Although Mizuki explained it politely, Tokito Muichiro still bowed expressionlessly.
"Thank you very much."
This child is surprisingly earnest.
And much more straightforward than his ancestor.
"Hmph! I'll let you off this time, but if you bully that child again, I'll make you pay." Gin-ko, on the other side, finally chose to forgive Zenitsu amidst his desperate pleas.
Zenitsu stared at his messy hair, which Gin-ko had pecked, feeling like crying but having no tears.
"Chirp chirp~" Zenitsu's sparrow chirped incessantly, its meaning unknown.
Mizuki:...So why is this guy's Kasugai Crow a sparrow?
Can they really understand what it's saying?
Can the missions really proceed smoothly?
Mizuki shook her head, too lazy to bother with such things. She looked up at Tokito Muichiro: "The simplest method to activate the Demon Slayer Mark remains intense pressure—breaking through your limits between life and death."
Tokito Muichiro nodded lightly: "I understand."
Seeing everyone look like they understood perfectly, Genya couldn't help but be confused and quickly shouted, "Wait, what exactly is this Demon Slayer Mark you're talking about?"
"It's this, an ability that allows you to unlock your body's limits." Mizuki pointed to her cheek.
Genya's mouth twitched: "Isn't that just a regular tattoo?"
Tanjirou explained: "No, Genya, this appears naturally after breaking through your limits."
"Zenitsu, Inosuke, and I have all activated the Demon Slayer Mark."
Genya turned back, looking unconvinced: "Don't you guys have nothing on your faces?"
Tanjirou scratched his cheek awkwardly: "Well, we can't maintain the Demon Slayer Mark in a permanent state like Miss Mizuki."
"We can only gradually master it during battle."
Genya:...If even the Hashira weren't questioning it, he would definitely think these guys were talking nonsense.
While Genya was still muttering internally, Mizuki poured cold water on him again.
"As for the Demon Slayer Mark, you probably can't awaken it without a Breathing Technique."
Although there is no concrete evidence, the Demon Slayer Mark requires the pulse rate, heart rate, and body temperature to reach a certain state. The manifestation of body temperature often relies on improving the precision of the Breathing Technique; the more extreme the condition, the easier it is to achieve this—those who couldn't are already dead.
"At the very least, I have never seen anyone awaken the Demon Slayer Mark without a Breathing Technique."
Regarding Yoriichi's innate Demon Slayer Mark, Sun Breathing was not something Yoriichi specifically created; rather, it was named based on his way of breathing. In other words, his Sun Breathing was also innate.
And Tanjurou, Tanjirou once said that the scar on his father's forehead seemed to have been there since birth.
But Mizuki didn't think it was a Demon Slayer Mark. Although she only glanced at it quickly, it was hard to say that scar was a Demon Slayer Mark.
"I'm not interested. I don't care about the Demon Slayer Mark or any other nonsense; I have my own way of getting stronger." Shinazugawa Genya gritted his teeth, deliberately pretending not to care.
Mizuki heard the bitterness and bravado in his words but didn't expose him.
"Well, after all that talk, practice is the only way to test the truth." Mizuki held her sword in one hand and the scabbard in the other. "Come at me and give it a try."
Everyone drew their Nichirin Blades from their waists.
"Eh?" Shinazugawa Genya looked at everyone with surprise and uncertainty. Before he could speak, Inosuke and Tokito Muichiro had already charged forward.
Inosuke: Wahahaha! Take this slash!
Tokito Muichiro:...Zenitsu reluctantly drew his Nichirin Blade, groaning miserably, looking hesitant to join the fight.
Only Tanjirou noticed Genya's abnormality, actively stopped, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Shinazugawa Genya watched Mizuki handle the attacks from the two people with ease, and sweat dripped down his temple.
This must be a joke.
That's a Hashira.
He was already wondering if all of them were supposed to attack together.
How could they possibly win like that?
Although he didn't want to admit it, there were two Hashira among them.
But now, even with Zenitsu joining, the attacks of the three of them were having no effect. That woman had been standing in the same spot without moving her feet at all.
So strong, perhaps even stronger than Himejima-san.
"N-no problem." Shinazugawa Genya's pupils trembled slightly.
No... that's not right... It's not just that woman who is strong; the others are strong too.
That idiotic blonde and Pig Head are both ridiculously strong... Damn it, my eyes can barely keep up.
Tanjirou becoming a Hashira before him was already a huge blow to Genya, and now, even those two whom he viewed as idiots were unbelievably strong.
He was actually the weakest?
Thinking about his attitude earlier, Genya couldn't help but feel his face flush.
Tanjirou thought he was worried about hurting Mizuki, so he comforted him: "Don't worry, Miss Mizuki is very powerful. Even if we all go full force, we won't be her match."
"Tanpachirou! What are you doing! I can't hold on much longer!" Inosuke roared, and immediately after, he was distracted and sent flying by Mizuki. "Uwaa~"
Mizuki flipped the scabbard in her left hand and, without turning around, parried Tokito Muichiro's attack coming from behind. Her expression was calm: "Saying you can't hold on? My warm-up isn't even over yet."
Although Tokito Muichiro was a genius, he was too young after all. The pressure he put on her wasn't much greater than Tanjirou's.
Gin-ko flapped her wings in the distance: "Is that person a monster?"
"Even Muichiro can't defeat her."
Kotetsu snapped out of his shock and nodded silently: "Yeah, she's completely dominating them."
"What right do you have to speak!" Gin-ko's eyes sharpened, and she flapped her wings, starting to peck the person.
"Uwaa!"
Kochou Shinobu watched the person and the bird bouncing left and right, standing calmly in place and drinking tea.
Sure enough, no matter how many times she watched, Mizuki was incredibly impressive.
However, there wasn't much joy on Kochou Shinobu's face. The stronger Mizuki was, the stronger her elder brother, and ultimately, Muzan, must be.
Their strength is still not enough.
They need at least enough power to be helpful... Damn it!
These guys are getting faster and faster, I can't see them clearly!
Cold sweat covered Shinazugawa Genya's brow. Gritting his teeth, he braced himself and charged forward.
Never mind, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I'll attack first and then... BOOM!!!
Her flowing red hair instantly turned white, and her red double pupils seemed to merge like water droplets, while her golden eyes slightly squeezed and deformed, turning into vertical slits.
Those golden vertical pupils seemed to casually sweep over him, and in that instant, the moment their eyes met.
A terrifying, crushing weight, transcending distance, bore down directly on his heart.
What the hell!!!
Shinazugawa Genya stood rooted to the spot, struggling to breathe. The surrounding scenery quickly faded, leaving only an increasingly tall, pitch-black figure before him, like a massive mountain pressing down.
My body... I can't move...
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