Demon Slayer : LEveLing uP

[Flashback]

Ishida , after protecting the family and the child inside the forest from the demons, helped them to cross the forest safely and took them close to their house.

"Thanks for taking time to walk us here," The man said, as all of them stopped walking, as he looked towards Ishida, "Our home is near, I think we will be able to go from here."

"Yeah, you have already taken a lot of trouble to get us here," The woman said, agreeing with her husband's statement.

Actually, Ishida had to take a very long detour from where his house was to take them back to escort them safely to their home. But, Ishida didn't mind at all, because, as of now it was his responsibility to help the family, and protect them from demon.

Add to the fact that, he lost his family himself, he couldn't let another family to have the same fate as his own, he didn't want any other child to have the same experience of losing their own family in front of their eyes.

It was a burden, he was willing to take.

"Are you sure , I mean I can go with you," Ishida said , "Plus , it's not a trouble for me at all. I am just doing what I can do to help,"

The man nodded, appreciation evident in his eyes. "You've done more than enough, Ishida. We owe you our lives and our daughter's. Thank you."

The little girl, who had been clinging to her mother's side, suddenly let go and ran to Ishida, wrapping her small arms around his leg. "Thank you, big brother," she said, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes.

'Big Brother!!?" Ishida was surprised a little , but then it turned to a slight smile, as he knelt down to her level, ruffling her hair gently. "Anytime, little one. Make sure you listen to your parents, okay?"

She nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Will you come visit us again?"

Ishida smiled, a bittersweet expression crossing his face. "Maybe someday. But for now, I have to make sure other families are safe too."

As he stood, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. His senses tingled, alerting him to a presence. He turned sharply, scanning the surrounding trees, but found nothing. The feeling vanished as quickly as it came, leaving him puzzled but wary.

Shaking off the unease, Ishida turned back to the family. "Take care of each other," he said softly, giving them one last nod before heading back into the forest.

The family watched him disappear into the shadows, grateful for the stranger who had become their protector.

As they continued toward their home, a sense of relief washed over them. But it was short-lived. Just as they approached their house, a chilling presence emerged from the shadows.

A woman appeared, her silhouette framed by the moonlight. Her violet eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, the kanji "陸" (Roku) shining within them. Her gaze was fixed on the family, intent and unyielding.

"You think you can protect them," she sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "But no one can be saved. It's not part of the plan."

With a swift, decisive movement, she advanced on the family, her intentions clear. The parents had no time to react, their screams echoing into the night before being silenced forever.

The moon cast a cold light on the scene, and the woman vanished, leaving behind only the chilling reminder of a threat that loomed larger than any one person could face alone.