"This is the true power of Black Wind Smoke Haze," Raiden said calmly.
The cyan glow on his Nichirin blade slowly faded, returning to its usual golden hue.
"Power isn't about flashy destruction. It's about control, precision, and knowing exactly where to strike."
Nearby, Sanemi Shinazugawa stiffened, his pupils shrinking as a storm of emotion surged through him.
He had always taken pride in his mastery of Wind Breathing, but what he had just witnessed shattered that confidence completely.
Raiden's clear cyan blade, along with the refined execution of Black Wind Smoke Haze, left him deeply shaken.
This Sixth Form was nothing like Sanemi's own. Not only was it different, its level of precision and power far exceeded anything he had imagined.
Thinking back to his own aggressive and chaotic slashes, Sanemi suddenly felt his technique was rough and unrefined.
His grip tightened around his sword, his fingers trembling slightly, betraying the turmoil inside him.
"This… how is this possible?" Sanemi muttered, unable to hide the disbelief and awe in his voice.
Raiden caught the reaction and a faint smirk crossed his face.
So much for that attitude. Not so confident now, are you?
Sanemi took a slow breath, forcing himself to steady his thoughts. He knew he could no longer look at Raiden the same way.
Raiden didn't just surpass him in strength. His understanding of Wind Breathing was on an entirely different level.
"Raiden… how did you do it?" Sanemi finally asked. There was reluctance in his tone, but curiosity outweighed it.
From what his Kasugai Crow had reported, Raiden was already skilled in both Thunder Breathing and Flame Breathing, each to an exceptional level.
But mastering Wind Breathing like this as well?
It didn't make sense.
"This is the Transparent World, maintained constantly," Raiden replied.
"It works similarly to Total Concentration Breathing, Constant. Breathing techniques strengthen the body, especially the heart and lungs, but keeping that state active all the time requires intense training."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"The Transparent World is no different. With enough practice, it stops being something you activate and becomes your normal state."
"The Black Wind Smoke Haze I used earlier was performed while in that state."
Then, without missing a beat, Raiden added,
"But that's still far beyond you. You haven't even grasped the basics yet."
This time, Sanemi didn't snap back.
He simply nodded.
Without his usual stubbornness, the rest of the training lost some of its edge.
Adjust, strike, correct, repeat.
Over and over again.
By the time the afternoon sun dipped lower, Sanemi still hadn't mastered the Transparent World. However, there were brief moments, fleeting and unstable, where he could tap into its power.
After training, Sanemi dropped onto a nearby wooden stump, breathing heavily.
Damn it. Still can't get it.
Raiden's going to mock me again.
A faint redness crept into his ears as he remembered boasting about how easy it would be.
Understanding something and actually doing it were completely different.
He knew Raiden hadn't held back during training. The instructions were clear and precise.
It was just… incredibly difficult.
When he saw Raiden walking back from the house, Sanemi braced himself.
Go ahead. Mock me. It's not like it'll kill me.
But instead of ridicule, Raiden extended his hand.
"Want one? It's still warm."
In his palm was a neatly shaped rice ball.
Sanemi blinked, caught off guard.
He had expected sarcasm, not… this.
The tension in his chest eased slightly.
Fragments of the day flashed through his mind, Raiden's sharp tongue during training, his focused expression in battle, and that constant, teasing smile.
Maybe… he's not that bad.
Seeing Sanemi hesitate, Raiden frowned slightly.
"If you don't want it, forget it."
"Keep acting tough. See how long that lasts before you starve."
He started to pull his hand back.
But in an instant, Sanemi snatched the rice ball, so quickly it was almost a blur.
Turning his head away, he let out a quiet scoff and started eating, pretending not to care.
Still, his slightly flushed cheek didn't escape Raiden's notice.
Raiden smirked, finding the reaction oddly amusing.
"All that attitude for nothing," he said lightly, his tone almost teasing, like dealing with a stubborn kid.
He sat down beside him, grabbing another rice ball and eating calmly.
The silence between them wasn't awkward. It was… comfortable.
After a while, Sanemi finished eating. He stayed quiet for a moment, then spoke.
"Raiden."
"Yeah?"
"I'll master the Transparent World. No matter how hard it is."
Raiden raised a brow.
"I know."
The simple response caught Sanemi off guard.
He was so used to being mocked that the straightforward answer felt strange.
Something felt… off.
Noticing his expression, Raiden rolled his eyes.
You really are something else.
Then his tone shifted back to normal.
"You? Master the Transparent World? Keep dreaming."
Sanemi immediately relaxed, a familiar fire returning to his eyes.
"I'll prove it to you. Just watch!"
Raiden scratched the side of his nose, a little embarrassed by how quickly things returned to normal.
[Ding]
[Sanemi Shinazugawa's friendship with the host has increased to Friend. Reward granted]
[Skill obtained: Wind Breathing, Eighth Form: First Form, Gale Slash (Mastered)]
[Would you like to fuse the skill now?]
[No]