"Heaven's secrets must not be revealed. You two just wait for good news."
Ryuya chose to keep them in suspense.
Kokushibo raised an eyebrow. Although slightly annoyed by his apprentice's secrecy, he still offered a timely reminder, "Ryuya, never overexert yourself."
"Don't worry, Master."
Ryuya gave him a reassuring look.
Then Ryuya brought up another matter, which was the real reason he had sought out Kokushibo.
"Master, regarding the sword forms of Moon Breathing, there are a few moves I'd like to ask you about."
"Oh?"
Kokushibo lifted his gaze slightly, signaling Ryuya to continue.
"Moon Breathing, Fourth Form: Heavenly Flower Invites the Moon.
Moon Breathing, Eleventh Form: Palace Lock Moon Slash.
Moon Breathing, Twelfth Form: Soul Chasing Moon Break.
Moon Breathing, Thirteenth Form: Blood Moon Thousand Layers Break.
Moon Breathing, Fifteenth Form: Underworld Soul Moon Sakura Blood Shadow Lock."
Kokushibo had not pushed Ryuya to master these five Moon Breathing techniques before, only giving him a brief introduction at the time.
Mastery of sword techniques lies in quality, not quantity. Even if you learn a hundred Breathing techniques, if you only grasp the superficial aspects, you are still not truly skilled.
But if you master a single Breathing technique, refine it to perfection, wield it with divine precision, and incorporate your own insight into it, then even if it is only one move, that one move will become your most powerful and reliable trump card.
Life is much the same. All roads may lead to Rome, but not every path suits you, nor do you have the energy or ability to master countless Domains.
Choose your own Domain. Choose the path that suits you best, and continuously refine yourself within it. In doing so, you will eventually achieve success and reap your rewards.
"Hmm, it's about time to refine these five forms."
Kokushibo nodded. The reason he had not focused Ryuya on these five forms before was simple. Compared to them, the earlier forms were more fundamental and essential.
"Then without further ado, shall we begin now?"
Kokushibo was exceptionally patient and enthusiastic when it came to teaching. Passing on Moon Breathing to Ryuya and allowing him to inherit and carry it forward was a matter of pride for him.
Ryuya obeyed. The two moved to an open space and drew their demon blades, preparing to clash.
Kokushibo's training method differed from the usual "I demonstrate, you follow" approach.
After teaching a move once, he would immediately use that very sword technique against you. At the same time, you were required to counter him with the same technique.
In battle, you gradually discovered your shortcomings. This method was highly efficient, and because of their demon bodies, any damage inflicted could be healed quickly. Therefore, during this process, Kokushibo would absolutely not hold back.
Just as Ryuya was lost in thought, Kokushibo had already placed his hand on his demon blade, Hollow Cries of the Gods, and launched a merciless technique.
"Moon Breathing, Fourth Form: Heavenly Flower Invites the Moon!"
He drew his blade in a flash, slashing several golden crescent blades upward at incredible speed. Tiny crimson crescent blades swirled around them, making the attack nearly impossible to guard against.
Ryuya's pupils constricted. Even though he had mastered the Transparent World, his reaction speed was still inferior to that of his master, Kokushibo.
In truth, the most suitable counter would have been Moon Breathing, Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamity.
However, when refining techniques, Kokushibo allowed Ryuya to use only the same form to respond.
Ryuya took a deep breath and matched the attack.
"Moon Breathing, Fourth Form: Heavenly Flower Invites the Moon!"
He drew his blade and slashed upward, releasing his own crescent blades.
The two sets of moon blades collided, ringing with sharp metallic clashes.
But the evenly matched exchange did not last long. Experience soon created a decisive gap.
In an instant, Kokushibo's crescent blades shattered Ryuya's defense. A golden crescent, accompanied by smaller crimson arcs, struck his body.
The wound split open, and blood flowed freely.
When Kochou Kanae saw the scene, her delicate brows furrowed as she rushed forward in distress.
"Don't come over, Hui Hui, this is a trial."
Compared to Kochou Kanae's concern, Ryuya himself was indifferent to the injury.
On the contrary, the long-forgotten pain brought him a strange sense of exhilaration. Aside from sparring with Kokushibo, he had rarely been wounded and had almost forgotten what pain felt like.
The scent of fresh blood further stimulated him, sharpening his attacks and accelerating his sword techniques.
"Improved?"
Kokushibo showed a hint of surprise at Ryuya's sudden change. He did not know that this was Ryuya's innate ability, a beneficial enhancement triggered by the pleasure of fresh blood.
It was only after being injured that Ryuya realized he could activate this blood amplification by using himself as the catalyst.
Do not underestimate this discovery. For the Demon Slayer Corps, such a tactic would be self-destructive, losing three hundred to gain four hundred.
But for Ryuya's demon body, there were no true side effects. Blood might be lost, but his powerful regenerative ability compensated for the deficiency.
He could deliberately trigger the exhilaration of fresh blood to amplify his combat power without consequence.
As for pain, it could be ignored. In fact, pain kept him sharply focused in battle.
Ryuya and Kokushibo remained locked in fierce combat. From the Fourth Form all the way to the Fifteenth Form, they clashed relentlessly for an entire day and night.
Inside the pavilion, Kochou Kanae watched with growing worry, her heart tight at the sight of Ryuya's wounds.
Demons healed quickly, but surely it still hurt.
This battle also shattered her previous understanding.
After witnessing Ryuya's full strength, she had once believed him invincible.
Yet when she saw Upper Rank One Kokushibo suppressing him in combat, she realized that Ryuya was not at the pinnacle. There were still beings above him.
At the same time, as she thought about the Demon Slayer Corps and compared it to the power of the demons, a deep sense of helplessness rose within her.
She could not imagine how the Demon Slayer Corps could ever defeat the Upper Rank Demons, let alone the Demon King, Kibutsuji Muzan.
And what of her dream, a fragile hope for peace between humans and demons?
Perhaps the answer to that distant, unseen future lay with Ryuya.
And in that moment, she became even more certain that her decision had been correct. Only by truly understanding Ryuya's situation had she come to grasp the weight of his burdens.
...
Author's Note:
The full completed version of Demon Slayer: Son of Muzan (Completed) is now on Patreon!
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1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
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5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
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