Life of a Demon Slayer

Chapter 2: Chance Encounter - Part 1

"1:00, 300 meters." Shizu pointed toward the direction in which he sensed the rouge spirit they were chasing.

"I've got it!" Mark brandished xis sword and dashed out into the trees.

"Hey—Mark! Wait!"

Mark ignored Shizu's protests. Xe'd spotted the rogue they were chasing and xe wasn't about to let it get away. As xe caught up to the spirit, it turned to slash at xim with its claws. It was mere moments too late; Mark had already caught up and swiftly cleaved it in two at the waist.

The spirits body fell to the ground with a heavy thud and two small gemstones—no bigger than a quarter—tumbled out onto the ground.

The two halves of the spirits body began to leak a sparkling black smog from where they'd been cut, and as they did so, Mark retrieved the gemstones. Xe inspected the red one as xe absorbed the spirits body into his sword. Mark frowned when xe saw that the stone had cracked down the middle.

Damn. I was sure I avoided it though.

"You seriously need to stop doing that!" Shizu puffed, shoving his way through the trees.

"Stones cracked." Mark tossed the red gem to xis partner.

The black haired spirit snatched the stone from the air and held it up to his eye to inspect it.

"Another small fry huh?" Shizu sighed," well, whatever. Thanks for the meal!"

Mark looked away as Shizu popped the red gem into his mouth. It was his style to swallow them whole, and frankly, Mark still found it a little unsettling to watch despite having seen it before.

"What's that?" Shizu asked, gesturing to the blue stone still in Marks hand.

"That rouge had it," Mark held it up for a better look," one of the faerie from the park from the looks of it."

"We should check there aren't any more rouges there then."

Mark nodded and the two of them started making their way toward the park.

When they were about close enough to see the park lights glistening through the trees a shrill scream sounded from up ahead.

"Looks like we were right! Hurry!"

"Right!" Shizu nodded and bashed through the trees in a flash of green faster than Mark could track.

Xe followed close behind.

As xe emerged from the trees xe spotted Shizu and a rouge spirit squaring off. The rouges flesh barely clung to its bones and a distinct scent wafted from its rotting body as it snarled at Shizu. It was clear it had been dead for a while. A few yards away sat a startled looking blonde girl who was cowering behind a bench; A strong yellow glow enveloped her body—it wasn't from the lamp above her.

That girl. . .

"Take her and run, Master! I'll handle this one!" Shizu grinned confidently, brandishing his sword.

"I told you not to call me that!" Mark shot back.

Xe ran over to the girl and grabbed her by the wrist.

"This way!"

"Wh—huh?"

The girl stumbled to her feet as Mark pulled her along behind xim.

"What was that thing?" Her fearful eyes searched Mark for answers.

She could see it?

*Editors note

pictured at beginning of chapter is Shizu Hasegawa, the spirit employed by Markus Dragons*