Chapter 13: The Five Basic Styles
If the intel was correct, the power gap between the Lower Moons and the Upper Moons wasn't just a step—it was a literal canyon.
His "Cheap Master," Kazami, was confident he could take on a mid-tier Lower Moon. Naturally, the Hashira—who were even stronger than Kazami—should be able to handle them with ease.
But the Upper Moons?
For most Hashira, let alone winning, simply surviving an encounter with one was considered a miracle.
Natsuya mapped out the Tier List in his head: Upper Moons >> Hashira > Lower Moons ≈ Master Kazami > Me.
The Endgame Raid Bosses are definitely going to be those Upper Moon creeps, he thought.
However, if the enemy was really that cracked, why was the Demon Slayer Corps still running a high-mortality "Battle Royale" for its recruitment process?
Shouldn't they be focused on increasing their "Player Count" and nurturing as many talented swordsmen as possible?
If one Hashira couldn't solo an Upper Moon, why not send two? What about a four-man raid party? As long as the Corps had a large enough "Player Base," the odds of "Prodigy Spawns" (Hashira-level talent) would naturally increase.
If the Hashira operated in squads instead of solo-queueing, their survival rate would skyrocket. When facing man-eating monsters that broke the laws of physics, why were they still following some "honorable 1v1" bushido code? Just jump the guy!
After all, there were only six Upper Moons total.
If Master Kazami hadn't repeatedly vouched for the Master, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, being a truly benevolent leader, Natsuya would have flagged him as a "Secret Villain" NPC. The kind of shadowy strategist who treats human lives like disposable pawns on a chessboard.
Perhaps finding the topic too grim, Kazami decided to change the subject.
"Natsuya, you should rest well for the next few days. Once your uniform and Nichirin Sword arrive, you'll have to fulfill your duties as a Slayer."
"Since your custom weapon might take longer to forge, you'll likely have to make do with a standard blade for a while."
"Don't push yourself too hard. We'll spend the next few days sparring, and then we'll get you ready for your first mission."
The old man began to clear the table, but Natsuya stopped him. "One more thing, Kazami-sensei."
Natsuya framed his technical "System" question in a way the old man could understand. He was worried about his Compatibility with Wind Breathing. It was only at 65%, meaning for every 3 Achievement Points he spent, 1 was lost to "Conversion Tax."
He suspected this wasn't just a UI penalty. It likely affected his training speed and the "frame data" of his sword forms. If he found a style with 100% compatibility, his "Combat Power" would likely jump by 50% even without increasing his base stats.
Kazami didn't scold him for being "greedy" or "ambitious." Instead, he took the question seriously.
"Breathing Styles—Wind, Thunder, Flame, Stone, Water—they all stem from the same core technique," Kazami explained. "They are methods of using specific rhythmic breathing to hyper-boost your biological functions. It isn't magic; it's a refinement of the body."
"Because it's a physical technique, it naturally reacts differently to each person's unique build and skeletal structure. These differences can be positive or negative."
"For instance, someone with a massive frame and heavy bones? They'd be a bad fit for the 'Glass Cannon' explosive speed of Thunder Breathing. They are far better suited for the raw power of Flame Breathing or the unyielding defense of Stone Breathing."
"What about someone with high talent but low lung capacity? Instead of high-drain styles, they should choose Wind or Water, which are more forgiving on the body's stamina reserves."
Kazami went deeper, explaining that even "Reaction Speed" and "Personality" played a role in the "Meta-fit."
If your "Neural Reflexes" weren't top-tier, you'd feel a "clunkiness" or lag when trying to execute Thunder Breathing forms. A loud, straightforward person would struggle with the "fluidity and misdirection" required for Water Breathing.
"However," Kazami added, "these differences aren't insurmountable. The Five Basic Styles were designed to be adaptable. They just emphasize different buffs: cardio-bursts, endurance, joint-leverage, or limb-strength."
The only "Special Case" was Water Breathing. It was the most "Newbie Friendly" style with the lowest entry requirements. That was why the Corps had more Water users than anything else.
"Wait, the difficulty curve for the Five Styles is different?" Natsuya asked, feeling like a student discovering a hidden Wiki page. "Water Breathing is basically 'Easy Mode'?"
The old man nodded, basing his answer on decades of experience.
[The Class Difficulty Tier List]
Stone Breathing: Hardest. Requires massive raw Strength and Constitution.
Thunder Breathing: Very Hard. Requires God-tier Agility and "Leg-muscle" stats.
Wind & Flame Breathing: Mid-Tier. Wind focuses on cardio and balance; Flame focuses on explosive limb-power.
Water Breathing: Easiest Entry. Balanced, but relies on coordination and reflex.
Most Slayers spent their whole lives just trying to master one of these five. They didn't have the luxury of "Min-Maxing" their build; they were too busy trying not to get eaten.
Natsuya nodded. Typical. Casual players focus on hitting max level; only 'Whales' and 'Pro Gamers' worry about their skill-synergy and deck-building from Level 1.
Then, Natsuya asked a "Pro Gamer" question.
"What if none of the five styles fit? What if someone's stats are high, but they don't sync with any of the Basic Five?"
Kazami didn't deny the possibility. "The Basic Five are called 'Basic' because over the hundreds of years of the Corps' history, dozens of Derivative Styles have appeared. These were created by prodigies or people with unique bodies."
"They took the core logic of a Basic Style and 'modded' it to fit themselves. It isn't necessarily 'Stronger,' but it's more 'Compatible' for them personally."
"Anyone capable of inventing their own style and making a name for themselves is at least a high-ranking Slayer, if not a Hashira-candidate."
Interesting, Natsuya thought. The 'Basic Styles' might even be 'Down-scaled' versions of some ancient 'Primal Breathing Style' that had even higher stat requirements.
Natsuya summed up his "Combat Math" in his head:
[Weapon Tier] × [Base Stats] × [Technique Mastery] × [Form Difficulty] × [Breathing Tier] × [Breathing Level] × [Compatibility Multiplier] = Final Damage.
To beat this game, he didn't need to be a god in every category, but he couldn't afford a "zero" or a low multiplier in any of them.
I need to fix my build, Natsuya decided.
"Sensei, how do I develop my own custom Breathing Style?"
Kazami stared at him blankly. "How should I know? I use a 'Standard Build.' I'm not a god."
Natsuya: "..."