Kibutsuji Muzan watched Shinobu's attack draw closer, a cruel smile playing on his lips. 'Excellent... You'll be the first!'
'Yoizumi... I can't wait to see your expression shatter!'
His fingernails sharpened, and he swung them mercilessly at the woman's head. But the next second, Muzan's movement abruptly froze. His eyes widened, filled with shock.
He couldn't control his body! Muzan stood rigid, watching 'himself' raise a hand to seize the woman's attack, guiding the nichirin blade's tip towards his own heart.
"Pfft..." His red eyes trembled. His chest was pierced, the blade's tip plunged into his heart, and crimson blood dripped. Large gushes of blood uncontrollably erupted from his mouth.
"How... is... this... possible!" Muzan snarled, almost biting his teeth.
He had clearly taken control of this body, so it was his!
Why was he... could it be... based on... instinct?
Muzan frowned. His left hand still tightly gripped Shinobu's nichirin blade, pushing its tip deeper and deeper into his heart. The poison rapidly spread throughout his body.
Shinobu's purple eyes were filled with tears, shocked by 'Yoizumi's' actions. The hand gripping the hilt trembled, her throat aching so much she couldn't speak. Her lips quivered, and she almost squeezed out a sound.
"Yang... Quan?"
The dim blue eye in 'Yoizumi's' left eye vaguely reflected Shinobu's image. He actually slowly pulled up the corners of his lips, revealing a smile.
This unexpected turn of events left the other Pillars, who had also intended to charge forward, stunned. Uzui Tengen's dark pink eyes silently watched Yoizumi's body.
A soft hum escaped his throat, uncontrolled.
You really... spoil Kochou too much, don't you?
Under the enhancement of the Transparent World, Uzui Tengen clearly saw Shinobu's wisteria poison spreading through Yoizumi's body. Yet, Yoizumi's powerful regeneration showed no signs of activating.
The overbearing poison flooded his entire body, and the immense pain made Muzan let out a muffled groan. He fiercely fought for control of the body, forcefully snapping the nichirin blade in his left hand.
This body was already the property of Kibutsuji Muzan!
So it should obediently listen to him!
His face contorted in a snarl, he swung his fist at Shinobu. Shinobu blocked with the broken blade held to her chest. The fist slammed against the nichirin blade's surface with a dull thud.
Her slender body was sent flying several meters. Suppressing the numbness in her arms, Shinobu stared at Muzan's hateful face. She understood... when his fist struck her, the force was almost halved. Even like this, Yoizumi wanted to protect her... She tilted her head slightly, not letting tears fall from her eyes. Once they fell, Shinobu was afraid... afraid that Yoizumi would see her crying and be anxious, unable to reach her side.
Her lips were pressed so tightly they turned white. Shinobu's eyes were filled with struggle and pain.
What should she do...?
They had promised each other that he would return to her safely.
But now... Shinobu sighed heavily. The blade plunged into Yoizumi's heart felt like it was piercing her own, a bone-deep ache that made her almost unable to suppress a wail.
She understood... Yoizumi must be suffering greatly now.
His most hated enemy, occupying his body, wanting to destroy everything he protected.
Shinobu, pull yourself together... You have to face this... Her reddened eyes, Shinobu closed them but couldn't alleviate the unbearable soreness.
Didn't you prepare for this before?
Winter always passes. No matter how much you cherish a snowflake, it will quietly melt one day.
But Shinobu couldn't predict if her next winter would arrive safely.
Flickering snowflakes, precarious decaying wood, a butterfly unable to dance.
Yoizumi... Tell me what I should do... Tell me how I can keep you.
I cannot lose you... "Hmph..." Muzan glanced at the high-hanging sun, not even caring about the wisteria poison in his body. After all, this poison wouldn't affect him; Yoizumi's regeneration was no less than Kokushibou's.
Thousands of years... He once again felt the warmth of the sun.
He wouldn't be scorched, wouldn't be blinded by its gaze.
He no longer needed to return to the shadows!
He walked a few steps to the frost-white nichirin blade on the ground and picked it up.
Lowering his gaze to the nichirin blade... Muzan sneered, then raised the nichirin blade, its tip pointing directly at the Demon Slayer Corps members.
Then, he would use the demon-hunting blade to hunt down these hateful demon slayers!
The frost-white blade reflected the sunlight, gleaming with a beautiful snowy hue.
The moment Muzan moved, his heart suddenly constricted. Muzan stumbled, falling to his knees, his face filled with disbelief.
This guy!
In his sea of consciousness, Yoizumi forcefully tore free from Muzan's restraints, fighting him for control of the body. Yoizumi's consciousness was almost transparent, and his powerful spiritual energy stirred up wave after wave of tumultuous turmoil in the dark consciousness.
You!
Muzan clutched his head in agony, roaring.
Don't you know this will kill you too!
In reality, the kneeling Yoizumi slowly raised the nichirin blade in his hand. Under everyone's gaze, he pointed the blade at his own neck.
"!?"
"Hey!" Sanemi Shinazugawa shouted, but a figure rushed out faster than him.
Yoizumi swung the blade, but no pain assaulted him. The sound of blood flowing and dripping, and the scent of blood, were right at his nose. Yoizumi raised his red and blue eyes, looked to his side, and instantly frowned, calling out in a trembling voice.
"Shinobu..."
Shinobu clutched the blade tightly, its sharp edge slicing open her palm. But she paid no attention to the pain.
The only thing she cared about, always, was one person... "Don't... Yoizumi."
"I can't... bear the cost of losing again."
Shinobu's tears, which she had been holding back, streamed down at Yoizumi's single call.
Hot tears fell onto Yoizumi's hand, scalding his dim eyes and making them tremble. The blood in his body even stopped flowing.
Blood... Yoizumi suddenly looked at his own hand. His hand was gradually disintegrating from the fingertips... Yoizumi remembered what Ubuyashiki had once said.
"When Muzan dies, other demons will perish with him."
Yoizumi, who had originally broken free from control, should not have been in this category. But Muzan had controlled him again, so... he would dissipate.
Realizing this, Yoizumi stiffly looked up at Shinobu, and Shinobu also seemed to understand now.
The expression on her face was blank and helpless, her voice almost shattered.
"How could this be...?"
------------------------
There are already 70+ chapters available on my Patreon!
The story will continue to update 1 chapter per day on Webnovel,
while early access chapters are posted on Patreon.
Maybe it's not worth it today but it could be later
[email protected]/Kazenova223
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"