Demon slayer: Reborn

Chapter 4 - First blood

Daisuke strolls while sniffing the air, the other two following from behind, being cautious with their surroundings. Daisuke stops for a moment, the scent has become stronger at this spot, he looks down to the ground, and a dead raccoon catches his attention, with marks of bites all over its body as if it was being eaten. 
–We're close–  Daisuke informed, his eyes scanning around, looking for any sudden movement.
Jun looked at the raccoon, his eyes half closed –Are you sure?– Jun sobbed and scratched his eyes, trying to keep himself awake.
A mysterious rustling came from behind them, they all looked in the direction of the sound, only to see bushes, big enough to hide in them. Sam's hand wrapped around his blade, his fingers holding onto the handle tightly.
The bushes moved again, this time to show something crawling out of it, it looked human, but his skin was gray, his empty black eyes staring at them, his short brown hair moving around matching the color of his broken old clothes, the three boys knew what he was, a demon.
–Finally, I've been waiting– The demon's voice sounded raspy
Daisuke stares at the demon, his heart rate increasing calmly. He unfolds his blade and holds it tightly between his hands.
Sam examines the demon briefly. 
–Go ahead– Sam lowers his blade –remember, this is your battle–
Jun took a deep breath, calming himself down. Daisuke stared at the demon for a moment, his eyes were black, in the past, demons used to be marked by their rank, but now, they can't be sure, either way, Sam seemed relaxed, so this demon might not be as dangerous as they might think he is, either way, Daisuke was nervous, he can't let his guard down.

The demon makes his nails sharper, growing by 1 inch. He takes slow steps toward the brothers, each step makes Jun tremble. Daisuke, holding his blade with one hand, walks towards the demon, Jun looks at him, his hands shivering around the hilt of his blade. He swallowed the lump in his throat, forcing himself to steady his grip, if he hesitates now, he might die.

The demon lunged at Daisuke, its claws slicing through the air with deadly precision. Daisuke's eyes narrowed, tracking the movement with trained focus. At the last second, he sidestepped, the demon's claws missing his head by mere inches. Without hesitating, he slashed his blade across the demon's chest, but the cut was shallow, causing a mild scratch on the demon's pale skin.
–Remember to aim at the head!– Sam shouted quickly as he watched cautiously in case he had to step in.
–I know!–Daisuke shouted back, frustration in his words. Before he could adjust his stance, Jun appears from the shadows. with a swift motion, he drove his blade into the demon's back, piercing through his stomach. The demon roared in pain as Jun yanked the sword free, kicking the demon to the ground.  Jun lifts his blade high, ready to end it. But before he could deliver the final blow, the demon's voice begged, raw and desperate.
–Wait, wait! Wait don't kill me!– The demon pleaded, holding onto some dirt with his hands.
Jun hesitated, the blade flickering in his hands –Why would I?– uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
–Don't be a fool, Jun!– Daisuke's voice was sharp, urgent.

Before Jun can decide, Daisuke shoves him to the side, and as he is about to finish the job, the demon throws some dirt at Daisuke's face, blinding him for a moment. The demon's claws lashed out in a split second, striking across Daisuke's leg. Pain flared as the blood appeared on the fabric of his pants. 
As the demon stepped back, ready to strike Daisuke again, Jun stepped forward with resolve. His blade arced through the air, aiming straight at the demon's neck. The creature raised his hands in a frail attempt to block, but, jun's sword sliced through them like butter. Still, the demon managed to jerk his head away at the last second, its limbs beginning to regenerate. But Daisuke was already in motion. Ignoring, the pain he went for the kill. In one clean, decisive strike, his blade found the demon's neck from behind. The demon's head rolled to the ground, its body crumpling lifelessly beside it.

–You did it!– Sam said with approval –Are you okay Daisuke?–
Daisuke nodded, not looking at Sam but at the demon he had just killed, his body disappearing gradually. Jun's breathing was quick, the adrenaline on his body made him feel energized, but he couldn't stop feeling guilty, if he had struck the demon Daisuke wouldn't have gotten hurt.
–Sorry, I... I don't know what happened...–
–It's fine, just a scratch– Daisuke said, calming Jun a little
Sam patted him on the back –It's okay to hesitate at first, it happened to me... Just make sure you are confident with what you are about to do– 

Suddenly, Daisuke's senses spiked, his nose itched, and he could smell the scent of the demon he had just slain, but this scent was coming from different directions. –There's more!–      Daisuke's eyes darted around, ready to snap.
–More?– Sam asks, his tone sharp with alarm. Three other demons emerged from the shadows, they had a slight resemblance to the one they defeated, Except for the color of their eyes, each a different one.
–He did it, he killed brother!– One of the demons barked at Daisuke. His sharp nails pointed accusingly at Daisuke.
Before any time to react, one of the demons launched itself at Jun, its claws raking across his back. Jun cried out in pain, struggling to break free. Sam springs towards him to help, but another demon blocks his path, its red eyes gleaming.
–I'll make this quick– Sam muttered, his voice low and deadly. He inhaled deeply, concentrating as he gripped his katana. Silk breathing first form: silken dance!
His blade moved swiftly, slashing through the demon with precise strikes, stepping carefully after each one until Sam ended up behind him. The demon's body fell into pieces, followed by its head hitting the ground.

Jun manages to shove his attacker off, the demon tumbling on the ground, Sam meets Jun's eyes with a silent command, and Jun nods grimly. Without hesitation, he drove his sword through the demon's neck, finishing it off. 

The last demon faced Daisuke, Daisuke slashed at it repeatedly, his blade cutting deep into his skin, but it refused to fall. With a savage howl, the demon kicks him in the stomach, sending him sprawling to the ground. The demon tried to get on top of him. Gritting his teeth, he planted both feet against the demon's chest and shoved with all his strength, launching it into the air.

Daisuke sprang to his feet as the demon rolled to the ground –You killed them!– The demon cried out, his tone filled with hatred.
–Finish it!– Jun screamed as he charged along with Sam from behind, both with their blades raised. He aimed for the demon's neck, His eyes met Jun's in a split second, his pupils turning into vertical lines, the demon's skin grew dark scales across his whole body before the strike landed, the blade bouncing off the demon's neck as if hitting solid rock. The demon smirked and swung at Jun with crushing force. The impact sent Jun crashing into a tree, gasping for breath. 
Sam stops his movement, his eyes widening in horror. –His skin became tougher– He muttered 
–Daisuke, use your breathing!– Sam urged, readying his sword, Silk breathing second form: silken dress, Sam moved rapidly, his blade striking the demon's body from all sides, leaving shallow cuts on its skin. The demon then strikes his fist at him. Sam leaped back, narrowly avoiding the blow. Sam attacked again without hesitation, but before he could swing his sword the demon grabbed his hand, squeezing it until he dropped his blade, then lifted him by his neck. Sam struggled to breathe as he moved around, desperately trying to free himself.
Daisuke concentrated, how does he use his breathing if it has no forms? His grip tightened on his sword, and closing his eyes he asked himself "What is it". The darkness soon turned into a purple flame that danced in his head. His eyes opened and he could feel a rush of energy across his body. As he inhales, Daisuke rushes to the demon.
Inferno breathing first form: fire of the depths. As he charged forward, his blade trailing purple flames that illuminated the night. The demon Strikes with his free hand into Daisuke, trying to catch him by the head, but he leaps into the air, his body turning upside down and then slashing twice in quick succession. The flames scorched through the demon's neck cutting deep into his flesh.

The demon's body crumbled into the ground as his head fell slowly to the side.
Sam staggered from the ground, gasping for breath –Woah...You did it– Sam wheezed, his voice filled with relief
Jun inhaled deeply trying to steady his racing heart 
Daisuke stared at his blade, still flickering the remnants of the purple flames. In their glow, he could see his reflection... filled with ambition.