Soutarou and Sakura halted at gigantic the bell location. One of the high ranking captains of Taima Dan, Jojo, stood taller, directing slayers around him.
Let's ask JoJo what happened. Soutarou turned to Sakura, she sighed annoyed to approach Jojo, because Jojo somehow despises Soutarou.
Soutarou turned and headed towards Jojo. Sakura followed close behind.
Soutarou stopped beside JoJo.
Jojo eyed him with despise. Before walking away ignoring Soutarou.
This was totally normal since he since he was tagged useless. "Tsk Jojo, wait!" Soutarou called out. "What's the situation?"
Jojo paused and faced soutarou, he was a few feet taller than Soutarou. So he used his height to look down on Soutarou as though he were a pest. "And why should I tell you? What will you do with the info."
Soutarou tried to talk but no word came out. Even if he knew he couldn't help.
Sakura steeped in-between Soutarou and Jojo in. Her eyes pierced into Jojo's. "Because I'm the one asking."
Soutarou smiled. She always did this.
Jojo hissed. He had no choice but to tell Sakura. She was a fellow Captain and was currently the captain with the strongest Ki.
"As you see" Jojo gestured to the blackened sky. The watch tower which was visible to a distance had disappeared.
"One of the demons launched a large-scale attack from a distance. The demon seemed so distant it only touched the outer barracks."
"An attack that strong from a distance."
Sakura breathed. "You think is it..."
"Yes. It is most likely a Jokyu-ranked demon." Jojo crossed his arm
A Jokyu?! Soutarou clenched his fist. A Jokyu ranked demon were the second strongest rank in the demons heriachy.
Their were known for incredible combat skill and powerful demon arts. But still common fodders to the likes of a single Daiyoukai
"So what's the plan?" Soutarou asked.
Jojo didn't remian silent.
Sakura groaned "You heard him! Time his going."
Jojo turned to Soutarou. "Search parties.
An one who discovers the demon first can engage if capable. then they signal base. With the flair guns. The rest of us converge."
Jojo smirked. "But what are you going to do, Soutarou? Scratch it till you're pleased, then let it go?"
Jojo moved closer. His eyes burned into Soutarou. "You've let three demons escape in the last month alone. How many people died because you couldn't finish what you started?"
Soutarou clenched his fist he was angry with Jojo but himself. He had failed so many people. Still be didn't quit. His eyes were fixed straight into JoJo's "We'll see."
Jojos sneered and walked off, shouting instructions to the assembled Demon Slayers.
Soutarou stood still pondering on what Jojo had said. 'What if I find the demon. Will I fail?' He shook the thoughts off. No I won't.
Sakura tried to grab Soutarou's arm knowing he would likely run off to find the demon alone. But he had already moved toward the search parties.
Sakura froze her hung in the air where Soutarou had been Seconds ago. 'Sau.'
Soutarou dashed through to the external defenses. He saw the Orain helping the few slayer in the rubble.
He increased his pace. Flinging up dust-heaps with each step.
'Come on. Let me find that demon.'
His heartbeat with desperate need for validation. Has he had always wanted to prove himself useful.
'Maybe this time. I'll get it right.'
"Sau—slow down!"
Sakura called him.
Soutarou looked over his shoulder without pausing. Sakura ran after him, waving frantically, in a bid to keep up with him.
Soutarou slid to a stop and turned to Sakura still catching up. "Go back. It'll be faster if we split up. We'll cover more ground."
Sakura came to a halt. "Yes, I know that." But you always end up in bad circumstances."
"I won't be surprised if you find the demon first... Or it finds you."
Soutarou chest felt heavier than before burdened. "No. Turn back." His knuckles went pale about the hilt of his katana. "I'll be fine."
"I'm scared you'll get hurt Sau. and also—" she stepped closer to him.
Her was almost melancholic. "Even if you find the demon you can't.. Slay it.."
The phrases hit him like a knife. But she wasn't lieing.
Even if he encountered the demon he can't slay it. It will be the same result.
Soutarou turned his back on Sakura. "Turn back." His voice came out rougher than intended.
He sprang forward before she could reply.
His body flew through the air like a bolt of lightning. Dust flew out in a blinding wave, and engulfed Sakura where she stood.
Sakura blocked with her arm, and shielding her face from the dust.
She lowered her arm slowly after peered into the distance.
He was already out of sight, too distant already by the few seconds that had elapsed.
Sakura lingered a moment, watching him.
Then she sighed, and headed west.
Soutarou swept past the shattered outer guard in seconds. And rushed into the woods on the other side.
Hopeing he finds the demon here.
He sprang himself off tree after tree. Hardly seeming to touch the trees bark before he was airborne again.
His eyes followed every shadow, every motion but got nothing. The woods appeared deserted.
"If only I could use ki I would have sensed it by now." He pressured himself, something that became normal to him.
His foot slipped on wet bark. "Woah—!"
He reached out, grabbed a branch and swung wild. Momentum taking him to a futher tree then slide down the bark.
Then he noticed it.
In the clearing, below, there was something... wrong. The air was shimmered slightly like heat wave. But the trees were bent at strange angles with their trunks twisting at the edge of—
A simple barrier. Demons used to hide and ambush humans.
Soutarou smiled. His blade clicked open. 'Got you.'
He kick of the off the tree midslide. and twisted his body midair. His sword sang out the sheath fully.
Soutarou swunged down.
CRASH.
The barrier shattered and the pieces melted into nothing.
Soutarou's eyes widened as he fell into the barrier slowly.
A women backing him. Stood in the middle of the clearing.
Her hair were white. Knee length, clean despite the chaos.
Before her a young girl in a Taima Dan uniform laid on the ground. Blood seeping through her clothing.
Then Soutarou noticed Her fingernails were excessively long. Her fingertips wet with blood.
A DEMON!!. Soutarou realized. Time resumed.
Soutarou roared. "You bastard!"
He shot himself forward midair, his sword flashing towards her neck.
The demon dodged effortlessly. Tilted just enough for his blade to swing by.
Soutarou didn't hesitate. Still suspended in the air he struck her with his boot.
CRACK.
The impact vibrated in his leg. She just stumbled but it was enough.
He hit the ground with a crash. With a single move, he picked up the wounded girl in his arms and threw himself backward. Putting space between them and the demon.
The demon straightened gradually, dusting her sleeve with a wave. Her lips curved into a smile.
"You are good", she said with a deadly calm voice.
Soutarou dropped the girl down to a tree. She was too young. Maybe seventeen. Probably a fresh recruit.
The girl turned away in shame. "Th-thank you..."
"Thank me later." Soutarou replied.
He stood and confronted the demon. switching his position to balance his weight evenly.
The demon threw her hair back. Her eyes were glowed crimson in the dim light. With amusement and curiosity.
Well then. Her claws clicked together. "Let's see what you can do, boy."
"Hey can you still walk, Soutarou said to the wounded girl."
"Yes." She nodded.
"Good. When I get a chance to pin her. You run as fast as you can. No looking back."
"Yes" she grunted in pain and staggered up holding her wounded arm.
"Good. I'll protect you at all cost."