The wind cut sharply through the northern forest, carrying the scent of pine, snow, and lingering frost. Félix moved deliberately through the snow-laden terrain, twin katanas sheathed yet humming with latent Ice Breathing energy. The encounter with Akakami, the Upper Moon, had left the region unsettled, villages fearful, and the Corps wary. This mission demanded not only combat readiness but foresight, anticipation, and strategic coordination on a scale he had not yet faced. Leadership would be tested as never before.
Tanjiro walked beside him, calm and measured. "Félix, Akakami's strategy is subtle. This Upper Moon does not simply attack—it manipulates, deceives, and lures slayers into traps. We must plan carefully, protect civilians, and anticipate movements that may span days. Your judgment will define this operation." Zenitsu shivered slightly, muttering, "Traps… Upper Moon… it's… overwhelming…" Inosuke, already bounding ahead, growled with impatience, eager for action but aware that impulsiveness now carried fatal risk. Félix inhaled deeply, Absolute Zero pulsing faintly in his mind, a constant reminder of the control, precision, and patience required.
The team established a temporary base in a snow-covered ridge overlooking the main valley. Félix spread a crude map across the frost-hardened table: villages marked with symbols denoting civilians, forest paths, potential ambush sites, and Upper Moon sightings. Tanjiro's steady voice guided interpretation, Zenitsu provided observational notes, and Inosuke pointed out natural terrain advantages. Félix's eyes narrowed, scanning each mark, calculating distances, timing, and likely enemy movements. Leadership required integration of intelligence, terrain, and ethical judgment: they would need to defend without unnecessarily endangering lives, predict Akakami's strategy, and prepare contingencies for multiple possible outcomes.
"We must assume Akakami anticipates our moves," Félix said, tracing a finger across the map. "The Upper Moon will manipulate terrain, use civilians as leverage, and attempt to split us. Our strategy cannot rely on reaction alone—it must preempt, control, and adapt in real time." Tanjiro nodded, approving the integration of both moral and tactical considerations. Zenitsu gulped, glancing nervously at the snowy forest below, while Inosuke grinned, excitement tempered by recognition of the gravity of the operation.
Félix's plan was multi-layered: Zenitsu and Inosuke would be responsible for early-warning surveillance and civilian extraction, utilizing speed and mobility to create safe zones and preempt enemy strikes. Félix and Tanjiro would serve as anchors, controlling choke points, predicting Upper Moon movements, and maintaining battlefield cohesion. Absolute Zero would serve not only as an offensive tool but as a mechanism to control terrain, restrict movement, and guide allies safely.
The first signs of Akakami's approach manifested as subtle disturbances: snow-shifted paths where no animal had passed, faint rustling in distant pines, and an unnatural stillness that betrayed hidden movement. Félix's senses sharpened, scanning for both threat and opportunity. Timing, flow, and precision became as crucial as raw power.
Akakami emerged in the distance, a figure of graceful menace. Its crimson eyes scanned the ridge, calculating angles and vulnerabilities with an intelligence that bordered on prescience. Félix's mind raced, anticipating the Upper Moon's feints, flanking maneuvers, and potential manipulations of terrain and civilians. Ice Whirl, Frost Fang, Diamond Frost, and Glacial Veil were all ready to flow in seamless integration, each technique chosen not for display but for strategic effect.
The Upper Moon struck swiftly, testing reaction and rhythm. Félix executed Glacial Veil to intercept the initial strike, Frost Fang to counter, and immediately transitioned into Diamond Frost, controlling space and creating openings. Zenitsu and Inosuke responded with precision, their movements guided by Félix's subtle cues, striking at exposed points while protecting civilians. Snow erupted in crystalline shards, ice forming barriers, traps, and immobilizing zones that dictated the battlefield.
Akakami countered with calculated feints, aiming to separate the team and exploit weaknesses. Félix adapted instantly, chaining Frozen Torrent into Absolute Zero to manipulate terrain, controlling paths and restricting enemy movement. Zenitsu's attacks found gaps created by strategic frost placements, while Inosuke's raw energy disrupted coordination. Leadership and strategy converged: timing, rhythm, and anticipation dictated each decision, balancing ethics and efficiency.
A critical challenge emerged when Akakami attempted to lure Zenitsu and Inosuke into a narrow ravine, using civilians as bait. Félix recalculated, signaling a pivot. Using Absolute Zero, he immobilized the floor of the ravine, creating a frozen barrier that protected innocents while preventing the demons from executing the trap fully. Zenitsu and Inosuke struck in tandem, capitalizing on openings, their attacks precise and devastating. Frost crystallized across the ravine, immobilizing enemy movements and turning the Upper Moon's strategy against itself.
Akakami paused, assessing the new battlefield, realizing the strength of Félix's integration of technique, judgment, and leadership. It feigned retreat, drawing the team toward a more open expanse. Félix anticipated, repositioning allies and manipulating terrain with Absolute Zero and Frost Fang, maintaining defensive integrity while keeping civilians protected. Every movement was deliberate, each strike calculated, a choreography of frost, precision, and ethical resolve.
Finally, an opening presented itself. Akakami overextended in a deceptive maneuver, targeting a civilian-adjacent path. Félix executed a sequence: Frost Fang, Diamond Frost, Ice Whirl, and Absolute Zero, immobilizing the threat while guiding Zenitsu and Inosuke to capitalize on the position. Snow erupted in crystalline shards, ice forming barriers and cages, and the Upper Moon recoiled, momentarily thwarted.
The battle reached a tense standoff, both sides evaluating strength, position, and intent. Akakami's presence was imposing, yet Félix had demonstrated mastery over both technique and strategy. Leadership had preserved civilian lives, maintained battlefield control, and forced the Upper Moon into reactive positions.
The Hashira appeared on a ridge above, observing silently. "You have not merely fought," he said, voice resonant. "You have orchestrated, anticipated, and integrated moral judgment with strategy and combat. This is leadership on a scale few achieve. The Upper Moon tests more than skill—it tests conscience, foresight, and adaptability. Today, Félix, you have proven capable of all three." Félix bowed, absorbing both praise and the weight of responsibility, understanding that leadership and reputation were inseparable from the choices made under pressure.
Zenitsu collapsed into the snow, trembling with exhilaration. "We… survived… and saved everyone…" Inosuke removed his boar mask, grinning broadly, chest heaving. "I didn't think we could pull that off… but we did!" Félix allowed a faint, tired smile, acknowledging the truth and encouragement in their words.
Night fell across the valley, stars glittering above frost-covered rooftops. Félix sheathed his katanas, feeling the lingering hum of Absolute Zero, a reminder of discipline, mastery, and ethical resolve. The Upper Moon's shadow persisted, a warning of trials yet to come, yet the team had successfully anticipated, planned, and acted to minimize harm while maintaining combat effectiveness.
The path ahead promised greater challenges, higher-ranked adversaries, and missions demanding ever more sophisticated strategy and ethical judgment. Félix had demonstrated leadership, mastery, and foresight, reinforcing his growing reputation within the Corps. The forest lay silent, the wind carrying whispers of future threats and unseen adversaries, and Félix felt clarity, resolve, and readiness for the trials yet to come.