At least in Shinobu's understanding, every Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps would rather sacrifice themselves than let their comrades come to harm.
"No, you two should go. Forgive my bluntness, but the enemy is very powerful. Your strength would only hold me back," Hardy said indifferently.
Saying they'd "hold him back" was a bit of an exaggeration, but in truth, aside from being able to slightly distract Doma, Shinobu and Mitsuri wouldn't have much impact on the outcome of the battle.
The gap in raw strength was clear. Shinobu's abilities were all focused on poison and speed, but Doma's ice control was overwhelming. Unless her speed reached the level of Barry Allen the Flash, it wouldn't make much difference. Even if Doma was poisoned, his terrifying regenerative powers would quickly neutralize it.
Unless Shinobu sacrificed herself, as in the original timeline, using absolute toxicity to temporarily suppress Doma's regeneration and combat strength.
Mitsuri, meanwhile, had only just become a Hashira, and her Nichirin Blade wasn't even suited to her newly developed Love Breathing.
She was still a ways off from the fully developed Love Hashira of a year later in the original timeline, who could awaken her mark and take the lead in the battle against Upper Moon Four.
Right now, Mitsuri wasn't strong enough to participate in a battle at the Upper Moon level, and Shinobu could only create a chance to kill an Upper Moon demon by sacrificing her life.
There was no need for that.
"Oh, don't chase them away! These two lovely ladies are so strong—they must be Hashira too, right? Why not let them play with me while you go deal with Gyokko? You're so strong, Gyokko might not be your match!" Doma said cheerfully, waving his fan and conjuring a flurry of icy snowflakes.
"Sigh… Shinobu, Mitsuri, you must have noticed that the enemy's abilities greatly affect the use of Breathing Techniques. You're not suited to fight this opponent," Hardy said helplessly, slashing apart an ice clone with his sword while controlling the Yoriichi Type Zero to shatter an ice pillar and save Mitsuri from being hit.
"But, Senior Hardy, you…" Mitsuri said worriedly.
"I'm not like you," Hardy replied, quoting a classic line from a certain not-so-popular Water Hashira.
"I've learned the Tortoise Breath Technique. I can temporarily convert my breathing into an internal cycle. His Blood Demon Art won't affect me much."
"On the contrary, don't forget your duties as Hashira. If the other Upper Moon demon appears in the Swordsmith Village, the swordsmiths will be devastated. You know what that would mean for the Demon Slayer Corps' future."
"Besides, with your abilities, trying to defeat this demon would surely result in casualties. But if it's just me, I can at least retreat unscathed."
As if to prove his point, Hardy, relying on his musical score and the Yoriichi Type Zero, pressed forward resolutely, withstanding the brunt of Doma's assault. For a moment, he was able to hold his own against—
Doma fought to a standstill.
If he let these two women keep interfering, his current state might be disrupted.
Aside from Doma, Muzan and Kokushibo were simply too powerful. He might not get another chance like this—facing an enemy who could give him enough pressure without putting his life at serious risk.
But to Shinobu Kocho and Mitsuri Kanroji, Hardy's actions looked very different.
"Shinobu, we…"
Mitsuri Kanroji glanced at Shinobu Kocho.
Shinobu, too, stopped in her tracks, watching as Hardy single-handedly fended off nearly all of Doma's attacks.
Just then, a pillar of fire suddenly shot up from the direction of the Swordsmith Village in the distance.
Clearly, the defensive forces at Swordsmith Village had encountered an overwhelming threat—otherwise, something like this wouldn't have happened.
"Mitsuri, let's go! We'll kill the other demon first, then come back to help Hardy!"
Shinobu suddenly recalled something her late sister had once said. She grabbed Mitsuri's hand, shot a reluctant glance at Doma, and turned away decisively.
Seeing the two girls he'd already considered his prey about to leave, Doma was, of course, unwilling to let them go.
But, not understanding human emotions, he didn't know what it meant to be anxious or angry. He still wore that smiling mask, pretending to be a demon full of feelings.
"Hey! Ladies, don't go! Won't you stay and keep me company? I don't think I'm unpleasant, right? None of my colleagues ever disliked me, after all."
Doma waved his fan in the direction Shinobu and Mitsuri were leaving, sending out endless frosty vines that surged madly after them.
"Give it a rest."
Hardy seized the moment, formed a hand seal, and unleashed Wind Style: Great Net Technique, slicing the icy vines to pieces.
"With your level, you can't even beat me alone, and you still want to take on two more? I think you're a bit slow in the head."
Hardy looked at Doma with open disdain.
He wasn't sure if provoking Doma would work—given Doma's near-total lack of emotion—but it couldn't hurt to try.
"Sigh… Why must you force me?"
Doma put on a helpless expression, covering his face with a fan.
"But now that they're gone, I don't have to worry about this move being too powerful and accidentally smashing your body into mush. That wouldn't taste very good."
As Doma spoke, the frost-covered ground around them began to tremble and crack.
In the next instant, thick icy mist exploded outward, sweeping across the area.
Hardy had to retreat with Yoriichi-1 for the moment, using Wind Style to blow away the icy fog.
When the mist cleared, Hardy's expression grew grave.
Before him stood a colossal ice sculpture, even larger than a Tailed Beast, hands pressed together in meditation, seated atop a crystalline Water Lily.
And Doma stood atop the head of this enormous statue.
"Blood Demon Art: Mist Ice—Water Lily Bodhisattva!"
Now things were getting exciting.
In the distance, at the edge of their vision—
Shinobu Kocho and Mitsuri Kanroji, sprinting at full speed, sensed the massive disturbance behind them. They turned to see the giant Water Lily Bodhisattva, and in front of it, the tall, heroic figure gripping a Nichirin Blade—Hardy—looking all the more tragic and valiant in contrast to the statue's massive size.
"Shinobu… Senior Hardy…"
Mitsuri Kanroji's face was full of worry.
Shinobu said nothing, just tightened her grip on the hilt of her Nichirin Blade, pushing her body even harder to speed up.
…
…
"As expected, you're pretty strong. No wonder you're Upper Moon Two. Looks like I'll have to go all out."
Hardy lowered his hand, exhaled the icy shards he'd inhaled, and took a deep breath.
The Nichirin Blade flashed out once more!
...
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