22. Void State

Like Leo said. Sabito woke up soon, however he couldn't even sit properly, his body seemed to be devoid of energy.

"Um, guys, a hand."

Leo ignored him while Giyu chomped on the plates of food infront of him. Makomo seemed to be the only one who even listened, she brought a plate of food to him and sat him straight.

Sabito ate while crying, now that he was awake and lucid he could feel pain all over his body. Even the slightest movement was filling his mind with pain, but he still managed to somehow finish his food and was about to ask for more. However only a pot soup remained.

His eyes turned red as he glared at Leo and Giyu. He wanted to curse out loud but he couldn't do that, his lungs seemed to be filled with pins each time he took a breath. Sabito was truly in tears.

Leo and Giyu laughed when they saw Sabito's miserable expression. Makomo was still cultured as she placed a bowl of soup infront of Sabito.

Giyu wiped his mouth and suddenly asked Urokodaki who was silently eating all this time.

"Master what did you mean before? What state?"

Urokodaki poked Giyu's head with his chopsticks and said, "Now you remember?"

Giyu rubbed his head and smiled foolishly. Urokodaki shook his head and explained. Makomo and the rest leaned in closer to hear what he was about to say.

"Every Swordsman have their respective Breathing Techniques and accompanying Forms. Mastering these Forms to perfection will make us strong, but what is perfection? What does mastering Forms mean?"

Leo and the rest were in thought.

"It's to understand the Essence of every Form."

Leo answered after some thought, after Sabito did that final attack Leo understood many things and this is the conclusion he came to.

Urokodaki nodded his head and continued.

"Mastering the Essence of Sword Forms, that is what it takes to fully understand a Sword Form. Most people walk around the boundary of such a state for all their life but never understand what it truly means."

"Master, what is the Essence of Water Forms?"

Giyu asked with expectation, however Urokodaki immediately shot him down, "Every person has their own understanding of the Essence of Water Forms, though the end point is same the path is different, mine won't be suitable for you neither would be Sabito's."

A dejected Giyu sat around a corner and drew circles.

Leo ignored him and asked, "What's that state you mentioned?"

Urokodaki drank a mouthful of soup and explained, "Normally it would take a lifetime even for gifted individuals to understand the Essence of any Form and all the way to mastering it, however there is an exception. It's a miraculous state that will allow a person to go leaps and bounds in mastering any Essence. It's called Void State."

Void State...

Leo and the rest carefully pondered that word. Urokodaki gave them time to digest everything and continued.

"Records indicate that every person who has entered Void State atleast once in their life have extraordinary achievements and were known throughout that era."

Leo, Giyu and Makomo collectively looked at Sabito when they heard that. Sabito's nose seems to be stretching out and seems to be pointing to the skies when he heard Urokodaki.

Extraordinary achievements? Him? Nah.

Leo and the rest shot a contemptuous gaze at Sabito and ignored him completely. Sabito was so mad that he wanted to flip out, but he realised he couldn't move otherwise he would be rolling around in pain. Gnashing his teeth Sabito continued to listen.

'These kids...

Urokodaki sighed in his mind and said, "Normally understanding to mastering any Essence is like scaling the mountains with bare hands however entering Void State is like catapulting you up the mountain. How much you understand is depended on talent and luck."

I see...

Leo nodded after some thought. Now he really envied Sabito, he turned his head to look at the person in question then shook his head. Sabito saw Leo's look and was incensed.

His eyes turned red as he tried to open his mouth, however as soon as he did his face was twisted in pain. Giyu and Makomo also looked over, their expressions indecipherable.

Why the heck are you looking at me like that!?

Looking at their antics Urokodaki was tinkled. He was relieved that these kids still retained their pure heart while living in this cruel world.

The day went by. Since he had no immediate mission Leo decided to head to Tanjuro's house. However he wasn't alone Sabito and the rest decided to tag along. Anyway Makomo was about to take part in the Final Selection so it was a good thing to get some actual combat experience.

"What? You mean the owner of the place we are going is stronger than Master Urokodaki?"

Giyu asked incredulously.

"Come on Leo, don't exaggerate. Even if he was stronger than master, the gap can't be that wide."

Leo simply smiled and said nothing. Makomo for the first time asked something.

"What kind of Breath user is he?"

Leo was surprised, he shot a glance at Makomo and praised her.

"You really aren't like these two idiots. He is a Sun Breath User."

Huh!?

Leo ignored two murderous eyes and continued to walk. Makomo face showed a startled expression when she heard the term Sun Breath, she looked deeply at Leo. Giyu and Sabito felt as if their existence somehow got weak.

"Hey Makomo, what's a Sun Breath."

Sabito asked Makomo in a hushed voice. Makomo shot a glance at him and said in a carefree manner.

"The First Breath. Every other Breath in existence is a derivation of that original Breath."

Sabito and Giyu tilted their head and asked in a confused tone.

"Why don't the both of us know about this?"

Makomo said in a plain tone.

"I read, you guys don't."

Fuuu...

The wind blew by, suddenly the rowdy group descended into silence. Leo who was walking infront was trembling, he was doing his best to not laugh. Sabito and Giyu yelled simultaneously.

"Laugh! Go ahead Laugh! Hmph!"

Hahahaha...

Along the way many heads were turned seeing an odd group of youngsters.