Seeing Raiden walk farther away, Sanemi Shinazugawa suddenly stopped and spoke.
"I am willing to be your friend."
Sanemi's sharp, arrogant voice rang out from behind him, making Raiden halt mid step.
For a moment, he wondered if he had imagined it.
[Ding]
[Friend request detected from Wind Pillar Sanemi Shinazugawa. Do you accept?]
[Yes]
[Ding]
[Successfully added Wind Pillar Sanemi Shinazugawa as a friend!]
[Friendship level detected: Initial Acquaintance. Reward granted.]
[Acquired Skill: Wind Breathing Sixth Form, Black Wind Smoke Haze (Mastery)]
[Do you wish to fuse the skill now?]
[No]
Raiden turned around and stared at Sanemi in disbelief.
He had half expected another trick, yet Sanemi had actually meant it.
Why? Had his sense of humanity not completely burned away after all?
Under Raiden's questioning gaze, Sanemi looked away briefly, an unusual hint of discomfort flickering across his face. The hesitation lasted only an instant.
He snorted, bent his knees, and leapt straight into the wisteria forest, disappearing without another word.
Raiden watched him go, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Sanemi's attitude was annoying, but the result was undeniable.
Wind Breathing, Rock Breathing, and Flame Breathing were all among the five fundamental breathing styles.
He had already felt Wind Breathing's ferocity firsthand during their fight, its speed and wide area pressure rivaling Thunder Breathing, with advantages all its own.
Back at the Butterfly Mansion, Tanjiro and the others were already resting in the infirmary.
Raiden located the room Aoi had prepared for him. Sitting cross legged on the tatami mat, he began reviewing everything he had gained today.
Transparent World had already been fused. From now on, he only needed to refine it further.
From the brief state he had entered earlier, Raiden sensed that once Transparent World was fully mastered, a true qualitative change would occur.
The current version was still incomplete.
Next was the Superior Talent he had obtained from the Love Pillar.
Raiden had initially planned to ignore the pending reward, but his eyes suddenly narrowed.
The Superior Talent was glowing.
He scanned the other unclaimed rewards. Only this one emitted a faint light.
Focusing his attention on it, the system responded.
[Similar talents can be fused for advancement]
[Current talent: Superior]
[Progress required: Superior Talent 2/5 to advance]
Raiden's eyes lit up slightly.
So talents could be fused.
Five Superior Talents could advance into a higher tier.
That meant befriending Mitsuri Kanroji had not been a waste. He now only needed three more Superior Talents to advance further.
Superior Talents were not rare. Even if the system's rewards were random, there was no longer a fear of talent or comprehension becoming useless.
Just thinking about it made his heart stir.
Muichiro Tokito had reached Pillar level in just two months relying on his Superior Talent alone, and his strength ranked among the upper middle of the Pillars.
If Raiden achieved the same, his growth speed would surpass even Muichiro's.
Shaking his head, he calmed himself. There was still work to do tonight.
Three breathing forms remained unfused.
Once they were complete, he would be far more confident about saving Kyojuro Rengoku on the Infinity Train.
[Do you wish to fuse Rock Breathing Third Form, Stone Skin (Mastery) now?]
[Yes]
Raiden slowly exhaled.
Fusing a new breathing attribute was never simple. It reshaped the body from the inside out.
He closed his eyes and focused inward.
His consciousness sank into an indistinct world dominated by stone. He could not tell whether he was observing the rock or becoming part of it.
As the fusion deepened, his breathing rhythm subtly changed.
His skin took on a faint stone gray hue, making his still form resemble a carved statue.
His arms, legs, and spine strengthened under the newborn force, growing denser and heavier.
Then pain struck.
It surged from deep within his bones, sharp and relentless, as if countless needles were piercing every cell. Raiden clenched his teeth, sweat rolling down his temples.
Rock Breathing and Water Breathing were complete opposites.
Water Breathing had brought calm and fluidity. Rock Breathing felt like being hammered into shape.
After nearly two minutes, the pain faded, replaced by an intense itching sensation.
Raiden could feel it clearly. His bones, muscles, and blood were being reinforced, as if tiny stones were forming within him, reshaping his entire body.
When the fusion ended, he raised his arm and examined it.
Thicker.
His frame had been lean before, but now his arms were visibly sturdier.
No wonder Kokushibo had remarked that Gyomei Himejima's body had been tempered to its absolute limit.
Raiden lightly drew his nichirin blade across his arm.
The sensation was like cutting into hardened leather.
There was no blood.
His skin was far tougher than before.
After observing the changes, Raiden shifted his attention to the final reward.
Flame Breathing Secret Art, Ninth Form, Rengoku.
If a single Rock Breathing form had caused such drastic changes, Flame Breathing would not fall short.
And this was an ultimate technique.
[Do you wish to fuse Flame Breathing Secret Art, Ninth Form, Rengoku now?]
[Yes]
The instant he agreed, the power within him erupted.
A scorching force surged through his bloodstream, seeking release. The heat was far more intense than any fusion he had experienced before.
This Flame Breathing energy attempted to merge with his Thunder Breathing, but their natures clashed violently, making the process exceptionally difficult.
Raiden felt a vortex forming inside his body, tearing at muscle and bone, trying to reshape him entirely.
His skin flushed red, as if brushed by fire. It did not burn, but carried an overwhelming warmth and strength.
Every inhale drew in heat. Every exhale carried a trace of scorched air.
As the fusion continued, Raiden realized this was the true trial.
Not of endurance.
But of understanding.
___
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