The technique that could counter Compass Needle was called "Transparent World." By focusing the mind and discarding unnecessary perceptions, one could enter a state of selflessness. In that state, killing intent and battle aura vanished, and one could sense every movement nearby even with one's eyes closed.
Of course, Chinatsu did not know "Transparent World."
Her body had changed after assimilating Muzan's blood, giving her senses unlike those of ordinary people-more like a wild beast's. Chinatsu had tried to suppress those senses to learn Transparent World, but she had failed.
Fortunately, the ability she had tentatively named "Beast Instinct" was no slouch either. In a sense, it worked much like Akaza's "Compass Needle." So even if Akaza could dodge Chinatsu's attacks, he could forget about landing an easy hit on her.
Chinatsu held her Nichirin Blade pointed at Akaza. As he looked at her, he recalled what she had said earlier.
Regret?
Akaza's lips spread into a grin. He really did regret it.
Originally, Kyojuro had been the only one among them who interested him. Even without fighting him, Akaza could feel the surging battle aura radiating from Kyojuro. It approached the "supreme realm," and he could tell that Kyojuro still had tremendous room to grow.
If Kyojuro became a demon, Akaza could guarantee that, with his talent, it would take very few years for him to stand shoulder to shoulder with Akaza. Who was Upper Rank Four again? Oh, that fellow Hantengu, probably. If Kyojuro joined us, he could knock him out of that spot someday.
But after witnessing Chinatsu's inhuman reaction speed, he had become interested in her as well-and not just a little.
He neither killed nor ate women. He did not know why himself; he simply could not bring himself to do it. That was also