Mana blew on her hand, forming shards of ice that gleamed like daggers, sending them hurtling at Inosuke.
Inosuke roared, his eyes wild with excitement. "Try me, ice witch!" he taunted. As the icy projectiles flew toward him, he whipped his twin blades, performing a ferocious Beast Breathing technique. His blades glinted in a crisscross motion, shattering the ice shards into mist.
But Mana wasn't done. She summoned more ice from her hand, sculpting it into a larger wave that she sent crashing towards Inosuke. He crouched low, focusing on his primal instincts. Just as the wave was upon him, he surged forward, slicing through the wave with a powerful slash. Icy particles scattered around him, falling like snow.
"Not bad," he grinned, pointing his blades toward her. Mana gave him a knowing nod, acknowledging his ferocity.
Xxx
Zenitsu stood back, watching the fierce exchange with wide eyes. Reiko clapped her hands, trying to encourage him, her eyes full of gentle reassurance. She stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's time to practice Thunder Breathing," she said softly. "Focus on the sound of the world around you."
Zenitsu took a deep breath, his fear palpable, but he could feel Reiko's steady support beside him. Slowly, he calmed his racing heart, letting his senses open to the hum of the world. The faint crackle of electricity sparked from his fingertips as he began to understand the rhythm of his breathing and the powerful potential within it.
Reiko guided him, her hand never leaving his shoulder, channeling her encouragement. "You're connected to the thunder in your veins, Zenitsu," she murmured. He reached out, feeling the static charge between his fingers and, for the first time, felt a deep resonance with his power.
Xxx
Meanwhile, Kuri walked over with a target and hung it just above Tanjiro's head, a challenge in her eyes. "Let's see what Hinokami Kagura can really do," she said, stepping back.
Tanjiro took a breath, tapping into his newfound realization of his power. He flicked his hand, his form graceful yet intense, sending a stream of flame right to the center of the target. The flames danced and swirled with precision, leaving only ashes in their wake.
Kuri moved quickly, catching the ashes in her hand and reforming them into the target. She motioned for him to try again, her gaze unwavering as she assessed every movement. Tanjiro focused, feeling the flow of his breathing connect to something beyond himself, something deep and spiritual. His flame burned brighter with each attempt, and every strike was more refined than the last.
The practice continued, each movement becoming a delicate dance between them, a rhythm of creation and destruction. Tanjiro began to feel something awakening within him – an ancient energy, tied to his lineage and his purpose.