Chapter 31: A New Breathing Style
However, Natsuya didn't expect the sharp-tongued woman to continue her rampage after roasting Kazami Koichi. She turned her verbal assault toward the other Cultivators.
"Matsuyama?"
"That big idiot is just a rock. No, he is a rock. It's fine if he wants to be a rock, but he teaches people by playing with rocks."
"I bet his curriculum has three words: Stand, Tank, Smash!"
"Breathing techniques? Tactical mix-ups? Non-existent! Stone Breathing is just Unga Bunga!"
"Train with him for three months, and a disciple's speech pattern slows down by half a beat. And he calls it 'Cultivating the Heart'!"
"Brat, let me ask you: Aside from the Breathing method itself, how many sword forms did you learn? How many combat techniques?"
Ah... actually, zero.
Natsuya sweated a little.
"As for Senior Urokodaki? He's a good person, but too stuffy."
"I suspect he's worn that wooden Tengu mask for so long he's forgotten how to communicate with humans."
"Communication relies on eye contact. Teaching relies on mountain running. He teaches the basic theory and then tells you to 'go enlighten yourself'."
"The result? He produces either obedient kids who don't know how to adapt, or silent problem children just like him."
Thinking of Sabito and Giyu back at Mt. Sagiri, Natsuya found he couldn't refute her.
She grabbed the bottle of shochu, threw her head back, and chugged a huge mouthful under the moonlight. Natsuya felt a slight shift in her mood. A hint of unspoken melancholy seeped through her bravado.
"Of course, their methods aren't entirely useless..."
Kazami's basics were rock-solid; Wind Breathing swordsmen were always adaptable.
Matsuyama's method was primitive, but for Stone Breathing users, it was brutally effective.
As for Senior Urokodaki... well, aside from this brat, she hadn't heard of any new Water Breathing recruits from him in years.
"So you see: Kazami is too complex, Urokodaki is too silent, and Matsuyama is too dull."
"I respect them. In this business of snatching lives from the jaws of demons, sticking to it for decades... raising children into warriors, sending them to the battlefield, and watching some of them never return... not everyone can handle that weight."
"But I still think my method is the most practical and efficient."
She slapped the hilt of her sword.
"Full-contact combat with every disciple. Real blades."
"I use my strength and experience to force out their potential, to raise their combat IQ. So that the moment they join the Corps, they at least have the skills to stay alive."
"I might not compare to the Thunder Hashira of the past, but my Thunder Breathing isn't bad."
"It's enough to keep these rookie brats safe for a long time."
"As for you..."
Nikaido touched her old eyepatch again. It seemed the old wound was aching.
"You... you are different from them."
"You are the first monster I've seen who tried to mash multiple Breathing Styles together."
"Don't waste it, brat."
"Your talent, and everything you learned from those old men... train it well."
"Come back alive. Let this blind eye see with its own socket... just how strong a monster of the new generation can become."
Although she looked down on the other Cultivators' methods, they had all unknowingly placed a heavy bet on this boy.
So, Nikaido Mei didn't mind betting along with them.
It just meant... she had to polish him a little harder.
Natsuya was silent for a moment, savoring the emotion in her words.
Compared to long-term growth, Nikaido's method focused on cashing in potential now. But undeniably, they all seemed to have high hopes for him.
Although he knew the answer, Natsuya probed, "So tomorrow..."
Nikaido broke into a blissful grin. Shochu spilled from her lips, running down her smooth chest.
She said excitedly, "Obviously, we fight to the death again!"
I knew it! The sentimental speech was just an excuse! You're just a battle junkie!
Natsuya grumbled internally.
"Fine, let's continue... But seriously, Senior, doesn't your behavior scare away disciples?"
Recallng the disciples from the afternoon session who looked like they were used to this abuse, he added, "The ones who stayed must be having a rough time."
Nikaido's grin froze.
Whether from battle lust or alcohol, her face flushed red. "Impossible! I still have plenty of disciples! The strongest one is even about to become a Hashira soon!"
Natsuya: "Eh? Someone can actually tolerate you?"
Nikaido: "???"
She roared, "Are you saying I have a bad temper?!"
Natsuya shrugged.
The high-intensity sparring continued.
Although Nikaido Mei's raw stats weren't as high as Urokodaki's or Kazami's—she was roughly on par with Matsuyama—her Thunder Breathing was far more aggressive and explosive. Combined with her flexible frame, long reach, and burning will to fight, she put more pressure on Natsuya than any other Cultivator.
And that pressure translated into visible growth.
On Day 2, Natsuya was knocked down 16 times.
On Day 3, 14 times.
By Day 5, the number dropped to less than 5.
On Day 9.
The second week of Natsuya's stay at the Electric-Thorn Dojo.
He finally knocked her down.
Nikaido's offensive, once as relentless as a monsoon thunderstorm, was broken.
Lightning intercepted.
Using a Wind Breathing form to deflect her thunderbolt, Natsuya slashed back with a weaker, yet equally sharp, flash of lightning.
The back of his blade rested gently against Nikaido's tanned neck.
[Thunder Breathing] LV.0 (1/250)
Silence lasted for three seconds. Then, the straight-laced battle maniac burst into laughter.
"HAHAHAHA! Good! Very good!"
She slapped Natsuya on the back hard enough to leave a handprint. "You know what? My last student, that flashy idiot named Tengen, took two months to learn this move!"
"And you?!"
"Although it was just for a split second, that was definitely the First Form powered by Thunder Breathing!"
"Only nine days! No wonder your name is Kokonoe! Hahaha!"
Tengen was a genius who pissed me off.
And this Natsuya... he's a genius who pisses me off even more.
She spat internally. You brat, don't waste the goodwill of us old folks.
At this moment, even she was curious. After comprehending and analyzing the Five Basic Styles, what kind of derivative Breathing Style would Kokonoe Natsuya create?
Natsuya turned his head, avoiding Nikaido's scorching gaze and unbridled laughter.
He focused on the System.
[Stat Allocation Preview]
[XP +420]
[Note: Current Breathing Style Compatibility: 84%]
[Achievement Point Conversion Loss: 16%]
This is the highest compatibility so far. It far exceeds my main spec, Wind Breathing.
It's Thunder.
Natsuya had a clear premonition. Even if he went on to study Flame Breathing, it probably wouldn't beat this number.
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you