4 New Skills, Evil Slayer.
"Say System, is the barrier that prevents my aura from being discovered by others, still around?" Tanjiro asked as he looked at his status panel.
[Yes. It will still be active for 23 minutes.]
"I see."
Looking at his skills, Tanjiro took a deep breath as he tried to use the 'Hinokami Kagura' Breathing style.
Tanjiro felt his body heat up as his body was shrouded flames. He felt some sort of power circulating throughout his body, which was quite different from his previous breathing style. Suddenly, he started to feel pain in his chest, as if his heart was about to burst.
But before he could continue with the technique, Tanjiro was stopped by a system notification.
[Kamado Tanjiro, it is suggested that you don't continue with the usage of the skill. Your stats may have risen after you got the Dragon Legacy, but you've just barely entered Tier 1. You physical stats needs to be at least at least at the pinnacle of Tier 2 to utilise the skills that are coloured gray.]
Only after the system's reminder did Tanjiro notice that, almost all of his combat skills, except for 'Transparent World', were gray coloured.
"Now that I think of it, it's kind of obvious. There's no way I'll be able to utilise my skills in this child body… And system, no need to call me by my full name. Just Tanjiro is fine."
[Affirmative.]
"That unknown force I felt within me when I tried to use Hinokami Kagura breathing… that must probably be the 'mana' shown in the status screen." Tanjiro thought.
"The flames that enveloped me wasn't just an aura projection of the breathing technique! Those were… real flames!" Tanjiro was sure of his thoughts. After all, as a former Demon Slayer who practiced two breathing techniques to a very high level, Tanjiro was easily capable of noticing the difference in the flames he had produced.
Tanjiro took a deep breath, but he wasn't trying to use his breathing skill. Instead, he was trying to feel the force known as 'Mana' within him.
He entered a state of total concentration, activating the skill 'Transparent World'.
Tanjiro was able to see the mana within his body, and soon…
*Ding*
[You have learned the skill 'Mana Sense'.]
He was able to feel the mana within him. The sensation of mana was becoming more and more clearer as he felt it.
*Ding*
[The skill 'Mana Sense' has levelled up.]
[Your Proficiency in using the skill has increased.]
[The skill 'Transparent World' has levelled up.]
[Your Proficiency in using the skill has increased.]
Tanjiro, then, tried to move his mana to his will.
*Ding*
[You have learned the skill 'Mana Control'.]
After he familiarised with control the mana a bit, Tanjiro noticed that his mana can transform into two different forms of 'power'.
Tanjiro controlled his mana towards both of his palm slowly. His right palm lit up with a bright red light and his left hand with bright blue light.
And then, a ball of fire formed on his right hand and a ball of water formed on his left hand. Tanjiro looked at this with amazement as he subconsciously deactivated his 'Transparent World'.
*Ding*
[You have learned the skill 'Create Fire'.]
[You have learned the skill 'Create Water'.]
[The skill 'Mana Sense' has levelled up three times.]
[Your Proficiency in using the skill has increased significantly.]
[The skill 'Mana Control' has levelled up two times.]
[Your Proficiency in using the skill has increased.]
Disregarding the system notifications, Tanjiro was completely absorbed in observing the ball of fire and water in his palms. Saying that he was fascinated was an understatement.
Tanjiro then stopped the flow of mana to the balls of fire and water. The ball of fire slowly dissipated and the ball of water just fell to the floor.
…
In an unknown dimension.
Alficius looked at a screen showing Tanjiro, with a smile.
"As expected of a former protagonist with the 'World Fate Fragment'. He learned how to use mana so quickly. He even learnt how to use fire and water magic without the use of the modified breathing arts. His experience with using breathing techniques and his 'Transparent World' helped him get those skills faster than I thought." Alficius muttered under his breath, then he closed the screen showing Tanjiro.
Then, Alficius thought about Tanjiro's family background in his new life, which was completely different from what he had set up with his authorities.
"Kamado Tanjiro, your current circumstances are more dire than I thought. I never thought that my opposition would find out about your existence as soon as you reincarnated as my chosen one. But regardless, I still have great hope on you."
…
After collecting his thoughts and dismissing the system panel, Tanjiro dressed up and prepared to go to school.
"School… I never went to one in my past life since I was living in a pretty remote place." Tanjiro felt quite complicated right now. All the new things he has to do in this world, everything made him feel quite alienated to his new identity. And the fact that he has to grow up as a child didn't help the situation.
"Young master! It's time to go to school!" His caretaker, Juki's voice brought him out of his thoughts as he made his way to Juki.
"I'm ready, Juki-jiisan."
"Let's go then."
…
Tanjiro was going to school with his caretaker, Katakiri Juki.
"After awakening my past memories and my skills, I'm able to perceive this world more clearly now. The air is quite impure compared to my previous world. I wouldn't be surprised if a human's natural life span would decrease drastically by living in places with polluted environment." Tanjiro thought, feeling a bit upset.
But that feeling soon vanished as he looked at the bustling street with people going forward with different purposes. Some were going to their work places, some to the schools and higher education universities, etc,.
Suddenly he felt a hand being placed upon his head. Looking up, Tanjiro saw Juki smiling at him.
"Juki-jiisan?" Tanjiro was puzzled by this action of Juki.
"Today is your fifth birthday. After you've returned from school, we'll have a little celebration at our house." Old Juki said while smiling gently.
"…" Tanjiro felt a bit of melancholy, hearing the word 'birthday'. Ever since his family had perished, he had never even remembered his birthday.
"… And… I'll also tell you the secret of the Kamado clan." Old Juki said in a very low voice, but Tanjiro was still able to hear it. Probably a new perk due to being a Dragon.
"Secret?"
"!!" Juki was surprised. He didn't think that Tanjiro was able to hear him, despite how quietly he had spoke.
"Haha, I'll tell it to you later, Young master. Now go on." Juki said with a smile as he pointed at the entrance of the elementary school.
Many children, along with their parents or older siblings, were seen near the entrance of the school. Despite the scene looking crowded, it somehow felt soothing to Tanjiro.
"I'll be going then, Juki-jiisan. See you later." Tanjiro said as he strode towards the school.
Looking at the young Tanjiro's back, Juki's smile become a bit solemn.
"How time passed so soon, he is already five… I wish I could stay with young master longer till he had grown up to be an adult. But… I don't have much time left."
Old Juki looked up at the clear sky and let out a depressing sigh.
…
In the late afternoon.
After the school was over, old Juki had come to pick him up from the school.
On the way, Tanjiro looked at Juki who was walking by his side with an expression of curiosity.
''From his scent, I can feel his kindness and sense of justice, but also the smell of blood. He must have fought in a lot of battles. But… what is this gloomy scent I'm picking from him? It feels so dark yet I don't feel that the scent itself is from something evil.. I've never picked up such a scent before. Is this due the skill modifications that Alficius-san talked about?" Tanjiro thought.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Tanjiro tried to use 'Transparent World', an ability he gained a bit of mastery over right before his death, on Juki to see his condition.
Tanjiro was using this ability because, in the 'Transparent World' state, he is able to analyse and perceive the blood flow, muscles, skeletal joint alignments, organs and mana flow to a very precise level. It is a very useful ability in battle as it gives him the ability to foresee the movements of any living opponents.
When Tanjiro used the 'Transparent World' to look at Juki, he was very surprised by what he saw, which was quite evident in his face.
*Ding*
[The Skill 'Transparent World' has levelled up.]
[Your Proficiency in using the skill has increased.]
The sudden notification surprised Tanjiro a bit, but he completely ignored them as he focused on Juki.
"What are those blue veins in his body? Is that his mana? It's circulating all around his body like blood in such an orderly manner. Completely different from me. Is this the difference in the level of mana control between me and Juki-jiisan? And… What is that black mark on his heart area? It looks so ominous…" Tanjiro was baffled with the strangeness of old Juki's body.
"What's wrong, young master? Why do you keep staring at me like that?" Juki asked, feeling a bit puzzled about Tanjiro's strange action. Despite being a possibly strong fighter, he was unable to feel any of Tanjiro's attempts at looking through his body's condition.
This was because, Tanjiro's 'Transparent World' ability doesn't originate from this world. Nor does it have many abilities similar to 'Transparent World'.
"No, I was just curious about something." Tanjiro said hurriedly.
"Haha, what an inpatient child, you are. I'll tell you about the secret once we reach home." Old Juki laughed and ruffled Tanjiro's hair a bit.
"…"
…
In half an hour, they reached the Kamado residence, since it was quite close to the school.
As they entered the house, Tanjiro could feel the air around Juki become solemn.
"Young master, please follow me." Old Juki said, then he made a few hand signs.
"Divine spell: Hidden Gate!" Uttered old Juki.
*Sizzle!*
Suddenly, a door made of glowing green light appeared in front of Juki and Tanjiro.
"!!" Tanjiro was beyond shocked and was immediately on guard at the sudden appearance of this magical door. But he soon relaxed as he saw Juki being calm.
"Juki-jiisan, what is this..?"
"Young master, please follow after me. This gate will lead to a hidden dimension where the secrets of Kamado clan, as well as the secrets of the now extinct Evil Slayers." Juki calmly said.
"Hidden dimension..? What's that supposed to mean?" Tanjiro was confused.
"Sigh.."
Old Juki sighed. He gently placed his had on top of the head of young Tanjiro and looked at him with a sad smile.
"I'll slowly explain everything. Everything that you need to know. If possible, I didn't want to do this as you're still very young. But If I don't do it now, it'll be too late."
