Shinobu Kocho watched in shock as Sukuna's flesh rapidly regenerated via Reverse Cursed Technique.
Not only the damage she had inflicted with Dance of the Butterfly: Caprice, but even the wounds Rengoku had carved with his very life were restored in the blink of an eye.
Standing right before Sukuna, Shinobu could clearly see the horrifying sight of blood vessels thinner than hairs continuously reconstructing and weaving themselves inside his body.
From tissue and blood vessels to bone, then muscle and skin, Shinobu almost felt she was witnessing the birth of life itself.
In that moment, Shinobu knew that if she did not do something now, the marks left by Rengoku's burned-out life would vanish completely in just a few breaths.
"A woman this time? With that outfit, you're the same as this guy just now—a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman, right? Perfect. You should have heard our conversation earlier..."
Even as Sukuna spoke, Shinobu decisively continued her attack.
Dance of the Dragonfly: Compound Eye Hexagon
The Nichirin Blade in Shinobu's hand delivered six high-speed thrusts into Sukuna's body.
But Sukuna showed no intention of responding. Compared to the slash he had endured earlier, this was merely but a scratch.
"Hey, hey..." Sukuna said with clear displeasure.
Shinobu naturally noticed that her attacks were having little effect. The damaged tissues did not react like those of the demons she was used to.
But she had no intention of stopping. If the body would not work, then she would start with the head.
Dance of the Bee: True Pull
The razor-sharp blade flew toward Sukuna's right eye at lightning speed.
Just as the blade was about to touch his pupil, a crack of air being sliced rang out, accompanied by the hum of severed metal. The blade tip suddenly flew uncontrollably into the air.
The reason was simple. Sukuna had grown tired of enduring Shinobu's insolence and casually used a Dismantle to cut her Nichirin Blade in half.
Sukuna dropped his previously casual tone, his voice turning noticeably colder.
"Honestly. None of you people know how to communicate, do you?"
"...!?"
Shinobu's pupils contracted as she watched the blade spiral into the air, utterly bewildered. She could not even perceive what Sukuna had just done.
By the time she processed it, the Nichirin Blade in her hand was already broken.
Not that Nichirin Blades never broke in combat, but that usually happened after accumulated wear and tear.
This was a weapon capable of fighting the Twelve Kizuki. It could not withstand even one strike?
And that was a casual attack from an opponent who seemed barely interested in fighting?
Only now, facing Sukuna herself, did Shinobu truly understand what kind of existence Rengoku had been up against until his death.
Sukuna casually reached out to grab Shinobu by the neck. But Shinobu quickly recovered from her shock and did not panic.
Using the momentum from Dance of the Bee: True Pull, she released a paralytic poison powder hidden in her sleeve.
"Poison again? That kind of thing doesn't work on me."
Sukuna sniffed the oncoming cloud of poison and spoke dismissively. His hand did not slow. If anything, it moved faster since he was no longer holding back.
Dance of the Centipede: Hundred-Legged Serpent's Belly
Shinobu accelerated instantly, evading Sukuna's grasp. The ground where her feet struck exploded in clouds of dust.
"Oh?"
Sukuna was somewhat surprised. Shinobu was at least a little stronger than he had initially expected.
But only a little. A woman's strength combined with poison—ultimately far more boring than Rengoku had been, by more than just a single rank.
Shinobu gripped her half-broken Nichirin Blade. Though she did not understand what Sukuna was, one thing was clear. If she did not kill him here today, the number of people who would die by his hands in the future could not be measured in hundreds or thousands.
Faster. Just a little faster...!
Shinobu gritted her teeth and screamed inside.
Sukuna initially thought the woman had accelerated to flee and was already ready to use Dismantle.
But then he saw the determined expression on Shinobu's face—the look of someone vowing to kill him. He could not help finding it somewhat amusing. He sighed inwardly at how single-minded the swordsmen of this world truly were. He simply could not be bothered to defend. Better to let her land one strike and face reality. Then they could communicate properly.
Let this woman tell him where the Demon Slayer Corps' stronghold was, so he could obtain Breathing Techniques and information on stronger enemies.
Shinobu noticed the contempt and mockery in Sukuna's expression. But it did not change her resolve. There was no way she would let the man who had already killed two Hashira escape.
She poured every ounce of her strength into stabbing the broken Nichirin Blade deep into Sukuna's neck. To inject as much poison as possible, she deliberately angled the blade so the remaining length would drive deeper into his body.
Did it work...?
Just as Shinobu thought that, she felt a heavy impact to her abdomen.
Sukuna had kicked her. The brutal force sent her flying. She crashed into a tree charred black by the surrounding flames with a deafening thud.
The searing pain and the agony of her internal organs shifting nearly made her black out. Blood spilled from her eyes, mouth, and nose at the same time.
Shinobu lay on the ground, forcing her eyes open. All she could see was a blurry figure slowly approaching.
"Why can't you understand plain language? I told you already. Poison doesn't work on me."
"Using it on me is just stupidity."
Sukuna casually pulled the broken blade from his neck and tossed it in front of Shinobu.
Shinobu instinctively reached for the Nichirin Blade, but Sukuna pinned her outstretched hand to the ground with another blade.
"Ugh..."
Sukuna looked down with satisfaction at Shinobu writhing on the ground in pain and spoke.
"We can communicate now, can't we?"
--------------------------------
Would appreciate stones if you can spare any. Thank you