"As many of you may have heard, the Corps was able to defeat an Upper Moon for the first time in a century. The ambitious mission was doubted at first, and many of the people declined their invitation in fear of death and failure.
The fear of death and failure held so many back from an eternal legacy of being remembered as the ones who were there for the turning point in history. All those who partook in the mission are now to be immortalised in engravings across Corps buildings.
Now I offer to those who get this letter, a chance just like the previous mission.
I, Eira the Ice Hashira, will lead another Upper Moon Hunt, beginning on the next full moon of the month, which is four days as of writing. We will meet in the forest where the first mission ended, Aokigahara Forest. I hope you hold this letter with honour and have gratitude to be presented with an opportunity to be forever glorified with victory.
Further details on this mission will be explained on-site.
I hope to see you present,
Ice Hashira, Eira."
The same letter was opened many times, by many different people at many different places. All 45 people unfurled their letter and read it with intrigue. Some shuddered in fear, while others remained silent in thought. Most were excited.
The general opinion had changed drastically following the previous Upper Moon Hunt. Those who were hesitant before were now enthusiastic, ready to hunt alongside Eira for glory.
If they were smart, they'd decline the offer.
And so some did.
"No way," Takeshi and Mei exchanged glances, they were still healing from the wounds of the Akaza mission. They met eyes and both shook their heads softly, their throats dry and goosebumps prickled on their skin, the pressure to join was evident in the letter. It almost felt as if there was a consequence in not going. To think Eira was already fully healed and in pursuit of another Upper Moon, her monstrous strength was in full display.
"Another Upper Moon…" Yukina stared at the flapping paper as she walked through a bustling city. Her attire stood out like a sore thumb, and the crow on her shoulder wasn't of much assistance to blend in. She bit her lip while pondering. Confusion etched on her mind on whether she should go or not.
As the sun stretched across the entire country, those who accepted were made clear, dots all heading in the same direction. Aokigahara Forest, the pivotal meeting area, was the same as where the first mission was completed. Eira thought of it as a good luck charm, starting where success had already been established.
Some journeys started, others were at a standstill.
Kaze held his head as the throbbing pain continued to ravage both sides of his head. Each sharp spike of pain made his body stiffen and crumble. This pain was unlike anything else he had ever had. Bruises, broken bones, and cuts were all the usual, nothing to break a sweat at, yet Kaze had never felt a pain infiltrate his mind so viciously.
He could feel Ayumu's arms around him as a support. But his words were drowned out as if he was speaking through a wall.
With time, the headache got exponentially less painful.
"What happened?" Ayumu asked, his eyes saturated with concern as he stared at Kaze.
The Shadow wished he could give his junior an answer, but they shared the same confusion about the situation. The headache was a mystery. However, it only started after sprinting, allowing Kaze to make an assumption.
"Could be an exertion headache, the fight with Ali must've messed my head up," Kaze exhaled sharply as he felt the remnants of pain leave, the strong impression still lingered.
The two men were at a crossroads, neither of them were at their prime shape, Kaze's newfound weakness and Ayumu's still recovering body.
There were two blaring, obvious and final options. They could turn back and prioritise the recovery and rest their bodies begged for so desperately, or they could continue with the missions, knowing their bodies could collapse in exhaustion or excessive injury at any time.
The very prospect of them going was insane, they go against a Hashira who was trying to kill an Upper Moon? They would be painted as traitors across the entire Corps.
These thoughts ran across their minds at the same time. Both of them decided on an option. The same option.
"Let's continue," Kaze inhaled as he stood up straight and gripped his sword, his eyes met with Ayumu's. His determination sparked both of their souls alight with motivation.
"We'll slow down," Ayumu remained cautious, but his desires were in line with Kaze. They needed to go stop Eira. Especially after all he had heard of Ali, a demon who fought against demons and didn't kill humans? It was worth saving and studying, even if it was unbelievable.
"I wonder if Yukina will be there…" Ayumu quickly changed the topic as they began jogging at a slower pace.
"Is that what you're looking forward to?" Kaze joked as if he hadn't just collapsed due to an exertion headache. He was met with a nervous laugh by Ayumu.
Bailing on a friend was worse than being called a traitor. They would do what's right, no matter the consequences. They would stand their ground firmly.
All those who hid from sunlight cowered as the powerful celestial being gazed upon the planet once more.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
The moist cave echoed with a constant drip sound as water trickled down from pointy stalactites, spikes that pointed downwards, shaped by dripping water. The water would leave behind minerals, shaping the stalactites.
The complex cave network was dim, wet and humid. Only those with the courage to brave the dark, unknown dangers would dare to go into the cave. Although quite open, the constant dripping that bounced off walls, almost like footsteps towards you, would strike fear into anyone. Unless, of course, you were a demon with great vision in the dark.
Moss squelched and expelled water under Ali's steps. His eyes admired the shiny stone surrounding him, a beauty of what nature could produce. Untouched corners of mineral-dense stone shone, the slippery ground occasionally spotted with bugs. It wasn't a place that he would live in, but he had to reside here for the daytime. He hadn't found a proper place to reside in, and he wasn't going to return to Akaza's dojo for emotional reasons.
Ali peered around the corner, an open oval-shaped area. The ceiling was high and dense with stalactites. The ground was lined with a variety of small mosses, ferns and flowers.
The exit of the cave was a long way behind Ali now, this would be a good place to rest for the day. He inhaled as he settled in the area, the dim and lonely environment provided great solace to a person who had been through so much recently. Ali stepped to the centre, his eyes meeting a centipede, who stared back at him, only moving its antennas.
"Sorry, I have to make this dry," Ali raised his fist as he apologised to the centipede as if it could understand him. His fist swung down, a powerful concentrated gust of wind beamed down at Ali's feet. The water was pushed away, leaving the area entirely dry. However, Ali hadn't completely thought this out.
The wind rolled across the ground, climbed up the walls, and raced across the ceiling before it all clashed at the centrepoint of the ceiling. The rough force made all the water that hung on the stalactites come down in one pattern-like fall.
The thin layer of water droplets splashed down on Ali.
The centipede who had clung to the ground to avoid being blown away wiggled its antenna before walking away, almost like it was laughing at Ali.
"Well…" He brushed his now damp hair, fragments of dirt, and other minuscule particles now in his hair, he looked at his hand in disgust and sighed. He had a slight blush on his face, from the embarrassment of his mistake, even though there was no one to witness it.
A chill travelled down Ali's spine. The cave's temperature dropped suddenly. Unnaturally. Lonely water droplets lightened in colour as they slowly froze over.
"You're very hard to find, it's like you leave no tracks!" A sing-songy voice solidified Ali's suspicions of the sudden drop in temperature. The voice, much like the dripping sound, bounced off the cave walls, but it originated from the path Ali had just come from.
With another deep sigh, Ali tensed his body and turned around. The exuberant Upper Moon Two walked into the open area, his rainbow eyes glowed softly as his smile spread wide, ear to ear. Ali must've inherited Akaza's hate the way his body reacted negatively to the demon standing before him, his mouth twisted into a scowl.
"What are you doing here?" Ali asked, both meaning to be blunt and also genuinely intrigued by why and how Douma had gotten here. He could've sworn he wasn't followed at night, and the sun had been up for a while now. He gazed at the powerful demon suspiciously.
"Well, Lord Muzan wants to speak with you personally," Douma whistled as he glared at Ali, his intense glare and his happy smile spoke of two different emotions. His eyes were frustrated and angry, while his smile portrayed charisma and friendliness.
"Tell Muzan I'm not interested in whatever he has to say," Ali turned his back to Douma, his mind completely set against the very idea of working with Muzan like Akaza had. He was not going to serve a person he utterly hated. He made sure to say those exact words loud and clear, knowing Muzan was watching through Douma's eyes.
Blood Demon Art: Lotus Vines.
The air turned dry and cold in a millisecond, the water on the floor froze over as Douma's cryokinetic Blood Demon Art activated immediately at Ali's rejection. His smile had vanished off his face, replaced with an apathetic glance as his hands shot forward.
Before Ali could react, the cold air raced across the cave, ice spikes rose out of the ground at rapid rates. Frost amalgamated from the moisture in the air, transforming into ice lotus vines, which wrapped around Ali tightly and froze completely. The ice was extremely tough.
"I wasn't asking," A more serious tone overtook Douma's voice, laced with rage and frustration. He clenched his hand, the icy vines grew spikes that tore into Ali, piercing his tough body. Blood oozed and covered the spikes.
Ali's whole body clenched as the ache of multiple wounds throbbed. He flexed his entire body, his body burst with a powerful explosion of wind. The ice that wrapped around him shattered, the fragments dropping to the floor. His wounds closed, healing almost instantly. He turned towards Douma, he clenched his fists and put them in front of him, slowly bending his knees to get into his fight stance.
"Neither was I," Ali's eyes met Douma's. For once, there was no fake glee being portrayed by the foul Upper Moon Two.