An extremely enticing scent of blood, as if carrying a fatal allure, wafted into Mukago's nose in wisps, constantly tempting her every nerve. The aroma was like an invisible hand, gently plucking the strings of her deepest, most primal desires.
Involuntary drool poured from her mouth, dripping onto the ground and forming a small puddle. She had originally intended to turn and flee, but her feet, as if enchanted, suddenly became incredibly heavy, unable to move an inch.
A powerful urge to feed, like a surging tide, instantly drowned out all her fear and thoughts of escape. At this moment, only one crazed and persistent idea remained in her mind—to devour the person with the rare blood!
The demon was now so weak it could barely move. If she could just swallow this rare blood, she would quickly regain her strength, and then killing the demon before her, who was utterly defenseless, would be as easy as turning over her hand.
Her mind made up, the fire of desire burned fiercely in Mukago's crimson pupils, no longer able to conceal itself in the slightest. She turned without hesitation, took a step, and pounced towards Komatsuse with lightning speed.
Seeing the demon charging towards her exactly as she had expected, Komatsuse secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least it had worked. Although death might still await her, perhaps delaying for some time could lead to a miracle?
However, thinking of all her unfulfilled wishes, a deep sense of unwillingness welled up in Komatsuse's heart. She had not yet provided her elderly grandmother with a prosperous and stable life; she had never visited those bustling big cities to experience the wonders of the world, and she hadn't even had the chance to confess her feelings to Yoizumi, whom she had long admired.
Just as the demon was only a few meters away from her, Komatsuse slowly closed her eyes, giving up her last struggle. A line of clear tears silently streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto the cold ground.
"Grandma… I'm sorry, I can't come home…" "Pfft…"
It was the sound of flesh being torn apart. Strangely, Komatsuse felt no pain. Cautiously opening her eyes, she saw the demon split in half before her.
She recoiled a few steps in horror, then saw Yoizumi, struggling to stand up in the distance, extending one hand towards her.
It was Mr. Yoizumi, who saved me.
The two halves of the demon on the ground were wailing in agony, their piercing screams making Komatsuse immediately back away. Yoizumi, who was struggling to stand up in the distance, slowly approached.
"No! No! How can you have a Blood Demon Art? If you have one, why didn't you use it?!" Mukago cried heartbrokenly. Now, the fear of death had descended upon her.
After using Blood Demon Art: Air Raid, his already depleted strength was completely overdrawn. Yoizumi, who should not have been able to stand, found some unknown strength and slowly walked to the demon's side, laboriously raising his nichirin blade. He swallowed hard; his rationality was on the verge of disappearing. The immense scent of rare blood awakened the dormant demon's malice within him.
No!
I cannot eat people. If I do, I will become a complete monster.
I will have no face to see Shinobu, no face to see… to see… The answer was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't utter it. He steadied himself, raised his nichirin blade high, and brought it down with all his might.
A quarter.
A third.
...No matter how much Yoizumi exerted himself, he couldn't cut down another inch. The demon's desire to live made her neck muscles tough, and her sole arm gripped the nichirin blade tightly.
The blade, unable to bear the strain, had already cracked during the previous battle, and now it was directly broken by her. Yoizumi stared in shock at the nichirin blade, which was now only half its length.
The blade broke!
Mukago grinned excitedly. Now there was no way to kill her. As long as she had a chance, she could definitely escape!
"Komatsuse… help me!"
"Yes."
He placed the hilt in her hand, while he gripped the broken part of the blade. Komatsuse worriedly said,
"It will cut you, Mr. Yoizumi."
Yoizumi did not reply. Facing the scent of rare blood so close, every extra second was immense torment. He gripped the broken blade tightly, and his palm was directly cut by the sharp edge. The burning pain, as if from the sun, restored some of his rationality.
"What are you doing! Stop!" Mukago didn't expect him to still not give up, willing to endure the pain of being wounded by a nichirin blade himself just to kill her.
"Muzan-sama will not let you off! He will kill you, he will definitely kill you!"
Looking at Lower Moon Four, Yoizumi's blue eyes stared directly into hers, his tone still as calm and unruffled, yet it still sent shivers down her spine.
"Is that so? Then… you… wait for your… Muzan-sama… in hell."
"You will… reunite very soon, for your… deeds."
"Atonement!"
Together with Komatsuse, he severed the demon's head.
"No!!"
Lower Moon Four slowly dissipated, turning into nothingness.
"We won…" Komatsuse cried tears of joy. They had survived. She could go back and see her grandmother. Hot tears streamed out, and she trembled all over. Suddenly, a cold hand gripped her wrist tightly and raised it high.
Komatsuse stared blankly at Yoizumi before her. He still had his usual expressionless, indifferent look, yet it sent a chill through her. Meeting his clear, sapphire-blue eyes, Komatsuse noticed a difference: his pupils had become vertical, extremely oppressive, and, more importantly, identical to those of a demon.
"Mr. Yoizumi? You're hurting me!"
Mr. Yoizumi is also a demon?
How could this be!