For Kokushibou, who possessed intense jealousy and competitiveness, the fact that he was inferior to Yoriichi was something he absolutely refused to mention or even recall.
However... hearing his sister's sharp tongue after so long, Kokushibou's heart wasn't as angry or irritated as he imagined.
He couldn't quite describe the emotions he was feeling.
Kokushibou simply instructed, much like Mizuki had, "Gyuutarou, the others are up to you."
Gyuutarou looked at the lineup: besides Mizuki, there were one, two... eight people?
Kokushibou, are you even human?
But if he had to choose, he would still pick the others.
After all, only a few people in this group were worth fighting; the rest were just cheerleaders filling up space.
This woman was different. Their previous skirmish had already terrified him in just a few moves. As expected of Kokushibou's biological sister, this family was full of monsters.
He wasn't sure if this woman had Kokushibou's strength, but she was definitely not an opponent they could defeat. Even Akaza had been defeated; he and his sister alone truly weren't enough.
"Understood~" Gyuutarou chuckled, his hoarse tone carrying a hint of frivolity.
Mere Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen, they would be defeated by him and his sister.
"If you have the guts, follow me~" Gyuutarou provoked, then took Daki and left the area, leaving this battlefield to Kokushibou. He didn't want to inexplicably lose his head in the middle of a fight.
Uzui Tengen glanced at Mizuki: "We'll deal with those two demons as quickly as possible. You be careful."
His words weren't out of sudden concern, but because Mizuki herself was a demon who had overcome sunlight, and no accidents could happen to her.
Mizuki looked at Kokushibou, her gaze unwavering: "I know."
Seeing this, Uzui Tengen turned and called out to the others, and his three wives also left along the edge of the arena.
Tanjirou put Nezuko back into her box, then looked back uneasily.
Mizuki noticed his gaze and smiled calmly: "Tanjirou, I'm counting on you. Cut off the heads of those two evil demons. Don't let me be embarrassed in front of this guy."
Tanjirou was momentarily stunned, then nodded heavily: "Yes!"
Once everyone's figures disappeared, the smile on Mizuki's face gradually faded.
Kokushibou threw the Nichirin Blade he had pulled from his chest back towards Mizuki, the pristine white blade sticking straight into the ground.
Mizuki's lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but didn't know how to begin.
The two stared at each other in silence for a moment. Finally, Mizuki couldn't help but speak: "Why didn't you attack just now?"
If Kokushibou had attacked with full force while she was healing everyone, she absolutely wouldn't have been able to save everyone successfully.
She appeared completely unconcerned about Kokushibou, but in reality, her nerves were tightly strung.
"...I have no interest in ambushing the weak."
Liar... it's painful... This was the answer Mizuki believed from the bottom of her heart.
This elder brother, who had betrayed them hundreds of years ago, still held feelings for her... It was undeniable that after becoming a demon, human emotions would gradually disappear... but that didn't mean demons had no emotions or their own thoughts. On the contrary, their emotions were also very rich.
It's just... Mizuki would rather face a cold and heartless Upper Rank One.
Mizuki picked up the demon blade named Shura in annoyance and casually twirled it.
There was nothing left to say now, only to let their swords do the talking.
Just as her aura gradually intensified.
Boom!!!
A sudden explosion occurred not far away, and the continuous clang of clashing weapons rang out.
The firelight illuminated the profiles of the two, and Kokushibou suddenly called out: "Mizuki..."
Mizuki subconsciously looked up.
Kokushibou calmly extended his hand to her: "Come to my side."
Mizuki's expression flickered slightly, not because his words were tempting, but because she was unwilling to admit that there was still familial affection between them, just as she had never mentioned Kokushibou's true identity in front of others.
Mizuki's eyes darkened: "No, you betrayed me. You betrayed me and Yoriichi."
"I did it for you, you were dying..."
"I never said I wanted to live. You just..."
Just for himself, just because he didn't want to die, and still wanted to surpass Yoriichi... She couldn't say such words... It was too unfair... She had lived because of it, even bathed in sunlight, and met so many interesting people... If she could have foreseen it back then, could she truly have said that she didn't want to live?
Mizuki found it difficult to maintain a calm expression, so she gritted her teeth, gripped her sword, and charged at Kokushibou.
Kokushibou stepped back two paces, blocking her attack, and said lightly: "Your consumption is too great; you won't be my opponent."
Moreover, it could be sensed from Mizuki's aura.
She hadn't eaten humans, at least... not for a very long time.
If he and Mizuki were compared to two springs of equal size, Mizuki's would be stagnant water, while his would be living water, with an endless flow of water entering and leaving.
Even if the scale was the same, the consumption would be completely different.
"Then just stand there obediently and let me cut you!" Mizuki suddenly exerted force, breaking open his blade, and swung towards his neck, "It'd be better if you just died!"
Of course, Kokushibou wouldn't just surrender, even if Mizuki's current sword couldn't sever his head.
Furthermore, with Mizuki's greatly diminished stamina, a frontal confrontation made it almost impossible for her to defeat him.
But ultimately, without a Nichirin Blade to open up the situation, and with Mizuki being a demon, both sides were merely venting their inner emotions.
Kokushibou leisurely dodged Mizuki's attacks: "Your footwork is chaotic. Are you angry?"
"I'm not angry!"
Calm down... just don't listen to him.
"You've always been like this, never listening to me."
"As if you ever listened to me!"
"I'm your elder brother..."
"You're not..." Ever since you personally killed your brother, you stopped being one... Mizuki struggled to gather her focus, holding her sword and rushing towards Kokushibou.
Kokushibou seized the opportunity and slashed at Mizuki, but Mizuki was prepared, ducking and brushing past him.
Kokushibou subconsciously turned.
Orange-red flames illuminated half of his cheek.
Sun... this scene felt familiar.
Seeing this, distant memories resurfaced in Kokushibou's mind.
It was the memory of being beheaded... "Do you think I'd fall for the same trick twice?" Recalling the pain of decapitation, Kokushibou's gaze became a few shades more serious.
Once the Sword Form was known, the difficulty of breaking it would drop sharply.
Mizuki's pupils contracted slightly: "You will!"
The blade drew an arc in front of her, fierce flames ignited on the blade, rolling up a wave of crimson fire. The instant Mizuki's right hand covered the blade, a scarlet slash reflected in Kokushibou's pupils.
"Snow Breathing, Ninth Form: Heat Haze Snow!"
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