He felt an unprecedented sense of lightness and clarity spreading through his entire body.
Looking at the completely different font color on his status panel, Natsunishi understood that this Breathing Style far surpassed an SSR.
It was a UR!
"Confirm implementation!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Natsunishi immediately set it as his exclusive Breathing Style.
An original, exclusive Breathing Style functioned exactly like the five foundational Breathing Styles; its level could be rapidly increased using Achievement Points.
But it didn't end there.
A system prompt popped up once again.
"Please name your exclusive Breathing Style."
He could choose the name himself?
Natsunishi blinked in surprise, falling into a brief silence.
Most people agonized for a long time just customizing a character's face in a video game, let alone a ceremonial naming process like this. Natsunishi was naturally going to treat it with the utmost seriousness.
What should it be called?
Primordial Breathing Style? Emperor Breathing Style? Or perhaps Ripple Breathing Style, or Breath of the Mask?
After a brief attempt, he discovered that the system only permitted a single character for the core name.
The youth glanced at the three Nichirin Swords of various colors resting beside him, abandoning any notion of making the Breathing Style match them.
A single character—
The first thing that came to his mind was the crimson and purple figures from the earlier cinematic cutscene. The image of those two standing in opposition, one like a blazing sun and the other like a bright moon.
The Breathing Styles of those two were highly likely called Sun Breathing and Moon Breathing.
"Sun, Moon... Then, how about Star Breathing?"
"It feels a bit generic, like a common choice other players might pick. And besides..."
It felt like a descending sequence. Ranking it after the sun and moon made it feel a notch lower.
He racked his brains for a moment. Finally, he thought of a name that was more encompassing and unlikely to be chosen by other players.
He racked his brains for a moment. Finally, he thought of a name that was more encompassing and unlikely to be chosen by other players.
"Luminosity" — or as he preferred to conceptualize it in its ancient, singular form: "Yao."
The Seven Yao, the Astral Yao, the Solar Yao... In eastern cosmology, the radiance of the sun, moon, stars, and all celestial bodies could all be referred to as Yao. It carried the essence of the sun, moon, and stars, yet extended far beyond just those three elements. By registering it under the grand concept of light and celestial brilliance, it wouldn't be chained down.
This was the one.
Plaintext
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
Name confirmed: Breathing Style of Yao (Astral Breathing)
Please select the concept keywords for the Breathing Style of Yao (Astral Breathing) (0/3).
Immediately after, a large list of words derived from the breathing style popped up on the panel. Oh? So he could even choose his own visual effects?
Gravity, Depth, Starlight, Vacuum, Remoteness, Resonance, Unknown, Boundless...
Without a second thought, Natsunishi directly selected the first three.
The moment he clicked confirm, the subtle sensation of the newly formed Breathing Style inside his body underwent a delicate shift.
"Infusing soul and essence."
The faint scorching sensation that had accompanied the derivation process completely vanished. In its place was a more vast, cold, and mysteriously magnetic concept.
As Natsunishi breathed, it silently bloomed and spread around him like a drop of ink dissolving in water. It felt as though his breath was not merely connecting his heart, lungs, and blood, but the surrounding space and distant stars. It was a profound depth, as if standing beneath the canopy of an boundless universe.
The Breathing Style and its core concept were complete. Next came the matching forms.
Looking at the empty skill panel beneath the Breathing Style icon, Natsunishi began to investigate.
A newly created Breathing Style would not automatically generate powerful sword techniques or combat styles. It required the original creator to fill and construct them manually.
Once these forms were recorded and recognized by the system, they would receive motion-assist corrections and additional damage multipliers. This meant that even a standard horizontal slash or a simple backstep, as long as it conformed to the rhythm of the Breathing Style and was recorded by the system, could unleash effects far exceeding the norm.
Of course, even if the forms weren't officially recorded, it didn't mean they couldn't be used. Just as one could still execute standard sword strikes while using Water Breathing, any martial technique Natsunishi performed using the Breathing Style of Yao (Astral Breathing) (Astral Breathing) as a base would far surpass his ordinary state. It was just that it would lack the extra multipliers written into the system.
Natsunishi gave it a try.
Sure enough, whether it was a soaring slash, an eight-extremities strike, or a simple backflip, as long as he willed it, the system recognized it as an eligible form for recording.
Just like Stone Breathing, it didn't have to be rigidly bound to a Nichirin Sword.
According to the system prompts, he needed to fill at least five forms to complete the construction and activation of the Breathing Style. Thereafter, every time the Breathing Style leveled up, he could develop and record one additional form.
In other words, the Breathing Style of Yao (Astral Breathing) could have a maximum of six forms at Level 1. Upon reaching the Total Concentration level of Level 3, it would increase to eight forms. And upon attaining Total Concentration: Constant at Level 5, it would possess ten forms.
With this in mind, Natsunishi picked up his wooden sword and silently worked on his very first form.
By convention, the first form would be called: (Astral Breathing)
The next day.
Having filled all five form slots, a plus sign symbolizing an available upgrade quietly lit up next to Breathing Style of Yao (Astral Breathing): Level 0.
Success!
Without any hesitation, Natsunishi went all in.
System, add points!
Previously, after raising Medicine and Instruction to Level 4 and Level 3 respectively, Natsunishi's Achievement Points had recovered to 11 points. He did not hesitate to dump his entire savings into this new Breathing Style, which boasted a perfect 100% compatibility.
A total investment, leaving nothing behind.
This time, not a single point was wasted in the conversion process.
Proficiency +5500.
Breathing Style of Yao (Astral Breathing): Level 0 (1/250) to Breathing Style of Yao: Level 4 (1751/4000)
Breathing Style Research: Level 0 (NEW)
Four consecutive level ups!
At the same time, his long-dormant power level began to skyrocket at an unprecedented rate.
Level 1: +11
Level 2: +16
Level 3: +28
Level 4: +45
The power level growth brought by each breakthrough was nearly an order of magnitude higher than the foundational five Breathing Styles at the same stage.
Be it Wind or Water, when upgrading from Level 0 to Level 1, the power level increase was only around 3 to 6 points. Even with his primary Thunder Breathing, it had only increased by 46 points upon reaching Level 5, Total Concentration: Constant.
Yet this new Breathing Style had touched a single-level increase of 45 points just by reaching Level 4. The potential of a UR Breathing Style was terrifying.
Now, with those hundred attribute points applied, Natsunishi's power level had reached a staggering height.
Kuguruma Natsunishi [Wands] [Chariot] [Star]
Power Level: 388
Physique: 165
Technique: 120
Spirit: 103
Breathing Style of Yao: Level 4 (1751/4000)
Level 5: Thunder
Level 3: Wind, Water, Stone, Flame
Level 0: Storm (True Total Concentration / Constant, Full Power)
His lifestyle skills were also completely different from when he had first left the mountain.
Level 4: Medicine
Level 3: Cooking, Suburi, Instruction
Other skills: 24 items
Remaining Achievement Points: 0
This time, there was no sudden, overwhelming surge of fullness, nor the explosive sensation of being able to shatter a mountain with a single punch. In stark contrast to the skyrocketing power level, the aura around Natsunishi's body was extraordinarily serene.
It grew increasingly restrained and deep, like an unyielding, pitch-black night sky.
"Judging purely by the panel values... I should have already stepped into the realm of the Hashira, right?"
Even without factoring in the hidden buffs and the exceptionally high multipliers inherent to the Breathing Style of Yao (Astral Breathing), a score of 388 alone had already surpassed his senior brother, Uzen Igarashi.
Natsunishi even felt that if Kyojuro didn't have any more hidden cards up his sleeve, he might actually hold his own in a fight against him now.
As for exactly how strong he was currently? He really wanted to find a worthy opponent to test his blade on.
Old man Kazami, my grand path to heaven is complete. Why haven't you rushed over to help me validate it!
Natsunishi couldn't help but look left and right. He felt like the wooden sword in his hand desperately needed to cleave something.
Just then, the door to the dojo was gently pulled open.
Kazami walked in, carrying a food box for Natsunishi just as he always did. Seeing Natsunishi standing in the center, he assumed the boy had hit another bottleneck in his development, as had been the case for the past fortnight.
"Kuguruma, developing a Breathing Style is not something achieved overnight."
"There is no need to rush, take your time..."
He cut himself off mid-sentence.
The boy's aura... felt faintly amiss.
It wasn't Thunder Breathing, nor was it Wind Breathing. In fact, it was a far cry from the other foundational styles, or any sub-styles derived from them. It was as serene as the open sky, yet as deep as the cosmos. Faintly, even the surrounding air seemed to be drawn in by Natsunishi's respiration.
It was a Breathing Style he had never seen before!
"Kuguruma, you..."
"Master Kazami," Natsunishi smiled proudly, a starlit gleam swirling in his eyes. "I did it."
Kazami murmured, "You did?"
Natsunishi replied, "I did!"
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