Chapter 127: First Meeting with Netero x Sun Breathing Mastery
Shinsuke's excited spittle nearly sprayed Roy in the face. Thankfully, Fukuda-senpai intervened, grabbing his neck and giving it a sharp twist, granting Roy a quiet morning.
The training blade hung silently on the south wall. Giyu Tomioka, Sabito, Makomo, and the others gathered around. Roy glanced at Sakonji Urokodaki; his master was busy in the kitchen as usual. Roy smiled and said, "It came with me into my dream."
As he spoke, the boy opened his right hand, visualized the "training blade," and called softly, "Sword, come."
Voom...
The training blade trembled. Before the stunned eyes of Giyu, Sabito, and Makomo, it dissolved into specks of light, then re-formed in Roy's hand, who caught it deftly.
"Is this some technique I don't know about?"
They stared at each other, utterly silent. In the kitchen, Sakonji Urokodaki's knife paused mid-chop. He rubbed the blade, deep in thought.
Makomo was the first to recover. She peeked at Sabito. 'Senpai was right, Eiichiro did it.' The fox-masked boy stared at the blade, saying nothing. He then watched Roy whisper, "Go." The training blade, as if it had a mind of its own, dissolved into light again, reformed on the south wall, and hung itself back up.
Sabito thought with emotion, 'Master always said, "Where the blade is, the swordsman is. If the blade breaks, the swordsman dies." The ultimate state a swordsman dreams of is 'unification of man and sword.' Has Eiichiro already reached that state?' He glanced at Giyu. Giyu's face was its usual cold mask, but a sharp glint flashed in his beautiful, lake-blue eyes.
No one asked Roy how he did it. The only one with a big enough mouth to ask was still "dead" on the floor.
Roy sat up, but he had no intention of keeping secrets. He held out his hand again and summoned the blade—this time using [Magnetism: Attract]. Two different methods produced two different visual effects. The boy, a faint smile on his lips, looked at Giyu Tomioka. "Senpai, you'll be heading back soon, won't you?"
The Demon Slayer Corps was overloaded with missions. If it weren't for Roy, Giyu Tomioka wouldn't have even had the chance to come home.
"The Master granted me a week's leave." The journey there and back took five days. Two days here was the maximum.
Roy nodded. "Please draw your sword, senpai."
For what? Giyu paused. Sabito, Makomo, and Fukuda looked over. Shinsuke, the one who had just "died," scrambled back to his feet.
Roy smiled, unsheathed his blade, and in an instant, it was covered in a crimson coat. It transformed from an ordinary "training blade" into the "demon-slaying treasure"—the "Crimson Blade"!
"Last time, senpai, you said you wanted to see the technique that turns the blade red. Since you'll be leaving," Roy caressed the glowing red blade, "I thought I would gift you the method of the Crimson Blade as a farewell present."
The three great boons of Demon Slayer: "Crimson Blade," "Mark," and "Transparent World."
"Transparent World" was mystical, requiring immense talent. Without the right opportunity, it was hard to explain its secrets. "The Mark" was an advanced version of a Breathing Style, and Roy himself was still learning, so he wasn't qualified to guide Giyu.
That left the "Crimson Blade," a technique that could be fully mastered through training and easily taught.
Giyu Tomioka was stunned. Sabito, Makomo, and the other disciples looked at each other, then at Roy, their expressions complex—admiration mixed with conflict. They wanted to tell him not to be so foolish, not to give away his techniques so easily... but then again, Giyu wasn't just "anyone."
Giyu Tomioka placed his hand on his hilt, conflicted. He wanted it, but he didn't want to take advantage of his junior brother. His heart was a mess. Just when he didn't know what to do, a deep, aged voice came from the kitchen.
It was Sakonji Urokodaki. "Eiichiro, you don't have to do this."
The Way is not taught lightly, the Art not sold cheaply. Sakonji knew what the "Crimson Blade" meant. The Swordsmith Village had been searching for it for centuries, and the Ubuyashiki family treasured it. The more precious something is, the more it must be cherished. This wasn't "narrow-mindedness"; it was the experienced wisdom of the old Water Hashira.
But even if Roy didn't share the method, based on the original story, other Hashira would awaken it in the next few years anyway. It was only a matter of time. So, it was better to use it to trade for something valuable now.
Roy smiled, unconcerned. "I'm not giving it away for free. Senpai, when you return, please inform the Demon Slayer Corps of my one condition: all intelligence they possess on every known demon." To eradicate evil, not a drop of Life Energy could be wasted. This was Roy's long-standing goal.
"It's not an equal trade," Giyu Tomioka said, looking at Roy intently. "The 'Crimson Blade' is far more valuable than 'intelligence'. I would have requested it for you regardless."
"That's different. I'm not in the habit of taking things for free."
"It's still not enough." Giyu thought for a moment, then reached into his robes and pulled out a small booklet. "These are some of my own insights on breathing. Take them."
Roy took it, flipped through it, and his eyes focused on four small characters: "Total Concentration: Constant." Suppressing his excitement, he said, "Good. With this, it's enough."
Giyu Tomioka opened his mouth, then closed it and gave a slight hum. Beside them, Sabito and Makomo watched, both smiling in relief. This was the best solution. Eiichiro got what he needed, the Demon Slayer Corps got the method for the Crimson Blade. The only ones who lost were the demons.
"Master, your thoughts?"
My thoughts? I have none. Sakonji Urokodaki turned from the kitchen, carrying a fresh pot of fish porridge. "The porridge is ready. Time to eat," he said cheerfully.
Roy and Giyu Tomioka looked at each other and smiled.
After eating with Sakonji and the disciples, the two of them, blades in hand, appeared by the waterfall.
"With the resolve to die, grip your Nichirin Blade with all your strength. Through high-speed vibration, raise the blade's temperature to its critical point, and you will trigger the 'Crimson Blade'," Roy explained, stretching the truth. "It's a trick I discovered by chance while chopping wood."
That simple? "Just... grip the Nichirin Blade as hard as possible?" Shinsuke and Fukuda circled them, finding it hard to believe.
Sabito and Makomo stood on their usual birch tree, watching with skepticism. Giyu Tomioka looked at Roy doubtfully, but drew his sword as instructed, gripped it hard, and... First attempt: failure.
"Senpai, resolve," Roy prompted. In the original story, Tanjiro against Hantengu, and Giyu and Obanai against Muzan in the final battle—they all awakened it in desperate situations, with the will to die. Either by recalling Tanjuro's words to grip tighter, or by clashing their blades together to generate heat. It is impossible without resolve!
Giyu Tomioka nodded. He gripped his Nichirin Blade again, took a deep breath, and "tore open" his heart, forcing himself to remember: his sister Tsutako, his senior brother Sabito, both dying horribly at the hands of demons to protect him. His eyes hardened, and he squeezed—
Fwoosh! Red spots appeared, instantly spreading into a blaze that enveloped the Nichirin Blade. Giyu Tomioka's second attempt at the "Crimson Blade"... was a success!
"He... he did it? Giyu-senpai really is a genius!"
"Are you sure it's not Eiichiro?" Fukuda rolled his eyes at Shinsuke. "He figured out the 'Crimson Blade' from chopping wood. If it were you, you idiot, you could live ten thousand years and never figure it out."
"You're no different!"
"Who's an idiot like you!"
The bickering quickly turned physical.
Makomo and Sabito, long used to them, ignored them. They stared at Giyu, who was holding the Crimson Blade, lost in thought, his eyes filled with envy. "If we had met Eiichiro a few years earlier, senpai... maybe we wouldn't have had to die." Makomo felt that if she'd had a Crimson Blade back then, even if that monster had grown more arms to protect its neck, it couldn't have withstood her strike.
"Unfortunately, there are no 'ifs'." Sabito slowly drew his own katana. It was not a Nichirin Blade and would never become a Crimson Blade. Just like him, Makomo, Shinsuke, Fukuda, and all the others... they were just lingering spirits.
Whoosh. A mountain wind blew past, rustling the branches. Makomo lowered her head. "Senpai," she asked softly, "when Eiichiro kills that monster, will you choose to disappear?" Without their "hatred" for that monster as an anchor...
Sabito smiled freely. "Even if we don't want to, we probably will, won't we?"
"Will you be able to let go?"
"What choice is there? Cry about it?" Sabito patted Makomo's little head. "Before Eiichiro came, all I wanted was revenge. Now..." The fox-masked boy looked at Roy, who was now learning the "Rock Breathing" technique from Giyu. "I also want to stay with Master and all of you... for just a little longer," he said softly.
Makomo looked up, tears shimmering in her pretty eyes. "Me too, senpai."
"Me too!"
"Same here!"
"I wanna stay with Master and everyone forever!"
"What about your senior sister?"
"Of course, and our senior sister..."
"You guys..." Sabito glared at Shinsuke and Fukuda, his heart filled with a hundred emotions, not knowing what to say. He sheathed his sword, sighing into the wind. 'Oh well, no point in speaking such harsh truths. Let's just cherish this time we have before Eiichiro leaves.'
His gaze drifted back down. By the waterfall, Roy, following Giyu's instructions, had pierced a hole in the large green rock with his sword. He took a deep breath and blew into the hole, his goal: to shatter it with his breath. This method of training his lungs felt familiar, remarkably similar to the "Gourd Breaking" training at the Butterfly Mansion. Giyu called it the "Rock Blowing Method." By strengthening his lung capacity, he could increase his tolerance for 'Total Concentration: Constant', with the goal of maintaining it 24/7.
"Ten days." That was the goal Giyu set for Roy. Blow up the rock in ten days, and, by Giyu's estimation, Roy would be able to maintain his Breathing Style for half a day without breaking. For Roy, who could previously only focus for an hour, this was a massive leap!
He aimed at the small hole, took a deep breath, and blew!
Krak... krak...
The large green rock trembled violently. His cheeks puffed out, he gave it his all... Cracks appeared, and in less than two seconds... BOOM! It exploded!
Shrapnel flew everywhere, piercing the surrounding trees. Giyu, quick as lightning, batted away a few pieces, then looked at Roy. His first attempt... was a success. This lung capacity, this physical strength... He wondered if even the Stone Hashira, famed for his strength, could have done this back in his day.
[Notification: "Sun Breathing" +100]
[Current Level: 583/1000 (Proficient)]
'So I just wasn't using the right method before.' Roy saw the notification, a small smile on his face. He caught his breath and asked Giyu, "How was that, senpai? Should I continue, or..."
Giyu Tomioka: "..." After a moment, he forced three words through his teeth. "You still need practice."
"Then let's continue." Roy found another large rock, pierced a hole, and blew it apart. [Breathing +100]. Then a third, fourth, fifth... [Breathing +100... +100... +100...]
Finally... [Notification: Current Level: 999/1000 (Proficient)]
Roy suddenly found that no matter how hard he blew, the experience bar wouldn't budge. He realized... he must have hit the limit of his Breathing Style. The next step was 'Total Concentration: Constant'!
Hah... He straightened up, no longer wasting his effort, and looked at Giyu Tomioka, his eyes blazing. The Water Hashira stood amidst the wreckage of shattered rock, his expression somewhat dazed. He heard the boy say, "You were right, senpai. I still need to train." He was determined to get that last point of experience!
Giyu Tomioka collected himself, looked at him seriously for a moment, and finally said calmly, "Good. Tonight, I will personally watch over you." He was resolved to help the boy take the final step: maintaining his Breathing Style while asleep.
In the original story, Tanjiro had asked Kanao to hit him with a mat beater whenever he stopped his breathing in his sleep. Giyu looked at the boy, assuming he had the same resolve. Just as he had told him, 'You must have resolve.' Giyu would not hold back!
"Then I'm counting on you, senpai," Roy smiled, just hoping he'd be strong enough to make it through the night.
Fortunately... he did.
[Notification: "Sun Breathing" +10]
[Current Level: "Sun Breathing": 9/10000 (Mastery)]
[Note: By maintaining "Total Concentration: Constant", "Physique" will increase by "1" point daily.]
"Peck... peck... peck..."
Hunter World. Zaban City. 5:30 AM.
Roy, under the relentless, sharp pecking of Goldie, groggily opened his eyes, a system notification greeting him. This meant he had slept well last night, and had not, in fact, been beaten awake by Giyu Tomioka for breaking his breathing. 'Call it good luck... or maybe luck is just a part of strength.'
Roy grabbed Goldie, placed it on his head, and rolled out of bed to begin his morning run. Since leaving home, he had been either on the sea or on a mountain. It felt good to run on a flat road. Roy jogged along a shimmering river in Zaban City. At one point, he stopped.
By the river, an old man with a topknot, wearing loose robes with wide sleeves, stood, seeming to admire the scenery... or perhaps, waiting for someone. He turned his head and looked at Roy.
"Ho ho," he smiled.
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