Back in his room, Lucas stood still, his breathing calm and even.
> "Do you choose to merge immediately?"
The system's prompt echoed softly in his mind.
> "Yes."
Lucas didn't hesitate. The moment he confirmed his decision, a warm, gentle energy surged through his entire body. It began like a soft breeze, but gradually intensified, like a current of electricity flowing through every inch of his being.
The first wave of transformation was comprehension. It felt as though a beam of divine light pierced through his mind, clearing away the fog that had clouded his understanding for so long. Concepts that once confused him became clear. The elusive techniques of Thunder Breathing no longer seemed distant or mysterious. His mind, now sharp and clear, had stepped into what could only be described as the Transparent World.
It was like walking out of a dense fog into the radiant morning sun. Everything made sense now.
Next came aptitude.
During this phase, Lucas felt his physical body undergo subtle yet powerful changes. His muscles grew more flexible, his joints looser, and his frame lighter. Even his breathing felt enriched, as if each inhalation drew in energy from the very air around him.
He moved his arms and legs slowly.
Crack—crackle.
Faint, satisfying sounds came from his joints as if his bones had been gently realigned. He felt rejuvenated—reborn, almost. It was like he had taken some divine elixir that refined his marrow and revitalized his body.
> If only I had this aptitude before, Lucas thought to himself. Learning the Thunder Breathing forms would've been so much easier. Even mastering one or two wouldn't have felt impossible.
Then came the most significant phase: talent integration.
In the world of Demon Slayers, natural talent was extraordinarily rare. Only a handful of individuals, like Zenitsu Agatsuma and Tanjiro Kamado, were said to possess it.
Lucas now began integrating Zenitsu's unique talent — Echoing Ears.
First, he felt warmth in his ears, followed by a wave of dizziness that nearly made him stumble. But when the sensation passed, his hearing sharpened to incredible levels. Even with his eyes closed, Lucas could now hear distant sounds with remarkable clarity—the gentle rustling of leaves outside, the breeze fluttering past the paper doors, even the faint footsteps of birds hopping in the courtyard.
It wasn't just heightened hearing. Echoing Ears granted enhanced insight, situational awareness, and reflexive alertness. In battle, this talent could mean the difference between life and death.
Lucas smiled faintly. His body, his mind, his senses—they had all evolved.
Finally, it was time for the most anticipated part: the integration of a combat skill — Thunder Breathing First Form: Thunderclap and Flash.
The moment the fusion began, Lucas felt his nerves ignite with blinding pain, as if a thousand lightning bolts struck his veins all at once. He gritted his teeth, his body trembling under the intensity. But alongside the pain came overwhelming power—a wild, uncontrollable force screaming to be unleashed.
For the first time, Lucas felt a connection with the lightning element itself. He instinctively raised his hand. Golden arcs of electricity flickered across his fingers like dancing fireflies. They leaped from his hand, crackling and snapping through the air.
He grabbed the wooden practice sword resting by his bedside. As he held it, the electricity crawled from his arm to the blade, lighting it up like a divine weapon. He didn't even need to swing it. The power surged so fiercely that the sword felt ready to explode from sheer energy.
Lucas's heart pounded with excitement. If not for fear of drawing attention, he would have unleashed the full force of Thunderclap and Flash right then and there.
With all four components—comprehension, aptitude, talent, and skill—now fully merged, Lucas called up the system interface to check his attributes:
---
Host: Lucas
Race: Human
Realm: Mizunoto
Comprehension: Superior
Aptitude: Superior
Talent: Echoing Ears
Skills: Bandaging (Proficient), Thunder Breathing First Form: Thunderclap and Flash (Proficient)
---
Lucas exhaled slowly, eyes flickering with awe and disbelief.
> "No wonder Zenitsu was able to reach the level of a Pillar in just two years," he muttered. "This kind of transformation… it's not something the old me could ever dream of."
His previous self—the weak, talentless boy—felt like a distant memory now. In fact, this "Superior" level was only the second tier. There were still higher tiers: Transcendent Aptitude and Divine Comprehension. Just imagining what he could do with those made his pulse quicken.
Among the current Demon Slayer Corps, the one with the most monstrous natural ability was Muichiro Tokito. He had become a Pillar in just two months.
> "If I could befriend Tokito and inherit his comprehension and aptitude…" Lucas's eyes gleamed. "I might reach an even greater height… and faster."
Then, a memory stirred.
The system had rules for building friendships. The closer your bond, the more you could gain. Lucas quickly called up the system and confirmed the tiers:
Friendship Levels:
Acquaintance
Friend
Close Friend
Best Friend
Soulmate
Each level granted a random reward, with a maximum of five rewards per person.
That meant his relationship with Zenitsu was now Best Friend, since he had received four upgrades from him. There was still one more possible reward—if they became Soulmates.
Having understood the mechanics, Lucas took off his outer robe and sat cross-legged on the bed. His breathing was steady, his mind calm, as he began the process of adapting to his newly enhanced self.
---
The Next Day
A familiar voice echoed through the mountain cabin.
> "Get up, you brat! Go train!"
It was the Old Man, their mentor. His voice was quickly followed by Zenitsu's dramatic wailing.
Normally, he would drag both of them to the training grounds behind the mountain. But Lucas had always been left alone due to his previously nonexistent talent. The Old Man had seen no value in forcing him to train.
Zenitsu, as usual, was sent out with teary protests.
But today was… different.
Instead of dragging Lucas out with scolding, the Old Man stood quietly outside his door.
Lucas's enhanced hearing caught the faint tapping of a cane outside.
He stood up and opened the door.
The Old Man glanced at him, nodded, and said, "Come out. I have something to tell you."
Lucas followed him into the center of the courtyard. The morning air was crisp, the chirping of birds clear and distant.
The Old Man didn't look back as he spoke, "Do you know why I brought you and Zenitsu up here?"
Lucas replied calmly, "To train us. To prepare new blood for the Demon Slayer Corps."
The old man gave a slow nod. "That's right. And now, the Final Selection is about to begin."
He paused.
"Zenitsu will be participating tomorrow."
He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
> You're not ready. You'll die.
Lucas remained silent for a moment, then stepped forward.
"Grandfather," he said seriously. "I want to try."
The Old Man finally turned to look at him, surprise in his eyes.
Lucas had always been calm and mature. He had never once acted recklessly or made impulsive decisions.
And now he was volunteering to participate?
> "The Final Selection isn't a playground," the Old Man said gravely. "You're not ready. You'll die out there."
Lucas didn't argue. He simply picked up the wooden sword he kept near the doorway.
Then, closing his eyes, he let the power surge through him.
Crack—BOOM!
Golden arcs of electricity burst out, surrounding Lucas in a storm of light and energy. The ground beneath his feet even trembled slightly.
The Old Man's eyes widened.
He had trained Thunder Breathing himself—he knew that aura. That technique. That power.
> This is Thunder Breathing... at a level even Zenitsu hadn't reached when he first started.
"But… how?" the Old Man whispered. "You had no talent…"
Lucas looked up, his expression calm.
> "I just want a chance. Let me prove it to you."
---
To be continued...
patreon(Jutsu_143)