"Fools who panic at the slightest provocation."
Facing this situation, facing this impending pincer attack from front and back, undisguised mockery appeared upon Mitsuba's half-melted face.
Everything was proceeding exactly as she had anticipated.
At this moment, her gaze seemed to pass through all the Demon Slayers before her, landing upon Ubuyashiki—whom they subconsciously protected behind them, wanting to speak out to stop them.
Instinct always triumphs over thought.
Through a century of contact, Mitsuba had long known that these Demon Slayers possessed near-instinctive obedience toward their master.
They respected him, trusted him, and could even die for him without hesitation when he needed them.
This was a terrifying power.
At critical moments, this trust and obedience could often become the key to turning defeat into victory.
But at certain moments, this long-cultivated instinct could also become the most fatal cause of defeat!
Just like right now.
The moment these Demon Slayers saw her lunging toward their master, the protective instinct deeply rooted in their minds—without requiring any thought—immediately drove them to swarm forward, attempting to intercept her.
So, dear God.
Nothing in this world is absolutely beneficial. The powerful bond You established between the Ubuyashiki clan and the Demon Slayers... at this very moment, can likewise become the key to my turning defeat into victory!
[You're too late! Ubuyashiki!]
Her eyes reflecting Ubuyashiki's hurried attempt to open his mouth and dissuade the crowd, Mitsuba laughed wildly, mobilizing her full strength at this moment to activate her Blood Demon Art once more.
The mandala formation expanded again, enveloping the thirty firearm-wielding Demon Slayers before her and the four Hashira-level swordsmen behind her.
But this time, Mitsuba did not pluck the threads of karma to directly erase them.
Her stamina at this moment was insufficient to support such direct causal interference that decided life and death.
The wisteria poison still spread within her body, and those pellets forged from scarlet crimson iron remained deeply embedded in her flesh, continuously consuming her strength.
Mitsuba could clearly feel her body approaching its limit.
This Blood Demon Art would likely be the last she could release tonight.
But it didn't matter. This was already enough.
Because in this instant, she would use these Demon Slayers' own hands to personally deliver their final death!
Time became slow once more at this moment. The air was thick with the scent of fear and excitement.
That was the Demon Slayers' fear of that terrifying demon.
That was this demon's excitement for the victory she was about to achieve.
Within the sea of crimson, the varying degrees of terror and panic upon the faces of the thirty Demon Slayers before her, and the dense threads of karma upon their bodies—all were taken in by Mitsuba.
The enemy's fear was Mitsuba's favorite emotion to witness.
Because once people begin to fear, it triggers tension; tension leads to panic, which further causes the mind to go blank, losing its original rational thought.
People trapped in such emotions often rely only on their instincts, acting subconsciously.
And such people were the easiest for Mitsuba's Blood Demon Art to manipulate.
Yes, her Blood Demon Art was not merely capable of manipulating causality in reality...
She could even influence human thought!
Bang! Bang bang bang!
Under the night sky, dense gunfire rang out once more.
But this time, not a single bullet landed upon Mitsuba.
The thirty firearm-wielding Demon Slayers, already in extreme panic, suddenly turned their gun muzzles in the instant before firing, each pulling the trigger toward their companions beside them.
Thirty pellets—excluding the four that precisely struck the hearts of the four Hashira-level swordsmen.
The remaining twenty-six were all used upon these firearm-wielding Demon Slayers themselves!
"Ugh!"
Scorching pellets, driven by gunpowder, continuously passed through one body after another. Blood splattered everywhere, severed limbs scattered about, and the Demon Slayers screamed as they collapsed one after another.
"How... is this possible?"
Eyes filled with disbelief, looking down at the fresh blood gushing madly from their chests, the remaining four Hashira—including the Flame Hashira—fell to the ground one by one.
Strange, why hadn't they noticed... these pellets flying toward their hearts?
Given their strength, they should have been able to react... could this also be that female demon's Blood Demon Art ability?
Even their thoughts...
"Lord Flame Hashira!"
With the firearm squad and Hashira-level swordsmen instantly annihilated, only the twelve Demon Slayers who had originally bound Mitsuba with chains remained in the courtyard.
"Urahhhh!"
Fear and rage instantly filled their hearts at this moment. These twelve people looked in disbelief at this horrific scene before them, simultaneously drawing their Nichirin blades and lunging desperately at Mitsuba, who had once again collapsed to her knees.
"Demon! I'll kill you! I'll kill—ugh!"
The roar abruptly ceased. The originally roaring Demon Slayer turned back in disbelief, looking at the companion behind him who wore an equally furious expression yet had suddenly swung his blade at him.
"You... why..."
"No, I didn't—aaahhh!!"
Then, this Demon Slayer who had unconsciously slain his companion screamed as he and another companion beside him simultaneously swung their blades at each other's vital points.
The second round of slaughter began.
Then, quickly ended.
These final twelve Demon Slayers, in their terror, had their thoughts influenced by Mitsuba and mutually slashed their comrades to death...
Thus, all the Demon Slayers tonight had fallen.
"How does it feel... Mr. Ubuyashiki..."
Finally exhausting her last shred of stamina at this moment, Mitsuba completely collapsed to the ground.
She struggled to raise her head, smiling as she directed her gaze toward Ubuyashiki—whom she had deliberately spared.
What had she just done?
The answer was simple.
For those thirty firearm-wielding Demon Slayers, Mitsuba had merely used the manipulation of the threads of karma to influence their thoughts in the instant before they fired, slightly altering the direction of their gun muzzles.
This was not difficult for Mitsuba.
Because these people had already been frightened by the strength she displayed.
Upon seeing her charge at their master, they dared not think further, panicking as they prepared to open fire to stop her.
In such disarray, Mitsuba could effortlessly influence their thoughts, causing them to fire according to her wishes without even realizing it themselves.
As for the four Hashira-level swordsmen lunging at her, Mitsuba did not particularly influence their thoughts.
She merely followed their desire to stop her, further strengthening this notion, focusing their attention more intensely upon her.
Thus causing them to subconsciously ignore their companions' gun muzzles—which, under her influence, had already quietly aimed at their hearts...
Of course, to ensure the pellets would definitely strike these four people's hearts, Mitsuba had specifically strengthened this layer of causality at the instant the firearm squad fired, guaranteeing the inevitable occurrence of this result.
As for those final twelve Demon Slayers, they naturally followed the same logic—no further explanation needed.
You see, everything is so simple.
A small, momentary shift in thought is sufficient to completely reverse the entire situation.
Facing the trap set for her tonight by the combined efforts of the Demon Slayer Corps and Tamayo, Mitsuba—while severely poisoned, without any intelligence, and having lost all initiative—had forcibly completed the final counter-kill through her terrifying Blood Demon Art.
The power of karma is truly terrifying.
___
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