"Blood Demon Art: Coagulation Valve Needle!"
Mizuki's gaze sharpened slightly. The red crystals in mid-air rapidly liquefied, turning into droplets of blood of varying sizes, which then twisted wildly and shot forth as blood arrows towards Kokushibou.
Kokushibou dodged with ease, his heart sinking. "Is there no way to destroy them directly?"
Even if the body was cut apart, it could recombine, becoming even more dangerous.
Before Kokushibou could think further, the people he had forced back charged forward again.
They were like moths rushing toward a flame, one after another—it was irritating.
Kokushibou frowned slightly, waving his long demon blade, unleashing crescent-shaped Sword Qi that was nearly impossible to evade.
"Sun Breathing, First Form: Circle Haze!"
Tanjirou entered the fray. The scorching aura of the Sun Breathing brought a sense of danger to Kokushibou.
It happened just as Kokushibou was forcing others back. Under the hasty clash, Kokushibou was forced to retreat two steps.
Inosuke's eyes lit up slightly. "Oh! Tanjirou! It worked!"
"Really?" Tanjirou raised his head with effort.
Kokushibou, having been forced back two steps, casually swung out a broad swath of Sword Qi.
"Fake!" Mizuki retorted, blocking the Sword Qi for them. "Stop chatting aimlessly, maintain the precision of your breathing."
You think a single Circle Haze can force Kokushibou back? Who do you think you are, Yoriichi?
Seriously, why are these people always trying to chat during a fight?
The precision of their breathing is completely messed up.
If Sword Forms are the hardware, then the Breathing Technique is the software.
The precision of breathing determines the lower limit of a Sword Form, and even has the ability to raise its upper limit.
The more precise the Breathing Technique, the more it can maximize human potential.
*Sweat!*
Tanjirou and the other person were rendered speechless by the criticism and quickly shut their mouths.
Even Inosuke, after repeatedly angering Young Miss Mizuki and being beaten up time after time, had unconsciously become gentler.
Clearly, Inosuke wasn't an idiot; being repeatedly thrashed still hurt.
Kokushibou ignored their idle chatter.
In the end, it was a Blood Demon Art manifested in the form of blood.
Water naturally cannot be cut by a blade, but... Kokushibou narrowed his eyes and swung his blade down.
"Moon Breathing, Ninth Form: Waning Moons, Continuous!"
"Scatter!"
His movement and Mizuki's voice appeared simultaneously.
When Mizuki was in the Swordsmith Village, she had fought Kokushibou. Although she couldn't perfectly imitate the new Sword Forms Kokushibou displayed in that battle, she could read his Sword Forms just by observing his muscle movements.
Boom!!!
The crescent moons slammed down, piercing the floor one after another.
Everyone scattered, dodging the crescent moons falling from above.
Mizuki focused intensely. In this chaotic state, if nothing went wrong, her bastard older brother was likely planning to seize the opportunity to kill one of them.
Sure enough, while everyone was dodging the attack, Kokushibou turned into a sharp arrow and shot straight toward them.
His target was... "Me?" Mizuki leaned back slightly, avoiding Kokushibou's horizontal slash in surprise.
The sharp blade skimmed past her chest.
The basic condition of this body is still too poor.
Her physical constitution was already weak; compared to Muzan, they weren't even on the same level, and even compared to Kokushibou, she could only be considered evenly matched at best.
Now this Clone is even worse.
Mizuki was already prepared to be sliced into pieces and then regenerate.
However, contrary to her expectation, Kokushibou grabbed her, then bit down on her shoulder.
Crunch, that was the sound of the blood crystal being crushed.
Mizuki was stunned for a moment, then kicked him away with a raised leg.
She then tried to control the blood inside Kokushibou's stomach; she could control her blood anywhere.
But... the connection to the blood quickly broke off.
Mizuki touched the missing piece on her shoulder, her expression ugly. "Are you a dog?"
This guy... he really has a trick up his sleeve, realizing the method of cracking it so quickly.
The blood she distributed to the Demon Slayer Corps was before Tamayo modified it; at that time, she wasn't as powerful as she is now.
The blood just now... was decomposed by Kokushibou before she could control it.
If it were her current blood, Mizuki was confident she could give him a harsh lesson inside his stomach.
Kokushibou wiped the corner of his mouth; the chill in his abdomen was rapidly receding.
He guessed correctly. With his decomposition speed, he could decompose her blood before Mizuki attempted to control it inside his abdomen.
Seeing that he didn't reply, Mizuki knew this guy had no intention of communicating with her anymore.
He had already made his decision.
Faced with his family and his own obsession, he ultimately made the same choice he had made hundreds of years ago.
Was she sad?
Probably a little.
But not much.
Her suggestion for Kokushibou to join their side was just a joke.
Even if he genuinely repented, he would at most anger Muzan and be killed by him directly.
Stepping back, even if Mizuki managed to stop Muzan from harming Kokushibou.
What then?
She wished Kokushibou could repent, but it was already too late.
Between them, only a life-and-death struggle remained.
Either Kokushibou dies, or she lives.
"Be careful, this guy is a pervert. I can't relieve pressure for you anymore." Mizuki said cautiously, retreating behind the others.
Mizuki clearly understood the role of this Clone: it couldn't be used as combat power.
She wasn't afraid that Kokushibou would gain any benefit by swallowing this Clone; it was only composed of a few units of blood, the quantity was simply insufficient.
It must be noted that when Mizuki and Tamayo decided to give the Demon Slayer Corps a dose of her blood as a safeguard for every Hand, they were not afraid of demons obtaining the medicine.
The isolated blood did not have the effect of overcoming sunlight, and even if it did, the required quantity would be unimaginable.
Kokushibou understood her intentions. It seemed the rest of the battle depended on whether he could Break through the blockade of these people and devour Mizuki.
Otherwise, he might very well be worn down and killed here.
Kokushibou stepped forward.
As soon as he moved, everyone felt an unimaginable sense of pressure.
This monster... is truly formidable.
It was completely unimaginable how a single person could escape when encountering him.
*Zizz!*
Suddenly, accompanied by a clap of thunder, a streak of golden light rapidly thrust forward from afar.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
Kokushibou narrowed his eyes slightly and dodged sideways. Zenitsu's figure shot past, smashing through the nearby wall.
"..."
What the heck is going on?
Everyone broke out in a cold sweat.
Clatter... the sound of chains sliding rang out.
Kokushibou withdrew his gaze from Zenitsu and looked back.
A Meteor Hammer whistled, tearing through the air as it smashed toward Kokushibou's head.
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