Mizuki's speed slowed down.
After Kochou Shinobu dodged the sudden attack, she subconsciously thought this.
But she immediately realized that Mizuki just hadn't been serious.
But just as Mizuki planned, she wouldn't give her too much time to think.
The next move arrived.
"Snow Breathing, Fourth Form: Warm Snow."
Flakes of snow reflected in Kochou Shinobu's eyes. Her intuition told her that she couldn't touch these snowflakes.
She scanned left and right, trying to find a place not covered by snow.
Kochou Shinobu turned her body, only to find that she was completely surrounded by snow.
There's no choice!
Kochou Shinobu bit her silver teeth lightly and drew her blade.
'Insect Breathing, Centipede Dance: Hundred-Legged Serpent Belly!'
Powerful stomps shook the ground, raising gusts of wind that scattered the snowflakes falling from all directions.
In many cases, the first confrontation tests who has the stronger response capability.
Kochou Shinobu might not have the physical aptitude, but as a Hashira, she was never inferior to others in other aspects.
Mizuki gradually increased her strength and speed, ensuring Kochou Shinobu had no chance to catch her breath.
The butterfly haori was torn in several places, and slight bloody marks appeared on her body.
The high-intensity suppression forced Kochou Shinobu to flee miserably. Forget touching Mizuki; even getting close became difficult. Her thoughts had to scatter for the sake of evasion before they could fully form.
Kochou Shinobu could barely do anything but defend against Mizuki's attacks.
Mizuki was also continuously observing Kochou Shinobu's physical state through the Transparent World, ready to stop once the pressure exceeded what she could bear.
Kochou Shinobu's heart rate and pulse had soared to their maximum, and her body temperature was rapidly rising.
Suddenly, a red pattern appeared on her cheek.
Mizuki momentarily paused in surprise. Kochou Shinobu seized the opportunity, stepped on the back of Mizuki's blade, and drifted backward.
Mid-air, Kochou Shinobu adjusted her landing posture, finally finding a chance to counterattack.
"Insect Breathing, Butterfly Dance: Caprice."
Perhaps she hadn't even noticed yet, but both her speed and strength had increased significantly.
Mizuki quickly grabbed her slender blade. Kochou Shinobu wasn't alarmed and pulled hard... pulled... but couldn't pull it free.
Kochou Shinobu yanked hard, but the blade didn't budge.
Since it was just training, Mizuki would usually let go after blocking her attack... Wait... Seeing Kochou Shinobu's bewildered expression, Mizuki pointed to her cheek with a slight smile: "Shinobu, you succeeded."
"Eh?" Kochou Shinobu looked stunned.
Mizuki released her hand, and while deactivating her Demonization, she held up the blade of Shura as a mirror to Kochou Shinobu.
Aided by the bright moonlight, Kochou Shinobu could clearly see that a red Demon Slayer Mark in the shape of a butterfly had appeared on her youthful cheek without her knowing.
Kochou Shinobu subconsciously touched her cheek. Was this the Demon Slayer Mark?
But why was Mizuki still able to grab her blade so easily?
Kochou Shinobu calmed down to sense her physical condition. She wasn't sure if she had improved, but her current body temperature and heart rate were indeed terrifying.
It was like the state of running for a long time while having a fever.
For a moment, Kochou Shinobu was confused: "S-succeeded?"
"Yes." Mizuki stepped back, holding her blade with both hands, signaling, "Shinobu, pay attention to the changes in your body."
Kochou Shinobu nodded slightly: "I understand."
Kochou Shinobu tightly gripped her blade and began a new round of attacks.
The roles of offense and defense were now reversed.
Mizuki was only continuously defending and blocking.
Kochou Shinobu could thus carefully feel her changes.
She had indeed become stronger!
Although she had no reference point yet, Kochou Shinobu clearly sensed her own transformation.
Especially her speed. Kochou Shinobu's speed was already fast among the Hashira, and her dashing speed was the fastest among them.
Now that she had awakened the Demon Slayer Mark, by intentionally focusing on it, she truly experienced the fact that she had become stronger.
But... looking at Mizuki, who easily blocked her attacks, the slight joy that arose in Kochou Shinobu's heart couldn't help but freeze.
Isn't this meaningless!
Mizuki is indeed incredibly strong.
Kochou Shinobu took a deep breath, feeling happy from the bottom of her heart.
The Demon Slayer Corps had gained a fighting force comparable to Upper Rank One, increasing their chances of victory by another point.
As Kochou Shinobu put away her Nichirin Blade, the Demon Slayer Mark on her cheek slowly disappeared.
Mizuki pointed to her cheek and explained, "After just awakening the Demon Slayer Mark, you can't maintain it constantly, but as long as you enter a combat state, the Mark will appear easily."
When she first awakened hers, she could maintain it long-term. The awakening of the Demon Slayer Mark doesn't have a huge relationship with physical fitness, but it's not entirely unrelated either.
Kochou Shinobu was stunned for a moment. She borrowed Mizuki's blade again to look at her cheek, and the butterfly Demon Slayer Mark had indeed vanished.
Her body temperature and heart rate also slowly decreased.
"When my older sister returns, I must give her a surprise."
Mizuki smiled slightly: "Of course."
In her perception, the current Kochou Shinobu was already comparable to Tomioka Giyu. If only considering speed, Giyuu would have trouble even touching the hem of her clothes.
Kochou Shinobu suddenly raised her eyes, a slight smile appearing on her lips as she looked at Mizuki: "Mizuki, thank you."
Mizuki chuckled lightly: "It's nothing."
...Kochou Shinobu awakening the Demon Slayer Mark was a good thing for the Demon Slayer Corps.
Any increase in fighting power could help defeat Muzan, especially a Hashira-level increase.
Mizuki's following days were much more relaxed. She either planned subsequent strategies with Tamayo or accompanied Kochou Shinobu to consolidate her Demon Slayer Mark.
Until... Kochou Shinobu found Mizuki, who was discussing matters with Tamayo: "Mizuki, the Master requests our presence."
"Me?"
Kochou Shinobu nodded slightly: "It seems to be related to the Lower Rank Demon at Natagumo Mountain."
Has the plot reached the point where Tanjirou defeats lower rank five?
Hearing this, Mizuki picked up her Nichirin Blade from the side: "Do they need our reinforcement?"
Kochou Shinobu was slightly taken aback: "No, they just asked us to go over."
Kochou Shinobu smiled: "It seems a swordsman from the Demon Slayer Corps killed that fiend. If nothing unexpected happens, the Demon Slayer Corps should gain a new Hashira."
Mizuki's expression froze: "Is it a newcomer?"
"Yes, I heard it's a short, red-haired boy."
According to the plot, it should have been the Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyu, who killed him. Although her memory of that time was a bit vague, this plot point definitely shouldn't be wrong.
In that case... Tanjirou truly grew faster than in the Original Work.
Mizuki smiled: "Then let's go and see."
"I heard the Master also recalled the other Hashira this time. He must be planning to hold a Hashira Meeting. My older sister should be back soon too," Kochou Shinobu said, the corners of her mouth curling up unconsciously. "She's been wanting to thank you."
Mizuki looked slightly helpless: "About that..."
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