Upper Rank One: Kokushibo

The nearly identical crescent blades clashed in mid-air, canceling each other out.

Two years had passed, and Tsugikuni Michikatsu, clad in that same purple and black attire, reappeared before her.

"Upper Rank... One..."

Yuko slowly uttered the words, gazing at the number etched into his pupils.

Perhaps it was to better search for the Blue Spider Lily, or perhaps Muzan, realizing the importance of cultivating a personal guard due to Yoriichi's existence.

The Twelve Kizuki were thus born.

And as the strongest individual besides Muzan himself, Tsugikuni Michikatsu smoothly ascended to the position of Upper Rank One.

Yuko's gentle expression visibly darkened at an alarming rate.

Kokushibo, with his six eyes obscuring his facial features, stated calmly, "Yuko, you are going to die."

Kokushibo's eyes easily saw through Yuko's physical condition.

Yuko tightened her grip on her blade, her face eerily serene.

"And so what?" She subtly stepped forward half a pace, shielding the trembling Namiko.

"Why won't you become a demon?" Unlike most demons who lost their memories of their past lives, Kokushibo retained his completely.

"If you just became a demon, your body would recover."

"The pinnacle of swordsmanship you seek would no longer be a dream."

He couldn't understand why his sister resisted so strongly.

A haze of gloom clouded Yuko's eyes. "So, you feel justified in eating people for all that?"

"How many... cough cough... people have you eaten?" When her tone became hurried, Yuko's lungs would easily falter.

A demon's strength was often directly proportional to the number of people they consumed.

This statement held true; unless Muzan bestowed his blood, eating humans was the fastest way for a demon to grow stronger.

After two years, Kokushibo's aura had become even more potent, and more foul.

Simply standing before him made the less powerful Namiko feel breathless and tremble uncontrollably.

This was not a normal worldview, even in this era of cannibalism.

But Kokushibo couldn't comprehend it.

As a samurai, as a member of the ruling class, Kokushibo completely failed to understand Yuko's regard for ordinary people.

Even after joining the Demon Slayer Corps, Kokushibo's goal wasn't to slay demons and save lives, but to surpass Yoriichi.

Unable to discern any hint of remorse on Kokushibo's face, Yuko stared intently at him, her voice low. "Namiko, can you move?"

"Leave this place and go down the mountain to call for help."

Hearing Yuko's voice, Namiko snapped out of her terror.

"But, Miss Yuko, you..."

Yuko cut her off. "That's a demon you can't handle. Going down the mountain to contact the Demon Slayer Corps is your only chance."

Namiko hesitated, wanting to say more, but finally nodded tearfully. "I understand. Please be careful."

"I'll be back immediately!"

Taking advantage of the standoff between Yuko and Kokushibo, Namiko fled through the door.

Kokushibo made no move. "Still thinking of others at a time like this?"

Calling for backup? By the time reinforcements arrived, this matter would already be over.

Yuko remained silent, quietly maintaining her guard against him.

Just then, Kokushibo moved, his ghostly figure rapidly closing in on Yuko.

"So fast!" Yuko gasped, preparing to draw her blade, but to her surprise, Kokushibo passed right by her.

His target was... Namiko!

Yuko's pupils constricted sharply, and she quickly turned around.

"Kokushibo! You!"

In this situation.

"Snow Breathing: Fifth Form: Snow Rush."

A snow-white figure instantly approached Kokushibo.

So slow...

Kokushibo's speed is so slow...

In a daze, Yuko subconsciously thought.

But the situation was unfolding in a flash, leaving no room for her to ponder.

The next Snow Breathing technique was about to be unleashed, aiming for Kokushibo's neck, while Kokushibo continued to dash forward as if oblivious.

Suddenly, a piercing pain shot through Yuko's lungs, as if someone had fiercely squeezed them.

Yuko's steps instantly faltered, and she stumbled a few paces, the world before her tilting.

At this moment, she recalled Kokushibo's strange actions just now.

Was he using the Clear World to see the breathing frequency in her lungs and predict the timing of her next seizure?

Yuko's wine-red eyes contracted slightly as she watched Kokushibo thrust his sword towards Namiko's back.

It was as if she could see the next moment, Namiko being pierced through the heart from behind by him.

Yuko's wine-red eyes deepened...

Just as Kokushibo calmly brought his long sword to within half an inch of the woman's back, an enraged voice suddenly exploded by his ear.

"Get lost!"

Almost simultaneously, a flash of crimson appeared in the corner of his eye.

"When?!" A ripple stirred in Kokushibo's calm heart.

A snow-white blade rapidly swept past his eyes, a severed arm flew high into the air, and a spray of blood cascaded down.

Namiko felt the movement behind her and instinctively looked back, only to see Miss Yuko displaying an unprecedented grimness, confronting the demon.

She gritted her teeth and charged forward with her head down.

She would only be a burden to Miss Yuko here; she couldn't let Miss Yuko down.

Kokushibo stopped in place, silently looking at his severed arm.

Regeneration... is so slow.

Does Snow Breathing have such a strong inhibitory effect on regeneration?

No, that's not the point.

He didn't understand how Yuko had reached him in that instant.

If that strike had been aimed at his neck...

Yuko held her Nichirin Blade with both hands, a shadow appearing on her face. "Is indiscriminate slaughter of humans your answer?"

Kokushibo controlled the regeneration of his flesh and blood, and with concentrated effort, it recovered completely in just a few seconds.

"See? As long as you become a demon, even a severed arm is just a minor injury."

"I'm not here to watch you perform magic tricks," Yuko's eyes remained shadowed as she raised her Nichirin Blade into a starting stance.

"Is that so..." Kokushibo's tone held a hint of regret as he faced her with his sword. "My name is... Kokushibo."

The next instant, two figures, one white and one purple, collided.

"You will die, Yuko," Kokushibo said, effortlessly parrying Yuko's attacks. "Is it okay that your dream cannot be realized?"

Yuko let out a cold laugh. "Do you really think becoming a demon will allow you to surpass Yoriichi?"

Kokushibo's eyes narrowed slightly.

"You should know, even if you become a demon, you can't surpass Yori..."

Before Yuko could finish speaking, an indescribable sense of crisis instantly enveloped her entire body.

The Clear World unfolded before her eyes; she saw Kokushibo's entire body tense, his breathing rhythm becoming steady and powerful.

"Moon Breathing: Eighth Form: Moon Dragon Twisting Tail!"

Kokushibo stepped forward, and a massive, blue-purple crescent moon, vast as a galaxy, swept out, engulfing almost everything in front of him.

This was a sword form Yuko had never known, its power immense and unprecedented!

But Yuko, who could see through Kokushibo's muscle movements, was already prepared and leaned back.

Boom!

The giant crescent shattered the houses behind her, and a streak of blood appeared on Yuko's forehead.

She flipped backward, regaining her stance, and wiped the blood from her temple.

Just the residual force was enough to...