Ishida could tell the demon's strength just by looking at him. Even in terms of raw power, this demon was superior to him by a significant margin.
'Even though I fought Upper Moons during system-given missions, their levels were never this high. This is surely the strongest demon in terms of level I've come up against. A one-on-one fight will probably be suicide. But...'
Ishida glanced back ever so slightly toward the two behind him—Sakura and Kazuki. Both were injured, and though he'd stopped the bleeding and provided basic treatment as much as he could, it probably wasn't enough for them to continue fighting.
Even if they could fight, there was no way they would be any help against such an opponent.
'Doesn't matter.' Ishida pushed aside all the thoughts and looked back at the demon with determination. 'As long as I am a demon slayer, and the person in front of me is a demon, I will kill him.'
"Sakura, Kazuki," Ishida said without turning around, his voice carrying an authority that left no room for argument. "Get back. Find cover and stay there."
"But—" Kazuki started to protest.
"Now."
The single word cut through any objections. Both apprentices felt it then—the immense pressure radiating from the demon before them. It was like standing before an avalanche, the air itself seeming to grow heavy and cold. Their bodies began to tremble involuntarily, blood running cold as primal fear gripped them.
'An Upper Moon,' Sakura realized, her eyes widening. 'We're facing an actual Upper Moon.'
They scrambled backward, putting distance between themselves and the battlefield. Every instinct screamed at them to run further, but they couldn't—not while Ishida was still there.
Ishida turned his full attention back to Doma, who watched the exchange with that perpetual, unsettling smile.
"How admirable," Doma said, his voice carrying an almost musical quality. "Protecting your friends like that. But tell me, Moon Hashira—" his rainbow eyes gleamed in the moonlight, "—will that noble protection matter when you're dead? You're planning to fight me alone, aren't you? How brave. How foolish."
"I don't need a lecture from a demon," Ishida replied, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Oh, but I'm not lecturing! I'm genuinely concerned," Doma said with exaggerated sincerity, placing a hand over his heart. "You see, I can tell you're strong—for a human. But you must sense it too, don't you? The difference between us? It would be such a waste for someone of your caliber to die here."
"Then maybe you should run."
Doma's smile widened, genuine amusement flickering in his eyes. "How delightful! I haven't met someone with such spirit in quite some time. Very well then—let's see if you can back up those words."
Without warning, Doma moved. His speed was incredible, closing the distance in an instant as he swung his sharpened golden fans toward Ishida's neck.
Ishida's body reacted on pure instinct, his enhanced agility allowing him to lean back just enough for the fan's edge to whistle past his throat. He drew his sword in the same motion, the blade singing as it left its sheath.
"Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace!"
His blade carved through the air in precise, crescent-shaped slashes that followed the path of the moon. The attacks were simple in execution but devastating in power, each one aimed at vital points.
Doma danced backward, his fans spinning to deflect the crescents. "Oh! Moon Breathing! How fitting for the Moon Hashira! And such beautiful technique too!"
[Fatigue: 03/100]
Ishida didn't respond, already pressing his advantage. He closed the distance with explosive speed, his footwork perfect as he positioned himself for the next strike. But Doma was faster than he'd anticipated.
"Scattering Lotuses!" Doma swung his fans, releasing a flurry of razor-sharp ice crystals that filled the air like a blizzard of death.
"Moon Breathing, Second Form: Pearl Flower Moongazing!"
Ishida's blade spun in a defensive pattern, creating a dome of crescent slashes around himself. The moonlight-infused technique shattered the incoming ice crystals, each one exploding into harmless powder before it could reach him.
[Fatigue: 07/100]
'His Blood Demon Art uses ice,' Ishida analyzed, his mind working rapidly even as his body moved. 'Long-range attacks, wide area coverage. I need to stay close, limit his options.'
He burst forward from his defensive stance, using his superior agility to close the gap. Doma's eyes widened slightly—impressed, perhaps—as Ishida came within striking range.
"Moon Breathing, Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy!"
Ishida's blade created a typhoon of slashes, forming a powerful vortex of moonlight that attacked from multiple angles simultaneously. The technique was both offensive and defensive, a whirlwind of cutting force that should have been nearly impossible to evade at close range.
Doma's expression finally shifted from amusement to something resembling focus. His fans moved in a blur, blocking and deflecting with inhuman precision. Ice formed along the edges of his weapons, reinforcing them against the onslaught.
"Lotus Vines!"
From Doma's fans, massive ice vines erupted, each one lined with crystalline thorns. They twisted and coiled through Ishida's vortex of slashes, seeking to entangle and pierce.
Ishida's eyes tracked every movement, his enhanced senses allowing him to see the patterns in the chaos. He twisted his body, using his agility to slip between the vines while maintaining his assault. One vine grazed his shoulder, tearing through fabric and drawing a thin line of blood.
[❤️ HP: 1905/1920]
'Too close,' Ishida thought, adjusting his positioning. The vine had been faster than it looked.
He broke off his attack, putting distance between himself and Doma's ice constructs. The demon stood among the dissipating vines, that perpetual smile still plastered on his face, but there was something different in his eyes now—actual interest.
"Marvelous! Simply marvelous!" Doma clapped his hands together, the sound echoing through the forest. "You're actually keeping up! Most Hashira don't last this long in close combat with me. You're quite special, aren't you?"
[Fatigue: 13/100]
Ishida's breathing remained controlled, steady. He could feel the exertion building, but he was nowhere near his limit yet. The demon, on the other hand, hadn't even broken a sweat—because demons didn't sweat. That was the fundamental problem: stamina. In a prolonged fight, the demon had an infinite advantage.
'I need to end this quickly,' Ishida realized. 'Or find a way to create an opening for a decisive strike.'
"What's wrong?" Doma tilted his head, that unsettling smile never wavering. "You've gone quiet. Are you perhaps realizing the futility of this? I could still let you go, you know. You and your little friends. Just walk away. Pretend you never saw me."
"You know I can't do that."
"Yes, I suspected as much." Doma sighed dramatically. "Such dedication to duty. It's almost sad, really. Well then—" his rainbow eyes gleamed with predatory excitement, "—let's continue our dance, shall we?"
[A.N : Comment, Comment, Comment. Quick.
Do you think this fight is going to be interesting or it's a bit early for Ishida to Face a Upper Moon, that too Upper Moon 2 ?
Perhaps I am thinking about ending this fanfic by getting my MC killed !? Who knows. Anyways, comment. Last Chapter didn't have any comments. I hope you guys are reading still.]