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I think my respect for Kamakabo Gonpachiro and the demon slayers in general had just went up a notch
Because
Really
Training to control your breathing is a pain in the ass
My foot set against the ground as I wade through the treacherous mountain. With every steep decline climbed through, I struggled to keeps my eyes open
On this height of several miles off the ground, the air became unbelievably thin, making one exert more effort to keep their lungs working at optimal condition. Couple that with the fact that you are forced to constantly move at high speed while avoiding deadly traps on the way down makes it a challenge of its own
As such, if you want to pass this thing without any risk of asphyxiation, you must learn to regulate your breathing in a way that maximize the movement air flow in your body, minimize the air needed to maintain your strength through process of elimination, and consciously condition your body to accept that change
Fortunately [Mental Fortitude] prevents me from dying of thirst, or hunger, or cold, or makes me suffer from the pain of having my lungs burn like a piece of grilled meat under the sun. I know such reactions are only there because my body aren't used to it
So if I don't acknowledge the pain. The pain cannot affect my combat performance
At least, I think so
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"I'm impressed. You manage to make it down here before evening" Sakonji chuckled, gazing down at the pile of sweat and meat that is my body "That's half the time of your average demon slayers"
"Ughh...water..."
Give me some water. I'm dying of thirst right now
"Yes, the Water Breathing Style." He nodded, completely misunderstanding my dying shriek as the desire for martial knowledge "I'm glad you ask about it. Because now we're officially entering the meat of the lesson"
"Meat..."
"Yes, the meat of the lesson" He patiently explained "It's the juicy part, where you get to devour the knowledge of previous founders to sharpen your fighting skill"
I'm hungry you old coot! Can you stop mentioning food or any other edible adjectives for that matter!?
"Don't worry. Once you've gotten used to the basic forms...this is going to be a piece of cake"
I slumped back on the ground, defeated
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So anyway, despite all my exaggeration my training with the Water Pillar isn't that bad. He's sadistic to a point, but such attitude are necessary from a practical point of view.
After all, if you can't stand a few harsh words and annoying punishments, how can you survive in combat against a demon? Kick them in their balls?
Oh please. As if that would ever work
That's why I'm not complaining, even as I got beaten to the ground like a rag doll. The only thing I did was lamenting the life choices I've made until this point
Raising my practice sword, I clashed it against Sakonji's blade, the force of which made my knees buckle and would have hit me on the head had I not twisted around and completely parried it
I dashed back to put some distance between us, taking the time to steady my breathing to manageable level
"Again, you are not doing it right" The old man explained "For a five year old you can swing a blade well, but you lack both technique and experience. Your breathing must be maintained as regularly as possible to keep up with the flow of battle. Your strikes should be quick and rid of wasted movement. I've seen some useless brandishing of your sword in the midst of our match. Keep that up and you'll end up in a bodybag"
He's right. The point of this exercise isn't to win against him, but to learn to fight with this style of Breathing
Water flows. Every strikes he made is connected to one another like a chain of crashing waves. Yet they are also flexible, branching to all kinds of direction at the slightest of touch. It's unpredictability is what makes this style so dangerous
I only nodded as I mulled over his teaching. After some time, I got into the basic Water stance again. But this time, it was a complete mirror of his
I'm not here to fight. I'm here to learn
So what if I let my pride get trampled? Let's see who will be the last one laughing
With that I dashed toward him. The first strike was an overhead slash that sailed just inches from the old man's face. The second following strike was deflected, but I used the momentum to spin around and deliver the third strike which nearly broke his guard
But it does not end there. The fourth strike comes from the side, taking him off focus enough for me to plant my feet on the ground and execute a fifth strike that nicked at the edge of Sakonji's ceramic mask
As the bits fell of, it reveal the corner of his mouth that was turned upward into a smile
I hesitated, before smiling
The next moment three strikes impacted against my head and I found myself seeing stars while falling flat on the ground
"Have I told you to never let your guard down if your opponent is not dead?"
You goddamn-
I shook my head, learing my mind fast enough to see my sore loser of a teacher retreating to the house inside
"Well done. You've completed the first phase of your training" He rested his practice sword on a nearby shelf "Now that you've got a grasp of this, how does it makes you feel?"
I looked down. I sprung on my feet a few time, feeling the sudden weightlessness of my body. My breathing feels easier than normal, as if I could literally sprint to the other side of the mountain in one breath
"Different" is my only answer
"That's good enough" He chuckle "You're actually the fastest learning student I've ever taught. Normally at this time I'd expect you'd be halfway down the mountain"
"Oh come on, you're going to inflate my ego at this rate"
"A little confidence won't hurt. Beside, you haven't even completed the training yet"
A scroll landed at my feet
"That's the guide to the first three Water Breathing forms. Master them first while I'm gone, and I'll teach you the rest when I go home"
....
...
Are you sure you're not related to a certain perverted sage from that one franchise?
If that isn't the case, please teach me how to do a Rasengan
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The bedroom door creaked as I quietly enter it. My practice sword was put down on the table while I made my way to the two sleeping children
Their eyes are closed in their blissful slumber, unaware of the presence looming over them
Jaded. But unexperienced. Lack the necessary paranoia for fighting
Unacceptable
There's no way one can defend themself from a sneak attack in that situation if they are vulnerable as this
In this situation, what if I have been a pedophile disguised as a kind Onii-chan waiting for them to lower their guard? No, even worse, what if I've been an ugly bastard?
Things would end up with a R-18 rating, and it's not going to be the bloody kind
"Oi, wake up"
With a loud clap, the both of them jumped up from the bed and clung onto each other.
They looked around in anticipation before their gaze settle on me, to which it turned into full blown anxiety
"W-what is it, (Y/n)-san?" Makomo muttered
"The old man left you guys to me" I sat down beside them "He'll be gone in the next several days, so you're now in my care. In that time I'll introduce you to our way of training. Are you fine with that?"
"Since Sakonji-san had said so-"
"You held him in high regards"
"So what if we are?" Sabito growled, the scar on his cheek making the little boy appear more terrifying under the candle's light "He saved us from the demons and took us in.
"Calm your tits. I'm not judging you in the slightest" He stiffened as I gently placed a comforting hand on both their heads "It's merely an observation. I apologize if it sounds too accusing of me"
I looked over at them. They are still young. At the least six years have to pass before they could properly master their swordsmanship. At this time Giyu Tomioka hadn't been taken in yet, so I'm honestly at a loss to how to proceed without breaking canon
They're not even eight yet. I should take care of them and ensure nothing bad happen in that time
Or...alternatively...I can just disappear after all this was done. Find Muzan, kill him before canon took place. Saves a ton of people. Problem solved. Or at least that's what I planned. At the moment I don't possess enough skill to track him down yet
But the outline of my plan was completed. Now I know what I want to do in this world
"Are you hungry?"
The growling of two stomach is the only form of response I get. With a smile I turned around and made for the rice I prepared beforehand. Rinse with water. Let boil inside pot for an hour or so under low fire. Let them simmer so they can better absorb the flavor in while mixing them up with a chopstick in the process
Closing the lid, I turned to them
"Since we had some spare time before lunch. Why don't you tell me about yourself" I raise a finger "And no, not only your name. Tell me something else. Your hobby and stuff like that. It gets people get invested faster"
"I like swordsmanship" Sabito stepped forward, his face set in a straight manner "It's something I've had practiced with as a child, but I never thought too much about honing it...not until now at least"
"Sabito and I are close friends before our family passed away" Makomo twiddle with her finger "We used to play with each other everyday and he would get by. Our parents are well-acquaintanced with each other as well"
Huh. So that's these two's backstory. The manga never mentioned anything about them aside from snippets of conversation from early characters, examplery of which are Giyu and the Hand Demon. Speaking of Giyu, I wonder when he will join
"You already know me as (Y/n). There's not a lot I can tell you since I've lost my memories about my previous family. I was found by Sakonji-san just nearly a year earlier than you, and had been living with him ever since" I shrugged and went back to watching the steam rising from the pot, ignoring the curious stares the children sent my way
...
"You two, stop staring at me. I'm sure there's something more interesting than watching your fellow child cook some rice in a pot, right?" I turned back to meet their eyes
Makomo flinched at my words. Sabito put a hand on her shoulder in worry as the girl looked away.
The action made me frown. Had I said something wrong?
"I-I'm sorry. It's just that the smell reminds me of mother...." She swallowed "Not to mean anything bad. You..sounds like her"
"She must has been a wonderful woman" I turned back to watching the pot. The fire flickered under my eyes, casting off transparent wisps of smoke that flew to the air as silence descended once again
"She is"
If this is a normal manga, perhaps I would have spare some time comforting the little girl
"Then don't grieve for her"
...Unfortunately, this is reality
Sabito stood up, his face set in an angry snarl
"What are you trying to say here?!"
"Human lives are finite. Death is a constant. Eventually it will come to everyone, so why do people grieve for those who passed away?" I hummed. The rice is almost done "To express sorrow for those who died is a sign of respect, but to wallow in sadness of their demise? That would indicate regret. If your mother is as perfect as you say, perhaps she would want you to move on without her"
"You speak as if you know what it feels like!"
The boy's tone caused a frown to appear
I have experienced death a hundred times, and having absorbed several souls of my own, I have knowledge as to how death functions as well as how they can affect the person around them
From an emotional stand point I could point out how she is being too unstable, but the sound advice won't solve the dilemma at hand given the fragile nature of their emotion
No, what they need is something to lift their spirit. Human psyche is quite complex yet simple in their operation, therefore it needs to be strengthened to endure the harshness of the world
"Have you wondered why I'm with him and not with my parents?" My frosty answer froze the boy in his track. He opened and closed his mouth, but no retorts came out.
I stook up, facing him. Despite our difference in height he took a step back from me as if in fear
It cannot be helped
[Killing Intent] does not work on demon considering their bloodlust, but when it comes to children who had never tasted combat, the aura radiating from him could only be described as that of a great evil.
A dark fury that lashed out at everything around it, choking the very air they breathe in
"Look at you. Weak and feeble. If a demon were to replace me now, would they brutally rip you in half like the defenseless kid you are, or would you drown in your own piss first?" The training sword appeared in my hand as I point it at Sabito, right between his shocked eyes
"I- I..."
"It took an old man with backpain to take care of your trouble. Even then, you still insist on carrying a sword you don't know how to wield. Just think, how absolutely pathetic is that?"
"I- I don't...."
"I can't hear you over the sound of you shitting your pants, Sabito. Please speak louder"
The blade crashed into the floor just inches from his feet, shattering it
"I won't. Like hell I'll be afraid of a demon!" He screamed, voice struggling not to break under the sheer pressure (Y/n)'s killing intent is putting him through
Yeah, that's the spirit!
Although...
Why are you talking as if I'm the demon here?
"Ho. And why is that?"
"I'm not a coward. I refuse to be like that again. I want to be stronger, so that I can protect what's left of my family..." I raised an eyebrow at his reaction, a smile widening on my face
"So you're finally being honest"
Target's fear have reache their limit
[Killing Intent] had leveled up due to htting max efficiency
He collapsed on the floor, will crumbling under the pressure
Makamo's eyes widened, tears gathering at the edge of her eyes as I raised the blade
The boy's fist curled up against his palm, drawing blood due to how tight they were clenched. Pain seems to make him more resistant to my intimidation as he once again glared up at me, eyes full of defiance
For a split moment, my blade moved as if poised to strike.
For a split moment, Makomo and Sabito witnessed death. One braced himself, while the other rushed at him in desperation
Then the pressure dropped, and the blade was thrown harmlessly to the ground, revealing it to be just a wooden sword whose edges have been blunted.
Amidst the silence that followed afterward, I took time to smile in amusement at their shocked expression like an actor would a successful play. Truly, children are easy to mess with
"I believe the introduction are now truly over" I smiled at them, my finger moved to point at Sabito
"You desire to get stronger to protect what remains of the people you love"
It then moved to Makomo
"And you...desire to get stronger so you will no longer be a burden to the people you have"
"Those are valid reasons, I can accept that" I nodded "The two of you have experienced pain and loss, yet are determined to move forward despite only being children. Death will not hold you down, so for that reason I'll train you...for now"
"But don't worry! I'm very gentle in my training!" I assured them with a smile
A shiver traveled the kid's spines. Glistening tears greeted me
Wait-wah.
Don't look at me with such pitiful eyes. I'm not going to kill you, you know? I'm not that kind of sadist who gets off on hitting defenseless people
An uncomfortable amount of silence passed
Fuck you kids
"Looks like the rice is cooked" I grumbled, moving toward the pot "You guys take the bowls. it's fewer than usual so we need to scrounge up whatever we had. No seconds, so apologies in advance"
"...."
Sabito fell backward, hitting his back against the ground. Makimo slumped against him. They both groaned
Just what kind of person had they acquaintanced themselves to?
It took them about two minutes to settle down on the table. As I served the food for them, I noticed the initial distrust in their eyes had dulled away a little, revealing anger and annoyance behind them
"Your aura" Sabito swallowed the fish "How did you get it? When I stand in front of you all I feel is this unsettling fear. Something told me you're dangerous, and I can't help but to back away from you"
"Combat" I simply replied "You kill some people and it'll naturally come"
He made to argue, but instead seems to think better of it and settled down beside me. After a moment of hesitation, Makimo did the same
I handed them the chopstick and put some rice on their bowls. The fire sizzled as I reach further and take out the grilled fish
The meal is a quiet affair, much to my satisfaction
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[Killing Intent] (D)
At this level, it is possible to inflict [Fear] into minor targets:
- Human (30%)
- Animals (50%)
- Demon (10%)
Enemies inflicted with [Fear] are staggered for 70% longer
*Inflicting damage on enemy's testicles can also cause [Fear] to them. In which case this skill will automatically take effect
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