Mizuki was like a person with one foot in an abyss; a slight misstep would ruin the excellent situation she was in.
One second she was heavy-hearted about almost beheading Kokushibou, the next she had to steel her nerves and think of a way out.
With only half of her fair arm propped on the edge, Mizuki was about to be dragged entirely into the Infinity Castle by Kokushibou.
Kokushibou was panting heavily, far from having escaped death, and could even be described as disheveled.
The sensation in his neck gradually returned, and his regeneration ability was also unleashed. With the restriction on his abilities gone, the flesh in his neck rapidly recovered.
The image of Mizuki's tear-filled eyes still lingered in his mind.
He hesitated... in that instant, his heart actually wavered for a moment.
And because of that momentary hesitation, he lost his strength and was almost directly beheaded by Mizuki.
Regret? Hesitation? Confusion?
He couldn't describe the feeling.
For the first time in hundreds of years, Kokushibou felt so unfamiliar with himself.
Before he knew Mizuki was still alive, his mind was solely focused on how to become stronger.
Although he rarely thought about it, the reason he decided to become a demon was to surpass Yoriichi.
For this, he didn't care what he had to pay, or how many people he had to devour.
As hundreds of years passed, the faces of his wife and children had long faded, and past memories had vanished into the end of time.
Kokushibou had thought that nothing could ever shake his heart again.
But ever since he learned Mizuki was still alive, his heart, which had been calm for hundreds of years like a mountain rock pool, began to ripple, unable to quiet down again.
Does he... still have a heart?
Like a dangling weight, the 1.9-meter tall Kokushibou weighed at least two hundred pounds. Coupled with Mizuki's own weight, with only one hand hanging on the edge, if not for her increased strength after Demonization, she would have been pulled down long ago.
Mizuki looked down at Kokushibou, who was clinging to her waist, and cursed in a low voice, "Let go! You're going to rip my clothes off!"
Though she seemed to still have the presence of mind to bicker with Kokushibou, Mizuki was actually panicking.
She had no idea that the Infinity Castle could be such a thing, capable of opening portals anywhere, even under someone's feet.
In that moment of falling, if there hadn't been other influences, she would have reacted.
There was absolutely no warning; the sensation of weightlessness came the instant she heard the sound of the biwa.
If she were Muzan, she would use Nakime's trick: one pull, and it's a sure hit. Even if a Hashira could react, just assign a demon to restrain them, and wouldn't it be easy to drag them down?
Once pulled into the Infinity Castle, no matter how strong you are, you'll regret it.
Mizuki felt she had underestimated Muzan's intelligence enough, but she hadn't expected to be able to underestimate it even more.
A game that couldn't be lost even if played with one's feet.
"Mizuki, you..." Kokushibou looked up at Mizuki, his gaze passing through her to notice the morning red in the sky.
The sun is rising!
Mizuki tried to grab the edge with her other hand, but Kokushibou grabbed it with one hand.
"Mizuki, come to my side!" Kokushibou shouted.
"No!" Mizuki's scalp tingled. She glanced out of the corner of her eye, seeing the entire Infinity Castle like a massive city.
Spaces intersected everywhere, brightly lit; it was impossible to imagine this was something that could be developed by a Blood Demon Art.
She suddenly understood why Muzan was so wary of other demons.
Muzan, that stat monster, was useless except for his stats. If he encountered a demon with such a Blood Demon Art who betrayed him, he could easily be ambushed.
But Mizuki didn't have that much time to think now. Although she still had strength, being suspended here indefinitely wasn't a solution.
Muzan was still lurking below, and if Kokushibou was determined to drag her down, she really couldn't handle it.
Looking down at the Infinity Castle now, it was like a giant mouth opening, just waiting for her to fall.
It was only because Kokushibou had nowhere to brace himself that he was clinging to her.
Otherwise, he could have pulled her down with sheer strength.
Mizuki was propped on the edge with one hand, her other hand grabbed by Kokushibou, unable to find any leverage.
"Let go!" Beads of cold sweat appeared on Mizuki's forehead. She kicked at Kokushibou with her leg, trying to dislodge him.
But Kokushibou held her tightly, unmoving.
Kokushibou shouted, "The sun is coming out, let go quickly!"
"??" Mizuki's mind went blank for a second, "If you let go of me, wouldn't I just leave?"
If it weren't for Muzan and Nakime being outsiders below, she would have spat at Kokushibou.
Can't I just not kill you?
Stop tearing at her clothes!
Muzan watched from below, frowning. He had seen the battle at Swordsmith Village clearly through the perspectives of the demons.
Kokushibou... facing his sister, he was ultimately lost.
Was this all that guy amounted to in the end?
Throughout hundreds of years, Muzan had been absolutely satisfied with Kokushibou. If Infinity Castle Co., Ltd. had an appraisal system, Kokushibou would definitely be number one every year, and Muzan's evaluation of him would surely be a perfect score.
Aside from the lack of progress in searching for the Demon Slayer Corps, Kokushibou was a near-perfect subordinate.
He had strength, intelligence, and loyalty.
But even such a subordinate, whom he had trusted for hundreds of years, could 'drop the ball'.
It was, frankly, very disappointing.
But everything relies on comparison. Compared to Kokushibou, the others were simply not human.
Each one was more abstract than the last.
If he didn't still need these good-for-nothings to help him find the blue spider lily and wipe out the Demon Slayer Corps, he would have gotten rid of the Twelve Demon Moons long ago.
Kokushibou was already a cut above the rest among them, a truly capable general.
However, no matter what.
Muzan was now very interested in Kokushibou's sister.
Was her Blood Demon Art a frost ability similar to Douma's?
But it could actually threaten a demon's regeneration.
Muzan's gaze consciously shifted to the floor not far in front of him.
The bloody color on the long blade slowly faded, revealing the silvery-white Holy Light within.
The exquisite long blade was stuck straight into the floor, its bright surface reflecting his posture.
Would being slashed in the neck by this sword truly lead to death?
Although Muzan had just been disappointed in Kokushibou, he still highly acknowledged Kokushibou's strength. Muzan believed his instincts were not wrong.
It wasn't a Nichirin Blade; it had no connection to the sun, yet it possessed the ability to slay demons.
Simply unbelievable.
Didn't that mean this ability could already threaten his existence?
Muzan's first reaction was that this woman absolutely could not be allowed to live, even if she was Kokushibou's sister.
Anything that could potentially threaten him, he had to destroy completely.
Moreover, Kokushibou's face was already annoying enough to look at; his sister's face was even more so.
But then, a strong tremor rose in Muzan's heart, and an intense thought surged within him.
That Blood Demon Art... that woman... there must be something different about her, something that sets her apart from other demons.
Perhaps... perhaps she was the key for him to overcome the sun.
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