"Can't you understand?" Mizuki tilted her head and pointed to her cheek again. "This Demon Slayer Mark naturally appears when the body reaches its limit, and it can forcefully enhance physical abilities."
Due to the gap of several hundred years, the unexpected early deaths of the Demon Slayer Mark swordsmen, and the purges carried out by Muzan and Kokushibou back then, the Demon Slayer Corps' internal records regarding the Sengoku Period are quite incomplete.
Even the Ubuyashiki family only knew of the existence of the Demon Slayer Mark.
Mizuki patiently explained to everyone: "The scarlet blade is a technique that uses grip strength to turn the sword edge red. Once the blade turns red, the Nichirin Blade has a clear inhibitory effect on demons' regeneration."
"And the so-called Transparent World is a symbol of reaching the peak of the Martial Path, requiring extremely strict demands on the user's breathing techniques and swordsmanship."
"Once the Transparent World is successfully mastered, the most direct change is the ability to see the physical structure of others with the naked eye, including blood flow and skeletal movement."
After speaking a long string of sentences in one breath, Mizuki slowly exhaled and scanned the group. "That's roughly the situation. Did everyone understand?"
...
"Ha, haha..." Kanroji Mitsuri gave a couple of forced laughs, sweat dripping from her forehead. She glanced around nervously and saw that everyone else looked indifferent.
Oh no! She was the only one who didn't understand!
Tomioka Giyu's expression was calm: As expected of a Hashira, unlike me.
Himejima Gyomei: Namu Amida Butsu.
Rengoku Kyojuro: That sounds incredibly powerful!
Tokito Muichiro: What was she talking about again?
Kochou Kanae: I didn't understand... Uzui Tengen: That's ridiculous.
Iguro Obanai: I can't believe it, but it doesn't matter. Let's see what Shinazugawa says.
After remaining silent for a long while, Sanemi Shinazugawa began to tremble violently, like a volcano about to erupt.
"What kind of joke is this!"
"Stop spouting nonsense!"
"What Demon Slayer Mark! What scarlet blade!"
Sanemi Shinazugawa angrily pointed at Mizuki's cheek. "Isn't that just a normal tattoo!"
He pointed to the Nichirin Blade at her waist: "A normal Nichirin Blade!"
"And that so-called Transparent World, how can a human possibly see through someone else's physical structure!"
Mizuki nodded gently, as if accepting criticism. As soon as Sanemi Shinazugawa finished yelling, she suddenly reached out toward him and grabbed both of his wrists.
...
Both sides froze for a moment. Sanemi Shinazugawa instantly became flustered, as if he had been contaminated by something filthy.
He shouted loudly, "What do you think you're doing, woman?!"
Mizuki quickly pulled his sleeves down to cover his hands.
"Want to try something?"
"Huh?" The veins on Sanemi Shinazugawa's forehead pulsed continuously.
Mizuki smiled slightly. "Rock, paper, scissors. Let's see if I can guess what you throw."
Sanemi Shinazugawa glared at her with dead fish eyes, gritting his teeth. "Fine, I'll try!"
He lowered his hands, hiding them in his sleeves, and looked at Mizuki disdainfully. "Guess."
"Rock."
Sanemi Shinazugawa's eyelid twitched slightly.
"Scissors."
...
"Paper."
...
"Oh, you cheated. Your right hand showed a thumb and pinky, and your left hand held up the middle finger."
"..." The corner of Sanemi Shinazugawa's eye twitched violently twice.
Iguro Obanai's pupils contracted slightly. She actually saw it.
If it were just a one-in-three choice, he could understand, but how did she manage to see that he was cheating? Did she really see it with her naked eyes?
Mizuki smiled slightly. "Do you believe it now?"
Sanemi Shinazugawa's face twitched twice, wearing an unconvinced expression.
Mizuki sighed, and the look in her eyes toward Sanemi Shinazugawa became subtle.
Sanemi Shinazugawa bristled. "What kind of look is that!"
Mizuki shook her head helplessly. "I explained everything to you so patiently, and what was your response?"
"I spoke, but you wouldn't listen. You listened, but you didn't understand. You understood, but you wouldn't act. You acted, but you did it wrong. You were wrong, but you wouldn't admit it..."
"How am I supposed to explain things to you?"
Mizuki realized that this man held a very strong hostility towards her, greater than anyone else's.
Everyone else had more or less lowered their guard with the help of Ubuyashiki Kagaya, but this guy hadn't at all.
...
The atmosphere at the scene became momentarily stagnant.
"Pfft." Kanroji Mitsuri couldn't help but laugh out loud. She immediately covered her mouth and anxiously hid behind Kochou Kanae. Only after confirming that no one had noticed her did she dare to peek out again.
Sanemi Shinazugawa opened his mouth, and his face instantly flushed red.
Mizuki suddenly blurted out, "Do you want to cry?"
"Who wants to cry!" Sanemi Shinazugawa bristled as if his tail had been stepped on.
"Shinazugawa-san." A gentle female voice suddenly sounded.
Sanemi Shinazugawa impatiently looked toward the source of the voice, and his expression softened slightly. "...W-What?"
Huh?
Mizuki tilted her head.
Kanae said gently, "Four years ago, I was on the verge of death during my fight with Upper Rank Two, and Miss Mizuki saved me."
Because this matter was too strange, she had only told the Master.
Everyone who heard Kanae's words looked at Mizuki in astonishment.
Sanemi Shinazugawa's lips moved, and he sat back down without saying a word.
Oh~
Something's up.
Mizuki's gaze was subtle.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya's voice sounded at just the right moment: "Regarding the Demon Slayer Mark, the Demon Slayer Corps did indeed have clear records."
"It is an ability to borrow lifespan from the heavens, burning life essence to enhance the physical abilities of the holder."
Although it sounded ridiculous, since the Master said it, it must be true.
"Regarding the Demon Slayer Mark, I can also testify." A cool yet gentle young woman's voice sounded from outside the room. The door slid open, and Kochou Shinobu sat down smiling at the far end.
Everyone looked at her with confusion. "Testify?"
Kochou Shinobu nodded slightly, pointing her slender index finger toward her cheek. "That's right."
Under her intense concentration, a blood-red butterfly pattern gradually appeared.
!
"Before you all returned, I successfully awakened the Demon Slayer Mark under Mizuki's guidance," Kochou Shinobu said slowly. "In this state, both my strength and speed have increased significantly."
Iguro Obanai was stunned for a moment. No wonder he thought that Kochou girl's strength had increased.
It's actually true.
Even Sanemi Shinazugawa's expression calmed down slightly. "Then, how do you activate this thing?"
Mizuki looked at him calmly. "It's simple. Just take a few more beatings."
"Huh?" Sanemi Shinazugawa's eye twitched. He had ample evidence that this woman was trying to use her position to exact personal revenge.
As if seeing through his single-minded thought process, Mizuki said flatly, "I already said at the beginning, this is a technique that can only be grasped when the body reaches its limit."
"In other words, it's the same for everyone else."
Of course, there was one thing she hadn't mentioned.
That is, the resonance and contagiousness of the Demon Slayer Mark. Simply reaching the body's limit might not be enough to activate it easily; an infection source is also necessary.
It requires a certain amount of time.
Kochou Shinobu had also spent a considerable amount of time with her.
---------------------------------
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