Amidst a dazzling surge of golden arc light, the air around Lucas crackled with barely restrained power.
He took a deep, calming breath, trying to steady himself for the immense energy that was about to surge into his body. His heart pounded in anticipation. In the very next moment, it felt as though his consciousness had plunged into a storm of lightning and thunder, engulfing his senses in flashes of radiant electricity and roaring static.
Lucas could feel it vividly—his Qi and blood, once flowing calmly, were now surging as if struck by lightning itself. The once-stable current inside him transformed into a chaotic stream of life energy, turbulent and erratic. It felt like vibrant flames had ignited inside his veins, dancing wildly and furiously. His entire body began to tremble ever so slightly, as though a taut string had been plucked. The subtle tremors resonated through his core, producing a deep, vibrating hum that seemed to harmonize with the storm raging inside him.
Each vibration accumulated more energy, peeling away layers of resistance like silk being drawn from a cocoon. The scattered electric arcs in the air wove themselves into a radiant thunder net that gradually spread across Lucas's skin. Sparks danced across his flesh, and golden electric light poured from his eyes, mouth, and even his pores—illuminating the courtyard in an otherworldly glow.
These electric arcs weren't just raw energy—they seemed alive. They slithered across Lucas's body like serpentine dragons made of thunder, wrapping around him with divine grace. After the fusion was complete, Lucas's physique, already well-trained and muscular, became even more refined and resilient. His bones had been reforged by lightning itself, strengthened by the purification of thunder.
Exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, Lucas slowly raised his head, golden sparks crackling from his lips.
> "Breath of Thunder, Second Form: Inadama!"
As he shouted, the energy of Thunder Breathing ignited within him like a detonation. It rushed along his meridians with unstoppable force, converging on the long sword clenched in his hands. Golden arcs of electricity leapt from the blade like wild vines, coiling and slithering, warping the air around it as if space itself was bending in resistance to the overwhelming power.
With a light step, Lucas vanished in a flicker of motion—his body becoming a blur, an afterimage that darted forward faster than the eye could track. In the blink of an eye, he had already closed the distance to his opponent: Oyakata.
Raising his sword high, Lucas unleashed a thunderous strike. Time seemed to halt at that moment, freezing under the weight of his speed and power. Only one thing moved: the descending blade surrounded by lightning, aiming directly at Oyakata.
To Lucas's surprise, Oyakata calmly sidestepped the first strike. But before the air could recover from the initial shockwave, four consecutive follow-up slashes roared forth—blazing arcs of electricity that surged with destructive force. Yet, Oyakata's figure danced through the electric storm, slipping between the strikes effortlessly. None of the blows managed to land.
Lucas, breathing heavily, stood motionless for a second. His body was drenched in sweat, chest rising and falling rapidly.
Using two forms in quick succession was still incredibly taxing for his current level of strength.
Oyakata's usually calm expression now bore a trace of astonishment. His voice trembled as he finally spoke.
> "Lucas… your comprehension…"
He had originally assumed Lucas had only just mastered the First Form of Thunder Breathing. But witnessing the precision, power, and control of the Second Form just now had completely shattered that assumption. The level of mastery Lucas displayed was on par with his own—a man who had trained in Thunder Breathing for decades.
His gaze drifted down to the scorch mark left on his sleeve. That strike had come dangerously close.
> If Lucas's strength had been just a little higher… that could've seriously injured me, Oyakata thought, swallowing dryly.
Then, in Lucas's mind, a familiar notification echoed:
> [Ding]
[Detected: Sangijima Jigoro's friendship level with host has increased to "Close Friend"!]
[Random Reward Unlocked]
[Skill Acquired: Total Concentration Breathing: Constant (Mastery)]
[Would you like to fuse this skill now?]
[Yes / No]
Lucas blinked in surprise.
> Wait… attacking Oyakata increases friendship points?
If that was the case, then he definitely had to showcase the Fifth Form as well. He glanced at Oyakata, eyes gleaming.
> "Do you… practice the other forms like you did with the Second Form?" Oyakata asked after a long pause.
If Lucas had managed to comprehend all forms to the same extent, then it wasn't a question of "if" he would surpass him—but when.
Scratching his head a little sheepishly, Lucas replied, "I feel like the Second and Fifth Forms are the trickiest for me. The rest haven't really posed a bottleneck... yet."
He hadn't even formally learned the Third, Fourth, or Sixth Forms yet. But now, armed with heightened comprehension and a system that rewarded friendship with new powers, Lucas was confident. He couldn't master all forms immediately, but learning the basics and growing from there wouldn't be too difficult.
Oyakata visibly relaxed, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
If Lucas had truly mastered all six forms with just one enlightenment session… that would've been terrifying even for him.
> "Alright. Rest for now," Oyakata said at last. "We'll resume training this afternoon."
With that, he leaned on his cane and turned to leave. As soon as he stepped through the door, his figure vanished in a flash—despite his prosthetic leg. Lucas didn't need to guess where he went. Most likely, Oyakata had gone to track down Zenitsu again.
Taking advantage of the break, Lucas sat cross-legged in the center of the courtyard and began to regulate his breathing. Before attempting to fuse any new skills, it was best to stabilize his energy and recover his strength.
> [Would you like to fuse the skill Thunder Breathing, Fifth Form: Heat Lightning?]
[Yes]
The fusion process began immediately.
Compared to the Second Form, the changes this time were more subtle—refining his control over meridians and reinforcing his body's resilience against the intense demands of Thunder Breathing. As the fusion ended, the golden arcs in the courtyard converged, flowing back into Lucas like water returning to a well.
The storm subsided. The courtyard returned to a calm, eerie silence.
Lucas stood, lifted his long sword, and pointed it forward.
> "Fifth Form: Heat Lightning!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere changed dramatically. A visible heatwave radiated from his body, distorting the air like a mirage. The ground beneath his feet cracked from the heat alone. A pungent scorched smell filled the air.
The sword in his hand glowed like molten steel pulled fresh from a forge—red-hot and wrapped in violent arcs of lightning. Lucas let out a low growl, focusing the energy in his body.
At once, the blade unleashed a surge of energy—not in the form of a linear bolt, but a dense, expanding mass of electricity. It roared forth like a hungry beast, devouring air and light alike as it grew in power and brilliance. The surrounding courtyard was bathed in intense golden-white light, like the blazing sun overhead.
The vegetation nearby stood no chance. Everything within the blast radius evaporated, leaving behind only charred remnants. Even the carefully arranged stone paths cracked and split from the heat, dark fissures spreading out like spiderwebs.
Lucas nodded in satisfaction. The Fifth Form was one of the rare ranged techniques in Thunder Breathing, and it fused lightning with searing heat—a devastating combination. Once his cultivation level rose further, this form would become even more terrifying.
> [Would you like to fuse the skill: Total Concentration Breathing: Constant?]
[Yes]
This fusion felt different. Rather than changing his body, it was like something deeper—infusing him with a new concept, a new way of being.
Lucas instinctively shifted into a meditative stance. His breathing slowed, deepened, synchronized with a rhythm buried in the depths of his soul. Inhale. Exhale. Like waves washing over the shore—steady, relentless, powerful.
His consciousness honed in on the airflow within him. His breath guided his blood, which flowed like a mighty river—delivering oxygen and life to every cell, every muscle, every bone.
Then, a subtle warmth ignited within him.
An invisible fire, burning brighter with each breath.
The heat spread from his core, washing over him like a tide. The very air around him shimmered and pulsed in response. Yet Lucas remained unfazed, embracing the heat. He let it grow, allowed it to spread—knowing that this was the beginning of mastering Total Concentration Breathing: Constant.
He didn't resist the sensation. Instead, he focused entirely on the rhythm—his lifeline, his weapon, his identity.
Minutes or hours passed—it was impossible to tell. And then, finally, Lucas opened his eyes.
There was no thunder, no lightning, no flame. Only a quiet, profound calm.
And in that calm… power.
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