Time skip (4)

[Seiji's POv]

[2 month passed]

I have deemed it to be impossible for me to learn the eleventh form of Water Breathing. I did everything correctly, I followed the right breathing pattern, and I could perfectly imitate Giyu's movement.

But what I could not copy was his selfless state. I did not know how he did it, but it was impossible for me to completely erase my fighting spirit.

There had to be at least something in you while fighting, it could be hate, it could be excitement, hostility, fear or any other emotions. It was impossible to not feel anything, at least that's what I think.

If you did not feel anything, what was even the point of fighting altogether? What makes you move against the enemy? How could you harm something without at least feeling anything?

It was psychopathic behaviour.

Eventually, I came to the conclusion that Giyu was able to fight even after erasing all his fighting spirit due to his immense sense of duty. It was a sense of duty that came from his traumas.

It made him move and get the job done even when he was not feeling anything, like a robot that was programmed to complete a task no matter what.

'Dead Calm.'

That was the name of the form. I guess I had to accept that I was not the only one who was incredibly special. Giyu had something in him that I could not replicate even with my eyes and all my genius.

Hopefully, though, I will be able to achieve the selfless state normally if I ever awaken my Demon Slayer mark.

Just for the record, I had absolutely no intention of ever awakening my Demon Slayer mark. The reason was pretty obvious, I didn't want to die at the young age of 25.

So that meant I had to be significantly stronger than the rest. I would have no unreasonable powerup in the middle of the fight so I always had to be superior to my enemies.

The training continued. My swordsmanship was impeccable but there were always new ways to improve.

I changed my training style a bit and focused on one breathing style for a week, and then I focused on another in the second week and so on.

Demons were never-ending. You truly realized that when you were slaughtering them every single day.

It really did not matter how much we kill, they would always multiply. To stop this war, we need to kill the demons from the root which was Muzan Kibutsuji.

Then again, that seemed even more impossible.

So I trained and train and train and train. I got stronger and stronger and stronger. My techniques got more and more refined, and my skills increased day by day.

My experience stacked up to build me up as a warrior. Each error and mistake shaped me to become a killing machine as pain moulded me into the bane of demons.

Not only that, I was also naturally growing stronger as I aged. I was certain that I was easily the second strongest Hashria by now, only below Gyomei because he was just built differently.

As I grew taller, I stopped strapping my sword on my back. Instead, I constantly carried my sword in one hand. This helped me draw my blade faster and also provided me with a non-lethal weapon as I used my sheathed sword as a blunt weapon.

I gained the habit after I had to carry supplies on my back. Then I realised it was much better when I was constantly carrying my sword, sheathed or not, instead of strapping then on my back.

So most of the time, you would see me carrying a long-ass sword in one hand, sometimes using it as a cane as I hunt down demons.

..

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[1 month passed]

I took it easy during this month. I spent the time travelling across Japan, constantly keeping an eye out for that one home in the forest where Tanjiro lived but still, no success.

I visited Rengoku in his home again and I spent some time there.

We trained together and I also learned that Shinjuro's depression was getting worse. He was officially a bum, a shameful shell of his former glory. All he cared about these days were complaining and drinking wine, just like how he was portrayed in the anime.

He barely completed missions and refused to attend Hashira meetings.

It was honestly a sad sight to see. I was considering asking him for a spar or at least asking for teachings to improve my Flame Breathing but as he was now, it was not possible.

He refused to even teach his own son, telling him that he would never be as good as people like me no matter how hard Rengoku trained.

I stayed with Rengoku for a few days. We trained together and cooked giant meals which we enjoyed after each training session. I also got to meet his cute little brother who thought I was literally the coolest guy ever.

Hahaha, it was nice to have a young admirer. They were so innocent. It made me want to be better to not disappoint them.

After leaving, I visited Giyu and then Sanemi. I ended up helping them in thier missions as well and asking both of them to spar with me.

Of course, we only used thier respective breathing styles while sparring and in the end, I won both sparring sessions. Rather easily.

I spent one whole month doing such things.

...

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[1 month later]

"Gyomei Himejima, please take me under your wings." I said and did a 90-degree bow to probably the only human stronger than me.

I've learned Flame Breathing, Thunder Breathing, Water Breathing and Wind Breathing. Now it was finally time to learn the last breathing out of the five major breathing styles which was also known as the strongest breathing style.

If I was Thanos collecting the infinity stones, this would be the final stone.

"I'll be honoured, Seiji." Gyomei replied as a small stream of tears fell from his eyes.

So, that's it? I asked myself. It was easier than I thought.

I was expecting some challenge like Sanemi but I didn't know Gyomei was chill like that. Nevertheless, I smiled and thanked him.

I had been delaying learning Stone Breathing because I wanted to grow physically first so that I could complete the training Gyomei would give me. But now I have grown enough.

Standing at the height of 5'10 feet, my body was filled with compact muscles that made sure that I was no longer inferior to any of the Hashrias in terms of strength.

"Take care of me." I said with a nod.

"Same to you." Gyomei replied.

And so, my training in Stone Breathing began as I went under the wings of Gyomei Himejima.

...

/////////////////////

[2 months later]

Water Breathing taught me to be formless and shapeless like water. Adapt to your enemy and find a way through them, whether it be flowing over them, around them, or under them.

But then Stone Breathing's like, Nah.

Stone Breathing taught me to stay true to myself and never falter. I was not meant to change or adapt to my enemies, instead, I should crush them all with unyielding force.

Be an unstoppable force and an immovable object.

I could not comprehend for the life of me how these two breathing styles even derived from the same Breathing.

Stone breathing emphasised strength and endurance. But unlike Thunder breathing or Wind Breathing, it did not focus on bursts of stregth instead, it focused on continuous application of strength.

It also emphasised on momentum - that is, utilizing the momentum of each strike so that as the battle went on, I would become stronger and stronger and last in a drawn-out battle. I should be like a boulder rolling down a mountain, gaining more force the longer I went on.

The training started much like how it started for Tanjiro, I had to push a giant boulder - even bigger than Tanjiro's - and learn to stay under a weight waterfall.

The waterfall training was meant to build my endurance and also sharpen my persistence which was what Stone Breathing was all about.

The boulder-pushing training was meant to teach me the concept of constant application of force. Basically, I did not have to have the burst of stregth to move the boulder. If I stayed persistent and applied force on the boulder, over time that would build up and naturally move the boulder.

While pushing the boulder, I learned that it's not about using a single burst of energy or power, but maintaining a steady and continuous exertion of force. This was akin to the idea of endurance and persistence—constantly applying pressure, rather than stopping and starting, ensures steady progress.

This part of the training was the most tricky one and it took me nearly a month to complete them. But after that was done, the rest of the training was a breeze.

There were no forms I could copy from Stone Breathing as it required the use of weapons other than a sword. But Gyomei took his time teaching me about the basic concept of Stone Breathing and also showed me examples of the forms that I could copy.

He even referred to a Stone Hashira in the past who used a giant claymore to help me. In the end, other than the constant breathing of Stone Breathing, I had to recreate the forms to fit me.

But with all my mastery over breathing styles as a whole, I was able to create forms for Stone Breathing pretty easily.

After two months, I learned everything i could from Gyomei. Stone Breathing proved to be the hardest breathing style I'd ever learn.

I think this one would take me years to fully master.

But for now, I could say that I had learned all of the five major breathing styles.

..

..

Hmm, the idea of beating Muzan Kibutsuji still felt as impossible as ever. I thought it be a little different after I learned all the breathing styles but nope.

Well, like all the past MC's before me had said,

More power.

Six months passed

[IjoynE]

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Author : Bro, I'm binging Megumi Waifu Catalog 'Potential Man' and haven't written shit. I don't think I will be able to do so until I finish all existing chapters.

It's been a while since I found a fanfic that caught my whole attention like this so I just wanted to share my joy.

500 stones and get another chapter. The next will be the last time skip, I really want to get this over with and go straight to Mitsuri arc.

Join my patreon to read two weeks ahead.

Patreon : Emmanuel_Capricorn.