socalfunplaces Page 37
Page 37
"Breath of Flames, Unleashed Form, Blazing Vortex!"
As the wooden sword was swung, a vortex of blazing flames transformed into a sea of fire, instantly engulfing the lightning.
The two intertwined and collided, exploding with residual force.
This time, Ryosuke was not defeated.
But his bones were humming, and his internal organs were churning violently.
Makijuro paused only slightly.
The difference is too big!
This is the power of a Pillar!
Even though a wooden sword was used, and even without going all out, the foundation and explosive power contained in each move far exceeded expectations!
Ryosuke gritted his teeth and launched another attack!
A raging thunderbolt raged wildly around him, and countless silver snakes trembled, displaying terrifying power!
Thunder Breathing: Land Form: Lightning Thunder!
As Ryosuke swung his sword, a torrential downpour of violent lightning erupted!
A hint of surprise and admiration flashed in Makijuro's eyes, and his fighting spirit not only did not diminish but rose, burning fiercely!
He spun around and swung his sword, and blazing flames erupted, transforming into a roaring behemoth!
Breath of Flame, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!
The raging flames bared their fangs, shredding and vaporizing all the incoming lightning!
Lightning and flames intertwined and collapsed, a truly astonishing sight!
At that very moment, when the light and air currents were at their most chaotic, Ryosuke's figure had already vanished!
With lightning speed, he appeared silently behind Makijuro!
Thunder Breathing - First Form - Thunderclap Flash - Six-Strike Combo!
This is the pinnacle of his speed and explosiveness!
The extremely fast slash tore through the air and went straight for Makijuro!
Makijuro focused his gaze and drew his sword to counterattack!
The first strike was blocked, but the second, the third, the fourth... followed closely behind!
A look of surprise flashed in Makijuro's eyes. He barely managed to dodge the attack with his own reflexes, and at the same time, he swung his sword and used the First Form: Shiranui again to take the hit head-on!
A dull thud rang out, and the two wooden swords, unable to withstand the weight, broke into dust.
Ryosuke was breathing heavily, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. The high-intensity bursts of energy had taken a toll on him.
In contrast, Makijuro's aura remained strong, but the admiration in his eyes grew even stronger.
He looked at Ryosuke and nodded repeatedly.
"Excellent! Very excellent! Young Yasui! Your strength has far surpassed that of ordinary level 8 swordsmen! No, it's even stronger than many level 9 and 10 swordsmen!"
"His speed, reaction time, timing in combat, and decisiveness in following up attacks have all been honed to an exceptional degree!"
"Mr. Jigoro's teaching was excellent, but your own hard work and talent were also key!"
Ryosuke calmed his breathing and nodded slightly: "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Rengoku."
He could tell that Makijuro was telling the truth and was not just being polite.
Makijuro took a few steps closer, then slightly changed the subject.
"But you are lacking something, which prevents your moves from reaching their full potential. They are merely in form and are destined to be difficult to break through."
"What's missing?"
Ryosuke was taken aback and humbly asked for advice.
He knew he had reached a bottleneck, but he didn't know exactly where it was.
Makijuro raised his voice: "Or rather, it's a battle of wills!"
Ryosuke was even more confused.
He knew and practiced breathing techniques, sword moves, and the Total Concentration Technique.
But this was the first time he had ever heard of the concept of "fighting spirit".
Of course, this is on the premise that you don't switch to the channel that says "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river".
Ryosuke suddenly remembered that in Mugen Train, his third brother Akaza had once commented on his eldest brother Kyojuro Rengoku's powerful fighting spirit and refined swordsmanship.
Before Ryosuke could think further, Makijuro began to explain.
"The core of the Breath of Flame is to have a burning, fiery will and emotion."
"But breathing techniques are the foundation and the basics. On top of that, one must undergo countless battles to hone one's will, beliefs, killing intent, and protective spirit..."
"And the formless yet real thing that bursts forth from the condensation and sublimation of all spiritual power is battle qi!"
As he spoke, Makijuro picked up another wooden sword and swung it once.
Even though no sword techniques were used, an extremely strong sense of oppression came over him, causing Ryosuke to feel a slight sting.
Makijuro's meaning is very clear.
Cultivating the Flame Breath inevitably requires honing one's battle qi.
Because the target audience for Flame Breath and its affinity with battle qi are so good, the two complement each other.
This is also one of the reasons why Flame Breath deals high damage but is not easy to learn.
"A person with powerful battle aura can intimidate enemies simply by their very existence, even without using breathing techniques."
"deterrence……"
Ryosuke gazed intently into thought.
Upon closer reflection, Akaza's incredible strength, a true battle maniac, must be inextricably linked to the concept of battle aura.
Although it is not specifically mentioned in the original work, it does exist.
Seeing Ryosuke deep in thought, Makijuro continued to offer his explanation.
"Regarding breathing techniques and swordsmanship, Mr. Jigoro should have warned you long ago that swordsmen usually cannot master more than two breathing techniques at the same time."
Maki Juro extended the topic slightly: "Different breathing methods have completely different breathing rhythms, power circulation methods, and even the load on the body."
"Forcing oneself to cultivate both simultaneously can lead to disordered breathing, and in severe cases, it can even damage the lungs and internal organs, causing shock and death."
"The main problem is that you can't bite off more than you can chew. Even if you learn it, you won't be able to apply it flexibly in actual combat, and it will become a weakness instead."
"The five basic breathing methods each have their own characteristics, so usually it is the breathing method that chooses the person, rather than the person choosing the breathing method."
This is basic knowledge about breathing techniques, and it's common sense.
"But fighting spirit is different."
Maki Juro emphasized, "It is not a specific technique, but the honing of 'momentum'."
If I'm not mistaken, in anime, this thing is called... art style.
Chapter 35: Hardship!
As the saying goes: When parents offer sacrifices to Heaven, their power is boundless. If parents aren't enough, relatives will step in.
Most protagonists in this situation would unleash their full power, shouting about bonds and family ties, their combat strength would skyrocket, and the style of the story would suddenly change!
This so-called fighting spirit and momentum must be this thing.
“Yes, Mr. Rengoku, I understand now,” Ryosuke said.
Rengoku Makijuro nodded, recalling the details of his sparring session with Ryosuke, and offered an objective assessment.
“I observe that your Thunder Breathing is swift, explosive, and unstoppable, which is quite consistent with the stubbornness and ruthlessness in your personality.”
"Therefore, apart from Flame Breath, Thunder Breath swordsmen are the easiest to cultivate battle aura."
I see……
There are 390 different professions, each with its own advantages.
While Thunder Breath and Flame Breath possess impressive speed and power, they lack the unpredictable variations of Water Breath.
Water, too, changes frequently, but causes little harm.
Similarly, water-breathing swordsmen are often calm and reserved, such as Giyu.
If Giyuu were to suddenly unleash his full power and power, the scene would be...
Something just doesn't look right!
Ryosuke made up a story in his mind, then touched his nose and smiled.
Therefore, it seems that not everyone can practice battle qi.
Rengoku Makijuro continued to add to the discussion.
"Battle Qi does not conflict with any breathing technique; on the contrary, they complement each other."
"If you integrate battle qi into your breathing techniques and sword skills, you can greatly enhance its power!"
Ryosuke strongly agreed.
If sword techniques are the moves, then breathing techniques are the mental techniques; the two work together in a continuous flow.
Battle aura is a special buff that is separate from the other two.
Although the "power surge" trope is somewhat cliché, its impact on overall strength is undeniable.
Makijuro looked at him and suddenly asked.
"Young Yasui, why are you so obsessed with becoming stronger? Is it to protect others? To slay all evil spirits?"
"Part of it."
After a moment of silence, Ryosuke gave a very simple and unpretentious answer: "The most important thing is to survive."