Chapter 39: Ninja? You Can Use Ninjutsu Too?
"Um, Senior... hello? Testing, testing?"
The girl asked tentatively.
Natsuya finally "snapped back to reality," glanced at the remains that were slowly turning into ash, and then turned toward the girl.
"So, you're the one who sent the distress call? Kanae?"
Natsuya looked her over—the blood-stained uniform and her pale face. His voice carried a hint of subtle confusion.
"Looking at your frame and your base stats, you shouldn't have been pushed into a corner by a demon of this level."
With a Power Level in the 80s and Level 3 Breathing, even if she was at a disadvantage, she shouldn't have been on the verge of death. After all, her opponent was just a Level 120 pure "Stat-Stick" monster whose only mechanic was a defense buff. She should have had at least some "trade potential."
The girl froze for a second.
Eh? How does he know my name?
"Senior, you're overestimating me," Kanae said with a bitter smile despite her confusion. "My slashes could barely break through its steel skin, and there were two of them..."
So, this 'Flower Breathing' doesn't prioritize raw physical strength? Natsuya mused. Right... looking at the UI, it's likely a sub-spec of Water Breathing. And the 'Body' stat actually has different specializations, like Agility or Speed-scaling.
So she was basically hard-countered.
As Natsuya was thinking, Kanae pointed toward another part of the dense forest.
"Senior, there's another swordsman and the survivors being hunted by the other demon. we have to go rescue them immediately!"
Another XP bag?
Natsuya's interest was instantly piqued. He prepared to set off, but seeing the girl's pathetic, battered state, he paused.
"Stay here and patch yourself up."
"I'll go ahead."
Kanae protested, "Senior, I'm not some fragile maiden. I can still fight."
"Suit yourself," Natsuya replied bluntly. "I just don't think you can keep up with my movement speed."
Scanning the trail in the forest, Natsuya identified the general direction.
"That's that. Don't push your HP bar too far. I'm going."
Kanae was left in a daze.
This Senior was clearly much stronger than her, but Thunder Breathing was ultimately about short-distance explosive bursts. Compared to her Flower Breathing—which was derived from Water Breathing—it should have been at a disadvantage for long-distance travel. How could he think she couldn't keep up?
Besides...
The girl felt a twinge of "Little Sister" indignation at being looked down upon. She figured that in her current state, while she couldn't be the main DPS, she could at least act as a support to draw aggro.
But then, she noticed Natsuya's breathing rhythm change.
It shifted into a cadence that felt remarkably similar to her own Flower Breathing.
[Water Breathing]
Invisible currents of water seemed to ripple around the boy. In an instant, his figure vanished from the spot, turning into an afterimage that Kanae couldn't track as he blurred into the forest.
Kanae's pupils shrank.
This Senior... isn't he a Thunder Breathing user?
But that clear, flowing aura just now... that was definitely Water Breathing?!
Her gentle, violet eyes were now filled with utter bewilderment and disbelief. She quickly snapped out of it and shouted in the direction Natsuya had disappeared:
"Senior! That demon's ability is also mimicry! And it's much stronger than this one—!"
Her voice trailed off. Natsuya was completely gone. She had no idea if he even heard her.
Kanae let out a soft sigh, leaned on her sword, and tried to follow. But the moment she triggered her Breathing, a searing pain flared in her chest. Her legs gave out, and her skirt brushed against a tree trunk as she nearly stumbled.
As the adrenaline of battle faded, the exhaustion and trauma finally surfaced.
I guess... I really can't keep up with him.
Even though we look about the same age, is the gap between us really that wide?
Maybe Shinobu and I really aren't talented swordsmen, just like Master Gyomei said...
The thought only lasted a second. A surge of competitive spirit rose in her.
If I don't have natural talent, then I'll just train ten times harder until I can stand beside those reliable seniors—or even surpass them!
Whispering encouragement to herself, the girl used her scabbard as a crutch and limped into the dark woods.
On the other side.
Passing through a dense cedar grove, the sounds of muffled explosions and the sharp ring of clashing metal reached Natsuya's ears.
He pushed through the final layer of brush, and the scene before him made him pause.
It wasn't that the Kanoe-rank Slayer had been killed. On the contrary, the "Big Brother" demon Kanae had warned him about was currently on the verge of death.
He was being utterly dominated by a Demon Slayer.
To be precise, the demon was barely clinging to life. Both its arms were gone, and its massive stone axe lay forgotten somewhere in the dirt. The hulking brute was slumped against a tree, gasping for air.
His body, the ground, and even the surrounding trees were covered in countless slash marks and explosion craters. His regeneration speed couldn't even touch the DPS output of the swordsman before him.
The one responsible for this wasn't Kojiro—who the demon could have turned into a pancake with one slap.
It was another Slayer who had arrived on the scene.
A tall man wearing a unique jeweled headpiece, with strange red markings painted around his eye. Compared to Kanae, who was barely five feet tall, this man was nearly a foot taller than Natsuya. In this era, he was a literal giant.
He wasn't just tall; he was built like a brick house. His biceps were so swollen that Natsuya wondered if they were about to pop the gold bands around his arms.
The man was currently wielding two massive, custom-cleaver-like Nichirin Swords. He moved with a series of "flashy" arcs, shredding the demon's defense and leaving behind showers of sparks and black blood.
The demon's body had a metallic sheen just like the previous one, indicating high physical resistance. But in this man's hands, the demon was like a piece of scrap cloth in a sewing machine. Two or three slashes and its defense was "broken."
Whenever the demon tried to counter, its move was instantly interrupted by a surgical strike or a small explosive that appeared out of nowhere.
Strong. Natsuya made his assessment.
[Uzui Tengen]
[Power Level: 157 (Body: 79, Tech: 41, Mind: 37)]
[Thunder Breathing LV.2]
[Sound Breathing LV.1]
[Ninjutsu LV.7 (Exclusive Skill)]
His Breathing Style levels are low, but his morale and base stats are through the roof. Ah, he's a Shinobi. That explains it.
Ninja?!
Natsuya stared, opening the panel again. This was the first time he'd seen someone with a high-level skill that wasn't a Breathing Style.
A 'Unique Skill'... I guess that's limited to characters with specific backstories.
Man, that sounds so cool. I want to weave some hand signs and deal explosive damage too. Even if it's just throwing hidden bombs instead of using Chakra.
Seeing that the outcome of the battle was already decided, Natsuya couldn't find a gap to intervene. After making eye contact with the injured Kanoe Slayer, Natsuya actually had the leisure to lean against a tree and watch the show.
Unlike the clean, sharp strikes of Thunder Breathing, this man named Uzui was using a completely different, "Innovative Combat Style."
[Derivative Breathing + Ninjutsu]
He didn't pursue the cold efficiency of a standard Thunder user. He focused on "Fluid" combos and "Flashiness." Even when he should have parried or dodged, Uzui would take risks, exposing himself just to complete a stylish chain attack.
It wasn't a fight. it was an "Execution Montage."
So that's a Ninja? Natsuya thought. They live for the thrill of dancing on a blade's edge?
Uzui Tengen seemed to have had enough fun. He crossed his twin blades, assuming a heavy charging stance. A look of sharp intent flashed in his eyes.
The next strike was clearly going to be a devastating decapitation.
Natsuya's expression suddenly changed!
(Wait, is he about to steal my XP?!)
☆☆☆
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