Chapter 6 : 6th Stance

"Alright listen carefully Takeo....as you may or may not know, Breathing techniques are swordsmanship techniques that are taught and practised within the Demon Slayer Corps. They help Demon Slayers develop their strength and capacity to fight an equal or possibly superior match with a demon", Master Kenzō proclaimed.

"Did you get all of that Takeo?", Kenzō asked.

"Yes Master!", Takeo quickly replied before thinking, 'I wonder what breathing technique master uses'.

"Now as I was saying. Breathing techniques basically allow us to fight demons toe to toe. But what most demon slayers do not know is you can use more than one Breathing technique at once....", he stated before looking at Takeo's surprised expression.

"More than one! Then can I use 3?", Takeo questioned, wondering if he could somehow use 3.

In response Master Kenzō stared at Takeo before stating, "I have never seen anyone use more 3 or more breathing techniques at once....mainly because of the strain it causes on your lungs and your body...but who knows maybe you could be the first...".

'Master...', Takeo thought as he looked at Master Kenzō with stars in his eyes.

"As I was saying. The ability to use more than one Breathing Technique is known as Breathing Hybridization, and is also what I use and what I'll teach you. Whether you can withstand the training is up to you", he proclaimed, before he stroked his beard.

"Don't worry Master. I'll prove it to you!", Takeo retorted with determination.

'Wait he uses more than one? Which breathing techniques?'.

"Wait Master you can use more than one breathing technique?!", Takeo exclaimed, surprised at this discovery.

Smiling at his reaction, Master Kenzō began to laugh, "hehehe, young one it isn't a common skill, and before you ask...I use the Flame and the Thunder Breathing Style", "And that is what I will teach to you", he proclaimed with a warm smile.

Staring at his master for a few seconds, Takeo quickly bowed towards Kenzō before shouting..."Thank you Master!". "It is alright Takeo, stand up", Master Kenzō said before the two met eye contact.

Unknowingly, whilst they were staring at each-other, Takeo saw a glimpse of his father in Master Kenzō...causing a tear to fall from his eye.

Noticing this Master Kenzō sighed before moving his hand towards Takeo face, before he wiped away Takeo's tear. "Men shouldn't cry Takeo", Kenzō proclaimed.

It took a few seconds for Takeo to reply, but when he did, he smiled before saying, "Thank you Master...for everything".

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After 5 Minutes, Takeo was refocused and listened to his Master's teachings.

"Before I help you with the Flame Breathing Technique, I will give you an introduction to the Thunder Breathing Technique", "But before that...this is my Nichirin Blade". Taking out a long blade, Master Kenzō put it into Takeo's hands.

"Also known as a colour-changing sword, because it changes colour to match it's owner, they are special blades used by and made specifically for the Demon Slayer Corps to slay Demons. They are forged from a unique ore that constantly absorbs sunlight, it is one of the few weaknesses Demon's have. The only way to slay a demon is to decapitate it with this sword".

"When can I get my own one?!", Takeo proclaimed quickly, as he had stars in his eyes whilst he stroked the blade.

"After the Final Selection", Kenzō stated.

'That's still a long time', Takeo thought with a depressed face.

Noticing this, Kenzō bashed his fist into Takeo's head with fury, which made him fall to the floor gripping his head, "What did I tell you about patience!".

"AH! That hurt's Master! Why did you do that?!", Takeo yelled to the air.

"Enough fun I'll tell you how to use the Thunder Breathing Style so get up", Kenzō stated, avoiding his question.

As soon as Takeo heard the words, "Thunder Breathing", he immediately got up and looked like he had never been hit in the first place.

"Follow what I'm doing", Master Kenzō before he spaced his legs away about shoulder-width apart from each-other. Then he closed his eyes. Following that his master was doing, Takeo spaced his legs about shoulder-width apart from each-other before he closed his eyes.

"I want you to breathe in quickly, but then exhale slowly, before you focus all your weight away from your legs".

Following his orders, Takeo breathed in quickly, before exhaling slowly...

"Huu! Haaaaaaa!", before focusing his weight away from his legs. When he followed his master's teachings, he felt a tingling sensation around his legs, mainly in his calfs.

"Alright that's enough...Did you feel anything?", Master Kenzō asked

"Yes Master! I felt a sensation around my legs, mainly my calfs..", he stated before he went into thought.

'Since Thunder Breathing, relies on speed, it seems I'll need to strengthen my legs so I can use it more efficiently'.

"That is good, It seems you can use both breathing styles", Kenzō stated before he patted Takeo's head.

Before he continued, "Since you've gained some understanding on how to use the Thunder Breathing Style, and you already know some knowledge on the Flame Breathing Style, let us enter the cave", before he walked towards the cave.

'I can do this!', Takeo thought, 'Master withstanded temperatures below -100°C'.

Following Master Kenzō not far behind, before he even entered the cave, an abundance of cold air whizzed past and hit Takeo, making his hair stand on end.

'I-It's already freezing, and I haven't even entered', he thought, still at the entrance, which made Master Kenzō turn around and look at Takeo.

"Today I will sit next to you and guide you. Tomorrow you will be alone", "If you can't bear this temperature then you'll be in trouble for the next segment of training", he stated one last time, before he kept on walking.

The deeper they went into the cave, the colder it became...Takeo hugged his robe to try and get enough warm, but then Master Kenzō said...

"Take off your robe", to which Takeo looked at his master with a comical blank face.

'You have to be kidding me', he thought before he followed his Master's commands.

CLACK! CLACK! CLACK! CLACK!

Takeo's teeth chattered in the cold, showing he was freezing, "Sit down", Kenzō said.

When he finally sat down, Kenzō looked at him and said, "I want you to use Flame Breathing to make your whole body warm. You'll have to focus and continuously keep your Flame Breathing active. There is no time limit for this test since you are young, but it's beneficial for you to get this stage done with quickly". "I will give you an example", he proclaimed before he closed his eyes.

Inhaling slowly before he exhaled quickly, 'It's like the opposite of the Thunder Breathing Style', Takeo pondered.

"Carry that feeling in your stomach, and focus it around your whole body, warming every cell and making yourself stronger". "Try and attempt it", Kenzō said.

In response, Takeo nodded before he closed his eyes. Inhaling slowly before he exhaled quickly, it took some time for him to feel the heat in his stomach again. Steam flowed out of his mouth when he exhaled again, whilst he tried to carry the heat around his body.

Continuing this breathing process for 30 minutes, until he felt tired. 'Looks like my stamina still isn't enough', 'I couldn't spread it everywhere in time before I stopped', he thought whilst he gasped for air.

"HUU! HAA!", "It seems you can't maintain your breathing constantly.

"I can do it agai-again master", Takeo said whilst still taking deep breaths.

Looking at him for a few seconds, until he got up, Master Kenzō looked at Takeo, "Follow me", he stated, before he led him outside and walked towards the mountain peak.