Sparring with the Former Number One Ghost Killer

"Inhale..." The speed bonus granted by Thunder Breathing was not to be underestimated. Kujo Tachibana took a deep breath, cycling his Water Breathing technique.

He swung his blade, catching Kuwajima Jigoro's Nichirin sword right in front of him.

"Clang..." The two blades struck, sparks flying everywhere!

Feeling the rhythm of Kujo Tachibana's breathing, Kuwajima Jigoro's expression turned peculiar, as if he had something to say.

However, Tachibana's strength was not weak, and he could not afford to be distracted, lest he lose the breath held in his lungs.

He simply gripped his Nichirin sword with both hands and pressed down hard against Kujo Tachibana with all his might!

Feeling the impact force transmitted through his long blade, Tachibana couldn't help but frown.

This old geezer is truly wicked, using brute force to suppress me!

Bullying a fourteen-year-old lad like me!

He couldn't take this head-on; unless he disregarded his unhealed ribs and unleashed his full muscular power to counter the strike, but at the end of the day, this was just a spar.

Tachibana thought for a moment and chose not to be stubborn and clash head-on.

He lifted one foot off the ground, abandoning his center of gravity.

He allowed Kuwajima Jigoro to knock him back a step.

As everyone knows, unless you can fly, you should try your best not to have both feet off the ground during a fight.

Because when you are in the air, you cannot control your center of gravity.

For experts of the same level, this is an opportunity that can decide the outcome.

There are two reasons for this.

First, power originates from the ground; without a pivot point, how can one unleash their full strength?

Second, due to the Earth's gravity, you will fall uncontrollably.

(Knock-up is also a crowd-control skill, solid as a rock... watch my Indian flying pancake...)

At this moment, Tachibana was in this "knock-up" state, with both feet off the ground, but because of his prior preparation, his right leg would land in about 0.3 seconds.

However, including the time to regain control of his center of gravity, it would take roughly 0.5 to 0.7 seconds.

For an ordinary person, a flaw of this duration would likely not even allow for a reaction.

However, the opponent Tachibana faced today was no ordinary person!

For the inheritor of the high-speed Thunder Breathing, the former Rumble Hashira Kuwajima Jigoro, would he fail to seize such a fleeting opportunity?

The thought flashed through his mind, and Kuwajima Jigoro certainly seized the chance!

This situation, now favorable to him, was something he had engineered himself.

Yet, Kuwajima Jigoro's ultimate goal was simply to make Tachibana understand that one shouldn't push themselves when injured!

More importantly, if you don't listen to the advice of your elders, you'll suffer the consequences right before your eyes!

"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!" Kuwajima Jigoro silently recited the name of the technique in his heart, stepped off his prosthetic leg, and his entire body shimmered with lightning.

With a speed difficult for humans to react to, he charged toward Kujo Tachibana, who was still in the state of being knocked back!

"What! How is this possible!"

Kuwajima Jigoro looked at the eerie long blade before him, his face full of shock!

He discovered that Kujo Tachibana's blade could actually "control" him!

When the blade pointed to the left, he rushed to the left!

When it pointed to the right, he followed the blade to the right!

Watching Kujo Tachibana, who had already landed steadily, Kuwajima Jigoro sheathed his Nichirin sword and asked with a complex expression, "How did you do that?"

He naturally knew that it wasn't Tachibana's blade controlling him!

It was that his own movements were completely predicted by Kujo Tachibana in advance, so Tachibana could always point his blade in front of him ahead of time.

And although he possessed the extreme speed of Thunder Breathing, he could not maintain 100% control during such a rapid burst.

Not to mention that he was currently missing a leg!

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.

This was also one of the reasons why Tachibana believed he still had a chance of winning.

Simply put, it's like us modern people driving; on the highway, at 120, 130, or 150 km/h, you might be able to keep the steering steady, but what happens when you reach 200 or 300 km/h?

Your reaction time and control gradually fail to keep up.

To avoid this blade of Tachibana's, Kuwajima Jigoro had only two methods.

First, increase his own speed—be faster!

Fast enough that Kujo Tachibana wouldn't even have the time to strike.

Second, master this current extreme speed and gain perfect control over the body.

If this level is reached, even Kujo Tachibana would be unable to stop him.

Of course, if Kuwajima Jigoro were to disregard everything and fight for his life, he would still be able to land a strike on Kujo Tachibana.

After all, his explosive speed and power are still far superior to those of Kujo Tachibana.

However, since the two are merely sparring, there is no need to be that serious.

Kujo Tachibana sheathed his blade, naturally draped his right arm over Kuwajima Jigoro's shoulder, and said with a smile:

"Old man, want to learn? I'll teach you. Let's talk while we walk."

The two could be considered to have become acquainted through a fight, and coupled with Kujo Tachibana's strength in slaying Lower Moon Two, Kuwajima Jigoro said nothing and allowed Kujo Tachibana to keep his arm around his shoulder as they walked toward the kitchen.

Watching Kuwajima Jigoro, who was clearly itching with curiosity but held back from asking due to his pride, Kujo Tachibana smiled inwardly and took the initiative to explain.

"Actually, the reason I was able to see through your movements is because..."

Kuwajima Jigoro could not hold back in the end. Seeing Kujo Tachibana stop mid-sentence, he asked eagerly: "Because of what?"

"Because I saw it!" Kujo Tachibana straightened his expression and said earnestly.

Hearing this answer, Kuwajima Jigoro was stunned for a moment. He quickly snapped out of it, puffed out his beard and glared, shouting:

"Are you mocking this old man?!"

"Don't be so hasty, old man. Listen to me, and I'll explain it slowly." Kujo Tachibana hurriedly pacified the irritable little old man.

He then began to explain the principles of the supreme realm, the Transparent World, and the method to activate it.

As Kujo Tachibana spoke, Kuwajima Jigoro's expression shifted from indignation and readiness to fight, to curiosity, and then from curiosity to amazement!

Until it finally turned into bewilderment...

Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

Looking at Kuwajima Jigoro, who wore a blank, uncomprehending expression like a student failing to grasp a lesson, Kujo Tachibana could only offer a wry smile.

As expected, not everyone is Tanjiro, who could briefly enter that realm after experiencing a single flashback.

After recalling the method for opening the Transparent World as described by his father, Tanjuro, he had entered that state for a short time.

Kujo Tachibana's intentions were good; after all, Kuwajima Jigoro is now missing a leg, and if he could comprehend the Transparent World, he could at least minimize the impact of his lost limb, if not surpass his own peak strength!

(During his prime, Rumble Hashira Kuwajima Jigoro was once hailed as the strongest swordsman of his generation!)

It is a pity that Kuwajima Jigoro did not seem to gain much.

If the Transparent World were so easy to master, it would not be regarded as the supreme realm!

It was not until Kujo Tachibana was on his eighth bowl of rice that Kuwajima Jigoro's consciousness finally came back online!

"I remember now!" Kuwajima Jigoro said, his face full of excitement.

"Hm? Remember what?" Kujo Tachibana was also excited, thinking that Kuwajima Jigoro had made some major breakthrough after his guidance!

"This realm is called the Transparent World! My teacher once told me about it!" Kuwajima Jigoro said with a serious face.

"Right, and what else?" Kujo Tachibana asked, full of anticipation.

"That's it!" Kuwajima Jigoro said as if it were a matter of course.

Kujo Tachibana: "..."

So after all that talking, all you remembered was the name!

Kujo Tachibana could not help but offer a wry smile.

Seeing this, Kuwajima Jigoro just laughed, crossed his arms over his chest, and said triumphantly:

"Alright, alright, although I haven't learned what you tried to teach me yet."

"But I have something I can teach you, too!"