Kanae glared at her sister, then took out a syringe.
"Mr. Aomura, Shinobu and I have been trying to make poison for Muzan too. We've had some success."
She had thought about poison after the "Five Pillars Battle." She told Shinobu, and they agreed.
They had learned about Muzan's traits and abilities from talking to Mr. Aomura.
They also had demon blood, including Upper Moon, Lower Moon, and ordinary demon blood.
"Hmm..."
Aoki looked at the shuttle-shaped device in his hand, then at the syringe in Kanae's hand. He switched them.
"Okay, you can see if there's anything you can use in this poison. I'll show your poison to my friend later."
Shinobu said, "Mr. Aomura, who is your friend? Why don't you introduce us?"
"It's complicated," Aoki said.
Kanae realized something. "Mr. Aomura, is your friend also...?"
She didn't finish, but Aoki understood. He nodded slightly.
"So it's a demon! But if she's friends with Mr. Aomura..."
Kanae thought, then asked, "Mr. Aomura, does your friend not eat people?"
Aoki said, "Yes. She overcame eating people by modifying herself. She only needs a little human blood to survive."
Shinobu looked surprised.
There were demons who didn't eat people?
Kanae smiled gently. "Please introduce us when you think it's time, Mr. Aomura."
Aoki nodded, thinking she was understanding.
Kanae had seen his concerns. She hadn't asked about anything that might make him uncomfortable.
Shinobu was curious about the demon who didn't eat people, but there was something more important now. "Can we start now?"
"Yes, let's start!"
Aoki said.
They faced each other under the moonlight.
Kanae, Kanao, and Aoi Kanzaki, who had finished working, sat in a row, watching.
Shinobu drew her sword, twirling it.
Her sword was special. The blade was thin and long, without an edge. The tip had barbs.
She couldn't slash. She could only stab.
"Be careful. I made some new poisons while researching poison for Muzan. No demon has lasted 5 seconds against them!" Shinobu warned seriously.
"I'm looking forward to it!" Aoki said.
Shinobu stared at him for a moment, then stabbed her sword. "Bee Sting Dance, True Flutter!"
Her special sword became a black flash, stabbing at Aoki's face. The tip shone pale blue.
She was very fast, and the attack was unexpected. No demon had dodged it since she mastered it.
But Aoki just tilted his head slightly.
The blade brushed past his face. He stepped forward and pushed lightly.
Bang!
Shinobu flew away, sliding on the ground before stopping. She looked up at Aoki, her face serious.
"That again!"
Kanae watched Aoki intently.
She had felt Aoki could accurately predict their techniques during the previous fight, even seeing through them as they moved.
The feeling was stronger as an observer.
"Dragonfly Dance, Compound Eye Hexagon!"
"Centipede Dance, Hundred-Legged Zigzag!"
Shinobu's eyes didn't waver. She attacked relentlessly, one technique after another.
Aoki walked calmly, dodging in a small space.
Kanae's expression grew serious.
"Shinobu's power is increasing quickly. With poison, she can easily kill a Lower Moon."
She was strong enough to be a Pillar.
But...
Kanae said softly, "Mr. Aoki is terrifying now."
It wasn't personal.
It was the fear a weaker person felt towards a stronger one.
Aoki had been like a tall mountain, impossible to climb, but you could see the top.
Now, he was like the distant sky, vast and unknown, on another level.
Shinobu, who was fighting him, was horrified. She was attacking, but she felt weaker and more desperate.
She lost sight of her opponent. Shinobu reacted instantly, leaning back, flipping her sword, and stabbing behind her.
But she hit air.
Aoki appeared to the side, raising his hand and tapping Shinobu's stomach lightly.
Pat!
Shinobu fell heavily, touching her butt instinctively.
It hurt!
"Let's stop here!"
Aoki held out his hand.
Shinobu didn't argue. She took his hand and stood up, looking frustrated. "I thought I could at least touch you this time!"
"You should have said so. I could have let you," Aoki said.
"No!"
Shinobu snorted, looking eager again. "I'll hurt you with my own power someday!"
"Okay, it's good to have dreams. Good luck!" Aoki said.
Shinobu glared at him.
Kanae walked over. "Shinobu, you've improved a lot recently."
Aoki nodded. "Her speed is better than most Pillars."
Shinobu's attack speed and movement speed were excellent, but she couldn't last long.
She had a lot of burst power, but not enough stamina.
That was her body's limitation.
But her strengths were enough to make her a Pillar.
Shinobu raised her sword. "Too bad. I wanted to test my new poison."
"Why not?"
Aoki took her sword and pointed it at his hand.
"Wait!"
Shinobu said.
Pfft!
The sword pierced Aoki's hand.
"You're too reckless! What if something happened?"
Shinobu took back her sword, complaining.
"There aren't many poisons in the world that can kill me," Aoki said.
He held out his hand.
The wound healed instantly, but the skin around it turned purple, spreading slowly. The purple faded quickly before reaching the edge of his hand, and his hand returned to normal.
The air was silent.
"It didn't do anything," Shinobu looked dejected.
Aoki said, "Don't be discouraged. It should still work on Lower Moons!"
He wasn't comforting her.
His constitution was like Muzan's now. It was good that the poison had any effect.
Shinobu perked up. "What about Upper Moons?"
"Upper Moons?" Aoki thought. "If you meet an Upper Moon, I suggest you run!"
Click!
Shinobu sheathed her sword. "You can just say I can't beat an Upper Moon."
Kanae Kocho said gently, "Shinobu, Upper Moons are on a different level than other demons."
Shinobu thought of something else. She frowned. "Will our poison work on Muzan?"
Kanae Kocho didn't know the answer.
They looked at Aoki.
Aoki thought. "Poison alone can't kill Muzan, but it can weaken him."
It would be hard to weaken him.
Shinobu's poison had little effect on Doma. It was broken down quickly. She had to become a human sacrifice.
Muzan was stronger than Doma.
Most poisons would be broken down before they could work.
Shinobu asked, "Can your doctor friend's poison do it?"
"I haven't tried it, but it should," Aoki said honestly.
"I want to meet her," Shinobu murmured, her expression changing.
Aoki didn't speak.
Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho's medical skills weren't as good as Tamayo's.
Tamayo had centuries of experience.
They had the full support of the Demon Slayer Corps. Their medical equipment and ingredients were much better than Tamayo's.
That was part of medical skill.
It was the same with developing poison.
Tamayo had prepared and researched for centuries. She knew more about Muzan than Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho.
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