Gifts and roses..-*

Chapter 5 ~- panic.

Sanemi sped around the mountain, every muscle in his body coiled and ready, his senses hyper-focused on detecting the slightest hint of a demon's presence. The forest was eerily quiet, save for the crunch of his feet against the leaves. His breath misted in the cool night air; he knew it was only a matter of time before something appeared.

Within minutes, a flicker of movement behind him snapped him to attention. He spun around, a demon lunged at him with a speed that defied reason, he jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the razor-sharp talons that whistled past his ear

His heart pounded in his chest as he landed in a crouch, immediately drawing his sword in a fluid, practiced motion. He rose to his feet, eyes locked onto the demon before him.

The creature was monstrous, its body hunched and sinewy, with eyes as dark as the shadows it emerged from. Its skin cracked every time it moved, its mouth twisted into a grotesque grin, revealing rows of jagged teeth. The stench of decay emanated from it, the air now thick and putrid.

Sanemi's grip tightened on his blade as the demon snarled, a low, guttural sound that reverberated through the forest.

"Are you the bastard demon with the dead sister?" Sanemi growled, his voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through him. He launched himself forward, sword slashing through the air with deadly precision.

The demon moved with inhuman agility, its body a blur as it sidestepped Sanemi's attack. It laughed- a chilling, inhuman sound that sent a shiver down his spine. He had fought countless demons in his days, but the hatred that rose whenever he saw one had never subsided.

"I wish," the demon taunted, as it darted through the tree. "But I'm not the one you're looking for. I'm just here to have some fun before he gets here."

Sanemi's blood boiled as he realized this was just a prelude to something worse. He knew he had to finish this quickly before whatever was coming could arrive. His frustration grew, his eyes narrowing into slits as he locked onto the demon. "Then you're in my way," he snarled, his voice low and deadly, muscles coiling as he prepared for another strike.

With explosive speed, Sanemi darted forward, aiming his blade directly at the demon's head, intending to end this quickly. But the demon was quicker, its form twisting unnaturally as it darted out of reach. It landed a few feet back, unscathed, and flashed a mocking grin.

"Oh, come on," the demon taunted, its voice dripping with condescension. "I'm not just a warm-up. You can't take me down that easily. I'm offended, really."

Sanemi's grip tightened on his sword, knuckles white with the force of it. He tried to keep his frustrations in check, knowing that losing his cool would only give the creature an advantage.

As if on cue, four more demons erupted from the surrounding bushes, sickening looks on their faces. They encircled Sanemi, their growls and snarls filling the air like a macabre symphony. Without hesitation, they launched a coordinated attack, converging on him from all sides.

Sanemi's instincts roared to life. He twisted his body, slashing at the nearest demon with a ferocious swing, his blade biting deep into its side. The demon howled in pain but didn't falter, its wound knitting together almost instantly. It retaliated, its claws raking across Sanemi's shoulder, tearing through fabric and flesh alike. Another demon took advantage of the distraction, swiping at his legs with vicious speed.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Sanemi spun on his heel, narrowly avoiding the strike aimed at his legs and bringing his sword around in a wide arc to fend off the others. His mind was racing, and his body moving almost on its own. He forced himself to keep his breathing steadiy.