Ash.
It danced through the air like embers, soft and smoldering.
Willow stood frozen, watching as her father's body disintegrated into the breeze. Piece by piece, like paper crumbling to dust, until only Kokushibo's voice remained—low, broken, fading.
"I'm sorry, Willow… I couldn't protect you…"
Her breath hitched. "No… please—no—Dad!!"
She reached out, but her fingers only grasped empty air.
Tears poured down her cheeks, her heart breaking open like a cracked bell. The ashes floated past her face as she screamed, but no sound came out.
Then, a shadow fell across her. Cold. Heavy.
"Pitiful," Muzan said.
He stood over her, a cruel smirk carved into his face. "You failed to save him. You failed to save everyone. But you are special, child. You'll be my key to conquering the sun."
His hand reached toward her face.
"No… don't!!!"
His fingers touched her cheek.
Willow shot up with a scream. "NO!!!"
She clutched at her chest, heart thundering, her breath ragged. The cave was dimly lit by the low flicker of firelight. Damp air. Cold stone. No ash. No Muzan.
Just a nightmare.
She brought a trembling hand to her face, trying to slow her breathing. It was just a dream. Just a dream.
She quickly turned toward her father.
Kokushibo lay still, his body whole but unmoving. His chest rose and fell, shallow and slow. Not dead. But not awake either.
Willow knelt beside him, placing a hand gently over his. Cold, but not turning to ash. A small comfort.
But deep down, she knew.
He wouldn't be waking up for a long time.
She bit her lip, wiping the tears from her face. "I'll save you, Dad. I promise."
Two years. That was all she had until the canon timeline began. Two years to be ready.
"But how…" she whispered. "How do I learn Total Concentration Breathing? How do I even begin? I have no one…"
A soft chime rang out in the quiet.
Willow flinched. "What…?"
In front of her, floating mid-air, a glowing blue screen blinked into existence.
Her eyes widened.
It looked like a game menu. Like one of those RPG status screens.
And at the very top, her name.
WILLOW TSUGIKUNI
Her breath caught as her eyes scanned the screen.
SPECIES: Half Demon
TITLE: The Wanderer
AGE: 17
Level: 3/90
STATS
Attack: 51
Defense: 47
Speed: 44
Stamina: 39
Blood Demon Arts: 3/90
(-) ~ Passive skill- Because of your BDA, your blood can be used as acid to demons not overridden by your cells.
(-) BLOOD DEMON ARTS (Can be amplified by The System)
• Crimson Conquest – Overrides Muzan's demon cells with Willow's, breaking his control. Passively acts as an acid against demons not under its influence.
* Modified Version- Can control a demon temporarily. Drawback: Uses most of Stamina.
• Vermilion Dragons – Creates blood dragons of various sizes, from small crow-like scouts to massive draconic titans.
* Modified Version- ??? Drawback: ???
• ??? – Locked. Skill not yet awakened.
* Modified Version- ??? Drawback: ???
Willow started. Her mind was spinning.
"A system?" she breathed. "I have… a system?"
At the bottom right corner, a small icon shaped like a book pulsed faintly.
She tapped it.
A new screen expanded outward. Its title glowed at the top in elegant script:
FIGHTING/BREATHING STYLE GUIDES
Below it, an entire library of combat forms and breathing techniques—each one categorized by type, with explanations, examples, Simulations, and suggested training regimens.
She gasped. "This is what I need…"
She flipped through the pages, scanning every detail: Total Concentration Breathing basics, forms of known styles, muscle conditioning methods, and even guides for custom styles.
Excitement rose in her chest. For the first time since she woke up in this world… she felt hope.
"I can do this," she whispered, clenching her fist. "I can train. I can grow stronger. I can protect the people I care about."
She stood up, facing the cave's entrance. Firelight flickered behind her. Her father rested peacefully nearby.
And now, she had knowledge.
She had power.
And she had time.
"It's time to train," she said, determination settling into her bones like armor.
She turned to the screen again. Her fingers hovered over Sun Breathing.
The work began now.