>...I went back to ashina outskirts and
>just kinda made my way back up all the way to the snake from
>the beginning and barely got touched, which was nice, bc I
>really struggled early.

This is where it's starting to click. My homeboy was like you and Sekiro level up together.

During my first playthough, I remember going "I don't see how people New Game + this shit."

My first NG + I bodied Genichiro on the first stage.

I was on NG+ 3 when I activated the demon bell lol