Chapter 824: The Turning Point
Chapter 824: The Turning Point
Crack! Crack!
Kanae and Hidan shattered the ice in front of them, their sword winds dispersing the frost and blocking Douma's attack. However, instead of relief, their expressions turned grave, especially Hidan, who grit her teeth in frustration. She knew she should have kept her eye on Douma's other half, not giving him the chance to use his Blood Demon Art. Despite being a pillar, she had made such a critical mistake, drastically shifting the tide of the battle.
Kanae, on the other hand, remained silent. The crimson in her eyes gradually faded, and her vision blurred—a side effect of using the forbidden technique. Her eyesight had taken a significant hit.
She didn't utter a word, her mind racing with thoughts.
What now? Should they continue fighting? But Douma had broken free of their suppression, and there was no chance of killing him now unless they dragged the fight until sunrise. Yet, it was still early, and there was a long time until dawn. Even in her prime condition, she wasn't sure she had the stamina for that.
Should they retreat? But with her Byakugan, her vision was severely impaired, and in the darkness, she could barely see, while the Upper Rank Two was almost unaffected. Retreat would only leave them more exposed.
"Well then, let the game begin," Douma said with a slight smile. "The question is, which one of you will I kill first—the older sister or the younger?"
With a swift motion, he brandished his ice fan, and a flurry of ice and snow swept towards the Butterfly Sisters. The icy blast was laced with frost that could freeze their lungs, and sharp ice spikes that could pierce their bodies.
Douma showed no mercy, still shaken by how close he had come to death. He went all out, using one Blood Demon Art to counter the Butterfly Sisters while simultaneously wielding his ice fan with the other hand.
Crack! Ice blocks extended and writhed, and a small, slightly larger ice figurine resembling Douma himself, but entirely made of ice, emerged from his fan.
As soon as this ice clone appeared, it brandished its own ice fan and charged at the Butterfly Sisters.
Then a second, and a third clone appeared.
Within moments, five ice clones, each slightly larger than Douma's true form, had surrounded the Butterfly Sisters, blocking them from all sides.
Only then did Douma slow down, a smile playing on his cheeks. "It felt terrible being ganged up on like that. So, I thought I'd return the favor and let you experience what it's like to be surrounded. Oh, and guess what? These clones of mine... I wonder if they can use Blood Demon Arts just like me?"
As these words left his mouth, the Butterfly Sisters' faces paled.
Then, to their horror, the five ice clones simultaneously brandished their ice fans and released violent blasts of frost from all directions, engulfing the sisters in a blizzard of ice and snow.
"This guy..." Hidan's eyes widened in shock.
They had known that Douma's Blood Demon Art was powerful, which was why they had risked everything to suppress him and prevent him from using it. But even with that knowledge, the extent of his displayed power exceeded their expectations.
Each of these ice clones possessed strength comparable to that of an average pillar!
Huge gusts of ice and snow, laced with frost, swept towards them, leaving the Butterfly Sisters with no time to be shocked as they had to back up against each other to defend against the onslaught from all sides.
Ice flowers blossomed and burst, sending shards of ice flying in all directions. Freezing mist enveloped the entire estate, turning it into a wintry apocalypse. The Butterfly Sisters were engulfed by the relentless assault, their figures barely visible amidst the swirling ice and snow, with only the occasional flash of their swords piercing through.
Kanae's greatly diminished eyesight blurred her vision, severely impacting her performance. Not long into the fight, she found herself impaled by an ice spike that took advantage of a lapse in her defense, piercing her shoulder.
The ice spike penetrated her flesh, carrying with it a bitter cold that froze her blood before it could even spill.
"Sister!"
Hidan, sensing her sister's injury, felt her heart clench with worry. However, she had no time to tend to Kanae's wound as she frantically swung her sword, desperately trying to ward off the relentless attacks and alleviate some of the pressure on Kanae.
Kanae's right arm, impaired by the ice spike, became less agile, leaving her even more vulnerable to attacks. Their situation was rapidly deteriorating, reaching a critical point where defeat seemed inevitable.
Yet, in the face of impending death, Kanae's expression remained remarkably calm, as if the closer it loomed, the more serene she became.
"Kanae," she said softly, her voice almost inaudible amidst the chaos. "I'm going to use the Otherworldly Ruby Eye one more time to create an escape route for you. Run and don't look back."
Though her voice was faint, it was clear to Hidan, whose back was pressed against her sister's.
Hidan's face froze, and she could feel her sister's slight trembling. "No, I won't leave you!" she protested.
"You're a pillar now," Kanae continued, her tone firm but gentle. "I can't order you around anymore, but please, just this once, obey me. You have something more important to do. You must escape and deliver this demon's intelligence to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters..."
There was no emotion in Kanae's soft voice, only determination.
In that moment, she was like the icy figures assaulting them—cold and unyielding.
"But..." Hidan's body trembled as she struggled with the impossible choice before her.
Even as a pillar, having faced countless life-or-death situations, Kanae was her sister, her last remaining family in this world. How could she possibly leave her behind?
Kanae didn't try to persuade her further. Instead, she spoke with the calm authority of a commanding officer. "From now on, you must walk your own path, Hidan. Be kinder, stronger, and more diligent."
It seemed as though fate had brought them to a turning point.
The usually gentle and affectionate sister now stood before her, cold and distant, hiding her true feelings of reluctance and love. She issued orders with a detachment that belied the depth of her emotions.
And Hidan, known for her strict and harsh demeanor, would, from this moment on, face the world with a gentle smile, concealing the wounds in her heart and revealing only warmth and compassion.
(End of Chapter)
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