The scale of the engagement up ahead was far larger than either of them had anticipated.
Calling it a chaotic free-for-all would not be an exaggeration.
Seven or eight swordsmen were utilizing their respective Breathing Styles to clash with four man-eating demons. Beside them lay several human corpses that had already stopped breathing.
The status panels of several demons appeared before his eyes.
[Blue Pu???] [Power Level: 43 (Body: 36, Skill: 2, Spirit: 5)]
[Heavy Pressure???] [Power Level: 41 (Body: 28, Skill: 9, Spirit: 4)]
[Earth Hanging Blade???] [Power Level: 62 (Body: 25, Skill: 31, Spirit: 6)]
[Rot???] [Power Level: 51 (Body: 20, Skill: 25, Spirit: 6)]
These mobs actually knew how to coordinate their attacks?
Could it be that after he cleared out all the weak ones, those remaining were all somewhat capable?
Although there were many swordsmen participating in the selection, their attributes did not grant them an advantage. Furthermore, these demons had been familiar with one another for countless years; their chemistry and cooperation were clearly superior to these swordsmen, who had only met in the last day or two.
Clearly, if Kuguruma Natsunishi didn't intervene, it was only a matter of time before these friendly NPCs were wiped out.
"You over there, run!"
One swordsman spotted Kuguruma Natsunishi and even managed to find a moment to shout a warning.
Kuguruma Natsunishi glanced over. It was someone using Stone Breathing. Their Breathing Style skill level was only LV.1, even lower than Yukiziri Sashiko's beside him.
Under the high-intensity demon encounters with Kuguruma Natsunishi over the past few days, Sashiko's Breathing Style had already leveled up.
"Sashiko, I'll leave that shorty to you. Usual rules."
Just beat them into a pulp; he would take the final kill.
The young girl nodded. Turning into a blur, she charged expressionlessly toward the shortest demon.
[Yukiziri Sashiko (Power Level: 31)] [Water Breathing LV.2]
[Heavy Pressure???] [Power Level: 41 (Body: 28, Skill: 9, Spirit: 4)]
The gap wasn't particularly large. In fact, because of the Breathing Style, swordsmen were able to exert power far beyond what their attribute panels suggested. Moreover, these demons relied entirely on raw physical talent in combat, possessing zero technical skill.
Afterward, Kuguruma Natsunishi raised his sword and looked toward the swordsmen locked in battle.
The endless crashing of waves.
The bold, searing burn of raging flames.
The lightning-like speed and thrusts.
The wide, violent gusts of wind.
The steady weight of a landslide.
Though they were all rudimentary forms, Kuguruma Natsunishi was still able to appreciate the characteristics and slight sword intent of the five main Breathing Styles.
Well... except the special effects were a bit blinding.
Kuguruma Natsunishi silently chose to [Disable Breathing Style Visual Effects].
In an instant, the battle in the clearing remained intense—the clashing of blades and the pouncing of demons still threw off sparks—but the flamboyant effects of flowing water, lightning, and fire were gone.
Much better for the eyes.
(The original work mentioned that Breathing Styles are sword intent, and that there are multiple cultivators.)
[Wind Breathing]
[First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter ]
Sword light crisscrossed as Kuguruma Natsunishi, like a speeding freight train, forced his way into the fray.
"A newcomer..."
One swordsman felt a surge of emotion amidst his indignation. The intent was good, but facing these four powerful demons, what difference would it make other than adding one more life to the tally?
Then, he saw it.
The blue demon was sent flying back with a collapsed chest, while two other demons were slashed with massive wounds.
He wasn't finished. After bursting into the center of the battle, Kuguruma Natsunishi immediately unleashed the next form of his sword technique.
[Eighth Form: Primary Gale Slash]
It was a circular motion—a giant, perfected version of a whirlwind slash. While forcing the strongest one back, he had already sliced off the head of another demon whose reactions were half a beat too slow.
In just two moves, one demon was heavily injured and another was slain.
So... so powerful!
The eyes of the swordsmen, who had been on the verge of despair, lit up once more.
Kuguruma Natsunishi, meanwhile, savored the feeling of the slash just now. Wind Breathing at LV.3 was truly worlds apart from LV.2. Speed, precision—everything had seen a massive boost. Coupled with the increase in his base attributes, it resulted in a qualitative change.
If it were the "him" of yesterday, he likely would have had to be more cautious and pick them off one by one when facing three high-attribute demons simultaneously.
But now? He was at ease; he just needed to charge in.
"Everyone, together! It's time to avenge those who just sacrificed themselves!" a swordsman shouted excitedly.
What followed was not a counterattack from the demons, but a warning from Kuguruma Natsunishi: "Don't interfere. They are my prey."
The swordsman's expression blanked.
Eh? You're going to solo them? We all share an irreconcilable hatred for these man-eaters, but isn't your aggro level a bit too high?
Ignoring the bewilderment of the swordsmen, Kuguruma Natsunishi looked at the two surviving demons and grinned.
"Just in time. I'll use the two of you to test my upgraded blade. Besides, you demons don't feel pain anyway, right?"
The demons and swordsmen alike felt a shiver run down their spines. But Kuguruma Natsunishi didn't care; he raised his sword and lunged at the two demons.
"Don't look down on me!" Earth Hanging Blade, with a power level of 62, roared and charged toward Kuguruma Natsunishi.
After a few breaths of time:
[Proficiency +41]
[Proficiency +83]
[Proficiency +101]
By the time Kuguruma Natsunishi had decapitated the demons, the battle on Sashiko's side was nearly over. She had sliced the limbs off the already battered demon. Sashiko didn't take the opportunity to behead it; instead, she silently sheathed her Nichirin Sword and looked toward the youth.
"You little bitch! If I hadn't been careless, how could I have lost to you! Come at me again if you have the guts!"
The demon blustered while struggling to regenerate its limbs, only to find itself covered by a shadow. After seeing Kuguruma Natsunishi's face clearly, the demon realized its companions had all been executed. Panic finally set into its eyes.
However, before it could speak, the cold light of a Nichirin Sword completely enveloped it.
If you're trash, you should practice more instead of chirping. What use is having higher stats than Sashiko if you don't understand the supremacy of the skill multiplier?
[Proficiency +25]
[Wind Breathing LV.3 (263/2000)]
Seeing that there were no demons left standing in the clearing, the rest of the swordsmen finally relaxed. They collapsed onto the ground one by one.
"We survived..."
"A narrow escape, truly a narrow escape..."
"This guy is so strong..."
Sashiko also approached, whispering softly in Kuguruma Natsunishi's ear, "Now, all the swordsmen of this batch owe you a massive favor."
His ear felt a bit itchy from the gentle breath. The youth turned to look at Sashiko. "What can I do with a favor?"
Sashiko gave him a playful glare, then rubbed her chin in serious thought. "For Kuguruma Natsunishi-kun, perhaps you can ask them for their experiences with other Breathing Styles?"
Oh? This finally piqued Kuguruma Natsunishi's interest. He walked up to a slightly scrawny swordsman and extended his right hand.
"Kuguruma Natsunishi. Nice to meet you."
"Eh?" The swordsman took the hand blankly and was pulled up. "I'm Aido Shota. Um, thank you for saving us."
"If you want to repay me, show me a couple of sets of Flame Breathing once you've rested."
"Eh?!"
In his heart, Shota silently added the label "weird guy" to the youth in front of him. A powerful and blunt "weird guy."
Before he could agree, Kuguruma Natsunishi shifted his gaze behind him.
"There's actually one that slipped through the net."
[Rust-Eater???] [Power Level: 49 (Body: 25, Skill: 19, Spirit: 5)] [Blood Demon...]
In the shadow of a tree trunk, a lean, masked man-eating demon was crouching in the corner, silently watching everyone. Its aura wasn't strong, but it felt somewhat eerie. Seeing its partners being taken down, it didn't run; instead, it looked almost eager to try.
But weren't its attributes a notch lower than the demon from earlier?
Almost the instant Kuguruma Natsunishi spoke, Sashiko beside him made her move.
[Water Breathing]
[First Form: Water Surface Slash]
Though the water flow effects were invisible, a sharp slash nonetheless landed on the opponent's left arm.
Got him.
Sashiko had just thought this when she realized the force coming from the hilt didn't feel right. Looking down at her Nichirin Sword, the blade that had been reasonably sharp a moment ago was now missing half its length.
The broken edge was covered in jagged, dark brown rust.
The sword broke?!
"You didn't think you actually got me, did you?"
The demon looked at the young swordswoman close at hand, a twisted, excited expression appearing on its face. It swung its claws down while Sashiko was still dazed.
Blood sprayed.
However, it wasn't Sashiko's head that was severed, but the demon's arm. Along with it, the other half of a Nichirin Sword flew into the air.
It was Kuguruma Natsunishi. He had arrived just in time to successfully sever the arm.
But his Nichirin Sword, just like Sashiko's, had snapped due to the sudden appearance of rust.
Kuguruma Natsunishi raised an eyebrow. This definitely wasn't a problem with the swords. His Nichirin Sword might not be as fresh as if it just came out of the forge, but it was a long way from rusting through. If it wasn't the sword, then naturally, it was the demon in front of him.
"Oh? You've realized?"
The demon was scrawny, but its laugh was incredibly arrogant. "But so what if you realized?"
"I can regenerate an infinite number of times, but you only have one sword."
The spurting blood from its stump was already beginning to sprout buds of flesh, regenerating at a speed visible to the naked eye. Meanwhile, in Kuguruma Natsunishi's hand, only a broken blade remained.
-----------------------------------------------
I handpick only the finest and most captivating novels for you. Don't forget to check out my other novels!
p@treon HongMengZi