~Next Day~
"Rengoku-san, this is our first mission together and there's a lot at stake."
"Yes, we must defeat this demon! However, who's to say this Takasugi man will not harbor another demon. If we are to fully stop this madness we must also take him down!"
Yozora nodded, he agreed with Rengoku on this. If they want to get rid of this problem for good they would need to either capture or kill Takasugi so no more humans will be fed to demons.
Nora looked at Yozora closely. She wasn't expecting for a person she just met to be this willing to save an individual. Especially after finding out he was the one that Takasugi wants to kill. She was still concerned, she saw for herself what that monster was like. Could they really be able to defeat it?
"Don't worry about us, Nora. We'll protect you and anyone else from that demon and Takasugi. So please, just wait for us to come back."
Nora looked at the boy and gave him a soft nod. Seeing this, Rengoku and Yozora go outside the inn. They needed to eliminate that demon and then they'd figure out what to do from there.
As they patrol the city, Rengoku looked at Yozora. He remembered why he was assigned to this mission along with Yozora.
~Flashback~
Rengoku was in Ubuyashiki's quarters after the man called for him to arrive. When Ubuyashiki arrived with his children's assistance, Rengoku bowed his head.
"Oyakata-sama, i am happy to be at your service. Please tell me what you wish to task me with."
"Thank you, Kyojuro. There is a demon on the outskirts of Asakusa. I have already informed Yozora of this mission and he accepted. Tell me, what do you think of Yozora after he's been in the Demon Slayer Corp for a month."
"He has tremendous potential, Oyakata-sama. He has grown so much that i find it hard to believe he's the same young man from 4 years ago. Plus he's had a positive influence on the Mist Pillar as well. With a few more battles, i'm sure Yozora's strength will only get better with experience. But if i may be so bold, why do you ask this of me."
Ubuyashiki looked at Rengoku with a smile. Truth be told, he asked the same question with Shinobu and Muichiro earlier. After hearing Rengoku's statement he decided to tell him the reason why.
"Yozora has already killed around 53 demons when he joined. Kyojuro, i have an offer ready for Yozora. I want you to join him on his mission. To see with your own eyes at how much he's grown. After that mission i'd like you to tell me the results. Think of it as a test for him."
Rengoku accepted this task with honor. He was also curious on how much Yozora has improved. Everytime he talked to Shinobu, she said he would always come back injured but never said it was because of carelessness. It was because his foes were just that strong.
"Oyakata-sama, i humbly accept this task. When i return i shall inform you of his potential after witnessing it with my own eyes."
~Flashback ends~
Rengoku looks at Yozora as the boy suddenly stopped walking. He noticed the boy had a serious expression as he looked at a forest.
"Rengoku-san, i sense some malicious ki in that forest. It's filled with anger and hunger. That must be a demon."
"I see. Very well, we will take down this demon so no one else will be harmed. Time to set our heart ablaze."
Soon Yozora and Rengoku felt the ground trembling. They saw several trees being torn down as something approached them. They each grabbed their own nichirin sword as the demon they were about to fight was a dangerous one.
"AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHH"
The demon swung down it's axe sword with great speed and power. Yozora and Rengoku immediately jumped back, a giant crater forming at the spot they were previously in. Yozora and Rengoku looked at each other with a knowing look.
"Breath of Flames, First Form:Sea of Fire."
Rengoku charged at the demon at high speed and tries to decapitate the demon. However, the demon used its axe sword to block Rengoku's strike and kicks the Flame Pillar into a tree.
"Breath of the Moon, Fifth Form:Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy!!!"
Yozora makes multiple curved slashes layered over one another, resembling a rising vortex. Numerous chaotic blades originate from these slashes. The attack slices apart the demon's body. While the demon regenerates, Rengoku is already behind the creature.
"Breath of Flames, First Form:Sea of Flames!"
Once more, Rengoku charged at the demon and tries to decpaitate it with multiple slashes. However the demon jumped high in the air after Rengoku's sword cut it's neck.
"Curses, my attack didn't cut deep enough. Not to mention it's body is tough."
"Yeah, plus it's regeneration is faster than most demons."
The demon roared as it was already in front of Rengoku. Yozora pushed him out the way. Rengoku saw this and was instantly worried.
"Yozora!!!!!"
"Shigure Soen Ryu, Second Form:Rolling Rain!"
Yozora creates multiple waves of water around him and crouches whilst holding his sword vertically before himself as a method of defense. He blocked the demon's strike as the demon jumped back seeing its attack didn't work.
"Shigure Soen Ryu, Fifth Form:Early Summer Rain!"
Yozora held his sword in his left hand and goes for a slash against the demon. The demon saw this and used it's axe sword for defense. However, Yozora dropped his sword into his right hand and sliced off the demon's left arm since it held its weapon.
"Perfect!!!! Breath of Flames, Fifth Form:Flame Tiger!!!!"
Rengoku released a series of sword slashes against the demon. The flames taking on the shape of a tiger with each strike. The demon lifts his remaining arm to punch Rengoku into the ground.
"Shigure Soen Ryu,Third Form:Last Minute Rain!"
Yozora dropped his sword and kicks the base of the hilt, sending it flying to the demon's arm. The sword impaled the demon's arm into a tree.
"Now Rengoku-san!!!!"
"Right!!!!!!"
Rengoku ran towards the demon at great speed. Soon he jumped into the air and cuts the demons head off along with the tree it was impaled to. Rengoku then sheathed his sword seeing that he decapitated the demon.
~In the far distance~
Takasugi is watching the fight from a safe distance. He could tell these Demon Slayers were strong.
"They got power but it will take more than that to kill that demon........"
He stopped mid-sentence as he saw Yozora's face. A deep anger and joy was all he felt. He found him, after all this time he found someone related to the man he hated the most.
"YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION!!!! USE YOUR FULL POWER AND KILL THEM!!! USE YOUR BLOOD DEMON ART!!!!!
~In the forest~
"ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
Soon the demon's head seemed as if it was making a new body. However Yozora could feel it's ki growing stronger and more malicious. Its body seemed darker, it was stronger and filled with a lot more anger. He knew that one mistake against this monster.....meant death.
"ARRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"