CHAPTER 12

*Hah*

*Hah*

*Hah*

The sound of Issei's heavy breathing along with his footsteps was the only thing that could be heard as he pushed himself to move forward.

He will have admit that he severely underestimated the gravity of the situation.

Not only the amount of oxygen present on this mountain is thin, he also had to climb a slope. Looking around, there were only trees till the sight went.

His legs were aching from pain, while his chest was burning due to the lack of oxygen.

His eyesight turned hazy while his head felt heavy. His clothes was wet from his sweat.

Even after all this, there is only one thing that compelled him to take another step forward.

He imagined himself lying on the ground while Vali was standing above him with a smug smile on his face

"What?… The red dragon emperor of this generation is really weak. And I had my hopes up for no reason."

"huh? Why are you giving me that look? It is your fault that you are weak. Youare simply not fit to be the red dragon emperor…."

Issei gritted his teeth and forced every cell of his being to keep running.

Run!!

Don't stop!!

You have to be strong!! You have to keep up the name of Red dragon emperor!

Keep moving!

It doesn't matter even if you are tired!

You have to do it! For your future!

*Hah*

*Hah*

*Hah*

'I can't feel my legs… anymore…'

'I can't see properly…'

'But…'

*BOOST!*

'I can't stop now!'

'If I do… I would be too embarrassed to go back…'

'So..'

'Keep going!!'

Receiving a boost in power from Ddraig, he gathered enough strength again to pick up the pace.

Tiredness?

Pain?

Negative thoughts?

It doesn't matter! All that that matters for now, is reach the top.

Reach the top of this mountain…

And then, Reach the top of strength in the world.

…

"So, how was the journey?" Shinobu asked with a infuriating smile on her face.

Issei plopped down on his knees while placing a wooden gourd on the ground which he was supposed to find on the top of the mountain.

His face was red and his clothes stuck to his body due to all the sweating. His hair were disheveled, while his body was literally screaming at him to stop.

His throat felt extremely dry as he took in deep breaths.

"I… I... did it…"

He spouted with some difficulty while his face was facing the ground.

"I can also see that. Well done, how about we start the training now?"

Shinobu asked with a questioning tone as if it was something to be expected.

Issei's eyes turned into saucers as he clenched the grass on the ground tightly while his face turned Ashen.

"What… what was that… just now then?"

He asked with having difficulty to putter every single word.

Shinobu turned around to face him with a puzzled expression on her face.

"What might you be talking about now? Oh! The running? That was just a test to see if you are fit to be a demon slayer or not."

She said this in such a way that it sounded something so obvious, even after being absolutely ridiculous.

Issei was shaken to the core by her statement. That was just a test?

I was struggling that hard just to pass a test?

Looking up at her genuinely puzzled expression, he subconsciously felt ashamed.

Ashamed that he was struggling so much!

Ashamed that he was kneeling on the ground while panting like this!

Ashamed that he was so weak!

This shame in turn changed into stubbornness.

No! I will not fall behind!

He refused to be looked down upon by anyone. He refused to bow down in front of anyone!

He refused to stop!!

He exerted the last amount of energy remaining in his muscles to climb back to his feet. His steps wobbled a bit as he tried to maintain his balance.

A barely noticeable frown appeared on Shinobu's face as she saw him overexerting himself.

But she hardened her expression again the next moment. She pointed at the gourd brought back by Issei and said

"Now, on to the last task for the day.…"

"Blow into that gourd."

Issei looked down at the gourd at his feet and carefully picked it up, since he was barely maintaining his balance.

"Is this… supposed to make some sort of noise?"

He asked while examining the gourd. It was really thick and durable. Not to mention, there wasn't any holes which can produce any sound.

"Nope… you have to shatter it by blowing in it!"

"Nani?!!"

Shatter this thing? By just blowing in it?

No, wait a second!

Just a few moments ago, he reprimanded himself for thinking that it was too hard.

Even if it seems logically impossible, it is still worth to give it a try.

Yeah!

Nothing is impossible!!

Having this newfound determination in his heart, he adjusted the gourd in his hand and took a deep breath, and then with all his strength released it into the opening of the gourd.

"…"

*Hah* *Hah*

Nothing.

Not to mention breaking, it didn't even had a single crack on its surface.

"Just keep trying."

Looking at her, She had an encouraging smile on her face while waving her hand in front of her.

For some reason, this seemed to have riled him up even more. Issei's eyebrows scrunched up as he blew into the gourd again.

After a few more tries, he felt his vision getting blurry, his surrounding started turning black as he lost control of his body.

His body limply fell down, he only knew that someone caught him before his eyelids closed and he fainted.

Shinobu flashed out and appeared beside Issei, catching his falling body.

She picked him up and took him inside the house. She placed him in the middle of the room while looking at his unconscious face with complex emotions.

After a few moments, she stood up and left eh room silently.

Her footsteps halted in front of a certain room. She slide open the door and entered to find Kanae sitting in a seiza position.

She also sat down facing her and said

"I'm sorry, Sister! But..."

Shinobu looked down without finishing her sentence. Kanae had a gentle expression on her face as she replied

"Shinobu! You do know that it will-"

"I know!…"

"… I know what fate he would have! I know that he might be killed by a demon someday, but… Even after that, I will still train him!"

"Shinobu… You are just-"

"I know I'm just being emotional right now... I know that, but I respect the resolve he displayed today…"

"I gave him tasks which will even make an adult cry, but he never complained. Even if I don't want him to be under any sort of danger in the future, I will still train him!"

"Because I respect his determination!"

Kanae silently heard her determined statement and gave a deep sigh. From Shinobu's stubborn tone, she knew that it was impossible to change her mind.

"You look cute even when being stubborn! Fine, if you are so adamant, then it will be your responsibility…"

Shinobu nodded her head seriously while ignoring Kanae's side comment.

"Thank you for trusting me, Sister."

…

"To be a demon Slayer, you have to be a good swordsman first. Take that bokken and give it 1000 slashes and thrusts."

Shinobu instructed with a casual tone while Issei tightly clenched the wooden sword.

It was day time and the sun was shining brightly over the sky.

Issei started swinging his sword in an inexperienced manner.

"Gaahh!"

The air left his lungs as Shinobu punched him in the abdomen.

"Why are you losing focus of your core?!! Again!!"

Issei placed a hand on his stomach with a pained expression on his face. She really wasn't holding back her punches.

Nonetheless, he took his posture that was taught to him by her and thrusted his bokken forward with all of his strength.

*SMACK!*

Issei went down on one knee as Shinobu kicked his knee from behind. he used his bokken in order to stabilize himself as he looked at her.

"Why do you lose your posture while attacking? It is creating so many openings that I am the one who is feeling afraid for you!"

"Again!"

Issei gritted his teeth due to anger and stood up while using his bokken as a support. He took his posture again and thrusted, but this time remembered to be extra meticulous with his posture and core.

*THWACK!*

He felt his hands burning up in pain as he realized that she just hit his Bokken with her's. Anger boiled inside him as he shouted

"You said that you wouldn't-"

"Ahh!"

Shinobu swung her bokken with blinding speed and hit his forearm without any mercy.

"Your thrust was imperfect in so many ways! And why haven't you picked up your weapon yet!!"

Issei's shoulder trembled as he tried to control his anger. He felt that she was being too rough!

What is she? A Spartan?!

He knew that he was being a brat over being reprimanded again and again, but it wasn't like she had demonstrated anything many times.

She just displayed the thrusting and slashing techniques once and then said: "You don't need to memorize them. They are just to give you an idea, for what is the correct way. You will have to make your own technique and fighting style."

Which made quite some sense, but that does not mean you should be so extreme if I can't do it right for now!

It has only been a few days since she started training him, so Issei's complaints can also be considered quite relevant.

Issei picked up the bokken from the ground while not removing his gaze from her figure.

Shinobu suddenly kicked his other leg causing him to went down on his one knee.

"You are only watching my face! What is the point of that? You are supposed to be on your guard at all the times!!"

Issei grunted as he stood up without rebuking back. He knew that it would be pointless to do that, even more when it was his own fault.

"Now, I want 1000 thrusts right at this moment!!"

"Yes!"

…

"There is also a special technique to breath, so that your physical capabilities can be increased…"

Shinobu sat across from Issei as she explained with a serious expression. They had just finished today's training, and it was issei's rest time.

"Humans are inherently weaker than demons, they can't regenerate after their limbs are cut off and they can't see clearly in dark. So, to reduce this imbalance in power, humans have to use certain techniques to increase their physical capabilities for a short amount of time."

Issei nodded his head to motion that he understood her.

"These techniques are called Breath styles. Not only do they help increase your physical capabilities, but they also increase your firepower."

Shinobu paused and removed her butterfly hairpin from her head and showed it to Issei.

"What is it?"

Issei had a contemplative look on his face as he analyzed her question.

She surely isn't expecting me say Hairpin, right?

"It is… a butterfly?"

Shinobu chuckled a little in amusement as she wore her hairpin again.

"Don't be so unsure. Yes, it is a butterfly…"

"It is also my breath style."

"What do you mean? Didn't you just said that breath styles are just a correct way to breath? Then what does a butterfly has to do with it?"

"Everything..."

"Every demon Slayer has their respective element. Their element is basically the representation of their personality. Your element also grants you few advantages…"

"i have butterfly breathing, that means my speed is my most advantageous aspect."

Issei had a curious expression on his face as he heard her. If your breath style is the representation of your personality, then what would be his breath style.

Breath of dominance?

That would be amazing. He can have a breath style which was meant to be dominating, whether it be battlefield or somewhere else.

Issei was lost in his own world, when suddenly he felt sharp pain coming from his left shoulder.

'Shit!'

He already knew that reason and cause of the sudden attack and he truly felt stupid at this moment.

"What did I told you? NEVER let your guard down in any situation, even if you are with someone you trust!"

"Understood!"

"Fine… Come on now, let's go and eat!"

Shinobu stood up and left the room leaving him alone with a contemplative look on his face.

'It has been a few months…'

He looked at his hands which were filled with callouses, proving the fact that he worked hard constantly.

'Not yet…'

'I still have to work hard… '

'I'm sure that he is still stronger than me, I have to keep working hard!'

He clenched his fists and stood up.

"But now, it's time to eat."

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Thank you for reading the chapter guys.

Btw, I wanted to tell you all that I have started writing a original novel, so if you have time please make sure to check it out.

It is called 'Sin of lust'.

You won't see it on my ID since it is not verified yet, you will have to search it up.

Thank you again for reading.☺️