She was very clear on this.
That it would be difficult for her to survive the final battle.
Kochou Shinobu knew this from the start.
Because she was too weak.
Even later figures like Tanjirou had already surpassed her.
Whether in talent or effort, she couldn't compare to others.
Kochou Shinobu never held any illusions that she would definitely survive until the end and see... tomorrow, and the sun of the future, together with Mizuki.
When the decisive battle arrived, she already had this resolve.
It was just... Kochou Shinobu suddenly felt a little regretful. If only she had dragged Mizuki along to rest for a few more days back then, they would have had more time together.
But as soon as this thought arose in her mind, she easily dismissed it.
She couldn't delay important matters for her own selfish desires; her original decision was correct.
Although... she truly regretted it.
Tanjirou lay to the side, his fate unknown. Everyone else was forced back, and this time, no one would interrupt.
It was already very clear.
Her own ending.
She still had so many things she wanted to do with Mizuki... Kochou Shinobu closed her eyes as if giving up the struggle, quietly awaiting the arrival of death.
Just as Kokushibou was certain he was about to slice off the head of the woman before him, a wisp of crimson, silk-like Blood Mist suddenly floated out from Kochou Shinobu's embrace, rising faintly.
"What is that?!"
Sensing this familiar aura, Kokushibou's eyes slightly narrowed, but the movement of his hand did not stop; he slashed directly at the rising Blood Mist.
A breeze brushed past her cheek, but the imagined pain did not arrive.
"Shinobu, it's not time to sleep yet."
An unexpected voice was right beside her. Kochou Shinobu suddenly opened her eyes and looked around in confusion.
Kokushibou's demon blade was suspended in front of Kochou Shinobu, enveloped by a mass of bloody mist, unable to drop an inch further.
Following the trace of the Blood Mist, right beside Kochou Shinobu, at the connection point of the mist, a crimson figure was gradually condensing and taking shape.
The source of the Blood Mist was the medicine vial in her embrace.
No, not just hers—the medicine vials in everyone else's arms autonomously broke open, converging towards Kochou Shinobu while also circling around the others, completely healing their superficial injuries.
Watching this miraculous sight, everyone was too astonished to speak.
A flicker of light rose in Kochou Shinobu's eyes, which widened slightly:
"Mizuki?"
Mizuki's figure, formed of blood, appeared exceptionally translucent. Her crimson outline was carved like an ice crystal, making her look like a statue of red crystal.
In appearance, she looked quite similar to Douma's Blood Demon Art, 'Crystalline Dolls'.
These were small ice crystal figures carved from ice, looking exactly like him and capable of perfectly using his abilities.
Mizuki's Move was a replication based on Douma's Move, though she considered hers an upgraded version.
In fact, she was controlling her blood remotely.
"I made it."
Mizuki, who was far away searching for Muzan and had just dealt with a group of Miscellaneous Soldiers, sensed what was happening with Kochou Shinobu and broke out in a cold sweat.
She couldn't maintain Multi-threaded Operation constantly, but just now, she inexplicably felt a palpitation, as if something bad was about to happen.
A hasty glance showed her that Kokushibou, this bastard Old Brother, was bullying her Shinobu.
Mizuki, like a red crystal, said concisely, "This state cannot be maintained indefinitely. I have to defeat him while I can still Move."
As she spoke, she paid attention to everyone's condition.
Tanjirou's external injuries had been healed by her, but he seemed to have suffered an overly intense impact, making it impossible for him to wake up immediately, so he couldn't be counted as a Combatant.
The others, however, had recovered mostly with her help.
It would be difficult for this small group to defeat Kokushibou.
In Mizuki's opinion, the strength among the Hashira was too disparate and uneven.
And coincidentally, the Hashira present were those who were relatively weaker; only Kanae was barely passable.
But in front of Kokushibou, none of the Hashira were impressive.
Perhaps the Stone Hashira, having activated his Demon Slayer Mark, could barely put up a fight, but that was only theoretical, and it might come at the cost of his life.
If only there were more people.
Mizuki acted on her thought, sensing the location of her own blood.
The owners of her blood were not too far from Kokushibou's location, but they were a bit too scattered.
There was also another small team, Yushiro's aura... She could sense that someone had already used her blood, and luckily, at least they weren't... Mizuki, who was observing everyone's status through her blood, suddenly stumbled, almost performing a Face-plant where she stood.
Her delicate face was slightly distorted, and she bit her lip lightly as if enduring something.
Meanwhile, the Hashira, who were blindly searching for Muzan and the Upper Rank demons, all stopped in doubt and surprise, observing the wisp of Blood Mist floating out from their arms.
This is... Young Miss Mizuki's blood?
Is she controlling it?
Unlike everyone else, Sanemi Shinazugawa watched the blood Qi twisting non-stop like seaweed in front of him, covered in Black Lines.
What is this supposed to mean?
He couldn't guess!
If you want to express something, just be straightforward!
"Ha..." Mizuki painfully suppressed a laugh. No, no, she had serious business to attend to. She had to guide them towards Kokushibou's location.
She figured out who had used her blood.
It was ridiculous.
Mizuki adjusted her emotions and commanded her blood to guide everyone's direction.
"That direction is..."
Rengoku Kyojuro, who was walking with Tomioka Giyu, frowned as he looked at the direction the blood Qi was floating.
Since before, the architecture here had been forcing them in that direction.
The layout inside the Heterogeneous Space City was constantly changing.
Realizing this was a trick by Muzan's side, they naturally decided not to follow their intention and chose to advance in the opposite direction.
But now, Young Miss Mizuki also meant the same thing.
Is she requesting reinforcements?
"Tomioka!" Kyoujurou made a decision.
"Mm." Tomioka Giyu simply nodded calmly, taking the first step and following the guidance of the blood Qi.
Kyoujurou's lips curled up, and he chased after him: "Speaking of which, what flavor of Miso Soup do you like?"
"I haven't really eaten with you much. After we get out, %$#@#%"
Tomioka Giyu: "..."
This guy is so noisy... "Hoh, is this great lord supposed to head in that direction?" Uzui Tengen looked in surprise at the direction pointed by the blood Qi.
"Something is indeed happening in that direction." Himejima Gyomei, who had joined up with Zenitsu, looked towards the place indicated by the Blood Mist.
Although he couldn't see, he could sense it.
Thus, thanks to the efforts of Muzan and Mizuki, the other Hashira successfully rushed towards Kokushibou's location.
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