victory seemed assured, a sinister chuckle escaped Shun's lips. "You have played right into my hands," he sneered, the air around him crackling with energy.
In a flash, he unleashed a surge of steam, a defensive manoeuvre that forced Ayuna and Shirayuki to leap back, their eyes wide with surprise. "I love it when my food fights back," Shun's voice echoed mockingly, his form obscured by the thick steam that now enveloped them.
"After I devour you, I will feast on Rui as well and claim his spot as the Lower Moon Five," Shun boasted, his ambition bare. His body seemed to pulsate with a dangerous power, a stark reminder of the threat he posed. "Let me show you the true meaning of despair!" he cackled, his voice a harbinger of doom.
Ayuna glanced at Shirayuki, her concern evident in the tight set of her jaw. She could see Shirayuki's body tremble slightly. 'I don't need her heat sense to know this is intense,' she realised. Then, Ayuna narrowed her eyes. 'But I can't imagine what she is feeling right now,' she thought before tightening the hold on her swords.
"Shirayuki, don't worry, we-" she stopped herself when she saw the expression on her companion's face. Shirayuki was smiling, a bright and undeterred smile that spoke of a confidence that went beyond words.
"Why are you smiling?" wondered Ayuna, seeing Shirayuki take a small step forward. "Tengen-senpai once told me about the adrenaline rush in moments like this," she mused, her stance ready and defiant.
Yet, despite the trembling of her hands, Shirayuki's blind blue eyes remained unshaken, a testament to her strength and determination. "A feeling that only happens when you are about to face impossible odds," she mused as Ayuna huffed softly.
With a renewed determination, Ayuna drew her third sword before settling it in her mouth. "You're strange, you know that?" she said, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Look who is talking," countered Shirayuki with a chuckle, acting as a brief respite from the tension of the battle.
Shun's laughter soon cut through their moment of camaraderie, his amusement at their defiance starkly contrasting the gravity of their situation. "I hope you are ready for round two!" he cackled as the air around them crackled with the tension of the impending clash.
To be continued