Chapter 21: Awakening the Mark

Seeing that katana full of eyes approaching at a terrifying speed, and seeing that it had no support or means to maneuver in the air, a mixture of fear and admiration arose in Shinobu's heart.

Her heart was beating fast, she knew it was impossible to dodge, and trying to block would probably break her sword.

But she didn't have many options, the sword or her body, so she didn't have to think long before making a decision.

Crack!

Her katana blade broke in two, thus only retaining two thirds.

Because of the impact, Shinobu's fall was accelerated, and soon she hit her back on the ground.

Blood being spat out of his mouth, some of his ribs broken and his organs slightly torn apart.

"At this level of strength you could rival Akaza or Douma" Kokushibo praised, as he approached.

"But not enough to kill, right?" asked Shinobu as she stood up, a hint of mockery in her question.

Her body was shaking, but she got up anyway, the goal was to strengthen herself, and staying on the ground wouldn't help.

Then, gathering her last strength and what was left of her sword, Shinobu again launched a thrust.

"She really is determined," Kokushibo commented, looking at his pierced abdomen and the fainted Shinobu he had parried with his right hand.

"As long as she survives, she should awaken the mark," he concluded, pointing to her left cheek.

"Yes, and I will make sure she survives," Lucian agreed, before picking her up and laying her in his arms.

'How envious' thought Daki as she looked at the two, feeling the desire to be close to Lucian too.

While she was thinking thoughts and Kokushibo just watched calmly, Lucian reached out his hand, a bright red thread came out of Shinobu's body.

Yes, this was one of her creations, he had placed it on her body to stimulate her heartbeat and increase her body temperature.

 Effectively ensuring they both reached the minimum requirement whilst ensuring they did not reach a lethal point.

After all, leaving everything to luck is not his habit.

He then injected his blood into Shinobu, the transformation would grant her the ability to fully recover.

And not disappointing the efforts of both, after 30 minutes Shinobu woke up as a demon with a demonic mark.

"... I feel the power running through me" she said, looking at her hands, after being stunned for a few seconds.

"I hope so" Lucian said, laughing when he saw the expression on her face.

Shinobu seeing the situation she found herself in, lying on Lucian's lap, blushed slightly, and then leaned back again, placing her face on his chest.

"Thank you… both of you" she thanked, noticeably, her words and posture changed because she remembered Kokushibo and Daki's presence.

She quickly stood up, hiding her blush, composed herself and looked at her sword, which was now broken.

"It's really a shame that she broke down like that."

Breaking such a precious katana would be unfortunate enough, but it would be even worse to break it during training.

"Soon you will be able to create a new one, one made from your flesh and blood, reflecting the image in your heart" comforted Lucian, what sword could be better and more suitable than the one made from the body of the swordsman himself?

"For now, use the remains of this one. Both of you, attack me," he said, preparing to awaken the demonic mark as well.

So Shinobu and Kokushibo did, while Daki was there solely to serve as an audience.

After the transformation, Shinobu experienced a marked increase in physical capabilities, so her previously high combat power will now become even more formidable.

His thrusts as quick as lightning, now fell like rain, due to his vigor that will become as vast as the ocean.

At the same time, Lucian, dealing with Kokushibo's frenzied attacks, then grabbed his sword, and swung with it.

Even though there was no kekkijutsu involved, his opponents could feel the scorching temperature and seemed to see solar flames.

Yes, Lucian was using solar breathing. In the few days he was relatively still, he asked Tanjiro to teach him.

Imagine the boy's surprise when he discovered that this familiar dance was actually the ultimate breathing technique.

Shinobu's insect breathing is light and agile, similar to a butterfly.

Kokushibo's Moon Breath is cold, sharp and rapid, sending out a barrage of attacks.

As for the breath of the sun, it is strong, but still fast and is hot like the sun, with attacks that interconnect and flow like the waters of a river.

Simply a technique that borders on perfection.

One of the big reasons why Lucian wanted Sun Breath so much is because he wants to awaken a related kekkijutsu.

Right now your blade is simply hot, but in the future it will be burning in terrible flames.

At the same time as he dodged and blocked the attacks that swarmed him, Lucian controlled his heart rate and temperature.

And after several minutes in this situation, he felt as if something broke inside him, and his vitality began to flow towards something unknown.

With the increasing flow of his life force, a mark began to appear on his left chest, above one of his hearts, the one that would be the only one for humans and most demons.

After the appearance of this mark he felt every cell in his body stirring.

His body was now stronger and faster, and his senses became even more acute.

"We can stop now, I have already awakened the mark" said Lucian, stopping Shinobu and Kokushibo.

"That means it doesn't take much pressure for the mark to awaken" Kokushibo commented, he knew that Lucian was dealing with these attacks with relative ease.

The point is, without great stimulation, no one reaches 200 heartbeats per minute.

Especially if it's a demon, considering that practically nothing changes their heart rate.

This must be why no demon possessed the mark, except Kokushibo, who awakened it before becoming a demon.

"That's true, a real risk to life is not necessary, as long as I control the other party's heartbeat and temperature, it becomes very easy for awakening to happen safely" Lucian confirmed.

"So I didn't suffer in vain?" Shinobu asked with some discontent.

Who would want to be beaten when they could not go through with it?

"... Of course not, experiments are the basis for progress, and what doesn't kill only strengthens" Lucian replied with a little embarrassment, trying to justify himself.

Of course, those words just made Shinobu roll her eyes. So she continued training, to familiarize herself with her new powers and prepare for the war that was about to happen.