Kumamoto City, Ashikita Town.
Shimizu, carrying a wooden box on his back, entered the Fujiya.
Inside the box were simple armored puppets he had made to enhance strength, speed, and defense.
Referencing the previous battle with Uzui Tengen, where they fought to a draw, Shimizu had a reasonably accurate assessment of his own combat power.
When only using Breathing Techniques, he was stronger than all Lower Rank Demons, but against Upper Rank Demons, it wouldn't be so certain.
Fortunately, he knew more than just Breathing Techniques.
Wearing the armored puppet, his combat power could be elevated further, combined with the Scarlet Iron Arquebus and his own Ninjutsu, as long as he didn't encounter Muzan and Kokushibo, the current power ceilings, survival shouldn't be a problem.
If he really did encounter them, he could only blame his bad luck and pray for the best.
But that shouldn't happen.
"It was an incredibly fast demon, so fast that I almost couldn't react. One of my fellow team members was attacked. The rest of us could only stand back-to-back to fend off the attacks."
"It was then that we saw the demon's true face, an evil demon with pointed ears and scars all over its body. Its eyes bore the inscription 'Lower Three.' After realizing we had encountered a Lower Rank Demon, we decided that the older swordsmen would cover the retreat, allowing the younger swordsmen to escape and bring the news back."
A sixteen or seventeen-year-old Rank D Demon Slayer, with a missing arm, tearfully spoke to Shimizu.
Previously, swordsmen had been lost in this area, so Ubuyashiki Kagaya had dispatched four swordsmen nearby, all of whom were of higher rank and stronger skill.
Two Rank D, one Rank C, and one Rank B.
This lineup was enough to deal with all demons except the Twelve Kizuki, but they still encountered Lower Three.
Fortunately, they were strong enough for this young man to barely escape with his life.
"Shimizu-senpai, I know you are a Rank A swordsman, but this is still one of the Twelve Kizuki. Shouldn't we have Master Ubuyashiki notify the Pillars to be safer?"
"No need. A Lower Rank Demon is no problem for me."
Shimizu sat upright on the tatami mat, pouring a cup of tea for the sixteen or seventeen-year-old swordsman in front of him, who was destined to retire soon.
"Tell me, how did you find this demon?"
"Okay, initially, according to the information delivered by the Butterfly Mansion's Kakushi, this demon is very peculiar. It only likes to eat human hearts, and the bodies of those it kills all show a symptom of being divided by sharp instruments..."
Shimizu suddenly raised his head.
This symptom of death... it's so familiar.
Lower Rank Demon... it seems they can also turn people into demons, right?
Shimizu thought of the spider family who were turned into demons by Lower Five on Natagumo Mountain.
It seems like I've found my enemy.
Night.
The night was dark and the wind was high, the sky was full of stars, dim and dull.
"Swish!"
In the blink of an eye, a blue sword flash passed.
"Hmm?"
The blurry demon shadow quickly retreated, looking left and right at its severed arms, and the two young women who had fallen not far ahead.
"A year ago, did you go to the Koga region?"
Shimizu glanced at the two unconscious women on the ground and stepped forward.
Lower Three, Wazuha, looked at Shimizu with interest, stroking his chin with his newly regrown hand.
"This long, drawn-out breathing... is this a Pillar? If I can eat you, I should become stronger, right? As long as I kill more Pillars, Muzan-sama will definitely grant me more blood, right? That way, I can quickly become an Upper Rank Demon."
Another sharp sword light flashed past.
"I'm asking you a question."
Shimizu twirled his sword, glanced at the three faint claw marks on the surface of the armor, and said indifferently.
"Very impressive! As expected of a Pillar, the events of a year ago? I remember, there seemed to be a man who looked a bit like you. When he met me, he actually dared to resist. I thought he had a lot of backbone, so I rewarded him with a drop of blood. I don't know if he managed to survive."
"What, is he your family? Did you join the Demon Slayer Corps and become a Pillar to avenge him? What a touching story ~"
Wazuha touched his neck, thinking of the attack that almost cut his neck bones just now, his eyes gradually became serious while mocking.
The nails on his fingers quickly grew longer, like ten fencing swords.
"It's you, then there's no problem."
Shimizu looked at Wazuha with cold eyes.
Uesugi Shirakawa was, after all, this body's older brother. He had borrowed the power of the Uesugi clan quite a bit in the Demon Slayer world. He had to repay the favors he owed, and he had to avenge the grudges he held.
No mistake, one head, one shot, one content, one existence, see it at a glance!
"Breath of Separation · Second Form · Flowing Dance of Separation!"
A dazzling blue light flashed across the street, heading straight for Wazuha's head.
"So fast!"
Wazuha was shocked, retreating quickly, crossing his claws in front of him, and was cut to pieces again.
Fortunately, he delayed a little, and was not beheaded.
Shimizu frowned slightly.
His frontal combat power could overwhelm Wazuha, but Wazuha's speed was quite fast, making it difficult to kill him.
"Breath of Separation · Second Form · Ion Cut."
Another smooth, mirror-like blue slash, but Wazuha decisively took the cost of being hit in half of his body, and pounced towards the two young women lying on the ground in the distance.
Diversion!
"Bang!"
The gun rang, and Wazuha's body was instantly hit in the neck by a bullet made of scarlet iron.
However, as one of the Twelve Kizuki, his body strength was far from what ordinary demons could compare to. Although a huge hole was blasted in his neck, there was still some flesh and blood remaining.
Now, Wazuha was really startled, and disappeared from Shimizu's sight in the blink of an eye.
"Clang!"
Shimizu single-handedly performed the Su Qin Sword on his back, blocking the sword behind him, blocking Wazuha's attack.
"Interesting, a blood demon art of invisibility?"
There was almost no movement around, Shimizu only felt the sound of Wazuha tearing through the air when he attacked, and then reacted.
But at other times, even Shimizu couldn't detect any anomalies.
His footsteps changed slightly, Shimizu stood by the two unconscious women, closed his eyes, and began to sense with his heart.
Several swords were swung out in succession, and Shimizu accurately blocked every one of Wazuha's attacks.
"How can this be!"
Wazuha was stunned.
Shimizu had a smile on his lips.
This score technique is quite useful.
There were some bugs in the previous content. It's not just Upper Rank Demons who can turn people into demons, Lower Rank Demons can also do it. A typical example is the family of Lower Five, Rui.
