Chapter 045 : Being Challenged

In the middle of the forest, Kazuki shouted, "Flame Breathing Third Form: Blazing Universe!" He jumped forward, aiming his attack at the wounded snake demon in front of him. On the other side, Karin was also getting ready to strike.

Kazuki raised his sword as he leaped and swung it downwards, flames swirling around it in an arc. He was sure the fiery slash would hit the demon, but something unexpected happened. The demon quickly raised some defensive vines in front of it. Kazuki's sword cut through the vines, but when it finally got close to the demon, the demon managed to grab the sword. Even with its injuries and poison weakening it, the demon caught the sword just in time, using one hand to press on its wound and the other to seize the sword.

Kazuki struggled to free his sword from the demon's grip, but it was no use. With surprising strength, the demon pushed Kazuki and his sword away. Kazuki, who was still in the air from his attack, was sent flying backward. He crashed into a tree and fell to the ground, stunned by the impact, and lost consciousness.

The demon turned to look at the other side of it , 'One Down!' It thought. But , before the demon could react, the sight of Karin , who was already made her move , and at a very close distance from the demon, the demon had no time to react at all.

Karin's eyes were focused, her breathing steady as she executed her move. "Butterfly Breathing Seventh Form: Blossoming Mirage!" she called out with determination.

She plunged her sword into the ground, and in an instant, large ethereal flowers bloomed around her. The air filled with shimmering pollen, and a flurry of delicate butterflies erupted, swirling around the demon. The vibrant display obscured its vision, leaving it bewildered.

Seizing the opportunity, Karin dashed forward with incredible speed, her form almost blending with the butterflies. The demon tried to sense her movement, but the pollen clouded its senses. In a graceful yet deadly motion, Karin emerged from the mirage, her sword gleaming with intent.

With a swift, precise strike, she sliced through the demon's neck. The demon's eyes widened in disbelief as its head separated from its body, falling to the forest floor. Its snake-like body writhed for a moment before collapsing, defeated.

Karin stood amidst the falling petals and butterflies, her sword poised in victory. She looked over at Kazuki, who was regaining consciousness, a relief spreading across her face. The battle was over, and the forest was safe once more.

---

Ishida and Aya kept staring at each other, locked in a silent battle. Ishida was standing on a tree branch, watching the demon below him. The demon tried hard to grab him with its vines, but Ishida was just out of reach, so the demon eventually stopped trying.

Suddenly, Aya looked up at another demon that was even higher up than Ishida. Ishida's gaze followed hers and landed on the demon at the same time. It was like they were having a conversation without saying anything. Aya nodded suddenly, which left Ishida baffled. He had no clue what they were silently agreeing on, and it only added to his confusion.

"Kid, You have pretty interesting friends it seems," Aya spoke up suddenly, as now instead of attacking with her vines , she leaped all of a sudden with an attack towards Ishida , stretching her extending claw like hand.

Ishida leaped off the tree backward,just before she hit the tree , as she hit the tree branch , as the branch of the tree broke and fell down at the ground.

"Actually they are not my friend," Ishida said, but as he was about to land back at the ground, and his feet was about to touch the ground , he could immediately sense the danger , the vines coming out of the ground underneath. As Ishida's feet touched the ground, he sensed the danger immediately. With a swift motion, he used one foot to propel himself upward, avoiding the vines that shot out from beneath him. Just in time, he escaped their grasp and launched into his next move.

In mid-air, Ishida aimed his sword at the demon, calling out, "First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace!" He swung his blade, creating crescent-shaped slashes that arced through the air towards the demon.

As his attack neared, the demon's hair suddenly grew longer, extending forward to shield it. The slashes met the hair, slicing through more than half of it. Strands fell to the ground, severed by Ishida's precision.

Ishida landed gracefully on a nearby tree branch, his eyes locked on the demon, ready for its next move. He smirked slightly and said, "Seems like you'll need more than those same tricks to stop me."

The air was tense as Ishida and Aya continued to face off, the forest around them echoing with the sounds of their intense battle. Aya, undeterred by Ishida's initial success, seemed to be gathering her strength, her presence growing more menacing with each passing moment.

"So, not friends, huh?" Aya taunted, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Then, what brings you to meddle in this forest?"

Ishida, maintaining his stance on the tree branch, replied calmly, "I don't need a reason to stand against demons who harm others. That's reason enough."

Aya's eyes narrowed, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Ah, the righteous type. Let's see how your righteousness fares against true power."

Without warning, Aya's hair began to extend and twist, forming into long tendrils that lashed out towards Ishida. Anticipating this, Ishida leaped to another branch, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the attack didn't stop, as it followed him.

"Moon Breathing Second Form: Pearl Flower Moongazing!" he called out, his voice clear and determined. He swung his sword in a defensive arc, creating crescent slashes that formed a protective barrier around him, deflecting Aya's attack, as her long twisting hair hit the crescent shaped small barrier, and was pushed back.

Aya, watching from below now, chuckled. "A defensive stance? You must think highly of my abilities."

Ishida, maintaining his composure, replied, "Caution doesn't mean fear. It means respecting your opponent's strength."

Aya's expression shifted to one of intrigue as she observed Ishida's movements. "You're interesting," she admitted, her tone laced with genuine curiosity. "But let's see how you handle this."

Aya's aura flared, the air around her shimmering with power. The ground rumbled as vines erupted, twisting and writhing with a life of their own. These vines shot toward Ishida, intent on ensnaring him.

Ishida, unfazed, adapted quickly. Gathering his focus, he prepared his next move. "Third Form: Loathsome Moon, Chains!" he shouted, swinging his sword to unleash chained crescent slashes that cut through the oncoming vines with precision.

The slashes wove through the air, severing the vines as they approached. The forest seemed to hold its breath, the clash of powers creating a mesmerizing display of light and shadow.

Aya, though momentarily taken aback by Ishida's swift counter, was not deterred. Her eyes narrowed in determination, and her demeanor shifted to one of seriousness. "Impressive, but I'm far from finished."

With a flourish, Aya summoned more of her power. Her hair, which had been cut earlier, regenerated swiftly, and now it moved with even greater speed and strength. The forest itself seemed to respond to her will, branches elongating and entwining to form a living maze.

Ishida, realizing the increasing difficulty of the situation, remained resolute. He could feel the pressure mounting, but his resolve only strengthened. He leaped between the branches, using them to keep a strategic distance.

As Aya launched another wave of attacks, Ishida's mind raced as he calculated his next steps. He knew he had to find an opening, a weakness in Aya's formidable defense.

"You have spirit, I'll give you that," Aya called out, her voice carrying a mix of admiration and challenge. "But spirit alone won't be enough."

Ishida smirked, his confidence unwavering. "It's not just spirit. It's skill, determination, and a refusal to give up."

Aya's eyes gleamed with a mix of frustration and respect. Her attacks, though powerful, were being met with equal skill and tenacity. For the first time, she felt the thrill of being truly tested.

"This is new," Aya murmured to herself, feeling the unfamiliar sensation of being pushed back. "Being challenged like this... it's almost exhilarating."