Chapter 238: 238 Development of Thunder Breathing
Marilyn’s shock did not catch Reiger’s attention.
Reiger just looked at the very distressed Yuri and suddenly reached out, touching her head.
"What do you want me to say?" Reiger asked with a faint smile, "Should I tell you how awesome I am?"
These words were exactly the same as when Reiger had first revealed his strength in front of Yuri by fending off an attack from the "Shadow".
The gloominess on Yuri’s face vanished instantly, and she stared in shock at Reiger, who continued to smile and touch her head, before she finally came to her senses.
"Don’t treat me like a child!"
Yuri slapped Reiger’s hand away, visibly annoyed.
Yet, if one looked closely, they could see a slight redness on Yuri’s cheeks.
With Reiger acting this way, Yuri no longer felt in the mood to question him thoroughly.
"I really want to know how many secrets you still have hidden." Yuri sighed, "If I had known earlier that you had this level of strength, why would I have worried so much?"
In response to Yuri’s comment, Reiger just smiled noncommittally.
Yuri did not know that Reiger was actually still holding back.
In his match with Albert, Reiger used Thunder Breathing, not Sun Breathing.
The difference between the two was like that between heaven and earth.
Sun Breathing had evolved to another class, enabling Reiger to possess stable strength that spanned levels, making him nearly invincible at Lv.7.
Although Thunder Breathing had its unique aspects, it naturally did not compare to the evolved and advanced state of Sun Breathing.
In fact, Reiger quite liked Thunder Breathing.
With the help of the Ubuyashiki family, he mastered the basic five breathing techniques and during the two months of sparring with the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps, he also learned the derivative breathings they controlled.
Whether it was Sound Breathing, Mist Breathing, Serpent Breathing, Insect Breathing, or even Love Breathing, these derivative breathings that Reiger did not originally know; he grasped them unconsciously during the sparring, mastering them all.
This wasn’t a difficult task for Reiger, who had managed to grasp the Flame Breathing by just observing Rengoku Kyoujurou during their first meeting.
Reiger even learned Kokushibou’s Moon Breathing during their confrontation by observation.
This fact, if it became known in the Demon Slayer World back in the Demon Slayer Corps, would definitely drop many jaws, huh?
Thus, Reiger could be said to have mastered almost all the breathing styles of the original Demon Slayer World, except for the Flower Breathing and Beast Breathing, which he had not witnessed and thus not learned.
Among the many breathing techniques, Sun Breathing was undoubtedly the most useful for Reiger, closely followed by Wind Breathing, which could be applied in a rapid attack mode.
The other breathings, however, were not as influential because they could not be applied to any combat mode, and therefore did not contribute as much to Reiger, but among these, Thunder Breathing was undoubtedly his favorite.
This breathing, second only to Sun Breathing in terms of the difficulty of mastery, was also the fastest and had the highest burst strength among all the breathings, truly a cutting and instantaneous killing weapon that one could not help but love.
This was evident when Reiger developed from Sun Breathing the new "Secret Technique: Blossom", the thirteenth form.
"Blossom" was a draw-cut slashing technique, while the First Form "Thunderbolt Flash" of Thunder Breathing was also a draw-cut technique, both possessing a similar ingenious nature.
For this reason, Reiger even tried evolving Thunder Breathing, to transform it just like Sun Breathing.
Unfortunately, he failed.
Because Thunder Breathing and Sun Breathing are entirely different.
Sun Breathing could evolve, could transform largely because it possessed astonishing inclusivity.
As the origin of all breathing techniques, the progenitor of all breathing styles, the five basic breathings derived from Sun Breathing, with the derivative breathings stemming from those, also tracing back to Sun Breathing, even including Moon Breathing. This shows that Sun Breathing encompasses everything, possessing immense inclusivity and malleability.
It’s not like other breathing techniques, which enhance only specific characteristics, but rather, it comprehensively enhances all-around capabilities.
Such inclusivity, malleability, and comprehensive nature allowed it to transform into a divine technique that could strengthen the human body in all aspects.
But other breathing techniques couldn’t do this.
For example, Thunder Breathing, which focuses on speed and burst strength, other aspects are not important in this style, and thus it couldn’t merge with the breathing techniques of Akasha Continent to achieve an all-around strengthening effect like Sun Breathing.
It also lacked the inclusivity and malleability of Sun Breathing, so it couldn’t be easily modified or molded.
Thanks to this, among all the breathing styles, only Sun Breathing could undergo transformation and evolution as Reiger had envisioned, while the other forms could not.
This had caused Reiger regret more than once.
However, in the current situation, Thunder Breathing could be useful.
"Indeed, displaying strength is the best way to deter the nefarious, but if all of one’s strengths are revealed without keeping some cards hidden, sooner or later it will lead to disaster," Reiger thought with a clarity like a polished mirror.
Facing this threatening situation eyed greedily by many, Reiger knew he had to show enough strength to intimidate them, yet he could not fully expose his capabilities to avoid being targeted.
With such consideration, Reiger held back a trick or two, keeping his true strength concealed.
In his view, even without using Sun Breathing, entering into a strong attack mode, or using Wind Breathing in a rapid attack mode, he could easily handle someone touted as the top individual below a Sword Saint.
By this time, Reiger was usually invincible even at Level 6, even if his opponent was Albert Bolei, who had reached the limit of Level 6 and could even be considered half a Level 7 master, he could still win by a slight margin.
So, when Reiger used Breathing Techniques to enhance his power, even though it was just an ordinary Breathing Technique without transformation or evolution, he could barely step into Level 7, securing a victory over Albert Bolei.
Level 7, even if barely attained, was truly of the Sword Saint caliber. It was enough to deal with a typical Sword Saint, let alone someone who was half a step behind?
Furthermore, the Breathing Technique used by Reiger was Thunder Breathing, known for its speed and explosive power among all Breathing Techniques, and it was the same type as the unique Secret Technique swords form he developed himself, the First Form. The strike that Reiger unleashed in that instant was not easy for a typical Sword Saint to block.
The result was just as expected.
Albert Bolei, this so-called first-below-the Sword Saint, was nearly instantly defeated and suffered a painful defeat.
Displaying this level of strength was enough to deter petty criminals.
Reiger already had plans in mind.
"From now on in public, I will use Thunder Breathing against enemies, hiding my true strength," Reiger thought silently, "If anyone thinks this is all I’ve got and prepares accordingly, I’ll give them another big surprise."
Thinking of this, Reiger then thought of Agatsuma Zenitsu.
As a Swordsman who only knew the Thunder Breathing·First Form·Thunderbolt Flash, Agatsuma Zenitsu seemed incompetent, but he was actually a peak practitioner of Thunder Breathing.
In the original story, he trained his only known First Form to perfection and developed even stronger moves on this basis.
"Thunder Breathing·First Form·Thunderbolt Flash·Divine Speed."
"Thunder Breathing·Seventh Form·Fire Thunder God."
These are the two sword forms Zenitsu ultimately created himself based on his understanding of the Thunder Breathing·First Form in the original story.
"Divine Speed" is the ultimate execution of "Thunderbolt Flash," the fastest flash, the quickest slice.
"Fire Thunder God" could manifest a speed that not even the Upper Rank demons could detect, allowing Zenitsu, who didn’t even qualify as a Pillar and had none of the Demon Slayer trio’s abilities awakened, to behead his senior who had become an Upper Rank demon.
Reiger felt these two moves had potential and shared a similar yet unique genius with his own "Secret Technique: Blossom."
"It might be worth exploring a bit, maybe I can find inspiration to improve ’Blossom’ through analogy," Reiger thought.
Reiger was thinking about such things.
Unaware of all this, Yuri was still shocked by that dazzling thunderbolt, little did she know that it was far from Reiger’s true strength.
But there was one thing Yuri knew.
"The sword skill you used today was a special class, wasn’t it?" Yuri glanced at Reiger and said, "So you’ve already mastered a special class sword skill?"
Despite her efforts to open the library for this tricky fellow, it turned out he didn’t need it at all.
Special class sword skills, even the Franzel family didn’t have them.
"Well, sort of."
Reiger didn’t explain much.
In the eyes of the people in this world, Thunder Breathing indeed qualified as a special class sword skill.
Special class sword skills were those that allowed swordsmen to develop special abilities, some could summon wind, others could control fire, performing magic-like feats.
Thunder Breathing, which turned thunder-like force into slashes, was seen as a special class sword skill in this world, except it didn’t permanently enhance one’s physical abilities, only temporarily.
Therefore, Reiger didn’t plan to explain too clearly.
"No matter how, this wraps things up," Reiger said indifferently, "Although it can’t be said to be completely worry-free, it should at least not attract any sneaky tactics, right?"
At these words, Yuri paused momentarily.
"...Whether there are sneaky tactics, I can’t guarantee," Yuri suddenly laughed and said, "but I can assure you, you have something to do next."
"What?"
Reiger froze there.
Perhaps as a way of getting back at Reiger, Yuri decided to keep him in suspense as well.
"You’ll find out later."
After saying that, Yuri boarded the carriage on her own.
Marilyn was still in shock, giving Reiger a strange look before finally following into the carriage.
Reiger was puzzled.
"What could it be?"
Unable to figure it out, Reiger could only follow suit and board the carriage.
It wasn’t long before Reiger realized that he indeed had something to do next.
But whether it was good or bad, it was a matter of perspective.