Natsunishi had made his decision.
He planned to train every Breathing Style to the same level of proficiency as his Wind Breathing. At the very least, he needed to reach a standard where he could stably utilize "Total Concentration."
In other words, Level 3 or higher.
As for his primary core Breathing Style, it would be best to push it a bit further, reaching Level 4. If he could touch the realms of Level 5 or Level 6 like the Cultivators Kazami or Nikaido, that would naturally be even better.
Now that his mind was made up, Natsunishi no longer hesitated.
After mastering Thunder Breathing, which resonated more deeply with his nature, Natsunishi had no intention of being a "hoarder" anymore. He pulled up his Breathing Style panel, prepared to dump a massive wave of Achievement Points into it.
"Sorry about this, cheapskate Master. Your disciple is doing this for the sake of the Demon Slayer Corps' future."
He would start with Thunder Breathing.
Current remaining Achievement Points: 15.
System! Level up!
Consumed 5 points.
[Thunder Breathing] LV.0 (9/250) → [Thunder Breathing] LV.3 (359/2000)
[Your Total Concentration effect has slightly increased.]
Consumed 4 points.
[Stone Breathing] LV.1 (170/500) → [Stone Breathing] LV.3 (10/2000)
[Your Total Concentration effect has moderately increased.]
Consumed 3 points.
[Water Breathing] LV.2 (256/1000) → [Water Breathing] LV.3 (111/2000)
[Your Total Concentration effect has reached its maximum value.]
Remaining Achievement Points: 3.
In one breath, he had raised three Breathing Styles by several levels. Now, his panel was filled with the rank [LV.3: Proficient]. Accompanying this was the massive attribute growth that came with skill level increases.
[Thunder Breathing]: Power Level +5, +9, +16
[Stone Breathing]: Power Level +13, +17
[Water Breathing]: Power Level +15
[Kuguruma Natsunishi]
[Power Level: 157 (Physique 69, Skill 42, Spirit 46)]
[Wind, Water, Stone, Thunder Breathing: LV.3]
It was a sense of fullness, a literal flow of power!
The fruits of his painstaking efforts were harvested in an instant, joyfully surging into Natsunishi's body and mind.
Strong! Intense! Domineering!
This was an entirely different dimension compared to his previous strength...
Feeling the intense heat churning within him and the fountain of power pulsing between his muscles and bones, Natsunishi slowly exhaled a long breath.
A faint flicker of wind and thunder seemed to swirl within his eyes, and the aura of serene mountains and rivers surrounding him was completely renewed. He couldn't help but flash a brilliant smile.
"Total Concentration!"
Natsunishi clenched his left hand into a fist, and a crisp sonic boom actually exploded in the air. That was a sound that only appeared when physical strength and bodily control reached the absolute limit.
"Old man Kazami, my current strength is far beyond yours..." Natsunishi murmured nonsensically.
In truth, a situation like Natsunishi's had almost never occurred within the Demon Slayer Corps. Practicing multiple Breathing Styles simultaneously was already rare, but someone who could train every single one to the level of mastering "Total Concentration" was unprecedented.
After all, normal swordsmen didn't possess Natsunishi's ability of "sudden enlightenment, breaking through several realms at once."
Mastering Total Concentration for four Breathing Styles simultaneously? That was beyond the scope of what most swordsmen would even think to consider.
A normal swordsman only masters "Total Concentration Breathing"—which significantly enhances the effects of Breathing Styles—after training their technique to a certain degree. As their swordsmanship continues to improve, their mastery of Total Concentration deepens, and their physical fitness rises, they eventually comprehend a technique called "Total Concentration: Constant."
To put it simply, if Breathing Styles enhance physical performance while active, then "Total Concentration" pushes that enhancement to the next level for a brief moment at the cost of a heavy physical burden.
And "Constant"? That involves reducing the burden to a minimum to achieve a state of super-enhancement nearly twenty-four hours a day.
In the Demon Slayer Corps, "Constant" was the hallmark of a swordsman approaching the pinnacle. Mastering it meant the swordsman's physical stats, swordsmanship skills, and Breathing Style mastery had reached an unfathomable level.
While Natsunishi had not yet reached that realm, comprehending Total Concentration four consecutive times had caused their effects to stack in a startling way. The enhancement brought by his "Total Concentration" far exceeded that of other swordsmen.
If a normal swordsman's Total Concentration boosted physical functions to 200%, Natsunishi's current Total Concentration was at 300% or 400%.
This led to Mei Nikaido, who had been enthusiastically sparring with him, falling into complete self-doubt after being utterly crushed.
Just the day before, he could only barely hold his ground against her. It was only that one time when he had first learned Thunder Breathing that he caught her off guard. How had he become a completely different person after just one night?
His proficiency in Thunder Breathing didn't look like something he had just mastered at all. His strength and speed were leagues ahead of where they had been. It felt as if she wasn't facing a newcomer, but a battle-hardened Kinoe-ranked swordsman.
If she hadn't personally watched him learn Thunder Breathing from scratch, she would have suspected the kid was hiding his true strength.
Ultimately, after two identical bolts of lightning crossed paths, the Nichirin Sword in Nikaido's hand snapped. It wasn't that her Thunder Breathing or swordsmanship was weaker; it was that the female swordsman, in her excitement, had chosen to clash head-on with Natsunishi.
However, Natsunishi's power was heavier, and his blade was newer.
Looking at her broken Nichirin Sword, Nikaido's expression was complex. She had been surpassed by her junior so easily...
After taking a deep breath, she said seriously, "Listen up, kid. I have nothing left to teach you regarding Thunder Breathing."
"If you can snap my blade, it means you're strong enough to sever the necks of those demons."
"Go to your next stop."
"Take that talent and resolve of yours and slaughter as many demons as you possibly can for me."
She raised her thumb and pointed firmly at her eyepatch.
"If you run into a Lower Moon demon named 'Mukago,' make sure you kill her to avenge this eye of mine."
"Also, give Tengen a bit of a reality check for me. I don't care how solid his basics are, but he can't stay obsessed with those old shinobi killing techniques. Those demons aren't human; a ninja's tricks will eventually reach their limit..."
Nikaido's usual overbearing arrogance had vanished like a receding tide. All that remained were instructions and nagging. She looked like an old mother watching her child head out on a long journey.
Finally, before he left, she even gave Natsunishi a wine gourd and a scroll containing her own insights on Breathing Styles.
After walking quite a distance from the dojo, Natsunishi looked back. Mei Nikaido was still standing at the gate. Seeing him turn around, she simply gave a casual wave and went back inside.
"I owe her one..."
"Mukago, huh? I hope she has enough eyes. If she only has two and I take them out in two strikes, it might be a bit too boring."
Before he had gone much further, the Kasugai Crow he hadn't seen for a while flew in from the distance.
"Kuguruma Natsunishi! Emergency orders! Emergency orders!"
It dove down and landed on the boy's head. The loud squawking made Natsunishi's ears ache.
"Caw! Eastern Logging Camp! Kanae Kocho has encountered a powerful demon and is in danger! One corps member has perished in battle! Support is urgently needed! Go now! Go now!"
Oh?
There were even support missions like this?
Since a demon could push other swordsmen into a bitter struggle, the experience gained from slaying it should be quite substantial.
Natsunishi stopped in his tracks, turned around, and accelerated in the direction pointed out by the Kasugai Crow.
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