"Snow Drift."
Hatsune charged straight at Aoi, surrounded by a chilling aura due to the breathing technique.
Water vapor in the air condensed into ice shards upon encountering the cold, making it look like a moving white fog. Even the brownish-yellow wooden sword was covered in ice shards, turning it white.
Before the person arrived, the cold air had already reached her face.
Seeing the white figure quickly darting through the white fog, Aoi took a deep breath. She had to complete her breathing before Hatsune got close, or the approaching cold air would place a heavy burden on her lungs.
"Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance."
Aoi used her agile footwork, shifting left and right, turning into a twisting stream as she charged into the white fog.
Hatsune swung his sword at the incoming Aoi. The blade drew a graceful arc, carrying a gust of snow and wind, colliding with Aoi's wooden sword.
Aoi blocked Hatsune's wooden sword and used the inertia of the "Flowing Dance" footwork to move to his side, swinging her sword at his neck. The previous strike was a feint; this one was the real deal.
They were very close, and Aoi was certain that Hatsune could not dodge. This strike to the back of the head would either knock him out or kill him.
It's over, arrogant guy. You've managed to hold on this long without understanding anything; you should be proud.
Aoi added more force to her strike, intending to incapacitate Hatsune with one blow.
But just as the wooden sword was about half an inch from Hatsune's head, he suddenly lowered his head, and Aoi heard a voice.
"Shattered Shower."
Not good!
Aoi had no time to think about how he detected her attack. She saw through her peripheral vision that Hatsune was attacking.
Hatsune was crouching on the ground, his wrist twisting in an unusual way as he slashed upwards. Several ice spikes, each as thick as a thumb, accompanied by a gust of snow and wind, aimed at Aoi's chest, neck, and side of her face.
Aoi's face changed drastically. The sudden reversal of the situation was unexpected. Originally, she planned to win with a surprise attack, but she ended up within his range instead.
With such a wide range of attack and close distance, there was no way to block all three attacks.
In desperation, to avoid the imminent danger, Aoi forced herself to use the breathing technique again, despite the discomfort in her lungs, shouting.
"Sixth Form: Whirlpool."
In haste, Aoi twisted her body and swung her wooden sword.
The wooden sword created a small whirlwind, shattering the ice spikes upon contact. Even the surrounding white fog was dispersed, revealing Hatsune's clear figure.
Now Aoi's lungs were suffering, and if Hatsune attacked again at this close range, she knew she wouldn't be able to defend.
"Third Form: Flowing Dance."
Aoi had to use "Flowing Dance" again to try to distance herself from Hatsune.
She felt the biting cold on her shoulder and the right side of her neck. Although "Whirlpool" blocked most of the ice spikes, some still hit her.
This time, Hatsune didn't give Aoi a chance to catch her breath.
As Aoi used "Flowing Dance" to escape, Hatsune planted one hand on the ground and leaped into the air.
In the bright moonlight, Hatsune raised his sword with both hands. The temperature in the yard suddenly dropped, and snowflakes began to fall, as if winter had arrived.
"Sister Aoi, be careful."
The three girls from the Butterfly Mansion, who had been watching from the porch, could no longer sit still. They had hoped Aoi would teach the rude guy a lesson, but now it seemed that Aoi was the one in trouble.
Aoi was focused on escaping and didn't notice Hatsune's subsequent actions. Upon hearing the Butterfly Mansion trio's reminder, she finally noticed Hatsune in mid-air. Before she could steady herself, she heard two words from above.
"Snowfall."
Another strange move.
Hatsune slashed down from the sky towards Aoi.
Affected by the cold air and having used the breathing technique twice, Aoi's lungs were already overwhelmed. Hatsune pressed her relentlessly, giving her no time to breathe. She had no choice but to block the attack with another technique.
"Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust."
Focusing all her attack power on a single point, this was the fastest and sharpest move in the Water Breathing techniques.
Aoi thrust her sword to meet Hatsune's descending blade. However, upon contact, she immediately realized something was wrong.
"Drop Ripple Thrust" was a pinpoint technique, effective when point met point, but not against a broad surface.
Hatsune's slash wasn't just a simple strike; it carried immense force, like an icefall crashing down. Trying to stop a waterfall with a bamboo stick—was that realistic?
Aoi thought of another Water Breathing technique, the "Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin."
Hatsune's "Icefall" was similar to "Waterfall Basin," both relying on a descending force to crush the enemy. Even if the enemy dodged, the impact of the technique hitting the ground would still cause splash damage.
Aoi felt the immense force transmitted through the wooden sword, as if she were standing under an ice mountain, the overwhelming pressure and chilling cold making her feel she would be crushed if she didn't withdraw in time.
But at this moment, how could she withdraw? How could she retreat? And where could she retreat to? Aoi was utterly despaired.
She couldn't believe she was being overpowered by a novice.
Last time, she nearly suffered because she didn't understand Hatsune's breathing technique. But this time, what was the reason?
Was this unruly wild child far stronger than her?
In that instant, many thoughts flashed through Aoi's mind. A sense of defeat surged from within her. She often prided herself on being a Demon Slayer Corps member but was too timid, afraid of death, unwilling to face demons, and even more unwilling to kill them.
Since completing the final selection, she had hardly undertaken any missions. Could such a person still be called a Demon Slayer Corps member?
She was the true disgrace of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Thinking of this, Aoi's fighting spirit completely faded, and she fell into a dazed state.
Shinobu Kocho, watching from the porch, suddenly stood up, her right hand on the hilt of her sword. She sensed the change in Aoi's aura.
Losing the will to fight in battle was a grave mistake, one of life and death. Without the courage to face death, one could hardly fight demons with a self-sacrificing spirit.
Aoi, though irritable and rough in her behavior, was very gentle and soft-hearted inside. She only used roughness to hide her weakness and inferiority.
Not everyone could relish in bloodshed, and not everyone could possess the extraordinary talents, keen perception, clear mind, and resolute courage to face death like Tanjiro and Hatsune. And the burdens they carried.
They were born warriors, meant to slay demons.
Their presence in the Demon Slayer Corps was no coincidence.