Hardy discovered that the high temperatures generated when using the Breath of Separation were enough to neutralize some of the ice crystals. If he infused it with Lightning Release chakra to enhance its power, the effect was even better.
However, Doma's Blood Demon Art covered too wide an area and produced too many ice crystals. Even Hardy inevitably inhaled a small amount.
But it wasn't a big problem. As long as he used the Fine Malady Extraction Technique before the ice crystals could affect his body, there would be no issue.
All things considered, his abilities were actually quite effective against Doma.
"Hey! How about you become a demon too, and then we can take the heads of two Hashira to Lord Muzan together? With your skills, you could definitely become an Upper Moon! Hmm... But I get along really well with the other Upper Moons. What if there's an internal battle for position and someone dies?"
Doma chatted cheerfully while waving his fan, creating a barrage of ice crystals and pillars to attack Hardy and the Yorichi puppet.
Hardy couldn't be bothered to waste words with him.
He had already roughly gauged Doma's strength—he truly lived up to the name of Upper Moon Two.
He probably hadn't gone all out yet; at the very least, he hadn't used his strongest technique, Lotus-Buddha.
That move was almost like a youthful version of Susanoo.
But for Hardy, this was just right.
Lower Moon Three was too weak and couldn't put enough pressure on him to activate the Transparent World, but Doma was just right.
Hardy's figure flashed like lightning, coordinating with the Yorichi puppet and putting tremendous pressure on Doma.
With the Score activated, every one of Doma's movements was reflected in Hardy's mind as if seen in a mirror, allowing him to precisely catch every flaw Doma revealed.
"My, you're getting stronger and stronger! Is this similar to Akaza's ability to sense fighting spirit? But unfortunately, even with that ability, Akaza still couldn't beat me!"
Doma said with a cheerful smile, waving his fan again.
"Blood Demon Art: Crystal Children!"
Several small ice figures identical in appearance to Doma appeared, joining the assault on Hardy and the Yorichi puppet.
"Blood Demon Art: Frigid White Princesses!"
Lotus-shaped ice flowers in the form of young girls appeared, exhaling endless cold air that almost froze everything around.
This time, Hardy didn't dare use his breathing techniques. He manipulated the Yorichi puppet to block in front of him with its blade and quickly retreated.
This kind of all-encompassing, large-scale attack left no openings, even if he could track it with the Score.
Fortunately, the Nichirin blade in the Yorichi puppet's hand, under the influence of electricity, turned red-hot and became a Crimson Blade. It unleashed the Tenth Form of the Breath of the Sun—Radiant Grace—creating a swirling slash that bloomed like sunlight in front of them.
The high temperature of the Crimson Blade, combined with the Breath of the Sun, maximized the solar energy within the Nichirin blade, emitting a scorching aura like the blazing sun, clearing the cold wave before Hardy.
However, due to heat transfer, the blade's temperature gradually dropped, and it reverted from its Crimson Blade state.
A Crimson Blade achieved through external means inflicted the same damage on demons as one achieved by reaching the limits of one's own power. But in the latter case, as long as one had enough grip strength, a single swing could turn the Nichirin blade crimson, and it wouldn't be so easily cooled by the cold.
"Breath of Separation, Second Form: Flowing Separation Dance!"
Hardy seized the opportunity, unleashing a full-powered thrust, slashing at Doma's head.
Clang!
The golden iron fan collided with the Nichirin blade, a layer of frost spreading from the fan, seeping toward Hardy's blade.
At the same time, the ice clone Domas also swung their ice fans, sending vine-like attacks at Hardy, while the ice lotus princesses exhaled cold air once more.
This time, the Nichirin blade in the Yorichi puppet's hand was no longer a Crimson Blade.
"Ding ding dang dang"—the sound of blades shattering icy crystals echoed through the air.
Though pressed by Doma, Hardy was not worried; in fact, he was secretly pleased.
At the very least, based on his reliable appearance, he didn't need to worry about being unable to protect himself.
If he wanted to escape, Doma wouldn't be able to kill him. At worst, he could activate the internal mechanisms of the Yoriichi Type Zero, sacrificing some agility and combat power to rigidly use the Sun Breathing technique, holding Doma off for a while to cover his retreat.
What truly delighted Hardy, however, was the intense pressure Doma exerted on him.
The realm that lay just above the musical score seemed to be faintly beckoning to Hardy.
But in the next instant, that pressure suddenly lessened significantly.
"Insect Breathing: Dance of the Bee Sting—True Flutter!"
"Love Breathing, Second Form: Sorrowful, Hesitant Love!"
Two agile figures swiftly dashed in from the edge of the battlefield, aiming straight for Doma's head.
It was none other than Shinobu Kocho and Mitsuri Kanroji.
"Ah! Two beautiful ladies—I've been waiting for you!"
Seeing the two girls arrive, Doma flashed a seemingly sunny smile and raised his hand, conjuring countless ice pillars that shot toward them.
"Senior Hardy! We're here to help you!"
Mitsuri Kanroji swung her Nichirin Blade, cleaving through the ice pillars aimed at her, and called out to Hardy.
Even though she had joined the Demon Slayer Corps a few months earlier than Hardy and had become a Hashira at the same time, she still habitually addressed him as "senior."
Shinobu, on the other hand, relied on her incredible speed to dodge Doma's attacks, glaring at him with eyes full of hatred.
Her sister, the former Flower Hashira, Kanae Kocho, had died at Doma's hands.
Kanae's lungs had been almost completely frozen; if the sun hadn't risen just in time, and if she hadn't had a single breath left, Shinobu would not have even been able to see her sister one last time.
It was from Kanae's dying words that she learned the characteristics of the Upper Moon Two demon. That's how she knew—the demon before her was her enemy.
"My, such speed! Faster than any Hashira I've seen before," Doma couldn't help but praise.
Hardy frowned.
Why are these two here to mess things up?
"Shinobu, Mitsuri, you two go protect the swordsmiths in the village. There's another Upper Moon demon there," Hardy said, holding his blade defensively in front of him.
"Hardy, you and Mitsuri go. Leave this to me. Once the situation in the village is resolved, you can come back and help me," Shinobu replied, her petite form darting around to evade attacks.
She wanted revenge, but she also knew how powerful the enemy was.
In her mind, the only way to avenge her sister was to offer herself as bait, letting Doma devour her—and with her, the wisteria poison she'd long been injecting into her body—to weaken Doma. Then, once Hardy and Mitsuri finished off the other enemy, they could return and finish Doma off.
She also believed that as comrades, the other two Hashira would never just stand by and watch her go to her death, so she had to send them away first.
...
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