Are these guys all useless? Why was he able to catch up so quickly?
Muzan cursed inwardly, wondering why hundreds of Lower Moon-level demons couldn't stop Musashi for even a moment, and he had even sent out the only two remaining Upper Moons to block him, yet the opponent had killed his way to him so quickly.
After devouring the male cult members that Douma used as food, Muzan temporarily suppressed the adverse effects of the human-transforming medicine on him. Turning his head, he saw Musashi, who was about to catch up, and countless black blood thorns with sharp spikes shot out from Muzan's back.
Some of the black blood thorns attacked Musashi, while others were used by Muzan like ropes, winding around trees and other objects in front of him to aid his rapid escape.
Facing the countless thorns rushing towards him, Musashi swung his Nichirin Sword. The flames coiling around the blade incinerated the thorns upon contact, preventing any from landing on Musashi. While dealing with Muzan's attack, Musashi's speed did not decrease in the slightest.
Behind Musashi, Akaza and Douma, after being repelled by Musashi, were unable to directly continue blocking Musashi, because they were both stopped…
…
"That's a demon… whose head seems to have been drenched in blood…
With a carefree smile on his face, a kind appearance, and a gentle tone.
That demon… his weapons… are sharp… paired iron fans…"
…
As soon as Kochou Shinobu arrived in the Infinity Castle, her attention was drawn to Douma. The numbers in his pupils made Kochou Shinobu recognize him as Upper Moon Two.
And his appearance also reminded her of Kanae's dying words.
Looking at Douma, who held iron fans in his hands, all the characteristics matched. Kochou Shinobu was certain that he was the demon who had murdered her elder sister.
"You are… the murderer of my sister!!!"
Veins bulged on Kochou Shinobu's forehead; the rage in her heart was unbearable. Her slender, light Nichirin Sword was unsheathed, and Kochou Shinobu's equally light body instantly closed in on Douma, then thrust directly towards his eye.
Insect Breathing: Dance of the Bee Sting: True Flutter!
Although her strength was the weakest among the Hashira, Kochou Shinobu's speed was among the best.
Douma, still moved by Akaza's recent actions, momentarily failed to notice Kochou Shinobu's attack. His left eyeball was directly pierced by Kochou Shinobu, and wisteria poison was injected into his body along Kochou Shinobu's Nichirin Sword.
"Oh dear, someone attacked me, and it's a Hashira too. It seems I can't help Muzan-sama stop that young man~ After all, I've been stopped."
Douma feigned a helpless expression and muttered to himself, not even paying attention to Gyoumei, Sanemi, Genya, Tanjirou, and others who ran past him to support Musashi. Instead, he smiled and said to Kochou Shinobu in front of him, "What a sharp piercing attack~ It pierced my eyeball in an instant~"
However, while praising her with his words, his actions were not slow. He stabilized his stance, and the iron fan in his right hand instantly slashed towards Kochou Shinobu.
Blood Demon Art: Lotus Leaf Ice!
Lotus-shaped ice crystals solidified, and a cold air capable of freezing a person spread out.
Oh no!
Just as Kochou Shinobu thought she couldn't avoid the cold air and would have to endure it, a figure appeared in front of her.
Water Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirlpool
An upward spiraling stream of water blocked the cold air emanating from the lotus-shaped ice crystals. In the swirling water current was a person wearing a haori with different patterns on each side.
"Don't be impulsive. We have the advantage in numbers; there's no need to fight it head-on."
Giyuu's facial expression was still the same as always, but his linguistic skill was much better than usual; at least, his words no longer made people angry upon hearing them. Perhaps being in a combat state had caused some changes in him.
Tomioka-san…
This figure in front of her still looked as cold as ever, but what he said was not as unpalatable as before.
With Giyuu's obstruction, Kochou Shinobu stabilized herself and landed on the ground. After looking up, she saw Kanao looking at her with worried eyes.
"Master… Let's join forces to avenge Kanae-nee!"
Kanao naturally knew about Kanae's matter; in fact, Kochou Shinobu had even discussed with her how to kill the demon who murdered Kanae.
For a long time, Kochou Shinobu had been ingesting wisteria poison specifically to be able to kill this demon with her own body, but with their side having ample combat strength this time, this method was no longer necessary.
Looking at Kanao's eyes, filled with anticipation and reliance, Kochou Shinobu's heart trembled. Hadn't she, in the past, relied on her own sister just as Kanao relied on her now?
Thinking of all the times she and her sister had bought Kanao and raised her, Kochou Shinobu calmed down.
She stood up and smiled, nodding to Kanao, and then both of them turned their gaze towards Douma in front of them.
Sound Pillar Tengen had already launched his attack, fighting spectacularly with Douma, and Inosuke had also arrived.
"Tomioka-san, you occasionally say things that aren't annoying. Thank you."
After saying a word to Giyuu, Kochou Shinobu and Kanao also charged forward together.
Giyuu, however, was a little confused by Kochou Shinobu's words.
Could it be… that what I said before was very annoying…
A thought flashed through his mind, but the current situation didn't allow Giyuu to ponder it. He also quickly joined the battle.
Blood Demon Art: Crystalline Dolls
Facing the situation of being surrounded by multiple attackers, Douma waved the paired fans in his hands, and two small ice figures identical to him in appearance solidified. They also held ice fans identical in shape to the iron fans in Douma's hands.
One of the two small ice figures blocked Tengen, and the other stopped Kanao.
"Ah~ This Mr. Tomioka is really pitiful, isn't he? Is he actually disliked by others?
It seems you haven't gotten along well with your companions, unlike me. I'm polite to my brethren and know how to care for them, winning the affection of all my companions~"
Douma had also heard what Kochou Shinobu said to Giyuu just now, and showed a sympathetic expression towards Giyuu. At this moment, the poison that Kochou Shinobu had just injected into his body had already been decomposed.
At this moment, Kochou Shinobu and Giyuu charged forward together, and another small ice figure identical to Douma was created by him. The ice fan waved, and mist-like ice crystals attacked Kochou Shinobu.
Blood Demon Art: Freezing Cloud
The ice figures created by Douma could also use his Blood Demon Art, and their power was almost identical to his own.
"Be careful! Don't inhale too many ice crystals! Otherwise, you'll have difficulty breathing!"
Tengen, seeing the situation before him, spoke out to warn Kochou Shinobu.
Kochou Shinobu quickly bypassed the ice mist upon hearing this.
Giyuu had already reached Douma's main body at this point, and his Nichirin Sword, coiling with water, slashed towards him.
Water Breathing, First Form: Surface Slice
Douma quickly raised his iron fans to block Giyuu's attack.
"The one who's disliked is you, not me."