Since Tamayo needed to treat Yae's father, Mizuki also temporarily stayed at the Butterfly Mansion.
The Kocho Sisters, as the owners of the Butterfly Mansion, were the medical unit of the Demon Slayer Corps, but Kochou Shinobu alone was truly responsible for managing the Butterfly Mansion.
Because Mizuki changed history, the Taisho Nine Hashira now numbered ten.
Although they were sisters, Kochou Shinobu failed to inherit the same talent, or even height, as her older sister.
The talent bestowed by heaven seemed to have been completely absorbed by Kochou Kanae; her talent ranked among the top Hashira.
Therefore, she was mostly regarded as a usable combat force, constantly out on expeditions to subjugate demons.
Kochou Shinobu, on the other hand, was the complete opposite: short and without talent.
Upon her promotion to Hashira, Ubuyashiki Kagaya entrusted her with the important task of taking over the management of the Butterfly Mansion from her sister.
But Kochou Shinobu knew very well that this was because she was too weak.
Although Kanae was very happy about this, as her sister wouldn't have to face danger, Kochou Shinobu couldn't accept it... The night was hazy, and the cold moon hung high.
In the courtyard in front of the Butterfly Mansion, Kochou Shinobu and Mizuki stood facing each other.
Kochou Shinobu slowly drew her unique blade: "Mizuki, please don't hold back. I want to awaken my Demon Slayer Mark as soon as possible, so please push me to my limit with all your strength."
Unable to resist Kochou Shinobu's eager desire to become stronger, Mizuki could only accept her request.
After all, she had been eating and staying here for free for a month.
Yes, including food.
The daily expenses of Tamayo, Mizuki, and Yushiro, the three demons, were all covered by Ubuyashiki.
Blood was also provided by Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen.
This was the Butterfly Mansion, so collecting blood was relatively convenient.
Because of Tamayo's words, Mizuki was no longer so resistant, and her body felt unprecedentedly comfortable.
Mizuki nodded and said, "Shinobu, don't worry about hurting me. I have already overcome the sun, and a Nichirin Blade can no longer cause me substantial harm."
Mizuki had not actually overcome the weakness of her neck, but she had directly overcome the sun.
Demons feared being beheaded by a Nichirin Blade, but Mizuki, having overcome the sun, would not die even if her head was cut off.
As for wisteria flower poison, it wasn't that she underestimated it.
Mizuki had learned about Kochou Shinobu's weapon during this time. The dosage of poison hidden in the blade, even if multiplied tenfold, would not harm her.
She herself had carried a wisteria flower sachet for years, so she was very experienced.
Kochou Shinobu nodded seriously: "I understand."
Mizuki unfastened her Nichirin Blade and placed it on the corridor. "Then, to make it immersive for you, I'll let you feel it more directly."
Just as Kochou Shinobu wondered what she meant, Mizuki's crimson long hair, which had been fluttering in the cold wind, instantly turned white, and two grotesque demon horns grew from her head.
Her crimson double pupils also transformed into golden vertical pupils at this moment, looking captivating from afar.
It wasn't over yet. Mizuki clenched her right hand into her left palm, and a bloody demon blade was pulled out from her palm.
With a casual flourish, blood splattered everywhere, and the demon blade, soaked in blood, revealed its original snow-white appearance.
Not a single drop of blood remained on the blade, which was as white as snow.
On the corridor, the spectators felt a tremor in their hearts.
Tamayo's eyes widened as she watched Mizuki; this was the first time she had seen Mizuki's complete Demonization.
This oppressive feeling probably meant that Mizuki's elder brother had injected a sufficient amount of Muzan's blood into Mizuki's body.
Tamayo had no doubt that the swordsman and Mizuki's elder brother, Upper Rank One, who had remained unchanged for hundreds of years, would have no standing before Muzan.
But at the same time, she also marveled at Mizuki's appearance after Demonization.
She truly... didn't look much like a demon.
Setting aside the bloody scene just now, under the moonlight's embrace...
That posture... was too sacred.
This was how the people in the corridor perceived Mizuki, but Kochou Shinobu, facing her directly, felt entirely different.
Kochou Shinobu had no mind to notice Mizuki's appearance at this moment. That indescribable oppressive feeling, after Mizuki's Demonization, surged towards Kochou Shinobu's chest like a mountain, making it difficult for her to breathe.
Kochou Shinobu's body trembled slightly, and even the hand holding her sword shook uncontrollably like a sieve.
She was scared.
Even though she knew the other party wouldn't harm her.
But she was simply scared. Her body's instinct was in fear, in fear of being her enemy.
This was the Upper Rank they had to face, the strongest among the Twelve Demon Moons.
Was her sister fighting this kind of monster back then?
On the corridor, Kanzaki Aoi noticed Kochou Shinobu trembling uncontrollably and was somewhat puzzled.
What's wrong with Miss Shinobu...?
Under Mizuki's intentional pressure, Kochou Shinobu's thoughts were on the verge of collapse.
In just a few seconds, Kochou Shinobu was drenched in sweat, losing control of her body.
Move... Kochou Shinobu bit her lip until it bled, her will successfully suppressing the fear in her heart.
Feeling her body control return, Kochou Shinobu's heart rejoiced. Her lithe body crouched slightly, shooting out like a sharp arrow.
"Insect Breathing, Bee Sting Dance: True Flutter!"
As the Hashira with the fastest thrusting speed, Kochou Shinobu's figure was almost too fast for the people in the corridor to see clearly.
However... Mizuki watched the small figure, like a moth to a flame, with calm eyes, slowly extending her arm.
To Kochou Shinobu's shock, Mizuki grabbed her rapidly advancing slender blade, and then a tremendous force suddenly struck, throwing Kochou Shinobu high into the air.
That immense force almost made her lose her grip on the sword hilt.
Kochou Shinobu, forcefully twisting her body in mid-air, gritted her teeth and fell gracefully like a butterfly. The moment she landed, she sprang out like a cannonball.
"Insect Breathing, Dragonfly Dance: Compound Eye Hexagon!"
Because her strength was too weak, most of Kochou Shinobu's Sword Forms focused on thrusts, aiming to stab the poison hidden in her blade into the demon's body to eliminate them.
However, the six-hit combo that should have been completed in an instant was interrupted when, just as the first strike was about to hit Mizuki, a silver light flashed.
Kochou Shinobu's wrist stung, and her blade was instantly knocked away.
Without giving her a chance to react, a dark shadow enveloped her vision. Kochou Shinobu subconsciously looked up, her pupils suddenly constricting.
She met those captivating golden vertical pupils.
Mizuki raised the long sword in her hand high, the snow-white blade reflecting the bright moonlight, chopping straight down at her.
She was going to die.
Kochou Shinobu completely forgot their plan at this moment, stiffening in place like a lamb awaiting slaughter.
The snow-white blade stopped right before her eyes, the strong wind it generated seemingly about to tear her cheeks.
Mizuki sheathed her sword and dispelled her Demonization state.
That overpowering aura completely disintegrated. With the high pressure released, Kochou Shinobu's legs gave way, and she knelt before Mizuki.
Kochou Shinobu knelt on the ground, gasping for air, unable to tell if the drops on the back of her hand were tears or sweat.
She was too weak... In this situation... let alone fighting, she was just a burden.
"Shinobu..." Kanzaki Aoi subconsciously stepped forward but was stopped by Tamayo.
Tamayo shook her head, signaling everyone to leave and let the two of them handle it.
Everyone quietly left.
Mizuki squatted down and extended her hand: "Shinobu, get up first."
Kochou Shinobu's lips trembled twice. She reached out and was helped up by Mizuki. She hugged one arm, her head bowed, and a sound close to a sob escaped her lips.
"It's embarrassing, isn't it...?"
She had inexplicably brought up wanting to awaken her Demon Slayer Mark and presumptuously asked Mizuki to train with her... yet she couldn't even remain calm in front of Mizuki.
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