Muzan's control over demons is actually very strong; the birth of every demon is inseparable from his blood, yet the awakening of Blood Demon Arts might be completely beyond his control.
Otherwise, even while repulsed by increasing his own kind, Muzan would not have continuously increased the number of demons over thousands of years, all just hoping that one demon could awaken the ability to conquer the sun.
But things did not go as planned. The abilities awakened by the demons were bizarre, and while some were powerful enough to earn Muzan's high regard, the demon who could conquer the sun and become a QQ life form still hadn't appeared.
Mizuki reacted the moment the physical sensation in her hand suddenly vanished. The bizarre-looking enemy before her might possess an ability related to space.
Clang~
With a sound, high up on a thick branch several meters above the ground on the large tree behind Mizuki, rested a pot of somewhat refined appearance.
A mass of black water erupted from the pot, quickly transforming into the appearance of Gyokko. Beads of cold sweat hung on his strange and ugly face.
That was close.
That strike just now... he completely failed to react.
If the opponent had been using a Nichirin Blade, he might have already been decapitated.
Just as Gyokko was secretly rejoicing, a cold voice drifted up from below the tree.
"What, it's not instant movement?" Mizuki's slender fingers gently rested on the sword hilt. She glanced back slightly, her crimson eyes displaying a cold indifference.
She had been slightly thrown off by that black water trick.
However, she could constantly smell a very fishy odor.
Is it fish?
"I was seen through..." On the branch, beads of sweat the size of beans slid down Gyokko's cheek.
So there was no chance of fooling this woman with such a trick?
Fortunately, Gyokko's high and low eyeballs—hidden in his forehead and mouth—looked toward Mizuki's waist. It's not a Nichirin Blade... is it a demon blade?
Gyokko's stiff body warmed up slightly.
If it was a demon blade, then that was fine.
Although demons can grow stronger by devouring other demons, this is not an easy task. A demon's regeneration is terrifyingly powerful, and if they are determined to flee, it is difficult for the other party to completely eradicate them.
As for the Displacement Blood Battle popular among the Twelve Demon Moons, that is a different set of rules.
It was personally established by Kibutsuji Muzan as the standard for selecting a powerful personal guard squad.
Only one survivor can emerge from a Displacement Blood Battle.
In other words, when two demons fight, one must die.
If you wish to escape, you must first see if you can break free from Muzan's control.
Although the feeling this woman gave him was extremely unsettling, as long as she didn't have a Nichirin Blade, she couldn't kill him.
He hoped Hantengu would move faster.
Mizuki's eyelids dropped slightly. This was a bit troublesome.
That kind of movement speed was not difficult to deal with compared to a genuine spatial ability.
But without a Nichirin Blade, she couldn't kill a demon.
Her original intention was to restrain this guy first, and then have Nezuko go back and find someone to bring a Nichirin Blade.
Mizuki frowned slightly: "Villager over there."
"Yes! Present!" The villager replied, extremely nervous.
"Help me find a Nichirin Blade. Any kind will do."
"U-understood! I understand!" The villager moved his somewhat stiff legs and ran toward the Swordsmith Village.
The villager left in a hurry, leaving Nezuko watching Gyokko while nervously clenching her fists nearby.
Mizuki said softly, "Nezuko, go find your brother."
Although Tanjirou's current strength should not be underestimated, and Tokito was also present, the ominous feeling in Mizuki's heart deepened with Gyokko's appearance.
It was probably not as simple as just this one guy.
She would feel safer if the siblings were together.
"Mm." Nezuko nodded heavily and left, chasing after the villager.
Hearing the conversation, Gyokko panicked internally: "Don't think about escaping!"
He already couldn't comprehend her fighting strength; if she got her hands on a blade, what then?
Gyokko excitedly took out two clay pots and threw them far toward Nezuko and the Swordsmith Village villager.
Before the clay pots could land, strange cellular tissue spread out from their mouths in mid-air, hanging from the opening like bloated abscesses, continuously growing larger.
It looked utterly disgusting.
Mizuki naturally wouldn't give him the chance. She swung two strikes into the air, splitting both pots in half.
They fell to the ground and shattered into pieces, the abscesses bursting open and emitting waves of putrid odor.
It looked as if something was about to hatch inside them.
A trace of anger rose on Gyokko's face: "Just how many of mine are you going to ruin, woman..."
Bang!
Gyokko, from head to pot, was split into two halves.
But the next moment, he reappeared entirely in the bushes behind Mizuki.
"bastard! You dare to..."
The instant that figure appeared, a sharp, snowy slash cut straight through the bushes and the large tree behind them, severing both into two pieces.
Gyokko's figure reappeared from the pot hidden far away.
What kind of monster is this?
I can't see it clearly at all.
The anger on Gyokko's face did not dissipate, but it was now mixed with a touch of fear.
No, this woman is very wrong.
If she stalled until reinforcements arrived, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to escape.
Anyway, Hantengu had already infiltrated the village. With his ability, he should be able to hold out for a while longer.
Their goal was to destroy the Swordsmith Village. The clay pots he had hidden around the village would spawn monsters to wreck the village as soon as he gave the command.
There was no need to get entangled with this monster. It was better to retreat now.
Perhaps because of his face, Gyokko felt increasingly uneasy in his heart.
Sensing Gyokko's intention to retreat, a trace of annoyance rose in Mizuki's heart, and her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
I don't have a blade.
It might be difficult to keep this ugly monster here. Was there a better way?
Mizuki inadvertently glanced at the clay pot where his body curled up, and she couldn't help but recall Gyokko's reaction just now.
This guy... seems to care quite a bit about his pots... A light bulb went off in Mizuki's mind.
"I say, that pot of yours..."
Gyokko, who had already turned around intending to slip away, heard these words. His ears—or rather, the four small hands that replaced his ears—stirred restlessly, and he immediately turned his head back, filled with delight.
"Shu shu..." Gyokko laughed eerily. "How is it? Even an aesthetically challenged monkey should understand my art, right?"
"You destroyed quite a few of mine just now, woman. Don't think for a second that I'll forgive you if you apologize now."
Mizuki paused: "Ah, no. I was just wondering, did you make this pot yourself?"
As if sensing Mizuki's goodwill, Gyokko held a small pot and gently stroked it beside his cheek.
"Of course. Every pot is a perfect masterpiece meticulously carved by me."
Mizuki: "But... it looks like it has just as little taste as you do."
"..."
"Look, nobody likes a monster with its mouth where its eyes should be, right?"
"Don't you feel disgusted when you look in the mirror normally?"
Gyokko sneered twice: "Shu shu, do you really think anyone would fall for such low-level trash talk?"
"I really was underestimated."
When talking about himself, he doesn't care about his appearance at all?
This guy... it's a good thing his appearance doesn't give him any body image issues.
Mizuki tilted her head: "Huh? But your pot is clearly just as ugly as your face, isn't it?"
"Not only is it unsightly, but it's also completely asymmetrical." Mizuki rubbed her chin. "It wouldn't be a defective product, would it? Would anyone buy this thing if you put it on the market?"
"I probably wouldn't even take it if you gave it to me."
"It completely fails to meet any artistic aesthetic."
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