Unlike the Sword Form in his memory, a slash mixed with crimson blood flew toward Kokushibou.
Kokushibou instinctively dodged, retreating until he was more than three meters away from Mizuki.
The blade itself was only a little over a meter long.
However... the extending crimson slash directly severed his arm. If he hadn't reacted quickly enough to step aside, his head would have been the target.
Kokushibou retreated to a safe zone, his six eyes filled with deep confusion.
What was that just now... "Blood Demon Art?" Kokushibou looked at the blade in Mizuki's hand with uncertainty and shock.
The tip of the blade was stained a deep red, forming a stark contrast with the snowy white of the forward section of the sword.
Two drops of fresh blood dripped from Mizuki's palm, which hadn't fully healed due to overexertion.
Kokushibou instantly understood everything, his expression slightly moved.
Did she make her move the moment he lost sight of her?
No... was it the moment she deliberately concealed the blade?
She sliced her palm open in that instant... Mizuki, who had gained the upper hand, curved her lips slightly, "Looks like you didn't dodge that."
At this point, Kokushibou wouldn't be affected by her casual sarcasm. He instinctively covered his wound.
A very cold aura.
Moreover... he wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but the regeneration speed seemed a bit abnormal.
Was it because of the Sun Breathing?
Kokushibou straightened up, "If we keep going like this, neither of us will win."
Mizuki's lips moved, unable to refute his words.
Even though she had used a trick just now and ambushed Kokushibou, she was actually the one at a disadvantage.
Repairing the bodies of the others had consumed too much of her blood, and regeneration took a massive toll.
As for Kokushibou, he had only lost an arm; regeneration was simple for him.
For an Upper Rank, as long as the body isn't continuously destroyed, they can regenerate at will.
If it weren't for the existence of the Nichirin Blade, humanity would have no hope at all.
Seeing that Mizuki showed no sign of attacking, Kokushibou proactively sheathed his long sword as a sign of goodwill, and asked again, "Why won't you join me?"
"What kind of joke are you making?" Mizuki laughed out of sheer anger.
"I'm not joking. You should be able to understand, shouldn't you?" Kokushibou's expression remained calm. "After becoming a Demon, restrictions like illness and lifespan all disappear."
"Have you forgotten? The time you struggled painfully on your bed because of lung disease."
Mizuki's eyelid twitched: "You bastard, how dare you eavesdrop on me sleeping?"
"Are you a pervert?"
Kokushibou nearly crashed due to her strangely familiar tone.
But it was only fleeting; Mizuki's expression quickly turned serious again:
"It's best for creatures like humans to die cleanly when it's their time to die."
"Instead of clinging to this world like disgusting maggots."
If, back then... Michikatsu had chosen to die with her, she definitely wouldn't have had any lingering thoughts.
Clinging to this world?
Who?
Him?
"Why don't you understand?!" Kokushibou couldn't comprehend. He had continuously trained himself for hundreds of years to surpass Yoriichi.
He could clearly feel himself getting stronger.
Stronger than he was before.
Does that count as clinging to life?
"You're the one who doesn't understand." Mizuki couldn't grasp how something like competitiveness could truly become so twisted.
To abandon everything for victory.
"Why abandon everything just to become stronger!"
The tension peaked, and the two clashed blades once more.
"You simply don't understand!"
"How am I supposed to understand if you don't tell me!"
Mizuki struck back, shaking Kokushibou away, and unleashed a crimson slash.
Kokushibou responded with an equally exaggerated sweep of purple sword energy.
Roaring sounds were incessant, and the ground was ripped open with gashes. Fortunately, this area was relatively open and not densely populated. Most people had already fled earlier when Kokushibou was toying with Uzui Tengen and the others.
"Snow Breathing..."
"Moon Breathing..."
Kokushibou, who had initially held back, gradually forgot about restraint as his emotions intensified.
Blood-red and purple sword energy rippled out, wave after wave, slash after slash.
Huala huala... large sections of houses were sliced into pieces by the attacks.
Mizuki stepped forward, gripping the hilt with both hands, holding the sword horizontally beside her face, and then... she unleashed a domineering slash.
"Snow Breathing, Tenth Form: Moonlight Beneath the Snow!"
A massive blood-red full moon was slashed out from Mizuki's hands, rolling toward Kokushibou like a millstone.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
The crimson full moon crushed the ground like a derailed locomotive, bearing down on Kokushibou.
Moon Breathing?
Kokushibou's pupils slightly contracted. While shocked, the blade in his hand rapidly deformed, extending small branches from both sides of the sword body.
"Moon Breathing, Eighth Form: Moon Dragon Ringtail!"
The massive crescent moon, interspersed with tiny moon fragments, collided with the crimson full moon.
Boom!!!
The ground was destroyed, and the rubble was pushed outward by the two surging currents of sword energy, leaving behind a crater several meters in diameter.
The ground was half a meter deep in the center, and spiderweb-like cracks covered the crater.
Mizuki desperately tried to steady her rapidly increasing breathing. Although the fight felt satisfying, her physical stamina was quickly running out.
As the battle intensified here, the battlefield on the other side also entered a white-hot phase.
Mizuki wasn't worried.
She had interacted with the others, including the two Demons and Gyuutarou, and clearly knew their strength.
Although Gyuutarou's strength surpassed any individual among them, their combined force was something he couldn't handle.
As for Daki, her combat power was essentially negligible. As a Twin Demon, her fighting strength was far from the Upper Rank level.
She was stronger than a Lower Rank, but not strong enough to possess the title of Upper Rank.
The difference in combat power between a Lower Rank and an Upper Rank was like an insurmountable chasm.
Defeating the enemy was only a matter of time.
As for her side... unfortunately, without a Nichirin Blade, she couldn't cut off Kokushibou's head. Furthermore... her current physical condition didn't allow it... right now... she couldn't even complete full Demonization... the impact of blood loss was too severe.
Noticing the increasingly bright sky, Kokushibou looked at the distant horizon turning a pale white, then turned back to Mizuki.
"It's almost dawn. Find a place to hide."
Mizuki felt a pang of unwillingness; she wanted to try and keep Kokushibou here.
But Kokushibou didn't give her the chance. After saying that, he turned and flashed away without a trace of hesitation.
Only leaving behind one sentence.
"Mizuki, we will meet again."
The somewhat exhausted Mizuki could only watch helplessly as he left the battlefield.
Mizuki wiped the sweat from her forehead, dispelled the blade, and hurried without delay toward the direction where the others were fighting.
The battle over there seemed to be entering its final stage, as the sounds of fighting grew fainter.
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!