Chapter 111: My Breathing Style
Natsuya felt an unprecedented sense of lightness and transparency wash over his
entire body. Looking at his HUD, the font for his new skill was a vibrant,
unique color that stood out from the rest.
It wasn't an SSR. It was a UR (Ultra Rare).
[Confirm Application!]
Without a second of hesitation, Natsuya set it as his primary Exclusive
Breathing Style. Like the five basic styles, a custom style could be leveled up
instantly using Achievement Points.
But the System wasn't done with the prompts yet.
[PLEASE NAME YOUR EXCLUSIVE BREATHING STYLE]
I get to pick the name myself?
Natsuya blinked, falling into a brief moment of "Gamer Contemplation." For most
people, choosing a character's facial features takes hours. A ritual as
important as naming his own martial art required even more focus.
What should it be? Primal Breathing? Emperor Breathing? Ripple Breathing? Or
maybe 'Noodle Breathing' to match the swords?
He tried a few ideas, but the System only allowed a single Kanji character as
the root name.
He glanced at the three mismatched Nichirin Swords at his side and decided not
to name the style after instant ramen.
A single character...
He thought back to the "Red" and "Purple" swordsmen in the cinematic. They
represented the Sun (Nichi) and the Moon (Getsu). Their styles were likely Sun
Breathing and Moon Breathing.
"Sun, Moon... then should I call mine Star Breathing (Hoshi)?"
"Nah, sounds like a starter-pack name that every other player would pick.
Plus..."
Sun and Moon feel like the top tier. Star sounds like it's a step below them. I
need something that covers the whole map.
He racked his brain for a few minutes before landing on a word that was far more
comprehensive—a name that was unlikely to be taken by a generic "Hoshi" build.
曜 (Yō).
The Seven Luminaries. The Celestial Lights. The Radiance of the Heavens.
In the Far East, Yō referred to the Sun, the Moon, and the five visible planets
(stars). It was a name that encompassed the Sun and Moon while extending far
beyond them.
That's the one.
[NAMING CONFIRMED: LUMINARY BREATHING]
[PLEASE SELECT THREE CONCEPT KEYWORDS (0/3)]
A list of concepts derived from his custom "Code" appeared on the panel.
Wait, I get to customize the VFX too?
[Gravity], [Abyssal], [Starlight], [Vacuum], [Distance], [Flux], [The Unknown],
[Vastness]...
Without overthinking it, Natsuya clicked the first three.
The moment he hit confirm, the "feeling" of the new Breathing Style in his veins
underwent a subtle metamorphosis.
[INJECTING SOUL AND ESSENCE...]
The "Internal Burn" he had felt during the development phase vanished
completely. In its place came a vibe that was vast, chillingly cold, and filled
with a mysterious, magnetic pull.
As Natsuya breathed, his aura began to ripple outward like ink dropped into
clear water. It felt as if his lungs weren't just circulating oxygen through his
blood, but connecting his very existence to the fabric of space and the distant
stars.
It was the feeling of standing alone beneath the infinite dome of the cosmos.
Breathing: Complete. Concept: Complete. Next step: The Forms.
Natsuya looked at the empty skill slots beneath the icon. A newly created style
didn't come with a pre-installed move-set. The "First-Generation Developer" had
to manually input and "record" their own techniques.
Any form recorded and recognized by the System would receive
"Animation-Correction" (aim assist) and a massive "Damage Multiplier" bonus.
This meant that even a simple horizontal slash or a backstep, once logged into
the System, would perform with supernatural efficiency. Of course, he could
still use his regular sword skills, but they wouldn't get the "System Buff"
unless they were officially part of the Luminary tree.
Natsuya ran a few tests. Whether it was a "Dragon-Tilt" slash, a "Baji-Strike,"
or even a simple backflip—if Natsuya willed it, the System identified it as a
recordable form.
Just like Stone Breathing, I'm not limited to the katana, Natsuya noted.
The prompt informed him he needed to fill at least five slots to activate the
style's core bonuses. Each level-up would unlock an additional slot.
[Luminary Breathing] Level Caps:
- LV.1: Max 6 Forms.
- LV.3 (Total Concentration): Max 8 Forms.
- LV.5 (Constant): Max 10 Forms.
Natsuya picked up his wooden sword and began pondering his first move. Following
the logic of the luminaries...
"We'll call the First Form: Solar Sunday (Nichiyō)."
The Next Day.
Having filled all five initial slots, a golden [+] sign began to pulse next to
[Luminary Breathing LV.0].
Build complete. Time to Whale.
"System! Dump the points!"
Between the "Lady Ruka World Quest" and his mentorship of the "Tokyo Trio,"
Natsuya's Achievement Points had recovered to 11. He didn't hesitate for a
micro-second. He dumped his entire life savings into his 100%-Compatible
masterpiece.
[POUR IT ALL IN!]
Every point was converted at a 1:1 ratio. No waste. No tax.
[Proficiency +5,500] [Luminary Breathing] LV.0 (1/250) \rightarrow LV.4
(1,751/4000) [Life Skill Unlocked: Breathing Style Researcher LV.0] (NEW)
FOUR CONSECUTIVE LEVEL-UPS!
Simultaneously, his long-stagnant Power Level began to climb at a rate that
would have made the game's balance designers scream.
- LV.1 Bonus: +11
- LV.2 Bonus: +16
- LV.3 Bonus: +28
- LV.4 Bonus: +45
Every breakthrough yielded a Power Level increase that was an order of magnitude
higher than the Five Basic Styles. Wind and Water only granted 3 to 6 points per
level at this stage. Even his primary Thunder Breathing only gave a +46 bonus at
LV.5 Constant.
Yet Luminary Breathing, at only Level 4, was already granting +45 points for a
single level.
UR potential... is absolutely terrifying.
After the dust settled from the 100-point stat dump, Natsuya's status was
borderline god-tier.
[Kokonoe Natsuya] [The Scepter] [The Chariot] [The Star]
[Power Level: 388]
- Body: 165
- Tech: 120
- Mind: 103
Combat Skills:
- [Luminary Breathing] LV.4 (1,751/4,000)
- LV.5: Thunder (Constant: Overdrive)
- LV.3: Wind, Water, Stone, Flame (True Total Concentration)
- LV.0: Storm
Life Skills:
- LV.4: Medicine
- LV.3: Cooking, Suburi, Mentorship
- 24 Other Skills Unlocked.
Achievement Points: 0
This time, there was no sudden "rush" of power or the feeling of being able to
punch a hole through a mountain. Instead, Natsuya's aura became eerily quiet. It
was internalized and Abyssal—like the weight of a sunless sky.
"Based purely on the numbers... I should officially be in the Hashira bracket
now."
Even without the hidden multipliers of Luminary Breathing, his 388 base stats
had already surpassed Igarashi Uzen. Natsuya honestly felt that if Shinjuro
didn't have any hidden "Super-State" buffs, they could trade blows as equals.
I wonder how strong I actually am? I need a target to test my edge on...
Kazami, my little Master... my path to godhood is complete. Come here and let me
verify my DPS!
Natsuya looked around the empty dojo, his wooden sword itching for a hitbox to
connect with.
Just then, the sliding door was gently pulled back.
Master Kazami entered, carrying a bento box. Seeing Natsuya standing there, he
assumed the boy had hit a wall in his research.
"Natsuya. Developing a style isn't something that happens overnight."
"Don't be impatient. Just take it slow—"
The old man stopped. He froze in the doorway.
His disciple's aura... was wrong.
It wasn't Thunder. It wasn't Wind. It felt nothing like the Big Five or their
derivatives. It was as serene as the sky, yet as deep as the void between stars.
Space itself seemed to be being pulled toward the boy's lungs.
It was a Breath he had never seen in all his years.
"Natsuya... you..."
Natsuya flashed a cocky, brilliant grin, his eyes shimmering with starlight.
"Kazami-sensei. I've cleared the quest."
Kazami whispered, "Cleared it?"
Natsuya: "I'm the Dev now!"
☆☆☆
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