The two identical crescent blades collided in midair and canceled each other out.
After two years, clad once again in that black-and-violet garb, Tsugikuni Michikatsu appeared before her.
"Upper Rank… One…"
Seeing the number engraved in those pupils, Yuko spoke the words slowly.
Perhaps it was to better search for the Blue Spider Lily, or perhaps because Yoriichi's existence finally made Muzan realize the importance of raising a personal guard.
Thus, the Twelve Kizuki were born.
And as the strongest aside from Muzan himself, Tsugikuni Michikatsu smoothly took the seat of Upper Rank One.
Yuko's gentle expression darkened at a speed visible to the naked eye.
With six eyes that concealed all emotion, Michikatsu said flatly, "Yuko, you're going to die."
His eyes saw through Yuko's physical condition with ease.
Yuko tightened her grip on her blade, her expression eerily calm.
"And what of it?" She took a subtle half-step forward, placing herself before the trembling Namiko.
"Why won't you become a demon?" Unlike most demons who lose their memories of life, Michikatsu retained all of his.
"As long as you become a demon, your body will return to perfect health."
"The supreme swordsmanship you seek would no longer be a dream."
He could not understand why his younger sister rejected it so firmly.
A layer of gloom slid across Yuko's gaze. "So for the sake of those things, you can eat humans with a clear conscience?"
"Just how many people have you… cough… eaten?" Anytime she spoke too quickly, Yuko's lungs threatened to fail her.
A demon's strength was often proportional to the number of humans they had devoured.
It was true—unless Muzan bestowed his blood, eating humans was the fastest way for a demon to grow stronger.
Over these two years, Michikatsu's aura had grown even heavier… and even more foul.
Standing before him was enough for the inexperienced Namiko to feel suffocated, trembling uncontrollably.
This was not a mindset any normal person should have, even in an era where humans were prey.
But Michikatsu could not understand.
As a samurai—one of the ruling class—Michikatsu never understood Yuko's regard for ordinary people.
Even after joining the Demon Slayer Corps, his goal had not been to save people, but to surpass Yoriichi.
Finding no hint of repentance in Michikatsu's face, Yuko fixed her eyes on him and said in a low voice, "Namiko, can you move?"
"Leave. Go down the mountain and call for help."
The sound of Yuko's voice snapped Namiko out of her terror.
"But, Miss Yuko, you—"
Yuko cut her off. "That is not an opponent you can handle. Only by contacting the Demon Slayers below do we stand a chance."
Namiko hesitated, tears gathering, then finally nodded. "I understand. Please… please be careful."
"I'll come right back!"
Seizing the moment while Yuko and Michikatsu confronted each other, Namiko bolted through the door.
Michikatsu made no move to stop her. "At a time like this, you still think about others?"
Reinforcements? By the time help arrived, everything here would already be over.
Yuko didn't answer—she simply stood ready.
At that moment, Michikatsu moved, his ghostlike form closing in on Yuko with terrifying speed.
"So fast!" Yuko's heart lurched. She raised her sword to counter—but Michikatsu slipped past her entirely.
His target was… Namiko!
Yuko's pupils shrank violently as she spun around.
"Michikatsu! You—!"
In that instant—
"Snow Breathing: Fifth Form — Snow Step."
Her snow-white silhouette flashed forward.
So slow…
Michikatsu's speed… was so slow…
For an instant, the thought drifted through her mind.
But the situation allowed no hesitation. Her next Snow Breathing strike was already descending, aimed straight at Michikatsu's neck—while he ran on as if unaware.
Suddenly, a stabbing pain tore through her lungs, as though someone had crushed them in their fist.
Yuko staggered, her steps faltering as the world tilted.
She recalled Michikatsu's odd behavior earlier.
Had he used the Transparent World to read the breathing rhythm of her failing lungs—and predict exactly when her next attack of illness would strike?
Yuko's wine-red eyes constricted. Helplessly, she watched Michikatsu thrust toward Namiko's back.
In her mind, she could already see it: Namiko's heart being pierced from behind.
Yuko's wine-red gaze deepened—
Just as Michikatsu coldly sent his blade to within half an inch of the girl's back, an enraged roar exploded beside his ear.
"Get away!"
At the same instant, a streak of crimson flashed at the edge of his vision.
"When?!" For the first time, Michikatsu's emotionless mind rippled.
A snow-white blade swept past his vision. An arm spun through the air, splashing blood in a high arc.
Namiko sensed the movement behind her and instinctively looked back—only to see Miss Yuko wearing an expression darker than she had ever seen, standing off against the demon.
She bit her lip and bolted forward.
She couldn't drag Yuko down. She couldn't betray her expectations.
Michikatsu stood motionless, staring at the severed limb.
Regeneration… was so slow.
Did Snow Breathing restrain demonic regeneration this strongly?
No—that wasn't the point.
He didn't understand how Yuko had reached him in that instant.
If that slash had been aimed at his neck…
Yuko raised her blade with both hands, her face shadowed. "Slaughtering humans without restraint… is that your answer?"
Michikatsu focused on regenerating. With full concentration, his arm returned in seconds.
"You see? If you become a demon, even losing a limb is only a minor wound."
"I didn't come here to watch you perform tricks." The darkness in Yuko's eyes did not clear. She raised her Nichirin blade into her stance.
"I see…" Michikatsu's tone dimmed with faint disappointment. He held his blade at the ready. "My name… is Kokushibo."
In the next instant, a white and violet blur collided.
"You will die, Yuko." Kokushibo parried with effortless ease. "Is it truly fine to abandon your dreams?"
Yuko let out a cold laugh. "Do you really think becoming a demon will let you surpass Yoriichi?"
Kokushibo's eyes contracted.
"You should know—no matter what you become, you can't surpass Yori—"
Before she finished, an indescribable sense of danger surged through her entire body.
The Transparent World opened before her. She saw Kokushibo's muscles tighten, his breath deepen and settle.
"Moon Breathing: Eighth Form — Moon Dragon Ringtail!"
Kokushibo stepped forward, unleashing a massive blue-violet crescent blade—vast as a galaxy, sweeping across everything before him.
It was a form Yuko had never seen before, its power far beyond anything she had imagined.
But seeing the motion of his muscles, Yuko had already anticipated it. She bent backward.
Boom!
The gigantic crescent tore through the house behind her. A thin line of blood slid down Yuko's forehead.
She flipped backward, landed firmly, and wiped away the blood at her brow.
Just the residual force alone had—
---
Currently at chapter 123 for advance chapters
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