Horitake lay surrounded by Jiuro, Zenitsu, and Tetsutake, their voices a cacophony of anxious concern. Jiuro, especially, was frantic, fearing something dire had befallen his disciple.
"Horitake, are you alright? How are you feeling? Are you okay?"
Zenitsu, teary-eyed and about to wail, "Big Bro, don't die!" caught himself, recalling the earlier beating, and clamped his mouth shut, shrinking back timidly.
Horitake lay on the ground, eyes wide, exhaling a puff of smoke before gasping several ragged breaths.
Finally, he steadied himself, his body no longer convulsing.
Still lying there, he gazed at Weiguang in his hand and burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! I just said Weiguang hadn't tested me, but daring to provoke heavenly thunder was its test for me!
Holding it, I cleaved the thunder. If I'd failed, Weiguang and I would've been done for.
Truly, it's all or nothing with this iron-willed blade. I love it!"
Seeing Horitake's demeanor unchanged, Jiuro and the others relaxed.
The old man let out a hearty laugh, clapping Horitake's shoulder.
"Haha, you rascal! You actually split heavenly thunder!"
Tetsutake, who had never witnessed such a spectacle, stared intently at Weiguang in Horitake's hand, his blacksmith's instincts kicking in. He eagerly reached for it.
"Little Brother Horitake! Quick, let me see Weiguang! A blade that can cleave thunder—there's no other like it in the world, past or present!"
But as Tetsutake's hand neared Weiguang, a spark of electricity arced from the blade, shocking him into numbness, his hair standing on end!
Horitake sat up slowly, stroking Weiguang with a smile.
"This guy's got a temper. It won't let anyone but me touch it."
Tetsutake was dumbfounded.
"How can this be? I'm its forger! I made it! I…" He froze, realization dawning. "No! That's not right!"
"What's not right?"
Tetsutake's expression visibly darkened.
"I know my own limits. A blade like this, practically a divine artifact—I could never forge something like that.
Perhaps this blade was sent by the gods, through my hands, specifically for you, Little Brother Horitake."
Horitake: Black guy question mark.jpg.
Tetsutake grabbed Horitake's shoulders, speaking with utmost sincerity.
"Little Brother, there's a saying from China: Heaven bestows great duty upon this man. The gods granted you Weiguang. Wield it well and slay all the world's demons!"
Horitake was surprised. This guy even knew the phrase Heaven bestows great duty upon this man? He wasn't so simple after all.
"Rest assured, I'll use Weiguang well. I'll cut down every demon I meet, including Muzan Kibutsuji!"
Tetsutake nodded, reassured.
He stood, gazing at the sunlight breaking through the clouds, his tone wistful.
"I never imagined I'd witness such a miraculous scene today. This trip was worth it.
So, Little Brother Horitake, may your martial fortune flourish!"
Donning his wind-chime-laden straw hat, Tetsutake departed.
Horitake brushed the dust off himself and stood.
The moment he rose, the system chimed in his mind:
Ding! Host safety confirmed. Weiguang blade undamaged. Host has successfully resolved the negative butterfly effect and completed the mission. Mission rewards granted.
Ding! Congratulations, Host! Breath of Thunder has evolved into Heavenly Thunder Breathing!
Ding! Friendly Reminder: The host's current breathing technique, Heavenly Thunder Breathing, surpasses even the original Sun Breathing in strength. It can unleash true heavenly thunder!
The host's attacks imbued with heavenly thunder will possess greater destructive power and be even more effective against all malevolent forces.
Henceforth, demons struck by the host's Heavenly Thunder Breathing will be unable to heal their wounds.
Horitake was thrilled.
Demons were hard to kill due to their terrifying regenerative abilities.
Now, with Heavenly Thunder Breathing countering demons, their wounds wouldn't heal. No longer would he need to sever their necks—any fatal blow would ensure their death!
This was a huge win.
With the system's cheat-like power, Horitake instantly mastered Heavenly Thunder Breathing, wielding it with precision, his combat strength soaring.
Jiuro seemed to sense something.
In that fleeting moment, he felt his eldest disciple undergo a transformation, as if evolving into a higher being.
Though curious, Jiuro kept silent.
By now, the storm clouds had fully dispersed, giving way to bright, sunny skies.
Basking in the warm sunlight, Jiuro couldn't help but grumble.
"Honestly, both my disciples have been struck by lightning, one after the other."
Zenitsu scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly.
Horitake gave a wry smile.
"Maybe our Breath of Thunder lineage has a special bond with lightning."
No sooner had he spoken than a black crow swooped from the peach orchard, flapping its wings to land on Horitake's shoulder. It opened its loud beak:
"Lord Horitake! Lord Horitake!
I bear a mission from the Demon Slayer Corps! I bear a mission from the Demon Slayer Corps!
Sixty kilometers northeast, in Higashimacho, people are vanishing!
Find the demon lurking there and slay it!"
As expected, a Kasugai Crow had arrived with a mission.
Zenitsu bristled, waving his arms to shoo the crow.
"Come on! My big brother's in this state—how can he go on a mission? He should at least rest and recover! Get lost! The Corps has plenty of members—let someone else handle it!"
The crow, driven off by Zenitsu, circled in the air, seemingly assessing Horitake's condition.
Horitake stretched, brimming with confidence.
"It's fine. My body was just a bit numb earlier, but I'm fully recovered now. I'm ready for the mission."
"Big Bro, don't push yourself!"
"I'm not. I'm really fine. Want to spar and see?"
"Uh… no need for that."
Horitake sheathed Weiguang, returned to the house, and changed into a fresh Demon Slayer Corps uniform, donning a dark purple cloud-patterned haori. He strapped Weiguang to his waist and gathered his belongings.
All set, he bid farewell to Jiuro.
"Old man, I'm off!"
Jiuro replied with calm assurance.
"Go! A bird with full-fledged wings should soar. Hunt demons, protect people, and contribute to the Corps!"
Horitake nodded, turning to Zenitsu.
"Zenitsu, while I'm away from Peach Mountain, take good care of the old man."
Zenitsu stood ramrod straight, as if entrusted with a sacred duty.
"Yes! Don't worry, Big Bro!"
"Why do I get the feeling you're thrilled I'm leaving?" Horitake eyed Zenitsu suspiciously.
"Huh!?" Zenitsu broke into a cold sweat, scrambling to cover. "N-No way! Absolutely not! I'm so reluctant to see you leave Peach Mountain, Big Bro!"
"Really? Feels like you can't wait for me to go!"
How could Horitake not see through Zenitsu's little schemes? He snorted, issuing a warning.
"While I'm gone, you'd better train hard and not let the old man down. If I hear you've been slacking off, I'll take leave from the Corps just to come back and train you twice as hard!"
Zenitsu, sweating profusely, nodded frantically.
With his final instructions given, Horitake bowed to Jiuro, left Peach Mountain, and set out on the path to slay demons.
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