Mizuki's lips curled into a cold smile: "Let's see if it'll crack your jaw."
Three minutes... no, even less.
She had already basically figured out this guy's ability. His Blood Demon Art was an extended form of ice, and she had ten thousand ways to deal with ice abilities.
To a certain extent, her ability was even superior to his, with a definite difference in rank.
Mizuki's fingers went to her waist, loosely gripping her Nichirin Blade.
The previously calm atmosphere immediately solidified. The interwoven and overflowing Aura in the room even made the girl who had narrowly escaped death tremble uncontrollably.
"Really?" Douma clutched his iron fan, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his temple, his mood instantly sinking.
He felt an Aura no less powerful than Kokushibou's.
No... it wasn't a feeling.
It was a fact.
This person's strength would not be weaker than Kokushibou's.
"My teeth are fine, so don't bother worrying," Douma chuckled, but the smile on his lips carried a hint of forced cheerfulness.
What kind of family is this? How can every single one of them be as strong as a monster?
He originally thought Mizuki's strength wouldn't be as strong as Kokushibou's.
Kokushibou was already as strong as a monster, and even Muzan-sama had only found one such monster, Kokushibou, in hundreds of years.
As Douma, second only to Muzan and Kokushibou, he knew clearly that these two had, to some extent, broken away from a purely subordinate relationship and were existences Muzan trusted considerably.
And all of that was based on Kokushibou's immense strength.
Muzan hadn't shared the scene of her battle on the surface with others, which meant others couldn't judge Mizuki's strength and could only rely on previous intelligence.
This was a demon with Upper Rank strength, and very likely surpassed him to reach Upper Rank Two, second only to Muzan and Kokushibou.
This was Douma's previous judgment.
But now... Douma suddenly didn't want to hinder her from moving forward.
Yet, he was still missing a screw in his head, lacking the normal emotions a creature should have.
"Well, well, Kokushibou-sama misses Young Miss you very much~" In an instant, the trace of trepidation that had risen in Douma's heart vanished into thin air.
"Young Miss, you also received Muzan-sama's favor to be alive until now."
"I imagine Young Miss must have experienced a moving reunion with Kokushibou-sama." Douma said, wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes with a touched expression.
"Why can't you serve Muzan-sama?"
Mizuki was amused: "Moving reunion?"
Alright.
She admitted that seeing a familiar person did put her in a rather good mood, but she'd prefer to see Kokushibou dead.
Because as long as he was alive, he would definitely harm other innocent people.
This guy was chatty. Although he didn't have normal human emotions, he was more willing to interact with humans than other demons.
There was no point in continuing to chat with him.
Shh... Mizuki pushed aside the tsuba and slowly drew her Nichirin Blade.
Douma, knowing that this battle was unavoidable, reined in some of his casualness, his expression becoming a bit more serious.
He wondered if he could hold out.
Douma had already risen from his casual sitting posture, holding a golden iron fan in each hand, clearly ready for battle.
A heavy atmosphere pressed down on everyone present, like a weighty burden on their hearts.
Mizuki's Nichirin Blade was halfway drawn when a slender hand suddenly blocked the hilt, pressing her hilt back into the scabbard.
"Wait," Kochou Shinobu stood in front of her with a determined expression.
Mizuki: "?"
"Leave this to us," Kochou Shinobu interrupted. "Mizuki, you have other things to do, right?"
"Don't forget the plan."
"...I understand." Mizuki's mind stirred. She looked at the seemingly foolish and naive Douma, hesitated for a moment, and slowly pressed the hilt down.
Shinobu was right; there was no great meaning in her delaying here.
If Muzan didn't die, killing this guy would be useless.
"Be careful," Mizuki cautioned, feeling uneasy.
To be honest, Mizuki was genuinely a little worried.
Because this guy looked harmless, but he was indeed Muzan's demon second only to Kokushibou.
His strength was beyond doubt.
Simply activating the Demon Slayer Mark would absolutely not be enough to win.
That's why Mizuki subconsciously stayed behind.
Because in her judgment, even if the Kocho Sisters teamed up, it would be difficult to defeat Douma.
Kochou Shinobu smiled and said, "Don't worry, our preparations are ample, aren't they?"
Mizuki understood her meaning. There was already a countermeasure for Douma's most dangerous Blood Demon Art, so the Kocho Sisters might not be unable to defeat him.
Moreover, this guy was quite whimsical, and his combat ability wasn't as strong as others; he was even inferior to Akaza, who died on the Mugen Train.
The only reason he held the second position was purely due to his powerful talent and Blood Demon Art.
Of course, she could protect Kochou Shinobu all the way, but who would deal with Muzan?
"I'll leave it to you."
Thinking of this, Mizuki no longer hesitated.
"Mm."
Mizuki fully sheathed her Nichirin Blade and turned to see the terrified young girl, a hint of worry flashing between her brows.
In a place like this, even if she was saved, how could she be protected?
Everywhere were evil demons under Muzan's command, requiring constant protection from the Demon Slayer Corps. Wouldn't that hinder others?
Especially in this situation, wouldn't it distract others?
For a moment, Mizuki thought it might be better if the girl died.
She shook her head, finding the thought a bit too twisted.
She couldn't take the girl with her, so she could only hope that Kanae and Shinobu wouldn't harm themselves because of this girl.
However, just as she was about to leave the room, Douma moved.
"Blood Demon Art: Spreading Lotus."
As the iron fans waved, ice vines entwined with ice lotus flowers shot out from Douma's center.
Everyone scattered. Kanae even carried the rescued girl, avoiding the attack of the ice vines.
The ice vines seemed only to want to force them back, not pursue them, and headed towards Mizuki's position.
Mizuki leaped away, and ice vines pierced the wooden floor.
Mizuki turned back with a calm expression.
"If I let you leave like this, Muzan-sama will be angry," Douma said with a smile, one iron fan covering his face, the other waving as if casually.
The next moment, countless ice spikes formed above Mizuki's head and rapidly fell.
"Snow Breathing, First Form: Tornado."
A raging snow-colored tornado instantly formed, enveloping Mizuki's figure within it, and ice spikes were blown away.
Douma smiled, but his eyes dared not slacken in the slightest, staring intently at Mizuki.
He had a strong premonition that he must keep this person in his sight.
The tornado dissipated, and there was no one in the icy mist.
She vanished.
Douma's pupils suddenly contracted, and he backflipped away without warning.
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