In Amamiya Rin's impression, there were certain Japanese horror movies where, if death had a triggering mechanism, one could force others to trigger a higher-priority mechanism, acting as a scapegoat to delay one's own time of death.
For instance, The Ring and Shirai-san both operated on this principle.
Since that was the case, wouldn't it be a waste not to utilize a group of immortals with terrible personalities as companions?
However, Amamiya Rin's conditions held little allure for the Kawakami Tomies.
In fact, some Kawakami Tomies were already hunting for other Kawakami Tomies, intending to drag them into the "Tomie Network" to reduce the probability of being selected themselves. If the likelihood of being chosen decreased, why would they go looking for trouble?
"If you ask me, you deserve it!"
"Exactly. Who told you to be a busybody?"
" seeking your own death; you can't blame us even if you die."
"Don't worry, we will remember you forever. Although your person dies, you will live eternally in our hearts."
"I'll help you scout for a nice cemetery."
"Once you're dead, just stay honestly in hell. Don't pop back out."
"Hohohoho! He can't go to hell. In his impression, those killed by Kayako can't even escape with their souls."
...
The Kawakami Tomies habitually began to ridicule and mock Amamiya Rin.
The "Tomie Network" was as festive as the New Year. These women were certain Amamiya Rin wouldn't live much longer and had already started preparing for his funeral.
"How was I supposed to know Fujino Terumi would be unlucky to this extent?"
Amamiya Rin sighed with a bitter smile.
Had he known earlier that Fujino Terumi was connected to Ju-on, he likely wouldn't have stepped in to help. After all, "When successful, one aids the whole world; when poor, one attends to one's own virtue." Doing good deeds requires acting within one's means.
"Fine then. Since you are unwilling, I won't force you."
Amamiya Rin feigned a retreat, not coercing the Kawakami Tomies.
"Great!"
"You still have a bit of gentlemanly grace, after all."
"After you die, we'll find time to burn incense for you."
The Tomies became carried away with triumph due to Amamiya Rin's concession. Sharp cheers echoed through the neural network; they were just short of throwing a party to celebrate.
Just as the clamor of this group of Tomies reached its peak, Amamiya Rin entered a state of deep Dhyana. Following the thoughts within the "Tomie Network," he observed Tomie No. 25, whom he had abandoned just moments ago.
Kawakami Tomie had already left the dojo. At this moment, she was sitting in the back seat of a taxi, leisurely watching the night scenery fly by outside the window, her fingers idly curling a lock of black hair.
Suddenly, an irresistible state of consciousness synchronized with Kawakami Tomie's brain.
That detestable sense of tranquility shrouded her body and mind. Her spirit involuntarily sublimated, dissecting her own heart and existence.
Kawakami Tomie's body stiffened, and the fingers curling her hair came to a halt.
"I knew you wouldn't honestly practice with the sword," she muttered to herself, her face wearing an unsurprised expression of calm.
"However, managing to scam the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu strategy book into your hands and reading it once before running away... I suppose you put some heart into it."
After Amamiya Rin withdrew his consciousness, Kawakami Tomie had given up on continuing her training. She tricked Sato Shihan into giving her the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu strategy book, read it with a glance—taking in ten lines at a time—and left immediately after finishing. The taxi she was now on had already reached the city center.
However, now that their minds were synchronized, Amamiya Rin couldn't be bothered to verbally lecture Kawakami Tomie. He had the driver take him to the high-end apartment where Kawakami Tomie lived. Upon getting out of the car, returning to the residence, and closing the door, she began a new round of training.
"Did you know? Breathing techniques have limits. But neither the Six Wondrous Gates Breathing Technique nor the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu's breathing method has reached that limit. Why is that?"
Amamiya Rin sat cross-legged on the bed, asking and answering himself.
"Because, no matter what kind of breathing method it is, once it exceeds a certain degree, it will cause harm to the human body. For example, the Valsalva maneuver: taking a deep breath and then holding it while exhaling forcefully to increase intrathoracic pressure. But excessive force can trigger cardiovascular risks and retinopathy.
"There is also hyperventilation, which can expel a large amount of carbon dioxide from the body and delay the appearance of fatigue in the respiratory muscles, but it easily causes dizziness, numbness in the hands and feet, and even fainting."
Speaking to this point, the corners of Kawakami Tomie's mouth raised slightly, as if revealing a smile.
"But, your body is different, Tomie. You have infinite regeneration capabilities. This allows us to conduct some radical experiments."
Amamiya Rin closed his eyes and began to adjust the breathing.
At first, it was simply the Six Wondrous Gates Breathing Technique.
Inhalation was deep and slow, like a stream flowing into a deep pool; exhalation was long and drawn out, like morning mist quietly dispersing.
Tomie's chest rose and fell steadily, her body gradually entering a relaxed state. This breathing method was gentle and continuous, bringing no discomfort to the human body.
Next, he switched to the breathing rhythm of the Shinkage-ryu.
Inhalation was rapid and powerful, like the concentration before drawing a blade; exhalation was a swift explosion, simulating the kiai at the moment of a slash.
The diaphragm contracted abruptly, and the air in the lungs was quickly squeezed out, bringing a taut sensation of gathering strength.
"Now, try combining them."
Amamiya Rin carefully began the fusion.
When inhaling, he first took in air with the deep, long rhythm of the Six Wondrous Gates. Just as the breath was full but not yet overflowing, he switched to the power-accumulating inhalation of the Yagyu style.
When exhaling, he initiated with the swift, explosive burst of the Yagyu style, then transitioned into the long, extending tail-note of the Six Wondrous Gates.
The two breathing techniques alternated continuously.
Gradually, what started as merely an awkwardness in rhythm—as if the chest cavity and diaphragm were dancing to a mis-stepped beat—began to intensify into a sense of anomaly after several cycles.
Clear distending pain transmitted from Tomie's lungs, as if air were being forcibly poured in yet could not be effectively exchanged.
Oxygen seemed to be sucked in, yet it stagnated within the alveoli, failing to blend smoothly into the blood.
A slight sense of vertigo and irritability surged into the brain. The edges of her vision began to turn black, and a subtle ringing sounded in her ears.
Amamiya Rin, however, cared nothing for this sense of anomaly.
"Faster."
He accelerated the frequency of the breathing, deliberately manufacturing mild hyperventilation.
Inhalation became greedy and rushed; the rib cage expanded unnaturally, and an overwhelmed soreness arose in the ribs.
Exhalation also became cruder, the airflow rushing out of the throat carrying a rasping noise.
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood was rapidly altered. The tips of Tomie's fingers began to go numb, trembling slightly and uncontrollably. Her lips also lost some of their color, taking on a faint, bruised purple hue.
"Continue."
Amamiya Rin remained unmoved, maintaining this rapidly shifting breathing.
A moment later, flickering spots of light began to appear at the edges of Tomie's vision, and the tinnitus buzzed loudly.
These were signs of cerebral vasoconstriction and insufficient oxygen supply.
"Still not enough."
Amamiya Rin further adjusted the breathing pattern, conducting different attempts.
Before long, the pressure inside Tomie's chest cavity rose sharply. An unnatural flush appeared on her cheeks, her jugular veins bulged slightly, and a distending pain came from her eyeballs, as if they would burst from their sockets at any moment.
____
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