Over 100 years had passed since the battle against Muzan Kibutsuji. All the participants that fought in that gruesome war had all passed away during a time of peace from a world without demons.
Yet, one from that time is still around. Yushiro, a dem...
Yushiro materialized alone, his senses reeling from the sudden shift. He found himself standing in the midst of a desolate ruin, the remnants of a city that had been ravaged by destruction. The air was heavy with the scent of smoke and ash, and the sky above hung dark and foreboding.
As he looked around, Yushiro's eyes began to blur, and he felt a creeping sense of dread. The ruins around him began to shift, the rubble and debris reforming into twisted, nightmarish scenes.
He saw the destruction of the demons that had occurred 900 years ago, the screams of his kin echoing through the ages.
"No...this can't be happening," Yushiro muttered to himself, his heart racing with fear. "Why..."
But it didn't stop there. His vision was suddenly flooded with the memory of Tamayo's death, her lifeless eyes staring up at him, her skin drained of its vibrant color.
"No....No.....Not this....", he continued mumbling to himself, his pupils shaking uncontrollably along with his entire body.
Yushiro felt a pang of guilt, his mind flashing back to the moment he'd failed to save her.
"Why did I fail?" he whispered, his eyes brimming with tears. "I promised to protect her...but I couldn't."
And then, he saw Ace's death. The flames that had consumed his precious brother's body, the agonized screams that had rent the air. Yushiro felt the pain fresh, the anguish that had gnawed at his heart, still raw and open.
"No...no...this can't be happening!" Yushiro screamed, his voice echoing off the ruins, as if trying to shake off the horrors that haunted him.
Yushiro stumbled through the ruins, desperation fueling his flight. He had to escape, had to get away from the visions that haunted him. Tamayo's lifeless eyes, Ace's screaming face, the destruction of the demons...it was all too much.
He ran, his feet pounding against the ground, but the visions only grew stronger. The screams of the innocent, the wails of the dying, the stench of ash and smoke...it was suffocating him.
Yushiro fell to his knees, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. He covered his face, trying to block out the horrors, but they only seemed to intensify.
His hands went up to claw at his own hair, trying to get the visions out of his head.
But then, something clicked. He remembered the words etched on the altar: "Conqueror of Fear". This was just a trial, a test of his worthiness. The visions, the fear, the desperation...it was all just a product of his own mind.
Yushiro's gaze snapped back to the present, his eyes focusing on the desolate landscape before him. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. 'Think, Yushiro, think. How can I escape this?'
Just as he was about to formulate a plan, the cat from before appeared beside him, its two tails twitching gently. It gazed up at Yushiro with knowing eyes and nuzzled her fluffy cheek against the palm of his hand.
"You...!", Yushiro let out, surprised as his eyes widened. ' Is she....trying to comfort me...? Why, though...?'
The cat padded forward, its eyes never leaving Yushiro's, and began to walk towards the flames that surrounded him.
Yushiro's heart skipped a beat as he realized what the cat was showing him. 'Don't tell me...Is the way out....through ...there...?', he questioned himself as he looked at the fire filled with the screams of his fellow demons.
He clenched his fists and swallowed nervously. He opened his eyes and looked at the fire, determined. 'I have to do this. It was my choice. If i want to be bale to protect Luffy....'
He sighed and took a step forward, walking towards the cat.
The cat looked up at him before she turned back ahead and walked with her tiny paws.
Together, they walked towards the flames, the screams growing louder, the heat intense.
' I will conquer my fears. If i want to get stronger....I can't be afraid of my past memories.', Yushiro thought, the words echoing in his mind like a mantra.
Yushiro emerged from the flames, his heart still pounding from the intensity of the trial. He opened his eyes, blinking away the smoke and heat.
As he looked around, he found himself back in the shrine, the altar and the trials before him once again. But something had changed. The first trial, "Conqueror of Fears", had changed color, a soft glow indicating that it was now complete.
Yushiro's eyes moved to the second trial, and his heart skipped a beat. "The Second Trial: Showcase of Trust" was etched on the stone. "Between me and...who?....", he mumbled as his gaze went down, his eyes scanning the inscription for any hint of who this mysterious partner might be.
His gaze locked onto the cat, who was now sitting calmly beside him, its two tails twitching gently. The cat's eyes seemed to sparkle in the dim light of the shrine, and Yushiro felt a shiver run down his spine as he realized the truth.
"The cat...it was a familiar all along," he whispered, his voice full of wonder. He couldn't believe he hadn't seen it before. The way the cat had guided him through the trial, the way it had seemed to sense his fears and doubts...it all made sense now.
The cat looked up at him, its eyes shining with a deep understanding. Yushiro felt a sense of gratitude towards it, for guiding him through the trial, helping him to overcome his fears and doubts. She had always been there for him, quietly supporting him even when he didn't know he needed it.
"I didn't know," Yushiro said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't know you were a familiar." He felt a pang of regret for not realizing it sooner, for not understanding the depth of their bond.
The cat padded forward, her eyes never leaving Yushiro's. She nuzzled his hand, and Yushiro felt a surge of affection towards her as his gaze softened. He reached out and stroked her soft fur, feeling a sense of peace wash over him.
"Okay...", he sighed and picked up the cat, cradling her in his arms. "Shall we go?", he asked her, his voice filled with a sense of partnership.
She flicked her tails in response, and Yushiro smiled before he turned serious, his gaze locking onto the words of the second trial. "The Second Trial: Showcase of Trust", he said out loud, his voice firm and resolute.
As he spoke the words, the air around them began to shimmer, and Yushiro felt himself being transported away once again. The cat remained calm on his shoulder, her eyes fixed on his, as if she knew exactly where they were headed.
Yushiro took a deep breath, steeling himself for the next trial.
(Also, i have updated more chapters so don't forget to read those)
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