Erika nodded and tried once again to use gravity magic to control the ribbons.
This time, they moved in the air like they had a will of their own, though still stiff and far from smooth.
Akira crossed his arms. "Erika, your magic control might not be enough to handle it easily."
"I know," she sighed. "I just never really liked practicing magic."
"Well," Akira tilted his head, "in the first place, ribbons are kind of… unconventional for a weapon. Can we even find someone to train you with that?"
"Exactly!" Erika groaned. "Who on earth would even know how to fight with ribbons?"
Selena, who had been watching with mild amusement, chimed in. "Maybe not ribbons exactly, but there's something similar in the real world you know, like an urumi. It's an ancient Indian whip sword. Not the same, but close enough, right?"
Erika blinked. "That's… actually not a bad idea."
Akira frowned. "But who would we even look for? I don't know anyone who uses that."
Selena smiled mysteriously. "I have an idea. But by the way, brother, what about your armor? How are you planning to fight in it?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Akira blinked. "I'm a magician, right? All I have to do is wear my armor and fire off long-range attacks."
Selena sighed. "Then why do you even need armor if you're going to stay at a distance?"
Akira grinned. "Because wearing it makes me look cool."
"…Nope," Selena said flatly. "We're working on your martial arts and swordsmanship."
"Why? I can just blast them before they get close." Akira said.
"And what would you do if they sealed your magic again like before?" Selena asked with a smile.
Akira folded his arms. "I know some martial arts too, you know. I learned Bartitsu."
"Bartitsu?" Erika asked, tilting her head. "Why that one? It's not that effective or even mainstream." She did know a bit about it since she learned a lot about martial arts.
"Because it's a gentleman's martial art," Akira said proudly.
"…What?" Erika asked in confusion.
Selena sighed again. "He only learned it to shut up Father, who kept pestering him to train in something. Mostly because it's what Sherlock Holmes learned."
"Hey, Bartitsu is effective too, you know," Akira argued. "It may be old, but it's a mixed martial art, even covers stick fighting."
Selena smirked. "Yeah, but it won't help much in a real fight to the death. Even Erika-chan could beat you in hand-to-hand combat. She's really good at judo."
"...Well, maybe." Akira had to admit her stats were better than his in martial arts.
"That's why," Selena said, clapping her hands, "I've decided the first mission for both of you."
Holographic screens appeared in front of them, glowing faintly blue.
[New Mission Alert]
Main Quest: Destroy All Demons
Objectives:
Learn any Breathing Technique Defeat the Demon King, Kibutsuji Muzan Find the Blue Spider Lily
Difficulty: A
Time Limit: 1 Year
Reward: 1× Gacha Ticket
Restrictions:
All powers except Blazer abilities and innate abilities are locked. All items except essentials are restricted.
Mission starts in 24 hours.
Do you accept the mission: Yes / No
Both Akira and Erika stared at the window in disbelief.
Erika frowned. "What is any of this supposed to mean?"
Akira, who already recognized the references, looked up in surprise. "Hey, sister, are we going to the Demon Slayer world? Is this an isekai mission!?"
Selena smiled. "Correct. You're going to the Demon Slayer world."
Erika blinked. "What Demon Slayer world?"
Akira quickly explained, "It's a manga that just came out this February!", Akira remembered the anime only came out in 2020, and in this world, it's 2016, so the anime is not out yet, but the manga is already out this year.
Selena nodded. "You'll be going to a world similar to that. I'll explain the rest later. The mission starts in a day, so you both have a day to prepare."
Akira frowned at the window. "Wait, what are these restrictions supposed to mean? I can't use magic!?"
"Yes," Selena said firmly. "It would be too easy otherwise. You're way too overpowered, and you'll never learn anything that way."
"But how am I supposed to beat the Upper Moons and Muzan without magic!?" Akira asked in confusion.
"That's why you'll join the Demon Slayer Corps and learn Breathing Techniques. And if Erika-chan somehow learns Love Breathing, she could easily control her device." Selena explained.
"Love Breathing?" Erika asked. "What's that?"
"It's a fighting style that suits you perfectly," Selena said with a wink. "I'll explain later. So what do you both say?"
Akira groaned. "How can we learn Breathing Techniques in just a year? I'm not even good at swordsmanship or physical training."
"Actually, brother," Selena said, "your body's more attuned to martial arts than magic."
Akira scoffed. "Yeah, that's not true."
"It is true," she countered. "I'm more tuned for magic, but you're better suited for combat. The only reason you think you're bad at it is because you never cared enough to train."
"Really?" Akira asked, almost not believing it.
"Yes," Selena said with a teasing smile. "Remember, you only learned Bartitsu for a month and only half-heartedly at that, but now you were already stronger than any average martial artist."
"But it's not interesting," Akira said, whining a bit.
"Too bad," Selena said, hands on her hips. "I'm not going to spoil you like our parents did. You'll learn this, and that's final. I'll give both of you one day to prepare. Now, go rest early, we'll talk more in the morning."
Before Akira could reply, she teleported him back to his room.
Erika looked at Selena uncertainly. "Is that okay?"
"Well," Selena sighed, "everyone spoils him too much, so I have to be the strict one here. Anyway, Erika-chan, since you already missed curfew, why not stay the night? You can sleep in the room you used whenever you stayed the night back then."
"Okay," Erika said softly, then added, "I should probably contact my brother first."
She pulled out her phone only to find a message already waiting.
Iori: "I can't believe my sister already forgot me and didn't even return to the dorm to stay with her new boyfriend. And it's been just a day, and she already forgot me".
Erika froze, then clenched her phone. She almost threw it, but somehow managed to stop herself.
Selena smiled. "Oh, seems like he's very understanding. Good for you, Erika-chan. I'm sure he'll handle it. Now, where do you want to sleep? You can use your old room… or maybe my brother's room, like when you were kids?"
Erika's face turned bright red. "Not you too, Selena!" she shouted, while Selena only giggled.
Meanwhile, in his room, Akira sat by his desk, clearly not planning to sleep anytime soon.
He had just awakened a new power, and for him, sleep could wait.
In his own words: "I don't need sleep. I need answers."
A grin spread across his face as a faint glint lit his eyes. Then, with the excitement of a mad scientist, he chuckled, "Hehehe… It's time for experiments."