First Meeting with Netero; "Sun Breathing" Mastered (4.3K)

Shinsuke's loud and boisterous spittle almost landed on Roy's face.

Fortunately, Senior Brother Fukuda intervened in time, grabbing his neck and twisting it with a "snap," giving Roy a quiet morning.

The Short Blade hung quietly on the south wall, surrounded by Giyu Tomioka, Sabito Makomo, and others. Roy glanced at Urokodaki Sakonji, whose master was busy in the kitchen as usual, and smiled, saying, "It went into my dreams with me."

As he spoke, the Sun-Earring Boy opened his right hand, imagining the appearance of a "Short Blade" outfit in his mind, and softly called out, "Sword, come."

"Buzz..." The Short Blade, trembling object transformed into specks of light in the astonished gazes of Giyu Tomioka, Sabito Makomo, and the others. These specks then coalesced and appeared in Roy's hand, which the Sun-Earring Boy seized and held firmly in his grasp.

"Is this some kind of technique I don't know?"

The group stared at each other, then fell silent. In the kitchen, Urokodaki Sakonji, his knife rubbing together in deep thought.

Makomo was the first to come to her senses, glancing furtively at the Seito and thinking to herself, "Senior brother was right after all; it was Eiichiro who did it."

The fox-like Sun-Earring Boy stared at the man in Short Blade without speaking, then Roy whispered, "Go."

The Short Blade was like a human head that could understand human speech, but in an instant it turned into spots, gathered on the south wall, and hung itself up.

I couldn't help but think... My master once said, "As long as the sword is there, the sword is there; when the sword breaks, the sword is gone." The ultimate goal for a swordsman is "the unity of man and sword"... Has Eiichiro already reached that level?

Seito and looked at Giyu again. Giyu Tomioka still had that aloof look, but occasionally a glint of shrewdness could be caught in his beautiful lake-blue eyes.

Everyone tacitly refrained from asking Roy how he did it... The only one who dared to speak out ended up with his neck broken and was lying on the ground.

Roy sat up in bed, showing no intention of holding back. He reached out and grabbed the dagger again, this time using [Magnetism Attraction]...

Two different methods produced two different visual effects. The Sun-Earring Boy, a faint smile playing on his lips, looked at Giyu Tomioka and said, "Senior brother, are you going back now?"

The Demon Slayer Corps had a heavy mission, and if it weren't for Roy, Giyu Tomioka wouldn't even have had the chance to go home.

"My Master has granted a week's leave." The round trip will take five days, so staying here for two days is already the limit.

Roy nodded. "Please draw your sword, senior brother."

What's going on? Giyu Tomioka was taken aback. Sabito, Makomo, Fukuda... It seems that Shinsuke, who had just "died," suddenly rolled over and got up...

Roy smiled without saying a word, drew his sword, and the short sword trembled as it instantly donned a crimson coat, transforming from an ordinary "practice sword" into an "anti-demon treasure"—the "Bright Red Nichirin Sword"—in an instant!

"My senior brother mentioned last time that he wanted to see the technique of turning a sword red. Since he's leaving," Roy said casually, stroking the reddened blade of his Short Blade- sleeved sword, "I think it would be better to give him this ' Bright Red Nichirin Sword ' technique as a farewell gift."

Demon Slayer's three major buffs are: "Bright Red Nichirin Sword," "Demon Slayer Mark," and "Transparent World."

The "Transparent World" is mysterious and profound, requiring extremely high comprehension. Without certain opportunities, verbal explanation may not be sufficient to clearly reveal its secrets.

"Demon Slayer Mark" is an advanced version of "Breathing Style," which Roy himself hasn't fully mastered yet and is still learning, so he's naturally not qualified to instruct Giyu Tomioka.

Only the "Bright Red Nichirin Sword" remains, something that can be completely mastered through training and easily taught orally.

Giyu Tomioka was stunned... His fellow disciples, including Sabito Makomo, exchanged glances, then looked at Roy with complex expressions—admiration mixed with hesitation... They opened their mouths, telling him not to be so foolish... There was no need to easily impart their skills to others, but then they thought again, Giyu wasn't exactly "just anyone."

Giyu Tomioka gripped the hilt of his sword, caught in a dilemma. He wanted the sword but didn't want to take advantage of his junior brother, his mind in turmoil... Just as he was wondering what to do, he suddenly heard...

A deep, melancholic voice drifted from the kitchen; it belonged to Urokodaki Sakonji.

"Eiichiro, you don't have to do this."

The saying goes, "The Way is not easily passed on, and the Law is not cheaply sold..." The significance of the "Bright Red Nichirin Sword" can be seen from the fact that the Swordsmith Village has been searching for it for hundreds of years, and from the importance that the Ubuyashiki Clan to it.

The more precious something is, the more it should be cherished... This has nothing to do with "narrow-mindedness," it's just a piece of experience that Old Water Hashira shared out of "caution."

However, even if Roy doesn't reveal the training method for the "Bright Red Nichirin Sword," following the original storyline, more "Pillars" will master it in the next two or three years; it's just a matter of time.

Therefore, it would be more practical to take it out now and exchange it for something else.

Roy smiled nonchalantly, "I won't give it away for nothing. Please inform the Demon Slayer Corps when you return, my request remains the same... I only need all the information the Demon Slayer Corps has about the Demon."

To eradicate evil completely, not a single drop of Life Energy should be wasted—this was a goal Roy had set long ago.

"It's not fair." Giyu Tomioka looked intently at Roy: "The ' Bright Red Nichirin Sword ' is more important than 'information.' Even if you don't tell me, I'll still fight for it for you."

"That's different. I don't have the habit of taking other people's things for free."

That's still not enough.

Giyu Tomioka pondered for a moment, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a booklet, handing it to him. "These are some of my experiences in studying Breathing Style. Take a look."

Roy took the book, flipped through it, his gaze sharpening as he noticed the small print reading "Total Concentration - Regular Edition." Suppressing his turbulent emotions, he said, "Okay."

Zhan Yan smiled and said, "Adding this is enough."

Giyu Tomioka opened his mouth, then closed it again, letting out a soft "hmm"... Sabito and Makomo, watching this scene, smiled with relief.

This is the best solution. Eiichiro benefits, the Demon Slayer Corps obtains the training method for the "Bright Red Nichirin Sword," and the world where only the Demon are injured is achieved...

"Master, what do you mean?"

I'm an old man? I'm not interested.

Urokodaki Sakonji and brought out a pot of fresh fish porridge from the kitchen, smiling broadly as he said, "The porridge is here, let's eat."

Roy and Giyu Tomioka exchanged a glance and smiled.

After having porridge with Urokodaki Sakonji and his fellow disciples, they appeared by the waterfall a moment later, each carrying Short Blade and Nichirin Sword.

"With the resolve to die, grip the Nichirin Sword tightly, and through high-speed vibration, heat the blade until it reaches a critical point, which will trigger the ' Bright Red Nichirin Sword.'" Roy feigned ignorance. "This is a technique I discovered by chance while chopping wood."

Is it that simple?

"All you need to do is increase your grip strength and hold the Nichirin Sword?" Shinsuke and Fukuda circled around Roy and Giyu Tomioka, somewhat incredulous.

As usual, Seito Makomo stood under a birch tree, her gaze fixed on the ground below, saying nothing... Giyu Tomioka glanced suspiciously at Roy, and under his guidance, drew his Nichirin Sword with a clang, gripped it tightly, and failed on his first attempt!

"Senior brother, be prepared..." In the original story, Tanjiro fought Hantengu, and Giyu Tomioka and Obanai Iguro Infinity Castle. Both were in Muzan straits, resigned to death, either recalling their father Tanjiro's Father's words about strengthening their grip, or using the friction of clashing swords to heat up their weapons...

In short, enlightenment is essential!

Giyu Tomioka nodded, gripped his Nichirin Sword again, took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and "dissected" his own heart, forcing himself to recall the images of his sister Tsutako and his senior brother Sabito dying tragically at the hands of Demon while protecting him. At that moment, his brow furrowed, and he clenched his fist tightly...

"Whoosh~" Tiny red lights appeared, instantly merging into a raging inferno that enveloped the Nichirin Sword... Giyu Tomioka's second attempt at the "Bright Red Nichirin Sword" was a success!

"It really... successful? Senior Brother Giyu truly lives up to his reputation as a genius!"

"Isn't it Eiichiro?" Fukuda rolled his eyes at Shinsuke. "He can even comprehend the ' Bright Red Nichirin Sword ' by chopping wood. If it were in the hands of an idiot like you, you probably wouldn't be able to comprehend it even if you lived for another ten thousand years."

"Aren't you like me?"

"Who's as stupid as you!"

The argument quickly escalated into physical violence...

Makomo Seito was already used to it and treated the two of them as if they were invisible. She squinted at Giyu Tomioka holding the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, staring blankly into space, her eyes filled with envy.

"If we had met Eiichiro a few years earlier, senior brother... perhaps we wouldn't have had to die."

At least, Makomo felt that if she had the "Bright Red Nichirin Sword" back then, even if that guy had grown several more arms to protect his neck, he would definitely not have been able to withstand a single strike from the "Bright Red Nichirin Sword"!

"Unfortunately, there are no 'what ifs'." Sabito slowly drew his katana. This sword was not Nichirin Sword, and it would never again become a "Bright Red Nichirin Sword," just like him and Makomo, and Shinsuke, and Fukuda, and Shimizu, and Watanabe...

Yagiku and his fellow disciples were nothing more than wisps of departed souls.

"Whoosh~" A mountain breeze blew by, passing through the figures of the group and causing the tree branches to sway.

Makomo lowered her head and asked in a low voice, "Senior brother, after Eiichiro kills that guy, will you choose to disappear?"

Without the "hatred" for that guy to rely on... Seito smiled and said, "Even if I don't want to disappear, I'll disappear anyway."

"Senior brother, are you willing to part with it?"

"What can you do if you're reluctant? Cry and whine?" Sabito patted Makomo's little head. "Before Eiichiro came, I only wanted revenge, but now..."

The fox-like Sun-Earring Boy, with a deep gaze, began learning the "Stone Blowing Method" under the guidance of Giyu Tomioka.

Roy murmured, "I also want to stay with Master and you all a little longer..."

Makomo raised her head, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears. "Senior brother, me too."

"And me too!"

Me too!

"I want to stay with my master and fellow disciples for the rest of my life..."

Where is my senior sister?

"And of course, there's my senior sister..."

"You guys..." Sabito glared at Shinsuke and Fukuda, overwhelmed with mixed feelings, unsure of what to say...

He sheathed his sword, sighed in the wind... Well, let's not say those cruel things. Let's cherish this time before Eiichiro emerges from seclusion and make the most of each other.

The gaze then drifted downwards...

Beside the waterfall.

Following Giyu Tomioka's instructions, Roy poked a hole in the large blue stone with his knife, then took a deep breath and blew into the hole, aiming to blow it apart!

This method of exercising the lungs and maintaining "normal balance" seems familiar, and it has a similar effect to the "Gourd Blowing" method of the Butterfly Mansion.

It was named "Blowing Stone Method" by Giyu Tomioka.

It involves training lung capacity and increasing the lungs' tolerance to long-term "open Breathing Style" to achieve the goal of maintaining "Total Concentration and constant focus" 24 hours a day.

"Ten days." This was the goal that Giyu Tomioka set for Roy: to blow the large blue stone apart within ten days. According to Giyu Tomioka's estimate, Roy could maintain his "Breathing Style" for half a day without breaking down.

However, compared to Roy's previous ability to concentrate for only one hour, "half a day" is undoubtedly a huge leap forward!

He aimed at the small hole, took a deep breath, and blew hard!

"Click... click..."

The large blue stone trembled violently, and as its cheeks bulged out, it exerted all its strength... cracks appeared, and in less than two seconds, it exploded with a "boom"!

Flying stones whizzed through the trees with a series of "thuds"... "thuds"... "thuds"...

Tomioka Koyu reacted quickly, swiping the scabbard and striking several more blocks. Then he looked at Roy... the Sun-Earring Boy's second attempt, and he succeeded... That lung capacity and physical strength...

I wonder if the "Stone Hashira," which is known for its "great strength," ever managed to reach this level of power in the past.

[Hint: "Sun Breathing" +100]

[Current Level: 583/1000 (Mastery)]

"Sigh, I still haven't found the right way to open it..." Roy received the notification sound from the panel, a slight smile playing on his lips. He took a breath and asked Tomioka Koyu, "Senior brother, am I still alright? Should we continue or...?"

Tomioka Koyu:

After a long pause, he forced out three words through gritted teeth. "Still need to practice."

"Keep going, Ya Shan." Roy found another large blue stone, poked a hole in it with his knife, and then, with a series of breaths, blew it apart again... ["Breath" +100]

Next... three pieces, four pieces, pieces... ["breathing" + 100...100...100...]

Ultimately... [Hint: Current level: 999/1000 (Mastery)]

Roy suddenly realized that no matter how much he blew up his experience points, they wouldn't move anymore. He then thought to himself with a sense of enlightenment that perhaps he had already reached the limit of his "Breathing Style"!

Next step, Flash is "Total Concentration, Regular Focus"!

"Hoo~" He straightened up, no longer wasting his time, and stared intently at Tomioka Koyu. "Water Hashira" stood beside the messy waterfall, littered with pebbles, his gaze slightly dazed. Suddenly, the Sun-Earring Boy said, "Senior brother, you're right, I still need to practice."

He made up his mind that he absolutely had to earn that last bit of experience points!

Tomioka Koyu suppressed his emotions, looked at him for a moment, and finally said calmly, "Okay."

I'll personally keep watch for you tonight...

Determined to help the Sun-Earring Boy take the final step, which is to maintain the uninterrupted flow of the "Breathing Style" in his dream.

In the original story, in order to achieve this, Tanjiro asked Kanzaki Aoi, a nurse at the Butterfly Mansion, to interrupt his Breathing Style whenever Tanjiro was asleep, thus waking him up.

Tomioka Koyu watched the Sun-Earring Boy quietly, presumably he was prepared. Just as he had told him, one must be prepared.

Tomioka Koyu won't hold back!

"I'll leave it to my senior brother." Roy smiled, hoping he could pull himself together and sleep soundly until dawn.

Fortunately...

It was done.

[Hint: "Sun Breathing" +10]

[Current Level: "Sun Breathing": 9/10000 (Mastery)]

[Note: Maintaining "Total Concentration and Normal Attack" daily will increase "Constitution" by 1 point each day.]

"Chatter... chatter..."

Hunter World.

Zaban City.

At 1:30 in the morning, Roy groggily opened his eyes after being relentlessly pecked by Little Gold, and immediately received a notification sound from the control panel.

This also means that he slept well last night and was not beaten or forcibly woken up by Tomioka Koyu for interrupting his Breathing Style...

Is it good luck... or is it a matter of skill that one can dodge?

Roy grabbed the Golden Crow and placed it on his head, then rolled out of bed and, as usual, began to run wildly...

Since leaving home, he'd been either adrift at sea or running in the mountains, rarely stepping onto a smooth road... Roy was jogging slowly along a shimmering river in Zaban City when, at one point, he stopped...

Beside the river, there stood an old man, his hair in a high ponytail, wearing a flowing robe and wide sleeves, seemingly admiring the scenery, or perhaps waiting for someone...

She glanced at him sideways, "Hehe~"

He laughed.