Blood Demon Art: Air Raid!
The shredded ice vines continued to regenerate and spread. Yoizumi didn't understand why Kochou didn't block them; he had just created an opportunity for her!
Why didn't she raise her nichirin blade to counterattack?!
Shinobu gripped the nichirin blade hanging by her side. This was a chance, a chance to kill Douma!
As long as he ate her, with Yoizumi and Uzui Tengen present, they could definitely kill Douma.
As the ice vines drew closer, Shinobu cast one last look at Yoizumi in the distance, smiling bitterly, her reluctant eyes filled with determination.
I'm sorry... I didn't want to do this in front of you... but to avenge my older sister, this is the only method I, being so weak, could think of.
Yoizumi's eyes widened. He couldn't believe her actions. Was Kochou trying to die?
There was no time to think about why she would do such a thing; launching Blood Demon Art: Air Raid now would be too late.
Blood Demon Art: Instant Shadow!
"Splat..."
The sound of flesh being pierced rang out.
"Cough... gasp..."
"Yang... Quan?"
Shinobu looked at Yoizumi, who had suddenly appeared in front of her, embracing her, and taking all the attacks. His blood splattered on her face, and she was trembling all over.
Why did he come over?!
Ice vines from all directions pierced through Yoizumi's back, but Shinobu, held in his arms, was completely unharmed. Blood spurted from his mouth, splashing onto Shinobu's shoulder.
Shinobu only felt that where his blood touched her, it was so hot, so hot.
"Ha... heh..."
All the ice vines behind Kochou were shattered by Yoizumi using his nichirin blade. He forcefully crushed the ice vines that had pierced his abdomen with his left hand, preventing them from approaching Shinobu even an inch. His body instantly lost all strength, and he collapsed to the ground with Kochou.
Yoizumi gasped for breath with difficulty.
"Don't do that..."
"This is... my request... Kochou."
Even though he was riddled with holes, Yoizumi didn't blame Kochou. He didn't think Kochou would do something unreasonable, but if it came at the cost of her death, he couldn't stand by and do nothing.
His right eye was pierced, and his sole remaining left eye held a plea.
"Don't... die..."
"Yoizumi-nii!"
Hinokami Kagura, Second Form: Clear Blue Sky!
A slash, like a blazing sun, cut through the ice vines embedded in Yoizumi's back.
All of this happened too quickly; everyone was caught off guard. Uzui Tengen couldn't dwell on why Shinobu had suddenly done that. He continued to fight Douma, shouting,
"Kochou! This isn't the time to stand there stunned! Get him out of here!"
Supporting Yoizumi's body with effort, she moved him out of Douma's attack range. Yoizumi shattered the remaining ice vines inside him and leaned against the wall, his blood-stained hand gripping Shinobu, refusing to let go.
Shinobu couldn't break free. Staring at Yoizumi's riddled body, her eyes red, she cursed,
"Are you an idiot?!"
After all his wounds had healed, Yoizumi's clothes were covered in large and small bloodstains. Facing Shinobu, he was firm for the first time.
"I am a demon."
"Don't do that, Kochou."
Shinobu knelt beside Yoizumi, tears streaming down her face. She had already made up her mind and summoned immense courage for it, but when Yoizumi blocked in front of her and hugged her tightly, she felt as if all her strength had been drained in an instant.
"Why did you do that?"
Yoizumi cupped Kochou's face with both hands, carefully wiping away the blood that had splattered on her. His clear sapphire eyes held an unresolvable sadness.
Kochou had almost died in front of him.
"If I don't do that, I can't kill Douma!" The girl's scalding tears streamed down her cheeks onto Yoizumi's hand. Though they were just tears, the sorrow they contained made him feel as if a large hole had been burned through his chest, hurting even more than the injuries he had just sustained.
"I won't accept it!"
"If this battle must end with Kochou's death to achieve victory, I'd rather not have it!"
Yoizumi experienced the feeling of losing control of his emotions for the first time.
"What are you saying?! We are the Demon Slayer Corps! Dying while slaying demons is the most normal thing!" Shinobu, too, couldn't suppress her emotions. Her slender shoulders trembled, and her voice wavered.
"So what?"
"I don't understand!"
The simple-minded demon couldn't comprehend such an act. He only knew this:
"If Kochou dies, I will be sad..."
He gripped Kochou's shoulders, forcing her to look him in the eye.
Yoizumi's usually clear and bright sapphire eyes were clouded with a mist, an unbearable sadness in his heart. His usually straight brows were tightly furrowed, his indifferent expression completely gone, and his voice was hoarse.
The answer is simple, Kochou... He had said it before.
"I... don't want to lose you."
Shinobu wouldn't know that the look in her eyes as she gazed at Yoizumi at that moment was like a wandering soul finding a permanent vessel.
She had always thought of herself as a strong person. Now, Shinobu lowered her head, burying it in Yoizumi's neck, crying helplessly like a lost child.
"Then tell me what I should do?"
The hand that gently wiped away her tears from the corner of her eyes patted her back softly. She heard Yoizumi say,
"Trust me."
"All Kochou needs to do is trust me."
"I won't let you die."
"And I won't let go of anyone who makes you unhappy."
So.
Yoizumi stood up, his tall, slender back imprinted in Shinobu's eyes.
"Don't cry."
"Kochou should smile."
"Kochou's smile."
"I like it very much."
Perhaps Yoizumi's words were too direct, leaving Shinobu stunned in place, her eyes wide.
Yoizumi said he liked... Is this the time to say that?
She awkwardly wiped away the remaining tears on her face.
Trust him... Go and trust him.
To die for such an evil demon is not worth it.
Why did she only understand now?
Shinobu... should witness this beast's death with her own eyes.
There are still two hours until dawn... "Take a slash from me, you big brute!" Inosuke was very angry now, not only because this demon emitted an unpleasant aura, but also because he had repeatedly harmed the people he protected.
Don't you know that Yosuke and Shiyuku are under my protection?
And you want to eat Kochou? Did you get his permission?!
Beast Breathing, Fourth Form: Mince!
Inosuke's two blades crossed, simultaneously unleashing multiple slashes.
Douma pouted unhappily. That girl had already given up resisting and agreed to eternal life with him, but these people and that demon kept getting in his way.
Really.
This rude fellow with the boar's head mask was truly overestimating himself. But why did he wear such a mask? Was it because he was ugly and didn't want to be seen?
Douma suddenly had an idea. As his golden fan deflected Inosuke's nichirin blade, he snatched off the mask.
When he saw the delicate face, as beautiful as a girl's, a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes.
That face... especially those green eyes.
He seemed to have seen them somewhere before~
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