At least, in Shinobu Kocho's mind, every Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps would sacrifice themselves to protect their comrades.
"No, you guys should go. Forgive my bluntness, but the enemy is strong, and your strength will only hold me back."
Shimizu said indifferently.
Saying they would hold him back is a bit of an exaggeration, but in reality, besides being able to slightly restrain Doma's attacks, Shinobu Kocho and Mitsuri Kanroji's impact on the battle situation wasn't significant.
The gap in raw strength was there. Shinobu Kocho had put all her abilities into poison and speed, but Doma's ice control ability was extremely strong. Unless her speed was at the level of the Flash, Barry, it wouldn't be of much use. Even if Doma was poisoned, with his terrifying recovery ability, he could quickly break it down.
Unless Shinobu Kocho sacrificed herself like in the original timeline, using absolute toxicity to temporarily suppress Doma's recovery and combat power.
Mitsuri Kanroji had only just become a Pillar, and the Nichirin Blade in her hand wasn't even compatible with her newly developed Love Breathing.
She was still a ways off from the complete Love Pillar, who, a year later in the original timeline, would awaken her mark and be the main force against Upper Moon Four.
The current Mitsuri Kanroji hadn't grown to the point where she could participate in battles at the Upper Moon level. Shinobu Kocho could only create an opportunity to kill an Upper Moon by sacrificing her life.
It wasn't necessary.
"Ara ara, don't chase people away! These two new ladies are so strong, they must be Pillars too, right? Why don't you let them play with me while you deal with Upper Moon Five, Gyokko? You're so strong, Gyokko might not even be a match for you!"
Doma waved his fans with a smile, creating countless ice crystal snowflakes with a flick of his hand.
"Ah, Shinobu, Mitsuri, I'm sure you've noticed that the enemy's ability has a great impact on the use of breathing techniques. You're not suitable for dealing with such an enemy."
Shimizu shattered an ice doll with his sword while using Yoriichi Type Zero to shatter an ice pillar with a single shot, saving Mitsuri Kanroji, who was almost hit, and said helplessly.
"But, Shimizu-senpai, you..."
Mitsuri Kanroji said worriedly.
"I'm different from you."
Shimizu said a certain Water Pillar's classic line that wasn't hated.
"I've learned the Turtle Breathing Technique, and I can temporarily switch my breathing to internal circulation. His Blood Demon Art doesn't have much effect on me."
"On the contrary, you two shouldn't forget your duties as Pillars. Once another Upper Moon demon appears in the Swordsmith Village, the swordsmiths will suffer a devastating blow. You should be very clear about how the Demon Slayer Corps will change in the future."
If these two women continued to interfere, his current state might be interrupted.
Besides Doma, Muzan and Kokushibo were too strong. He might not be able to encounter an enemy who could give him enough pressure without posing too much of a life-threatening danger like now.
But Shimizu's actions looked different in Shinobu Kocho and Mitsuri Kanroji's eyes.
"Shinobu, we..."
Mitsuri Kanroji looked at Shinobu Kocho.
Shinobu Kocho also stopped, looking at Shimizu, who was single-handedly blocking almost all of Doma's attacks.
At this moment, a soaring fire suddenly erupted from the direction of the Swordsmith Village in the distance.
The defense force on the Swordsmith Village's side had obviously encountered an irresistible force, or this wouldn't have happened.
"Mitsuri, let's go! Let's kill the other demon first, then come back and help Shimizu!"
Shinobu Kocho suddenly remembered what her sister had said before her death, grabbed Mitsuri Kanroji's hand, glanced at Doma with reluctance, and resolutely turned around.
Seeing the two young women, whom he already regarded as food, about to leave, Doma naturally wasn't willing.
But he, who didn't understand human emotions, didn't know what anxiety or anger was. He still wore that smiling mask on his face, pretending to be a demon with rich emotions.
"Hey! Ladies, don't go! Can you stay and keep me company? I shouldn't be annoying, right? After all, none of my colleagues that I know dislike me."
Doma raised his fan and waved it in the direction Shinobu Kocho and Mitsuri Kanroji were leaving, and endless frost vines flew out, rushing madly in that direction.
"Save it."
Shimizu took the time to make a seal and cast Wind Release: Great Net Technique, cutting those frost vines into pieces.
"With trash like you, you can't even beat me alone, and you want to add two more? I think you're not very smart, are you?"
Shimizu looked at Doma with a disgusted expression.
He didn't know if taunting would work on Doma, who had almost lost his emotions, but it wouldn't hurt to try.
"Oh... why do you have to force me?"
Doma put on a helpless expression, covering his face with one of his fans as he spoke.
"But now that those two are gone, I don't have to worry about this move being too powerful, accidentally smashing my body into minced meat, which wouldn't taste good."
As Doma spoke, the ground around him, which was frozen by frost, couldn't help but tremble and crack.
In the next instant, a thick white mist of frost turned into a shockwave, sweeping around.
Shimizu had no choice but to temporarily withdraw, taking Yoriichi Type Zero with him, while casting Wind Release to blow away the ice mist.
When the ice mist dissipated, Shimizu's expression became extremely grave.
In front of him, a giant ice sculpture, even larger than a tailed beast, sat cross-legged on an ice crystal lotus, with its hands clasped together.
And Doma was standing on the head of this giant ice sculpture.
"Blood Demon Art: Freezing Mist: Lotus Bodhisattva!"
Now, things were getting exciting.
In the distance, at the end of the horizon.
Shinobu Kocho and Mitsuri Kanroji, who were running at full speed, also sensed the huge movement behind them. They turned their heads and saw the giant Lotus Bodhisattva, as well as the tall figure holding a Nichirin Blade, standing in front of the Lotus Bodhisattva, his figure appearing extremely tragic against the backdrop of its massive size.
"Shinobu... Shimizu-senpai, he..."
Mitsuri Kanroji looked worried.
Shinobu Kocho didn't say anything, but tightened her grip on the hilt of the Nichirin Blade at her waist, further squeezing her body and increasing her speed.
...
...
"As expected, he's quite strong, as expected of Upper Moon Two. Now I have to work hard too."
Shimizu moved his hand away from his face, took out the tiny ice crystals he had inhaled into his lungs, and took a deep breath.
The Nichirin Blade was drawn again!
