Crimson Eyes of the Other Shore

Douma strolled slowly toward the location of Kanae Kocho, looking just like an old man out for a casual walk. Right now, the thing Douma feared most was that she might die.

Kanae Kocho's situation was truly dire. Several of her ribs were broken, and she was coughing up mouthfuls of blood. She couldn't move at all, as she was completely wedged into the wood.

Fortunately, the wood was already rotten, so it hadn't pierced her body. Her hand, gripping her blade, was trembling incessantly. It seemed there was good reason why no Hashira had ever managed to kill an Upper Rank before.

Kanae knew that her opponent still wasn't using his full strength, likely because he looked down on her. She wondered if she could use this to her advantage and hold out until reinforcements arrived or until dawn broke.

Kanae Kocho knew very well that reinforcements would take a long time to arrive. She really didn't want to die right now; she hadn't yet seen Shinobu marry Kuuga, and that would be a regret.

She didn't know how heartbroken her younger sister and Kuuga would be if she died, though she knew that as a Demon Slayer, this day would come sooner or later.

Thinking of her family, Kanae Kocho's trembling hand stilled. She tightened her grip on her sword once more. No matter what, she had to slay the demon; this was her duty as a Hashira.

After stopping the bleeding temporarily through breathing techniques, Kanae Kocho readjusted her physical state. Then, her entire eyeballs turned red, save for her pupils, which remained pink.

This change added a touch of beauty to Kanae Kocho. This was the strongest state of the Flower Hashira: Thorn Rose.

This was the Final Form of the Flower Breathing, Crimson Eyes of the Other Shore. By applying pressure to the eyeballs, she pushed her dynamic vision to the limit. The movement of surrounding objects in her field of vision appeared slowed, but because of the overload, using it carried the risk of blindness.

Normally, she wouldn't use it unless absolutely forced to, but now, she had no other choice.

Douma still wore that soft, fake smile, but suddenly, a figure flashed past him, and one of Douma's arms went flying.

Douma didn't care, as his arm would grow back immediately anyway. Instead, he turned around, curious to see what had happened.

The moment he saw Kanae Kocho, Douma realized she had become even more beautiful.

Douma rested his chin in his hands, staring at Kanae Kocho, and said, "So beautiful, truly so beautiful!"

Yet, no shift in emotion could be detected in Douma's words, even when encountering something that excited him so much, for he was a creature devoid of emotion.

He was a man who had felt nothing even when watching his own parents die before his eyes, forever wearing only a fake smile.

But in the next instant, Kanae Kocho swung her blade. In that split second, a massive gash appeared across Douma's chest.

Douma realized the opponent's speed had increased. How interesting. As expected, eating young girls was the best.

Douma simultaneously unleashed his Blood Demon Art: Winter Icicles and Lotus Ice. Facing the ice spikes from above and the ice lotuses rushing toward her, Kanae Kocho handled them with ease.

While shattering the ice lotuses, she also dodged the ice spikes, but her eyes began to ache even more. She knew she had to finish off Douma quickly; she couldn't hold on for much longer.

However, Douma had no intention of complying with her wishes. As he unleashed his Blood Demon Art: Crystallized Child, three ice crystal figures that looked exactly like him appeared, though they were only half his height.

Douma pointed at Kanae Kocho, and the three figures attacked her simultaneously. To Kanae Kocho's surprise, the ice crystal figures could use the same Blood Demon Art as Douma.

Soon, Kanae Kocho was locked in a fierce struggle with the figures, while Douma simply found a spot to sit down, watching the battle quietly.

But in Kanae's eyes, every move of the ice crystal figures was a step behind her. It was precisely because of this extreme vision that the ice crystal figures could never touch her.

Kanae quickly shattered one of the small figures and simultaneously broke out of the encirclement, charging straight toward Douma. However, before entering within a meter of him, she stopped.

A corner of her garment drifted into that space, and in an instant, the fabric turned into shards of ice. Kanae felt fortunate that she hadn't rushed in; otherwise, she would have ended up just like the fabric.

Through her Crimson Eyes of the Other Shore, Kanae saw a layer of tiny red ice crystals floating within a one-meter radius of Douma.

"So you discovered it. As expected of a beauty!"

"These little ice crystals of mine are actually my burning blood. Not only can they freeze you, but if you accidentally inhale them, you won't be able to breathe!" Douma reminded her.

"Tell me, and your ability will be useless against me!"

"It's fine. Since Miss Kanae is a beauty, and besides, honesty is my only virtue!"

Kanae quickly swung her blade, using the airflow generated by the sword to disperse the ice crystals while simultaneously shattering them.

And so, Douma and Kanae remained locked in a struggle. He didn't know why, but every time he was about to land a hit on Kanae, she would dodge it; it was always just by a hair's breadth.

Headquarters.

Kanae's Kasugai Crow shrieked in the sky, sounding extremely anxious: "Bad news! Bad news! The Flower Hashira has encountered an Upper Rank! She is in mortal danger! Emergency rescue needed!"

The moment she heard the news, Shinobu Kocho collapsed into Tsugikuni Kuuga's arms, for no Hashira who had encountered an Upper Rank had ever survived.

Just then, Sanemi Shinazugawa also rushed into the Butterfly Mansion with an anxious look on his face.

"Let's go! Hurry and save her!"

Following that, Shinazugawa rushed out. Kanae's Kasugai Crow did not rest, instead flying ahead to lead the way; after all, it did not want to lose such a gentle and kind master.

"Shinobu! I promise you that your older sister will be fine!"

"Trust me. Stay at home and wait for me and your sister to return!"

With that, Tsugikuni Kuuga prepared to rush out as well, but Shinobu Kocho grabbed the corner of his garment.

"I'm going with you!"

"But the Upper Ranks are very dangerous. I don't want anything to happen to you too!"

"What if something happens to you as well!" Shinobu Kocho burst into tears.

Both were the people closest to her; she could not bear to lose either of them.

Then, Shinobu Kocho chased after them, a step ahead of Tsugikuni Kuuga. Kuuga followed suit, and soon the two caught up to Sanemi Shinazugawa.

Kanae, you must hold on. Wait for me. Sanemi Shinazugawa looked at the Kasugai Crow flying in the sky and increased his speed even further.

To reach the scene as quickly as possible, the three of them unleashed their sword techniques.

Looking over at the battlefield between Kanae and Douma, a long time had already passed; the sun would rise in another two hours.

Kanae was covered in wounds, her uniform torn to shreds, and her vision had begun to blur. Her speed was clearly failing to keep up with Douma.

Douma, however, was still smiling. Aside from a few holes in his clothes, he looked no different than when he had first appeared.

"I never expected Miss Kanae to hold out for so long. You truly are someone I've taken a liking to!"

"Mr. Douma, you should be worrying about yourself!"

Kanae swung her blade directly at him, but she was immediately ensnared by the vines extending from Douma's Blood Demon Art: Winding Lotus. She tried to break free, but she lacked the strength.

"Oh my! We've played long enough, and it's time to eat, so I'll have to temporarily disable you!"

Douma kicked toward Kanae. She held her sword horizontally to block, but the blade shattered in two. She was sent flying, and a mouthful of blood sprayed onto Douma's face.

Kanae Kocho collapsed to the ground, completely unable to move, her vision blurring until she could no longer see clearly.