Chapter 12 Ghost Blood and Breathing Technique
Butterfly Mansion.
Inside the silent laboratory, only the faint glow from the microscope's bulb illuminated Arthur's focused expression.
He squinted, his gaze fixed on Nezuko's blood sample under the lens.
At this moment, he was trying to unravel a mystery.
Why, as a Demon, was Nezuko so different?
As for the analysis results, they could only be described as peculiar.
It wasn't that the essence of a Demon was peculiar, but that Nezuko herself was a huge anomaly.
The blood components under the microscope seemed to possess life, continuously changing and pulsating at an astonishing speed.
Despite having become a Demon, unable to eat normally, and never having devoured human flesh and blood.
Yet, Nezuko's body seemed to contain an inexhaustible energy source, supporting the incredible transmutation of her blood.
This completely defied the common sense he knew!
Even the alchemy he specialized in had to operate under the iron law of equivalent exchange.
With this thought, Arthur reached for the documents provided by the Ubuyashiki Clan on the table.
The content on the yellowed pages was sparse, only recording a cruel fact.
All the Demons existing in the world originated from the blood split by Muzan Kibutsuji.
Arthur had also observed other Demon blood samples stored in the Butterfly Mansion.
Although those blood samples also contained vitality far exceeding that of humans, compared to Nezuko's blood, they were like stagnant water, completely lacking the latter's activity.
A Demon's regenerative ability is extremely strong; severed limbs can be quickly restored, essentially ruling out the possibility of blood decaying due to being outside the body for too long.
Combined with the events Tanjiro recounted—
His entire family was attacked, and only his sister Nezuko survived after being exposed to Muzan Kibutsuji's blood, but she turned into a Demon.
The answer seemed to be on the tip of his tongue?
Nezuko's mutation originated from Muzan Kibutsuji's blood, but it underwent a miraculous fusion with some unknown, unique physique of her own?
"Similar to… humans who can quickly adapt to becoming Dead Apostles?"
Arthur's thoughts leaped to his original world.
That world was bizarre, with demons and monsters emerging endlessly, and his thinking was far more open than that of people in this world.
With a clear mind, he immediately called for the medical staff of the Butterfly Mansion to help him with a small task.
Before long, a fresh blood sample from Tanjiro was brought before him.
After quickly determining the blood type through centrifuge and saline tests, Arthur carefully mixed the two blood samples.
The experimental results were a mix of joy and sorrow.
The moment it came into contact with Tanjiro's blood, the mutation speed of Nezuko's blood suddenly surged, and its activity directly doubled, as if pouring oil on fire.
Unfortunately, this astonishing burst lasted for less than a few seconds, and the rapidly changing blood quickly became dormant and completely inactive, as if it had exhausted all its energy.
Clearly, the amount of the experimental sample was too small to sustain this drastic change.
But the result was enough to explain the problem—
Tanjiro, the brother with a blood connection to Nezuko.
His blood could provide powerful fuel for the mutation within Nezuko's body, aiding her evolution.
"This is truly…"
Arthur shook his head with a bitter smile, an absurd thought taking root in his mind, refusing to leave.
If Tanjiro had stayed home that day, after coming into contact with the Demon King's blood, perhaps an existence far more terrifying than the Demon King would have been born?
Further investigation into Nezuko's condition still needed to wait for Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Tamayo to finalize their meeting arrangements.
After all, Tamayo's identity was special, making it inconvenient for her to appear at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters; Arthur would have to go in person.
He meticulously recorded the experimental data and deductions, then got up and left the laboratory, which was filled with the smell of medicine.
As soon as he pushed open the door, a voice with a clear fake smile drifted over.
"Ara~ Mr. Arthur, is there any progress in your research?"
Kocho Shinobu, who had been waiting for a long time, leaned against the door, her gentle smile not reaching her eyes.
Arthur's gaze fell on Kocho Shinobu's overly perfect fake smile, but his mind flashed to the residual toxic instruments in the laboratory.
He was silent for a moment, but still couldn't help but advise her.
"The effect of Wisteria Poison on Demons is ultimately limited. Everything you are doing now is like a moth flying into a flame; it's simply not worth it."
Kocho Shinobu's smile instantly vanished, replaced by an unyielding coldness.
"I'm terribly sorry, I don't understand what you're saying."
Arthur shook his head helplessly; he understood the taboo of speaking too deeply with a casual acquaintance, so he said no more and turned to leave.
Watching Arthur's retreating back, Kocho Shinobu's fingers, gripping the hilt of her sword, tightened immensely, her face so gloomy it seemed it could drip water.
"Moth flying into a flame… is that it?"
She murmured to herself, a resolute fire of hatred burning in her eyes.
"As long as I can get revenge, what does it matter if I burn in the flames!"
...Returning to the temporary lounge arranged by the medical staff, the first thing that caught Arthur's eye was.
Fou, who was lying on the bed, reading in a strange posture.
That's right, reading.
The pure white, usually only interested in fighting and food, young beast.
At this moment, it was squatting on the edge of the bed in a very human-like manner, its front paws carefully holding down an ancient book, its furry head very close, as if concentrating on deciphering the text.
The book was a document that Kagaya Ubuyashiki had specifically ordered his Hidden to deliver, and its content was all-encompassing.
It recorded the history of the Demon Slayer Corps' struggle against Demons over a thousand years, as well as various secret anecdotes.
Arthur knew that Fou could read, and seeing it so engrossed, he didn't disturb its rare moment of refined enjoyment.
He walked directly to the desk and sat down, his gaze sweeping over the topmost ancient book on the desk, whose cover bore four large characters—
"Water Breathing."
"This is?"
Arthur was slightly taken aback, then immediately understood.
This should be the foundation upon which the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen relied to fight Demons—Breathing Technique.
Earlier, when he fought Kocho Shinobu and Sanemi Shinazugawa, he had keenly noticed something unusual.
The breathing rhythm of these two was extremely special, with an astonishing intake of air, but a relatively small exhalation.
Accompanying this breathing was an explosive increase in physical functions.
Arthur came from a world where mystery far surpassed martial arts, and he found this method of purely training the body to obtain superhuman power very novel.
After all, in his original world, a martial artist who had practiced boxing for twenty years couldn't withstand a volley of magic bullets.
Naturally, few Magus would delve into the limits of the body's potential.
As for reinforcement magic and close-quarters combat, those were more of a compulsory course for modern Magus to deal with emergencies, and cannot be generalized.
With curiosity in his eyes, he opened "Water Breathing" and began to read it carefully.
The "Breathing Technique" of this world was completely different from the Breathing Technique in his understanding.
In his world, Breathing Technique mostly referred to adjusting breathing rhythm and frequency during exercise to improve oxygen efficiency, stabilize body and mind, and enhance endurance.
But the Breathing Technique here pushed the function of the heart and lungs to the extreme!
Through a specific breathing method, a massive amount of oxygen, far exceeding the normal human limit, was frantically ingested, forcing the blood to become extremely active in a short period, thereby unleashing astonishing physical abilities capable of contending with Demons.
Swordsmen who further mastered the Breathing Technique could even maintain this extreme state for twenty-four hours, continuously improving their physical fitness like an unceasing furnace.
"The person who created the Breathing Technique is definitely a genius."
After understanding the wonders of the Breathing Technique, Arthur expressed his heartfelt admiration... After quickly browsing the methods of Water Breathing, Arthur closed the ancient book and sat upright at the desk.
He closed his eyes and began to try to operate the Water Breathing as described in the book.
"Hiss—"
"Hoo—"
A large amount of airflow surged into his lungs; he could clearly feel his heart rate accelerating and his muscles subtly bulging.
But after only repeating it dozens of times, Arthur frowned and opened his eyes.
He shook his head and, without another word, directly picked up the "Flame Breathing" next to him.
In the following time, he tried and experienced the five most basic Breathing Techniques of the Demon Slayer Corps—
Water, Flame, Wind, Thunder, and Stone, one by one.
Finally, he came to a conclusion.
"These Breathing Techniques designed for ordinary people have very little effect on me."
Arthur leaned back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table.
"Simply relying on strengthening cardiopulmonary function to improve physical function? The efficiency is far less than if I directly cast reinforcement magi—…"
Mid-sentence, Arthur's voice abruptly stopped.
His eyes changed dramatically, and he fell into a deeper level of thought.
Among the Divine Blessings he possessed, there was a skill called [Symbol of the Red Dragon].
Its effect, in addition to an over-spec increase in magic resistance and consciousness perception, more importantly, granted him an incomparably powerful Magic Reactor Core!
This Reactor Core allowed him to continuously generate vast amounts of magic power simply by breathing!
People in this world had no magic power, so they had to find another way, indirectly enhancing physical fitness by inhaling large amounts of oxygen to strengthen their heart and lungs.
So—what about Arthur, who possessed a Magic Reactor Core?
His magic power was already far beyond that of ordinary Magus, and after obtaining the Divine Blessing, it had grown like a snowball, never stopping.
Breathing Technique, through specific rhythmic breathing, guides qi to strengthen the body.
The Magic Reactor Core generates endless magic power through breathing.
Reinforcement magic uses magic power as energy to directly strengthen bodily functions.
What if—he could combine these three?
To create a brand new Breathing Technique that directly guides magic power through breathing, as precise and efficient as guiding qi, continuously strengthening bodily functions?
Arthur's eyes burst with brilliant light, as if an explorer had discovered a new continent.
"Magic Reactor Core… the application principle of reinforcement magic… the guiding techniques of Breathing Technique…"
He muttered to himself, his voice filled with uncontrollable excitement.
"I have all the conditions. Come on! Let me try—!"
"Try to create my unique Magic Breathing Technique!"
Arthur suddenly sat up straight, his eyes closed, discarding all distracting thoughts.
Following the preliminary path he had rapidly deduced in his mind, he began to attempt to guide the surging, ceaseless torrent of magic power within him, born from his breathing.
The next moment, a colossal force, as if about to burst him, roared to life and surged forth!
Intense pain, struck him!