With that, the crowd all moved as one, proceeding past the platform anxiously. Some, including the black-haired boy from earlier, sprinted ahead into the darkness. Others, straggled towards the back, hiding behind bigger members and shaking uncontrollably. Takeshi surprisingly did not feel very nervous, perhaps it didn't feel real just yet, but perhaps his manta of forgetting fear had worked momentarily. His serpent scar seared, making its presence known as it often did.
For the next hour, the slayers began to thin out, each going their own separate ways. Takeshi now found himself alone, dilating his pupils in the dark forest, readying at any moment for a surprise attack. He wanted to get his first encounter over with, he needed to shake off the rust and warm up. He wandered his way cautiously down a game trail, the tall, wide trunks of trees hiding his sightline as he progressed further. He heard a twig snap behind him, and in one swift motion, he took a stance and turned around with his sword drawn immediately. He locked eyes with a disgusting creature, its skin the usual greyish color of death and rot. It let out a maniacal laugh.
"You're a quick one! I can usually sneak right up on you little meat bags and gobble you right up!" the demon said, licking its lips and bearing its sharp teeth.
Takeshi bowed his head and took a deep breath, tightening his grip on his katana, feeling the hours and hours of anticipation burn within him.
"Today marks your last as a demon I'm afraid, your soul will be released by my blade this instant," he said firmly, his voice steady as a rock. The demon laughed once more.
"Your confidence is pathetic, don't tense your muscles like that! It will make your flesh all disgusting and…" the demon's speech trailed off, cut short by a swift blow from a blade. In a flash, Takeshi had taken the opportunity to behead the demon in a single flowing strike, closing the gap in the blink of an eye. He looked down at the demon's severed head in triumph.
"I kept my word, demon, you let your watering mouth get the best of you," Takeshi said as he sheathed his blade. The demon lay with its mouth wide open, its pupils shrunk in shock. It said nothing as it withered into ash, never recovering from the surprise it suffered. Takeshi felt his insides burn, he felt pristine, he was in his element.
For the next six days, Takeshi repeated a certain cycle of life. He would rest by day, sleeping short hours and boiling stream water in order to drink and replenish his strength. Once night fell, he went on the attack, moving deeper into the forest and encountering the occasional demon. Each met their fate in a similar fashion, starting very cocky, chatting with Takeshi and attempting to intimidate him with their daunting figure. Takeshi's secret weapon was familiarity, he had faced their kind before, and he was not afraid.
Flame Breathing… First Form: Unknowing Fire!
Third Form: Blazing Universe!
Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!
One by one their heads would roll, Takeshi cleaning his sword and sheathing it with a newfound swagger. He felt invincible, each head he severed made his heart burn brighter, his scar beginning to twinge with energy and his excitement growing.
He would occasionally come across bones or remains of fallen slayers, to which his determination only burned brighter, his reason for fighting reignited and his path to advancement clearing before him.
When the day began to draw to a close on the seventh day, he glanced down at his kimono while sharpening his sword. Most of it was in tatters, claw marks and cuts visible across his torso and arms, and dried blood beginning to collect on his skin. Did I get hit that often? He thought to himself. I didn't feel it? Were my attacks that reckless? He remembered what Kazuo had said to him the day before he departed.
"Though you may feel motivated right now, just know that what you've been through will take its toll on you, and you may start to lose your sense of self-preservation. Take care of yourself, Takeshi, protect yourself, never lose that blaze that burns inside you,"
He gritted his teeth, he had become so caught up that he hadn't realized how little he had to lose. He didn't even bother protecting himself, only striking violently at the demons, caring little about trading blows and lasting injury. He felt like an idiot, how could he let it get to this point? He did the best he could to clean the wounds, using some of the water he boiled to clear away some of the dried blood and torn skin. He needed medical care, he would have to wait just a while longer. He took up his sword and extinguished his campfire. Takeshi vowed then and there to preserve his life and protect his blazing heart at all costs. After all, who would take his mother and father's memory to their rightful place if not him?
As he once again maneuvered his way through the dark forest, dodging large sticks and noisy patches of leaves, he decided to move back towards the way he came. He wanted to be one of the first to descend not only because of his wounds but to further get a head start on his next goal. He noticed his fatigue and injury beginning to weigh heavy on him, feeling every step he took and suddenly beginning to sweat. He needed to press on, he was so close. It was then that he heard the cutting of air, something was swiftly approaching. He drew his sword and blocked to his left, a shower of sparks blinding him momentarily. The attacker bounced off to his left, snarling and scratching his claws together. Its skin was more greenish than the other demons, its eyes glowing a disturbing reddish color, its nearly seven-foot frame towering over Takeshi.
"Sweet blood, sweet sweet blood Kakimori smells…" the demon said in a crazed tone.
"Kakimori taste. No… Drink… No… Hungry… All… Boy all gone, Kakimori only…" the demon rambled on, Takeshi not putting the pieces together, it was gibberish. He gathered his stance and took a deep breath.
Flame Breathing… Third Form: Blazing Universe!
Takeshi's attack was a bit misplaced, just grazing the demon's torso but taking one of its arms off in the process. The swing took a lot out of him, he struggled more and more to recover his breath. He did not have long, the demon had mounted a counterattack, swinging wildly with his left hand. Takeshi was forced to dodge at the last moment, diving out of the way, the attack hitting the tree behind where he had just stood. A chunk of wood flew through the air, the demon had cut nearly six inches deep into the bark.
The demon charged in once again, its tongue hanging wildly out of its mouth, covered in drool. Takeshi once again was put on the defensive.
Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!
He swung upward, creating a wave of flames that deflected the demon's attack and burned its skin, causing it to whimper and back away. The demon's other hand landed in front of Takeshi, it had not been careful and sacrificed its other one too. Takeshi smiled, he began to feel his scar burn, sensing the familiar power burning within him. He saw his opportunity open wide.
Flame Breathing: Infinity Art…
Takeshi gripped his sword tightly, his eyes burning a bright blue, his stance immovable.
First Form: Eternal Flame!
Takeshi soared toward the demon, his sword burning with the usual blue flames, propelling the devastating attack. The demon dove out of the way, sacrificing its lower half to the attack, losing both of its legs. The sword cut through them easily, Takeshi turning back toward the demon to see the look of madness turned to fear. He readied instantly, gripping his sword backward in his right hand.
Third Form: Phoenix Ash: Rebirth!
This time, the attack was dead on accurate. Takeshi launched himself into the air with grace, rearing back his right arm and delivering a strong arcing blow to the demon's neck with breakneck speed. It paused for a moment before slicing straight through, sending the head flying fifteen feet away from the torso. Takeshi landed gracefully, his eyes returning to normal, stumbling slightly as he came down from the use of his Infinity Art. He looked at his work with pride, his ears still pounding as his heart rate and blood pressure started to return to normal. Perhaps this is why he did not hear the thundering footsteps behind him until it was too late. A second demon had lunged at Takeshi, he raised his sword to defend himself but realized that there was nothing left of his blade but ash. He felt his heart sink as he watched the demon's attack grow nearer. He couldn't dodge, he didn't have time, was this it? His eyes widened in the face of the sharp claws, seeing his reflection in the razor-sharp weapons as he braced for impact. The sound of metal hissed through the air as Takeshi heard a loud thud, which was shortly followed by a soft landing. He opened his eyes to find the demon sprawled out before him, its head falling to its side, its arm still outstretched in its attack. He looked around, astonished, and found a figure standing to his left.
The boy with black and mint hair sheathed his sword, his back turned to Takeshi, a slight mist surrounding him dissipating quickly.
"I decided that I actually liked that confection you gave me," the boy said, momentarily meeting Takeshi's gaze.
"Consider this repayment, they weren't so bland after all. Also, you may want to look into getting a new sword," he said bluntly.
Takeshi couldn't believe it, the boy was lightning fast, he beheaded that demon effortlessly, he had saved him. He tried to find words but simply couldn't his throat was dry with exhaustion. The boy turned to run off, daylight beginning to shine through the tree line.
"Nice to meet you Takeshi, I'm Muichiro Tokito, perhaps our paths will cross again someday," Muichiro said, turning back slightly before sprinting off into the forest.
Takeshi forgot all about his exhaustion and broken sword, watching the boy disappear towards the wisteria forest. He knew he wouldn't forget that name, hoping he would see Muichiro at the ceremony once this nightmare had ended. He gathered himself, dusting off the debris from his already tattered kimono, sheathing what was left of his sword, the tsuba still intact.
Well Mr. Takahashi, looks like you were right… Takeshi thought, a smile crossing his tired and now dirtied face. Multiple Infinity techniques were too much, and now I'll just have to hope that my joke doesn't come true, I'd rather not fight a demon with my bare hands.