"Fools who panic at the slightest provocation."
Facing this situation, facing this impending pincer attack from front and back, undisguised mockery appeared upon Mitsuba's half-lted face.
Everything was proceeding exactly as she had anticipated.
At this mont, her gaze seed to pass through all the Demon Slayers before her, landing upon Ubuyashiki—whom they subconsciously protected behind them, wanting to speak out to stop them.
Instinct always triumphs over thought.
Through a century of contact, Mitsuba had long known that these Demon Slayers possessed near-instinctive obedience toward their master.
They respected him, trusted him, and could even die for him without hesitation when he needed them.
This was a terrifying power.
At critical monts, this trust and obedience could often beco the key to turning defeat into victory.
But at certain monts, this long-cultivated instinct could also beco the most fatal cause of defeat!
Just like right now.
The mont these Demon Slayers saw her lunging toward their master, the protective instinct deeply rooted in their minds—without requiring any thought—imdiately drove them to swarm forward, attempting to intercept her.
So, dear God.
Nothing in this world is absolutely beneficial. The powerful bond You established between the Ubuyashiki clan and the Demon Slayers... at this very mont, can likewise beco the key to my turning defeat into victory!
[You're too late! Ubuyashiki!]
Her eyes reflecting Ubuyashiki's hurried attempt to open his mouth and dissuade the crowd, Mitsuba laughed wildly, mobilizing her full strength at this mont to activate her Blood Demon Art once more.
The mandala formation expanded again, enveloping the thirty firearm-wielding Demon Slayers before her and the four Hashira-level swordsn behind her.
But this ti, Mitsuba did not pluck the threads of karma to directly erase them.
Her stamina at this mont was insufficient to support such direct causal interference that decided life and death.
The wisteria poison still spread within her body, and those pellets forged from scarlet crimson iron remained deeply embedded in her flesh, continuously consuming her strength.
Mitsuba could clearly feel her body approaching its limit.
This Blood Demon Art would likely be the last she could release tonight.
But it didn't matter. This was already enough.
Because in this instant, she would use these Demon Slayers' own hands to personally deliver their final death!
Ti beca slow once more at this mont. The air was thick with the scent of fear and excitent.
That was the Demon Slayers' fear of that terrifying demon.
That was this demon's excitent for the victory she was about to achieve.
Within the sea of crimson, the varying degrees of terror and panic upon the faces of the thirty Demon Slayers before her, and the dense threads of karma upon their bodies—all were taken in by Mitsuba.
The enemy's fear was Mitsuba's favorite emotion to witness.
Because once people begin to fear, it triggers tension; tension leads to panic, which further causes the mind to go blank, losing its original rational thought.
People trapped in such emotions often rely only on their instincts, acting subconsciously.
And such people were the easiest for Mitsuba's Blood Demon Art to manipulate.
Yes, her Blood Demon Art was not rely capable of manipulating causality in reality...
She could even influence human thought!
Bang! Bang bang bang!
Under the night sky, dense gunfire rang out once more.
But this ti, not a single bullet landed upon Mitsuba.
The thirty firearm-wielding Demon Slayers, already in extre panic, suddenly turned their gun muzzles in the instant before firing, each pulling the trigger toward their companions beside them.
Thirty pellets—excluding the four that precisely struck the hearts of the four Hashira-level swordsn.
The remaining twenty-six were all used upon these firearm-wielding Demon Slayers themselves!
"Ugh!"
Scorching pellets, driven by gunpowder, continuously passed through one body after another. Blood splattered everywhere, severed limbs scattered about, and the Demon Slayers scread as they collapsed one after another.
"How... is this possible?"
Eyes filled with disbelief, looking down at the fresh blood gushing madly from their chests, the remaining four Hashira—including the Fla Hashira—fell to the ground one by one.
Strange, why hadn't they noticed... these pellets flying toward their hearts?
Given their strength, they should have been able to react... could this also be that female demon's Blood Demon Art ability?
Even their thoughts...
"Lord Fla Hashira!"
With the firearm squad and Hashira-level swordsn instantly annihilated, only the twelve Demon Slayers who had originally bound Mitsuba with chains remained in the courtyard.
"Urahhhh!"
Fear and rage instantly filled their hearts at this mont. These twelve people looked in disbelief at this horrific scene before them, simultaneously drawing their Nichirin blades and lunging desperately at Mitsuba, who had once again collapsed to her knees.
"Demon! I'll kill you! I'll kill—ugh!"
The roar abruptly ceased. The originally roaring Demon Slayer turned back in disbelief, looking at the companion behind him who wore an equally furious expression yet had suddenly swung his blade at him.
"You... why..."
"No, I didn't—aaahhh!!"
Then, this Demon Slayer who had unconsciously slain his companion scread as he and another companion beside him simultaneously swung their blades at each other's vital points.
The second round of slaughter began.
Then, quickly ended.
These final twelve Demon Slayers, in their terror, had their thoughts influenced by Mitsuba and mutually slashed their comrades to death...
Thus, all the Demon Slayers tonight had fallen.
"How does it feel... Mr. Ubuyashiki..."
Finally exhausting her last shred of stamina at this mont, Mitsuba completely collapsed to the ground.
She struggled to raise her head, smiling as she directed her gaze toward Ubuyashiki—whom she had deliberately spared.
What had she just done?
The answer was simple.
For those thirty firearm-wielding Demon Slayers, Mitsuba had rely used the manipulation of the threads of karma to influence their thoughts in the instant before they fired, slightly altering the direction of their gun muzzles.
This was not difficult for Mitsuba.
Because these people had already been frightened by the strength she displayed.
Upon seeing her charge at their master, they dared not think further, panicking as they prepared to open fire to stop her.
In such disarray, Mitsuba could effortlessly influence their thoughts, causing them to fire according to her wishes without even realizing it themselves.
As for the four Hashira-level swordsn lunging at her, Mitsuba did not particularly influence their thoughts.
She rely followed their desire to stop her, further strengthening this notion, focusing their attention more intensely upon her.
Thus causing them to subconsciously ignore their companions' gun muzzles—which, under her influence, had already quietly aid at their hearts...
Of course, to ensure the pellets would definitely strike these four people's hearts, Mitsuba had specifically strengthened this layer of causality at the instant the firearm squad fired, guaranteeing the inevitable occurrence of this result.
As for those final twelve Demon Slayers, they naturally followed the sa logic—no further explanation needed.
You see, everything is so simple.
A small, montary shift in thought is sufficient to completely reverse the entire situation.
Facing the trap set for her tonight by the combined efforts of the Demon Slayer Corps and Tamayo, Mitsuba—while severely poisoned, without any intelligence, and having lost all initiative—had forcibly completed the final counter-kill through her terrifying Blood Demon Art.
The power of karma is truly terrifying.
___
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