“Phew, it’s over.”
Is it cloudy?
Rukia Kuchiki looked at the gray sky and thought.
It was already time for the sun to rise, but no sunlight was shining down.
But that was fine; whether there was sun or not, Douma was dead.
Although he looked intact on the outside, he was actually frozen to dregs inside—the kind that would shatter at a touch.
This battle seemed easy, but in reality, Rukia Kuchiki had given it her all.
Minus 196 degrees was her limit.
She could only maintain this state for about a minute at most; any longer, and her body would suffer frostbite and crack.
Fortunately, she had quickly dealt with him within the limited time.
Although Rukia Kuchiki didn’t know his name, it didn’t matter.
The urgent priority was to find a doctor to treat this heavily injured girl.
Rukia Kuchiki’s Kaido was limited to basic blood-stanching; it was useless for internal organ damage like this.
Meanwhile, Kochou Shinobu stepped through the snow, heading toward Kanae Kocho’s location.
Her heart was currently extremely anxious.
She had learned from her sister’s Kasugai Crow that they had encountered Upper Moon Two, whose Blood Demon Art was ice and who was very powerful.
Upon receiving the news, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, immediately sent three Hashira for support: the strongest Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima; the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui; and the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku.
Among them, the Stone Hashira, as the strongest in the Demon Slayer Corps, went voluntarily.
The Flame Hashira was assigned to the team by the Master because his abilities could provide a certain elemental counter.
The Sound Hashira was brought along simply because he happened to have nothing to do at the time.
Swordsmen below the rank of Hashira were not allowed to participate in this operation, as they would only be a hindrance, and the Hashira would be distracted by trying to protect them.
Kochou Shinobu was not a Hashira yet, but as the only blood relative of the Flower Hashira, Kanae Kocho, she still received the news.
It just so happened that she was the closest one, so she was able to arrive even before the Hashira.
“Why does it have to be cloudy today?
Sister, you must hold on!
I’m almost there.”
As one of the demons’ weaknesses, the sun’s lethality to them is enormous.
As long as a demon is exposed to sunlight, they will vanish into dust within thirty seconds.
However, on a cloudy day, demons can move during the daytime because they aren’t exposed to sunlight in such weather.
Following the Kasugai Crow, Kochou Shinobu finally reached the central area of the snow.
Here, she only saw a black-haired girl with her back to her, holding a snow-white katana.
Looking around, she only found that pink nichirin sword stuck in the snow.
“Sister!”
Seeing this, Kochou Shinobu let out a mournful cry like a cuckoo weeping blood and charged, thrusting her blade at the culprit before her.
Insect Breathing: Dance of the Centipede — Hundred-Legged Zigzag.
After rapidly approaching the girl, she thrust her rapier toward her neck, but it was blocked by a circular energy shield just before it hit.
“Bakudo 39 — Enkosen.”
What is this?
The opponent’s Blood Demon Art?
Wasn’t it said that Upper Moon Two’s Blood Demon Art was ice?
What is this shield-like thing?
Kochou Shinobu was shocked.
At this moment, Rukia Kuchiki, who had her back to Kochou Shinobu, turned around.
Seeing the resemblance to the heavily injured, dying girl from earlier, and combining it with the cry of “Sister” just now, there was no doubt—this must be her twin sister.
“Are you looking for your sister?
She is heavily injured and needs immediate treatment.”
“You’re saying my sister is still alive?
Then where is she now?
I’m a doctor; I can save her!” Kochou Shinobu said with an anxious tone and a tense expression.
Rukia Kuchiki didn’t answer but simply pointed to the blue inverted triangular pyramid above them.
Through the crystal wall, Kochou Shinobu saw her sister, Kanae Kocho, lying inside.
Her clothes were stained red with blood, and there were bloody tears on her face.
“Grab my hand!”
“Eh!”
Rukia Kuchiki grabbed Kochou Shinobu’s hand without explanation, causing her to cry out in surprise.
Before she could react, the scene before her shifted, and the two of them were directly inside the Tozanshō.
“I’ve already done basic blood-stanching; the rest is up to you.
By the way, my name is Rukia Kuchiki.
What’s yours?”
Kochou Shinobu didn’t pay attention to Rukia Kuchiki; instead, she carefully examined Kanae Kocho’s injuries.
Finding that she could still be saved, she let out a heavy sigh of relief, finally letting go of her anxiety.
“My name is Kochou Shinobu.
This is my sister, Kanae Kocho.
Thank you for your help.”
After saying this, Kochou Shinobu’s face turned red.
After all, she had just charged at her savior, mistaking her for an enemy.
“It’s fine.
The priority is to treat your sister.
Such severe injuries will leave lasting damage if not treated in time.
Just let me know if you need help,” Rukia Kuchiki said casually with a wave of her hand.
“Actually, I have a humble request.
Could Miss Kuchiki please take my sister to our base?
That’s where I have the tools and medicine needed for surgery.”
“Just call me Rukia.
Of course, that’s no problem.
I’ll move this barrier; just tell me the direction.”
“It’s about twenty kilometers to the south.
There is a stronghold of our Wisteria Family there.”
“Understood!”
After saying that, Rukia began to move the Tozanshō.
Then, remembering something, she vanished into the barrier.
Just as Kochou Shinobu was about to stand up, she saw Rukia return, holding a peach-colored nichirin sword.
“This is your sister’s sword, isn’t it?
A sword is a swordsman’s most important partner; you can’t go losing it.”
Meanwhile, with the Flame Hashira’s group of three.
“To create such a massive snowfall in summer…
it seems this Upper Moon Two’s strength is quite formidable.
I feel like my blood is about to boil!”
Kyojuro Rengoku said with full vigor, his large eyes wide.
Beside him, Gyomei Himejima was weeping, chanting scriptures incessantly.
“Namu Amida Butsu, Namu Amida Butsu…”
“This will be an incredibly flamboyant battle.
This Upper Moon Two shall be finished off by the God of Festivals, Lord Tengen Uzui!” said Tengen Uzui, whose headwrap was adorned with many pearls and diamonds.
A short while later, the three arrived at the place where Rukia and Douma had fought.
“There seems to be nothing left here except for footprints,” Kyojuro Rengoku said, looking at the footprints left by Kochou Shinobu and Rukia.
Meanwhile, the former Ninja Tengen Uzui quickly observed the surroundings.
“I recall Upper Moon Two should be male.
How could a man’s footprints be this small?
Based on the tracks and size, they should belong to two females.”
“Could it be that Kochou Shinobu arrived here and rescued the Flower Hashira?” Gyomei Himejima asked from the side.
Since he was blind and couldn’t see anything, he could only offer suggestions based on his own judgment.
“It’s not impossible.
The Master mentioned before that he had also notified Kochou Shinobu, and it seemed her location was closer than ours.
That would explain it.”
“Oh!
Then let’s follow the footprints!” Kyojuro Rengoku was still as full of vigor as ever.
“But the footprints end right here,” Tengen Uzui, who was walking in the lead, said to the two behind him.
“Emmm…”
The three were also plunged into confusion.
Could this person actually fly?
How could the footprints just vanish like that?
“Come quickly and look at this!”
Kyojuro Rengoku had discovered a strangely shaped ice sculpture nearby.
It looked humanoid and was covered in snow.
Kyojuro Rengoku wiped away the snow with his hand, and a figure appeared from within.
“This is!?”
“Upper Moon Two—Douma,” Tengen Uzui said in a low voice, looking at the numbers in the ice sculpture’s eyes.
“The Upper Moon Two, who specializes in using ice, was actually frozen?
Who could have the power to seal him in ice?” Kyojuro Rengoku appeared very shocked.
He wasn’t even sure if he could neutralize Upper Moon Two’s ice, yet the demon had been frozen solid?
“I’m afraid even this heavy snow was created by that person, and she must be the one who took the Flower Hashira.
Although we don’t know if that person is friend or foe, judging by her actions, she shouldn’t be an enemy.
For now, we can only report the situation here to the Master.”
Gyomei Himejima’s tone was somewhat heavy.
After all, no one could rest easy when a person of such formidable strength had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Crack.
At that moment, a crisp cracking sound came from the Douma ice sculpture, and a few cracks appeared on the ice.
The three Hashira drew their swords and stood on guard.
They didn’t know if the Upper Moon Two inside was dead or alive, and rushing in blindly might lead into a trap.
The cracks on the ice sculpture multiplied before it finally shattered.
Turning into a pile of ice shards on the ground…
“…
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”