Mizuki's eyes were focused, and as she slowly exhaled a long breath, she unsheathed her Nichirin Blade.
Shasha... On the white blade, there were some remnants of white crystals, which added a touch of beauty to its appearance.
Is it because it's close to the hilt?
Mizuki frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed her expression.
Perhaps knowing his own shortcomings, Haganezuka proactively explained, "I've tested it; the impact on the blade is minimal."
Mizuki glanced at him, thinking, "What good is your testing? Can you activate a scarlet blade?"
She didn't pay much attention, as she also felt that the impact was indeed minimal.
There were only a few snow crystals remaining where the hilt connected, and the overall temperature of the blade was not significantly affected.
Moreover, her strength has increased significantly now, and complete Demonization is her normal state, so the speed of activating a scarlet blade should be much faster.
Besides... she might not even need this thing.
However... although she didn't want to discourage Haganezuka too much, she still wanted to ask, "This kind of treatment shouldn't be good, right?"
"Why keep my bones as the hilt?"
If it were a normal Nichirin Blade, regardless of whether it felt right, it should at least be more useful, appearing purer.
She believed that a qualified swordsmith should know how to forge excellent weapons.
No matter how you look at it, it seemed too contradictory.
Although she had initially suggested keeping it, that was because Haganezuka had the idea of preserving it.
Haganezuka said indifferently, "I think your bones should have some sense of participation, somehow."
"...Do you want to die?" A vein throbbed on Mizuki's forehead.
"Just kidding, just kidding." Haganezuka quickly waved his hand, returning to his usual silly self.
"Actually, I had no other thoughts." He suddenly became composed and said, "I simply believe that doing so can forge a better blade."
Mizuki was stunned: "That's it?"
What kind of reason is that?
Shouldn't he be convincing himself with experience and seasoned techniques?
"Yes, that's right." Haganezuka nodded seriously.
Mizuki raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at him with some surprise. Although it sounded a bit outlandish, why did it give her a strange, inexplicable feeling?
Could it be that there's really something special about this blade?
Mizuki looked at the Nichirin Blade in her hand, her eyebrows uneven. Veins popped out on the back of her hand, and the transparent snow crystals melted away, evaporating into a mist, while a streak of crimson instantly surged from the hilt connection to the tip of the blade.
The speed of activating the scarlet blade was much faster than she had imagined; compared to before, it was like night and day.
She currently appeared in human form, but in reality, this was just a disguise.
She now possessed the physical capabilities of complete Demonization.
Haganezuka's eyes suddenly lit up, and he exclaimed, "Oh, no matter how many times I see it, it's still amazing."
A scarlet blade, even for a swordsmith, a profession that is arguably the most familiar with Nichirin Blades, this was the first time he had heard of such a thing.
With Yoriichi's departure, the 'three-piece set' essentially became a legend within the Demon Slayer Corps, with only the Demon Slayer Mark having some records passed down.
Leaving aside Yoriichi, the initial Pillars were not necessarily stronger than the current Pillars.
It was only because of Yoriichi, an existence beyond all norms, that they appeared powerful.
Describing it as 'when one person achieves Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven' is not an exaggeration.
"Indeed..." Kochou Shinobu's expression showed a hint of admiration.
She couldn't do it. Even after activating her Demon Slayer Mark, she still couldn't make her Nichirin Blade turn red through grip strength.
If Mizuki hadn't achieved it, she would have doubted the accuracy of this method.
She could accept making the blade turn red by clashing it, but by gripping the hilt? What's the principle?
It makes no sense, does it?
"It's more convenient than I imagined." Mizuki commented concisely.
It's just that she couldn't use it.
She silently added to herself.
She couldn't possibly switch to dual-wielding, could she?
She didn't know how.
Otherwise, should she try to combine the Nichirin Blade with her Blood Demon Art?
As soon as the thought emerged, Mizuki couldn't help but get a headache.
Can something cold and something hot really be combined?
Shaking her head secretly, Mizuki raised her Nichirin Blade, aimed at the still unrepaired outer wall, and slashed with a Sword Form.
"Snow Breathing, Sixth Form: Snow Drifts Ten Thousand Miles!"
Snow-colored waves surged through the gap in the outer wall, heading towards the horizon.
An excellent weapon doesn't directly increase the power of a Move, but rather improves aspects like sharpness.
After swinging the blade, Mizuki was surprised.
Haganezuka chuckled, "How is it? As for the weight, I made it exactly like your previous blade, with not even a slight deviation in the center of gravity."
Indeed, whether in length or the feel of its weight, it was no different from Yoriichi's blade.
Only the tsuba had a slight difference.
This guy really has some skills.
Mizuki held back from praising him aloud, otherwise, his nose would be in the sky.
Haganezuka bounced in place at the edge of the open space, "Try again, try again."
Mizuki was about to continue trying but was interrupted by Kochou Shinobu:
"Alright, put the blade away."
Haganezuka jumped up, "I'll endure you...!"
Bang!!!
...
This time, there was truly no room for rebuttal; Mizuki's weapon was directly confiscated.
As for Haganezuka... because he retorted a couple of times with an unfriendly tone, Kochou Shinobu kicked him out, person and mask included, and he couldn't even mooch a lunch.
"What an impolite fellow." Kochou Shinobu patted non-existent dust from her hands, then turned and smiled at Mizuki, "Mizuki agrees, right?"
"...Mm."
How miserable, Haganezuka... he didn't even swear.
In comparison, she thought Shinobu... no, she took back what she said.
She hadn't even thought it.
Kochou Shinobu poked her fingers together, looking down shyly, "Then, Mizuki, about what you promised earlier..."
...
So, she barely even touched the Nichirin Blade, and now she had to fulfill her promise?
Mizuki said, half-laughing, half-crying, "You really got me."
"First, let's be clear, no more hugging me like last night."
"Eh?" Kochou Shinobu's face visibly showed disappointment.
"I don't want to wake up tomorrow morning and see you with a high fever."
"...I'm a doctor, doctors don't get fevers." Kochou Shinobu coughed dryly, her tone somewhat lacking confidence.
Mizuki's eyelid twitched slightly: "I'm an old-timer, not an idiot."
Kochou Shinobu racked her brain: "Then should I take cold medicine to prevent it?"
Mizuki decisively refused: "No."
"Then Mizuki, just maintain a normal body temperature."
"No, that won't do either; it'll be even more uncomfortable being sticky."
Kochou Shinobu put on a pitiful expression: "Is Mizuki looking down on me?"
Mizuki glared back: "That trick doesn't work on me."
She just tricked her, and now she expects to make her comply with such a simple trick?
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