Chapter 16

The sun was finally peeking over the mountains, painting the sky with streaks of pink and orange. The demon was dead, but the forest still felt heavy, like the air itself was mourning.

I started searching for the missing monk, my "Mind's Eye" scanning every nook and cranny. I knew it wasn't gonna be pretty, but I had to find him, at least to give him a proper send-off.

After what felt like hours of searching, I found him. Or what was left of him.

He was hidden under a pile of twisted vines, his body broken and battered. It was a gruesome sight, like something out of a horror movie. The stench of venom hung in the air, a reminder of the agonizing death he must have suffered.

I knelt beside the body, my stomach churning. This wasn't just a demon attack; it was torture, pure and simple.

For the first time since I got stuck in this crazy world, I felt a wave of anger wash over me. Not just the usual "demons are jerks" kind of anger, but a deep, burning rage that made my blood boil.

"Damn it," I growled, my voice shaking. "I should've been faster."

Guilt gnawed at me. If I had gotten here sooner, maybe I could have saved him.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Dwelling on the past won't help anyone, I told myself. The best I can do now is make sure this doesn't happen again.

I carefully removed my own tattered shirt, wincing as it snagged on a few scrapes and bruises. It wasn't much, but it was the cleanest thing I had. I gently wrapped the monk's remains in the shirt, a makeshift shroud for a life cut short.

With a heavy heart, I carefully picked up the monk's remains, the makeshift shroud clutched tightly in my arms. Fuyume, my owl buddy, hooted softly, like he was feeling the sadness too.

"Alright, Fuyume," I said, my voice a bit shaky. "Lead the way. Let's get him home."

The walk back to the temple felt long and quiet. The forest didn't seem so beautiful anymore. All I could think about was the monk and how he suffered.

We finally reached the temple. The sun was already up, shining on the old stone building. Monks were chanting in the courtyard, their voices echoing through the morning air.

I walked inside, my footsteps heavy on the wooden floor. The monks turned to look at me, their faces showing surprise and worry.

I bowed low. "I've brought back your missing brother," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

They crowded around me, tears in their eyes as they saw the monk's body. The head monk, an old guy with a long beard, stepped forward.

"Thank you, young man," he said, his voice shaking. "You've brought him home."

He led me to a small, quiet room. I gently laid the body down. The monks gathered around, their voices rising in a sad song.

I stood there, head bowed, saying a silent prayer. I didn't know much about their religion, but I hoped it would help the monk's spirit find peace.

When the ceremony ended, I felt a little bit better. The monk's death was awful, but it reminded me why I was here. I was a Demon Slayer now. I had to protect people from this kind of pain.

Before I left, the head monk handed me a simple undershirt and a white hanten - a kind of short, quilted jacket. "You shouldn't travel without proper clothing, young man," he said kindly. "May these garments protect you on your journey."

I bowed again, grateful for his kindness. "Thank you, Sensei," I said sincerely.

I bowed again to the monks and left the temple, Fuyume back on my shoulder. It was time to move on, to face whatever challenges were waiting for me.

With Fuyume as my trusty GPS, I navigated the winding mountain trails, my Odachi slung over my shoulder.

As the sun began to set, I finally stumbled upon a small village nestled in a valley. Just as I reached the outskirts, the heavens opened up, unleashing a huge rain. Of course, I grumbled, pulling my hanten tighter around me. Just my luck.

Soaked to the bone and shivering, I sought shelter under the eaves of a nearby house. A moment later, the door creaked open, and a kind-faced old woman peered out at me.

"Oh, my dear," she exclaimed, her voice filled with concern. "You're drenched! Come in, come in."

I hesitated, not wanting to impose. But the woman insisted, ushering me into her cozy home. She quickly set about preparing a warm meal, the delicious aroma of soba noodles filling the air.

"Here you go, young man," she said, placing a steaming bowl in front of me. "Eat up and warm yourself."

I practically inhaled the noodles, savouring the warmth and comfort they provided. "Thank you, Oba-san," I said, my voice thick with gratitude. "This is the best meal I've had in days."

The old woman smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "You're welcome, dear. Now, get some rest. You look exhausted."

She led me to a small room, where a futon lay spread out on the tatami floor. She even provided me with a clean yukata to change into.

"Thank you again, Oba-san," I said, bowing deeply. "You're a lifesaver."

As I lay down on the futon, the warmth and comfort lulled me into a peaceful sleep. But just as I was drifting off, a loud crack of thunder startled me awake.

The storm raged outside, the wind howling, the rain pounding against the roof. And as I listened to the thunder sound, a thought struck me.

I remembered the strange black energy I had felt during my training, the crackling sensation that had accompanied my movements. Could it be... electricity?

I sat up, my mind racing. I had always been fascinated by physics, even in my past life. I knew that lightning was a powerful force of nature, a discharge of electrical energy. But how could it be connected to my Kinetic Breathing?

I grabbed my notebook and charcoal, eager to explore this new idea.

Kinetic Breathing: harnessing the energy of motion, I wrote. But what if... that motion could generate electricity?

I scribbled down my thoughts, the words flowing onto the page as I connected the dots.

Friction generates heat, and heat can cause ionization. Ionization leads to a buildup of electrical charge. And when that charge reaches a critical point...

I paused, my heart pounding with excitement.

...it discharges as lightning.

The pieces were falling into place. The black energy I had felt, the crackling sensation, the increased power and speed... it all made sense now.

But then, a nagging doubt crept into my mind. Wait a minute... black lightning? That doesn't exist in the real world, does it?

I racked my brain, trying to recall my physics knowledge.

There's dark lightning, I remembered. It's a burst of gamma rays that happens during thunderstorms, even more powerful than regular lightning, but invisible to the naked eye.

Could that be what I'm digging into? I wondered, my excitement mixed with a sense of anxiety. If that's the case, this is far more powerful than I expected.

I shook my head, pushing aside the doubts. This is an anime world, after all. Who knows what kind of crazy stuff is possible here?

Besides, the energy I had felt, the power I had glimpsed, it was undeniably real. And it was definitely black.

Black Lightning it is, then, I decided with a grin. Sounds pretty badass, if you ask me.

A shiver of excitement ran down my spine.

This is gonna be epic.

(To be continued...)

Over9000words leans back in their chair, a smug grin plastered across their face. "Aha! You finally figured it out, huh? Black Lightning Breathing! I was hoping you'd discover it during a life-or-death battle, just as you were about to get skewered by some demon's claws. Then, BAM! A flash of dark lightning, a surge of power, and you'd unleash your hidden potential!"

Akio raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Really, Over9000words? You were gonna let me almost die just for a dramatic reveal? That's... not cool."

Over9000words shrugs. "Hey, it would have made for a great plot twist! Besides, you've got that plot armor, remember? You'd have been fine... probably."

Akio crosses his arms, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. But seriously, it's kinda amusing that you came up with this whole 'Black Lightning Breathing' concept. I thought you were just winging it with the whole Kinetic Breathing thing."

Over9000words laughs. "To be honest, Akio, I didn't have a grand plan for your powers. You're the one who came up with the whole kinetic energy angle, and the black lightning just... kinda evolved from there. You're the one who's been doing all the heavy lifting, my friend."

AI-sensei nods in agreement. "Indeed. Akio's unique perspective and knowledge from his past life have been instrumental in shaping his abilities and breathing style. It's a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the boundless potential of the human spirit."

Akio smirks. "Aw, shucks, Sensei. You're making me blush. But seriously, Over9000words, next time, try to come up with a plan before you throw me into a life-or-death situation. My heart can only take so much excitement."

Over9000words winks. "Don't worry, Akio. I'll try my best. But hey, where's the fun in a predictable story? Besides, who knows what other surprises await you on your journey? Maybe you'll even discover a hidden technique that lets you control time or teleport or something."

Akio's eyes widen with excitement. "Ooh, now you're talking! Just don't make me sing and dance to activate it. That's where I draw the line."

End of Chapter 16