The almost identical crescent blades clashed in mid-air and canceled each other out.
After two years, Michikatsu, dressed in that dark purple attire, appeared before her again.
"Upper Rank... One..."
Looking at the number engraved in his pupils, Mizuki slowly read it aloud.
Perhaps it was to better search for the blue spider lily, or perhaps Yoriichi's existence finally made Muzan realize the importance of cultivating a personal guard.
Thus, the Twelve Kizuki were born.
As the strongest individual besides him, Michikatsu successfully secured the position of Upper Rank One.
The gentle expression on Mizuki's face darkened at a visible speed.
Michikatsu, who now had six eyes and whose facial expression was indiscernible, said calmly, "Mizuki, you are going to die."
Michikatsu's eyes easily saw through Mizuki's physical condition.
Mizuki tightened her grip on her nichirin blade, her expression frighteningly calm.
"So what?" She subtly stepped forward half a pace, shielding Namiko, who was trembling uncontrollably.
"Why won't you turn into a demon?" Unlike most demons who lose their memories of their former life, Michikatsu retained his memories completely.
"If you just become a demon, your body will recover its health."
"The supreme heights of Swordsmanship you seek will no longer be a dream."
He couldn't understand why his younger sister was so resistant.
A layer of gloom shadowed Mizuki's eyes: "So, is eating people justified for the sake of these things?"
"Just how many people... *cough cough*... have you eaten?" If her tone became hurried, Mizuki's lungs tended to act up.
The strength of a demon is often directly proportional to the number of people they consume.
This statement is true; unless Muzan grants blood, eating humans is the fastest way for demons to grow stronger.
After two years, the aura surrounding Michikatsu had become denser and more foul.
Simply standing in front of him made the less powerful Namiko feel difficulty breathing and tremble uncontrollably.
This is not the worldview a normal person should have, even in this era where people consume people.
But Michikatsu could not understand.
As a samurai, as a member of the ruling class, Michikatsu completely failed to grasp Mizuki's regard for ordinary people.
Even when he joined the Demon Slayer Corps, Michikatsu wasn't doing it to slay demons and save people, but to surpass Yoriichi.
Unable to discern any trace of repentance on Michikatsu's face, Mizuki stared intently at him and said in a low voice, "Namiko, can you move?"
"Get out of here and go down the mountain for help."
Hearing Mizuki's voice, Namiko snapped out of her terror.
"But, Miss Mizuki..."
Mizuki interrupted, "That's not a demon you can handle. Only by going down the mountain and contacting the Demon Slayer Corps will we have a chance."
Namiko paused, wanting to say more but holding back, finally nodding tearfully: "I understand. Please, you must be careful."
"I'll be back immediately!"
Taking advantage of the standoff between Mizuki and Michikatsu, Namiko rushed out the door.
Michikatsu made no move: "At a time like this, are you still thinking about others?"
Calling for backup? By the time reinforcements arrive, things here will have long been over.
Mizuki remained silent, simply guarding against him.
Just then, Michikatsu moved, his ghostly figure quickly closing in on Mizuki.
"So fast!" Mizuki was alarmed. Just as she was about to raise her nichirin blade to respond, Michikatsu bypassed her entirely.
His target was... Namiko!
Mizuki's pupils constricted sharply, and she quickly turned around.
"Michikatsu! You!"
In this situation.
"Snow Breathing, Fifth Form: Snow Run."
The snow-colored figure approached Michikatsu in the blink of an eye.
So slow... Michikatsu's speed is so slow... Mizuki subconsciously thought in a daze.
But the situation was unfolding in a flash, giving her no time to think further.
The next move of Snow Breathing was about to be unleashed, aimed directly at Michikatsu's neck, yet Michikatsu seemed completely unaware as he rushed forward.
Suddenly, a piercing pain shot through her lungs, as if they were being tightly squeezed.
Mizuki's footsteps instantly faltered, and after stumbling a few steps, the world before her tilted.
At this moment, she recalled Michikatsu's strange actions just now.
Did he use the Transparent World to discern her lung's breathing frequency and predict the timing of her next attack?
Mizuki's wine-red eyes slightly constricted as she watched Michikatsu stab towards Namiko's back.
She could almost see the next moment, Namiko having her heart pierced from behind by him.
Mizuki's wine-red eyes deepened... Just as Michikatsu calmly brought his long nichirin blade to less than half an inch behind the woman in front of him, an angry voice suddenly exploded in his ear.
"Get lost!"
Almost simultaneously, a flash of crimson suddenly appeared in his peripheral vision.
"When?!" A surge of shock ripped through Michikatsu's normally placid heart.
The snow-white blade flashed quickly past his eyes, and a severed arm was tossed high into the air, spilling blood across the sky.
Namiko felt the movement behind her and subconsciously looked back, only to see Miss Mizuki displaying an unprecedented grimness as she confronted the demon.
She bit her lip and rushed forward blindly.
She would only drag Miss Mizuki down if she stayed here; she couldn't let Miss Mizuki's expectations down.
Michikatsu stood still, silently looking at his severed arm.
Regeneration... it's become so slow.
Does Snow Breathing actually possess such a strong restraint on regeneration?
No, that's not the point.
He didn't understand how Mizuki managed to get next to him in that instant.
If that strike had been aimed at his neck... Mizuki held her nichirin blade with both hands, a shadow appearing on her face: "Wantonly slaughtering humans—is this your answer?"
Michikatsu controlled the regeneration of his flesh, and with focused effort, he recovered completely in just a few seconds.
"See? As long as you become a demon, even a severed arm is just a minor injury."
"I'm not here to watch your magic trick." The gloom in Mizuki's eyes persisted as she raised her nichirin blade into a starting stance.
"I see..." Michikatsu's tone was slightly regretful. He held his blade in a standoff. "My name is... Kokushibou."
In the next instant, two figures, one white and one purple, collided.
"You will die, Mizuki." Kokushibou parried Mizuki's attacks with ease. "Does it not matter if your own dream remains unfulfilled?"
Mizuki sneered, "Do you truly believe that becoming a demon allows you to surpass Yoriichi?"
Kokushibou's eyes slightly narrowed.
"You should know clearly that even by becoming a demon, you still cannot surpass Yori..."
Before Mizuki could finish her sentence, an indescribable sense of danger instantly enveloped her entire body.
The Transparent World unfolded before her eyes, revealing Kokushibou's entire body tensed, his breathing rhythm becoming steady and powerful.
"Moon Breathing, Eighth Form: Moondragon Ringtail!"
Kokushibou stepped forward, unleashing a massive blue-purple crescent moon, vast as a starry river, that swept out and engulfed almost everything in front of him.
This was a Sword Form Mizuki had never known; its might was unprecedented!
But Mizuki, having seen through Kokushibou's muscle movements, was already prepared, leaning back and ducking low.
Boom!
The massive crescent moon shredded the house behind her, and a streak of blood appeared on Mizuki's forehead.
She performed a backflip to stabilize herself and wiped away the blood from the corner of her forehead.
Merely being grazed by the residual power...