Muzan's voice was filled with rage, yet hidden within that rage was an indescribable sense of grievance.
It was as if she were the perpetrator and Muzan the victim.
So, the one with the problem in their head is actually this guy, right?
No, no, the fact that Muzan has a problem in his head isn't a question; it's a statement of fact.
Faced with Mizuki's calm retort, Muzan felt the blood rush to his head.
That wasn't what he meant at all!
This woman was mocking him on purpose!!
If Mizuki knew his thoughts, she would probably just be confused and think Muzan was truly mentally ill.
Muzan was filled with anger and resentment.
Hundreds of years, just like that. First that monster... and now this woman...
If he had known it would come to this, he never should have agreed to Kokushibou's request back then.
What good did it do him to turn this woman into a demon?!
Overcoming the sun?
If Muzan had previously believed that Mizuki brought him hope—that saving this woman back then was a good choice—
then all he was left with now was regret.
This woman's Blood Demon Art had nothing to do with overcoming the sun. Perhaps she had found the legendary blue spider lily, or perhaps she had found some other method. Or maybe it was that woman, Tamayo...
Muzan never doubted that woman's talent in medicine. If she hadn't run out of time, she could have cured her own illness. Otherwise, Muzan wouldn't have wanted to take Tamayo as his attendant in the first place.
But regardless, Muzan's perception of Mizuki was now nothing but hatred.
Since this woman could overcome the sun, it meant that a method to do so truly existed. Even without this woman, he would eventually find a way to overcome the sun.
And right now, the hideous scar on his chest, with its slight burn marks, was constantly eroding his sanity.
Sun Breathing...
That Breathing Technique, once it struck a demon, left behind a pain akin to burning—a suffering that was unbearable for a demon.
After hundreds of years, the thing that monster left behind was once again reflected upon him.
This guy is angry.
Looking at Muzan's volatile expression, filled with resentment and anger, Mizuki thought to herself.
To be honest, while the injury looked severe, for Muzan, as long as it wasn't direct sunlight, it was nothing.
Mizuki even doubted whether the temperature of the sunrise or sunset could cause effective damage to this guy.
Powerful demons were often able to survive longer than weak demons when facing sunlight.
Mizuki didn't know what Muzan was thinking, and she didn't really want to know.
Mizuki's golden eyes darkened slightly. Her blade glittered with silver light under the moonlight as she slashed toward Muzan's neck.
Muzan was not in a good state right now; his body was damaged. She had to maintain this opportunity to create a perfect opening for Tamayo.
In layman's terms, it was about striking while the iron was hot—or rather, finishing him off while he was wounded.
However, Mizuki was constantly thinking about her next strategy.
Because...
A bizarre-looking weapon was already closing in on her neck from behind.
That bastard Kokushibou, as her older brother, was actually going to sneak-attack his own sister?
Heartless thing.
Couldn't he just wait until she had cut Muzan down for a fair samurai duel?
Tsk.
Sensing the approaching, imposing aura behind her, Mizuki keenly observed Muzan's writhing flesh.
The regeneration speed was fast—though not as fast as the normal recovery speed of an Upper Rank Demon Moon—but these were scars left by Sun Breathing, and there were no issues with her Sword Form or movements.
Was the precision of her breathing not enough?
As expected, a half-baked effort is just that. If you force yourself into a field you aren't good at, you can never reach the Peak.
In an instant, Mizuki accepted the fact that she would not be able to resist.
If she dodged Kokushibou's attack now, she would have to let Muzan go.
Muzan had been startled by the Sword Form of Sun Breathing; such an opportunity would be hard to come by a second time.
Mizuki completely ignored the demon blade approaching from behind, raising her Nichirin Blade high and slamming it down with the intent of splitting Muzan in two.
Pfft!!!
At the critical moment, Muzan avoided the direct strike to the top of his head, letting his shoulder take the blow instead.
No, he didn't take it completely.
The Nichirin Blade severed Muzan's ear and carved straight from his collarbone into his lungs, before being grabbed by his hand, which was swollen purple with bulging veins, preventing it from going any deeper.
"Damn it!!!" The scorching scarlet blade entered his body, emitting a sizzling sound like roasting meat.
Muzan's face turned red. His fingers, exerting force, gripped the Nichirin Blade as he wrestled with Mizuki. The bloodshot veins in his eyes were so hideous that he looked like a demon, no longer retaining his initial elegance.
She had restrained him.
Before Mizuki could show a look of joy, in the corner of her eye, the demon blade extended from her side, slashing horizontally and striking her neck.
After the blade sank into her neck, the sensation that her head was about to be severed actually vanished; the force of the blade was much lighter than she had imagined.
However, in just an instant, as if the last shred of emotion in the wielder's heart was being extinguished, the demon blade accelerated a second time, slicing her head off entirely without any resistance.
Did it work?
Kokushibou's movements were somewhat stiff; he didn't know what he was thinking.
But instinctively, he hoped that Mizuki had successfully overcome the weakness of her neck because she had overcome the sun. On the other hand, he could not allow Muzan to be harmed.
Just as Kokushibou was wavering and hesitating.
"It hurts, you bastard!"
Mizuki's head, floating in mid-air, looked toward Kokushibou behind her and muttered.
If you're going to cut, don't hesitate. Was this bastard trying to torture her on purpose?!
Kokushibou was stunned for a moment, and inexplicably, he felt a sense of relief.
Gushing blood spilled from Mizuki's neck, and a shocking burst of blood-red light erupted, blooming like a satin-like crimson flower. The petals, composed of blood, spun and unfurled, forcing Kokushibou to retreat.
And amidst this all-encompassing attack, a hidden path, just wide enough for one person to pass through, was left behind.
Well done!
Tamayo approached with cold sweat covering her forehead. She didn't dare make her movements too intense, otherwise, she wouldn't be able to effectively suppress Muzan.
And now, the aura emanating from Mizuki concealed Tamayo's presence.
Tamayo's footsteps grew faster and faster, and finally, she ran toward Muzan.
"What?!"
Kokushibou suddenly sensed the surrounding air being disturbed. He looked over in surprise but saw nothing, yet he knew the airflow just now was wrong.
That direction is... Oh no!
Sensing the surrounding air being disturbed, Mizuki, whose head had mostly recovered, turned her head, but did not spot Tamayo.
Can't she see her from this distance?
As expected, there is a reason why a guy like Muzan would fail.
As the progenitor Demon King, he was unable to effectively suppress the birth of Blood Demon Arts, only able to try to restrict them through blood cells.
Mizuki maintained her wrestling stance against Muzan, forcing him to withdraw both hands to slowly lift her Nichirin Blade.
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