It goes without saying, the Upper Ranks are all eccentric.
Upper Rank Two and Three, one likes to eat women, the other doesn't.
Perhaps if the two of you hunted together, your efficiency would greatly improve.
Mizuki's eyes lifted slightly, her tone indifferent: "Is that so? Then stand still and let me cut off your head."
It wasn't just to reduce the high-end combat power of the demon faction before the final battle... Mizuki also remembered the girl she saw in that martial arts dojo decades ago... "Huh?" Akaza encountered a female swordsman who wanted to cut off his head for the first time, and couldn't help but size up Mizuki.
He didn't feel anything until he looked closely, and then he inexplicably felt a palpitation.
How strange... this woman... he seemed to have seen her somewhere before.
Mizuki's lower face was still wrapped in white cloth, but it's well known that, excluding features on the face that are different from others, covering the upper half of the face actually makes it harder for people to recognize.
Her long, flowing crimson hair, and the half of her Demon Slayer Mark visible outside the cloth, all inexplicably gave Akaza a sense of familiarity.
But just like sometimes the brain doesn't work, even if something is very familiar, he just can't recall its name.
He frowned, and since he couldn't remember, he simply stopped thinking about it. Akaza shifted his gaze to Tanjirou.
"Hey, kid over there, my name is Akaza."
" ? "
Tanjirou subconsciously looked at Mizuki.
Mizuki was a little embarrassed: "I wrote it wrong back then..."
Tanjirou: "..."
How could it be written as a chicken coop? The two are completely unrelated, aren't they?
He was still thinking that the Upper Rank's name sounded too unthreatening.
Muttering a complaint inwardly, Tanjirou looked at Akaza, still shaken. This demon's speed just now was so fast that he could only see a blur.
If Miss Mizuki hadn't intervened, he might not have reacted in time.
The same with the perception just now; Miss Mizuki and Mr. Rengoku were both faster than him. He was the last to sense the opponent.
He thought to himself: "As expected, it's just as Miss Mizuki said. Upper Ranks... are not on the same level as Lower Ranks at all."
It was clear from the aura; this powerful oppressive feeling was almost materializing, making one tremble uncontrollably.
This gave Tanjirou a warning. Although he had been recognized as a Hashira by the Master, there was a difference in strength among Hashira.
He had only just learned Constant Concentration, possessed the legendary Origin Breathing, and was lucky enough to defeat the weakest Lower Rank with Nezuko's help.
Compared to Mr. Rengoku and the others, he was still far behind.
Moreover, this was one of the top three Upper Ranks.
According to Miss Mizuki's assessment of the Upper Ranks, the top three could not be fought by a single Hashira.
Fortunately, there were three of them, and Miss Mizuki and Mr. Rengoku were both very strong.
Rengoku Kyojuro faced him with his sword, saying with a serious expression: "Miss Mizuki, this guy is very dangerous."
No... this guy is very weak... The surprise in everyone's hearts was different. Unlike Tanjirou and Kyoujurou's surprise at Akaza's aura.
Mizuki's surprise meant the exact opposite: this guy is very weak... not that his strength was feeble. This physical body was indeed tempered through a thousand trials, his fighting spirit high, and his aura sinister and terrifying.
Rather, compared to Mizuki's internal assessment, this Upper Rank Three was far from meeting the standard.
At least, her previous belief that the top three Upper Ranks could not be fought by any single Hashira could now be refuted.
Under the gaze of Transparent World, Akaza's physical strength was completely visible to Mizuki.
For a fighting demon, physical strength basically represented its combat strength. Unlike a mage like Douma, whose Blood Demon Art made it impossible to accurately judge their strength through Transparent World.
In terms of hard conditions.
The Demon Slayer Corps' Stone Hashira, that monk with a rare physique, would definitely not be weaker than this guy in combat ability.
The top three Upper Ranks, as expected, each belonged to a different level.
Akaza, who had noticed Rengoku Kyojuro because of his words, showed surprise: "Oh, you're a Hashira, aren't you? I can tell from your fighting spirit, tempered through a thousand trials, already close to the supreme realm."
Mizuki stepped forward half a pace, adopting an offensive stance: "Speaking of fighting spirit, yours isn't bad either."
Akaza frowned: "I've already said it, haven't I? I don't kill women and I don't eat women. You can escape now..."
Mid-sentence, his golden pupils instantly shrunk to pinpricks.
Mizuki's voice sounded in his ear, "I said it too, didn't I?"
"If that's the case, then just stand still and don't move."
So fast!
Akaza's calm expression instantly shattered. Gritting his teeth, he quickly turned, a look of terror on his face.
Completely different from his relaxed expression just now, Akaza's entire body tensed up. He finally twisted his body just before Mizuki's sword strike.
As he leaned back, he brought his hands up to block his neck.
Swish!
With one slash, Akaza's arms were completely severed.
Akaza stomped his feet violently, creating a deep crater where he stood with a loud boom, and instantly retreated.
Mizuki casually twirled her sword, cutting through the splashing dust and smoke, and without giving Akaza a chance to breathe, she flashed and pursued him.
Mizuki exhaled white mist, her entire being seemingly transforming into a wisp of white light.
No ordinary opponent!
Akaza's arms hadn't even fully regenerated when he kicked towards Mizuki.
"Blood Demon Art: Destructive Kill: Leg Style: Flashing Group Light!"
Just as the two were about to meet, the white light seemed to hit a mirror, suddenly deflecting and turning.
"Snow Breathing, Seventh Form: Snow - A Fissure of Light!"
"Combo!"
Several snow-colored threads streaked across the dark ground, completely surrounding Akaza.
Sweat dripped from Akaza's forehead. The pressure Mizuki exerted on him made him completely disregard his principle of not killing women.
"Blood Demon Art: Destructive Kill: Compass Needle!"
Akaza squatted into a horse stance, and a massive snowflake bloomed beneath his feet.
Mizuki glanced at it, unconcerned.
As a fighting demon, the derivation of his Blood Demon Art would definitely not deviate from the form of physical attack.
Where is she?!
Akaza nervously looked around. With his abilities, he couldn't even see her figure.
And... why isn't the Compass Needle reacting?!
Akaza's pupils trembled. This woman had no fighting spirit at all.
As he panicked, suddenly, all the tense cells in his body seemed to freeze, as if his body instinctively knew it was already dead and gave up struggling.
Behind him, a snow-colored blade cut through the air.
"What?!"
Akaza tried to turn in a dying struggle, but at that instant, he felt a heavy blow to his neck, and the world before his eyes changed rapidly.
Roll... Akaza's head rolled twice on the ground, the shocked expression on his face not yet fading.
He was decapitated?!!!
To be decapitated just like that... He hadn't even become stronger... He clearly could have become stronger... He didn't even have the strength to contend with his opponent... Wasn't this just utter uselessness...
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