Compared to the fusion process with the Blood Prison Pot, the sensation this power gave Raiden felt completely different.
It was not like flowing water, nor like boiling blood. Instead, it carried a mysterious vitality, something that felt like the root of all life and growth.
Raiden felt as though he stood within a dense forest, surrounded by a deep, natural woody fragrance.
Yet the scent did not come from the forest itself. It came from the Woodstone Dragon circling high in the sky.
As the power poured into him, Raiden felt a faint warmth spread through his body. A layer of light green patterns slowly seeped out from his skin.
The roar of the Woodstone Dragon echoed within his ears.
Raiden kept his eyes tightly shut, standing still like an ancient tree, unmoving no matter how the dragon stirred the air around him.
Within the realm of fusion, Raiden extended his hand and condensed a force that formed a vast forest.
Towering trees rose around him, tall and straight. Their canopies spread outward like massive dragons, surrounding him from every direction.
As the realm slowly faded away, a warm surge of energy flowed through Raiden's body.
This was not energy gained from fusing a Blood Demon Art. It was energy generated from his own body.
The enhancement brought by the Infinite Karma Tree filled the final gap between Raiden and the level of an Upper Pillar.
Taking a slow breath, Raiden focused on this new power.
Energy began to surge within him.
A faint tremor spread through his muscles, like a gentle breeze moving across the surface of a quiet lake, forming small ripples.
However, the tremor did not fade.
Instead, it gradually intensified.
Like a subtle earthquake deep within the earth, the vibration began guiding his soul to merge with it.
A moment later, Raiden slowly opened his eyes and raised his hands before him.
"So this is the power of an Upper Pillar…"
Feeling the overflowing energy and the changes within his body, a slight smile formed on his lips.
In his current state, even without activating the Transparent World, he could probably fight Doma.
Defeating Doma quickly would still be difficult. It would take time.
But against Gyokko or Hantengu, Raiden could defeat them easily now, even without using Transparent World.
Next was Mist Breathing.
"Hm?"
After confirming the fusion with the system, Raiden opened his eyes moments later with a puzzled expression.
The fusion of Mist Breathing had been too easy.
He had not felt any change in his body throughout the entire process.
If the techniques of the breathing style had not appeared clearly in his mind, Raiden might have thought the fusion had failed.
Could it be because he had already fused too many breathing styles?
Perhaps his body had become highly adapted to them.
If that was the case, then fusing additional breathing styles in the future might not produce any noticeable physical change.
Raiden considered this possibility for a moment.
If his guess was correct, then unless he fused Sun Breathing or Moon Breathing, his body likely would not experience any strong reaction.
After a brief thought, Raiden set aside the strange matter.
More important fusions still awaited him.
Superior Talent.
An ability on the same level as Superior Physique. The increase in strength it granted should not be small.
Do you choose to fuse Superior Talent now?
Yes.
The moment Raiden confirmed the fusion, he felt as if he had been drawn into a massive vortex.
Everything around him spun rapidly, forming a blurred world.
His soul slowly began to rise within the vortex.
He could sense every bone, every muscle, every drop of blood in his body being pulled by the swirling force, as if he were immersed in a mysterious and indescribable state.
As this continued, his consciousness slowly became hazy.
Only his sense of self remained, along with an unstoppable urge to break through every restraint and escape.
When his consciousness faded completely, that urge shattered its final restraint.
In that instant, Raiden's mind suddenly became clear.
Every thought within him felt illuminated.
This clarity was so overwhelming that Raiden barely cared about the strength increase from Superior Talent.
His mind was filled instead with the fusion of Thunder Breathing and Flame Breathing.
First Form, Thunder Prison.
Second Form, Thunder Flame Roiling Wave.
Third Form, Sky Splitter.
Fourth Form, Scorched Earth.
Previously, Raiden's fusion of Thunder Breathing and Flame Breathing had only reached the early stages. Aside from the First Form, he had no clear idea how the later forms would work.
But at the moment the fusion of Superior Talent was nearing completion, new forms began appearing naturally within his mind.
Even more astonishing, Raiden could feel his proficiency with these techniques increasing rapidly.
Although he had never physically used his sword to perform them, the movements became clearer and deeper in his mind.
It felt as though a small figure inside his consciousness was constantly practicing each form.
Raiden exhaled slowly.
If one word could describe his current state, it would be refreshed.
Superior Talent and Superior Physique.
One transformed the spirit, the other transformed the body.
With both powers now combined within him, supporting each other, Raiden felt that his condition had reached an incredible level.
Facing Muzan might still be risky.
But against Kokushibo, Raiden felt no fear at all.
If Muzan delayed the final battle long enough, Raiden was confident he could defeat him as well.
The strength increase granted by Superior Talent far exceeded that of the Blood Demon Art or Mist Breathing.
If the gap between an Upper Pillar and a Super Pillar were measured in percentages, Raiden estimated that his current progress had reached roughly twenty percent.
It might not seem like a complete leap in rank, but Raiden was already a Pillar. A one fifth increase in power was more than satisfying.
Given enough time, even Muzan could be crushed beneath his blade.
Then a thought crossed Raiden's mind.
Why was he waiting for Muzan to act?
Why place all his hopes on the timing of Muzan's plans when he could simply take the initiative?
At present, only Akaza and Kokushibo remained among Muzan's Upper Moons.
Later, Nakime and Kaigaku would fill the empty positions.
Raiden did not know the movements of Akaza or Nakime.
But through his position as a Pillar, he could learn about Kaigaku.
This period was exactly when Kaigaku would encounter Kokushibo and become a demon.
If Raiden could defeat Kokushibo before the battle within the Infinity Castle, there would be more demon slayers alive to fight Muzan later. Casualties would also be reduced.
Even if he failed to kill Kokushibo, eliminating Kaigaku would still be worthwhile.
Kaigaku's betrayal would push Oyakata-sama toward committing seppuku.
If Raiden had never learned of this future, that would be one thing.
But now that he knew, Kaigaku would never escape death.
Raiden's relationship with Oyakata-sama was not deeply personal, but it was close enough to be considered family.
Whether for that reason or for Zenitsu's sake, Raiden would not allow Oyakata-sama to die because of Kaigaku.
With this decision made, Raiden's plans for the future became clear.
He summoned his Kasugai Crow and instructed it to report a request.
He wanted information on Kaigaku's movements.
The message was to be delivered directly to Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
For someone like Raiden, who had slain Upper Moon Two and Upper Moon Four, this request was trivial.
Even without those achievements, Raiden was still a Pillar.
Kagaya would certainly provide the information without hesitation.