The sword rose; the wind followed.
As Kuguruma Natsunishi continuously swung the Nichirin Sword in his hand, a massive, ink-black gale began to swirl faintly in the air. The force of the wind was like an ancient, deep-rooted pine, tightly coiling around the cold light of the blade's path.
It was a violent wind. It was an omnipresent pressure.
Howling gusts erupted within the training grounds, sending sand and stones flying in an instant.
[Fifth Form: Cold Mountain Wind ]
Merging his body into the sword style, Kuguruma Natsunishi looked as if he had thrown himself into a massive whirlwind, his figure becoming a blur. The already sharp wind pressure solidified even further.
Crack!
As the massive wind blades swept across several wooden stakes in the field, the sturdy posts were torn into splinters. Crisscrossing blade marks were carved deep into the ground.
"Damn, it feels more than just a little bit stronger than Level 1."
Looking at the destruction he had caused, Kuguruma Natsunishi stopped and clicked his tongue in surprise. Was this the difference between being a "Beginner" and "Gaining Proficiency"?
The damage was higher, the special effects were more magnificent, and his strength and reflexes had improved. Even the faint strike-lines provided by the system's assistance had become more powerful. For a moment, Kuguruma Natsunishi actually had the illusion that the Final Selection would be a breeze.
As expected of the results he had earned through two days of desperate, bitter training. This feeling wasn't bad at all.
Afterward, Kuguruma Natsunishi turned and walked toward his room without looking back. The few Achievement Points he had left weren't enough to continue leveling up. Better to head straight to sleep!
Since his skill level had increased, it was common gamer knowledge to fully restore his status and clear the "Fatigue" effect before setting out on a mission. Moreover, the realism of this game was simply too high. Once the excitement wore off, Kuguruma Natsunishi felt a genuine, overwhelming urge to crash.
As for spending extra time to adapt to his newly improved physical attributes? Kuguruma Natsunishi figured that since these were attributes he had earned through hard work and leveling up, there was no reason he should need to "adapt" to them. It wasn't like he had gained a complex new active skill that required training for combo proficiency and operational awareness.
While Kuguruma Natsunishi slept, oblivious to the world, a certain mansion hidden deep within the mountains of the Kanto region, stood in silence.
Japanese-style corridors and doors adorned with wisteria patterns stood still, while the gentle sounds of birds and the crisp strike of a shishi-odoshi against stone echoed through the air. It was serene and solemn... and filled with a somewhat sorrowful atmosphere.
"Master... I am deeply sorry to bring this news. The 'Mountain Hashira,' Mr. Fudo... has perished."
Several men dressed in black uniforms and masks knelt on one knee. They spoke with respect and a hint of a sob to the young man before them.
The individual they addressed did not possess the arrogant air of a nobleman, nor was he a young general with a chonmage hairstyle. On the contrary, he radiated only gentleness. He was gentle to the point of appearing somewhat small and frail.
However, the swordsmen and intelligence personnel present did not have a shred of contempt for him in their eyes. For he was of the Ubuyashiki line.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
The 97th leader of the Ubuyashiki family and the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps. A man of great ability and resolve, yet one destined for an early grave due to a curse.
"So, this time it was Mr. Fudo who... passed away?"
After a short silence came sorrow. However, the young man did not let the emotion leak out too much, lest it affect the others. "We have lost yet another member of the family... This pain is something the Ubuyashiki clan shall repay with the destiny of our entire lineage."
"Everyone... please do not blame yourselves for this." Seeing the crowd remain silent, he suppressed the throbbing in his forehead caused by grief and anger. Straightening his back, he continued to comfort them in a steady tone.
"When you grieve for the passing of a comrade and feel that your own existence is a sin because of it, that is exactly what Muzan Kibutsuji wishes to see. Mr. Fudo's sacrifice was by no means meaningless. It is the future he won for us with his life, the proof that he fought until the very end. Therefore, I ask of you. Lift your heads."
His voice was soft, yet it carried great power. It was as if the sorrowful atmosphere in the courtyard froze for a moment.
Only then did the men regain control of their emotions and continue reporting the recent situation of the Corps to Kagaya.
"Preparations for the Final Selection at the six locations across Honshu are complete..."
"This is a letter from Ms. Nikaido. She mentioned that the shinobi you introduced previously is a promising talent..."
"Also, at the Butterfly Mansion, two children have shown great potential..."
The long briefing was a massive test of physical endurance for Kagaya. Because of the curse he carried, every breath and every movement was a burden. Not to mention, he had only recently learned of the passing of the "Mountain Hashira," Mr. Fudo.
Yet, he maintained his consistent gentleness and focus, listening carefully to every word.
The Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps had decreased by one again. The burden shared by Mr. Rengoku, Mr. Fuun-in, and Mr. Igarashi had grown heavier once more. And then there was Gyomei; that child had only just become a Hashira...
He hoped those children could grow up quickly. He lamented his own powerlessness, that he could only pin his hopes on those children...
After bidding farewell to Master Kazami, Kuguruma Natsunishi soon set out on the road toward the Final Selection.
Lake Ashi in Hakone.
If it had been a few days ago, he likely would have chosen to take a train. Arriving early would have given him time to practice his Breathing Style proficiency. There were trains in the game's setting; he had taken them before. Although he couldn't take a train to leave the game area, riding one of those antiques would certainly be much faster than relying on his two legs.
However, at the moment, he had some other ideas.
Huff... huff...
Carrying his luggage, Kuguruma Natsunishi had been jogging for three or four days. Unsurprisingly, several new skills had appeared in his life skills tab.
[Suburi LV.1 (97/500)]
[Physical Training LV.1 (273/500)]
[Running LV.1 (160/500)] NEW
[Camping LV.1 (88/500)] NEW
[Cooking LV.1 (120/500)] NEW
[Fishing LV.0 (117/250)] NEW
Remaining Achievement Points: 4
"Does Level 0 not provide attribute points?" Kuguruma Natsunishi mused.
While it wasn't a case where eating and sleeping automatically increased proficiency, the system certainly judged many activities as life skills. Furthermore, through his experimentation over the last few days, he discovered that many learning behaviors weren't counted as single, isolated skills.
For instance, during his journey over these past few days, while his "Running" proficiency grew rapidly, his "Physical Training" proficiency also increased slightly. During rest intervals, performing basic suburi training also caused a minor increase in his "Wind Breathing" proficiency.
Currently, his Breathing Style proficiency had risen to (LV.2 173/1000).
Although Master Kazami said he was a genius, he didn't know how his current level would rank among the candidates at the Final Selection. It was called the "Final Selection," after all; even if not everyone was a powerhouse, it was impossible for them all to be nameless fodder.
If it really came down to it, he could just use his remaining Achievement Points to pass the mission and then slowly hoard points later. He had originally intended to save these points for a new Breathing Style...
After sunset.
Kuguruma Natsunishi checked and calculated his skill proficiency while chewing on a grilled river fish. He wasn't sure if it was because he had gained a Level 1 Cooking skill, but he felt the grilled fish in his mouth tasted a bit more tender. It was just that the fishy smell was a bit strong...
Wait. A fishy smell?
Kuguruma Natsunishi suddenly realized that the faint scent of blood wasn't because his grilled fish was undercooked. Rather, a scent of blood was wafting from the surrounding woods.
Oh?! Is this the first battle after the tutorial?
Instead of being afraid, Kuguruma Natsunishi looked around with a hint of excitement. Soon, his eyes locked onto an anomaly. In the deep darkness of the woods where the campfire light could not reach, a bright status panel was floating.
[Bloodtooth ???]
[Race: Demon]
[Power Level: 39 (Body: 28, Skill: 5, Spirit: 6)]
[Threat Level: Low]
"Is this the 'Demon' my cheap mentor mentioned?"
Kuguruma Natsunishi unobtrusively placed his hand on the hilt of his Nichirin Sword. Then, as if remembering something, he opened the system settings. He silently turned down the brightness of the icons. In this pitch-black environment, the game UI was honestly a bit blinding.