Chapter 40: A Message From Wing X The Shock of the Ghosts
"I decline."
Kastro was a decent opponent. They had fought a year ago, and Roy had defeated him, another stepping stone on his path to eighty-one consecutive victories at Heavens Arena. But a year had passed. Kastro was still Kastro. Roy, however, was no longer the same boy. The moment his Nen had been awakened, they had ceased to exist in the same world.
"It's not just Kastro," Gotoh continued, consulting his notes. "There is also a message from Wing."
"After his defeat at your hands, he disappeared for nearly a year. It is said he has now developed his own Nen ability and has reached the 200th floor. He sent a message a few days ago, wishing you well."
Disappeared? Roy thought. More like he was kidnapped by a certain ancient Nen master with a penchant for cute young boys and forced into a master-student contract. Now that he'd resurfaced, he had likely been molded into the perfect weapon Biscuit Krueger desired.
"What did he say?" Roy asked, his face a perfect mask of indifference.
"He said he hopes to 'see you in the heavens'."
"The heavens?" Roy let out a small, humorless chuckle. "Even if he becomes a Floor Master, that doesn't guarantee him a place in the heavens." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Besides, the Wing I know would never say something so arrogant. He was likely forced to send it."
Ah. The Shingen-Ryu school versus the Zoldyck family. A clash of prides.
"Should I reply, Young Master?" Gotoh asked, his phone in his hand.
"Have the appointments with the specialists been confirmed?" Roy asked, changing the subject.
"Two are confirmed. We are still attempting to contact a third. The fourth is quite far, but his clinic is, coincidentally, very close to Heavens Arena."
"Then we'll pay him a visit on our way to see the doctor."
"As you wish."
Roy handed Snow-Walker to Gotoh for its daily maintenance and went to his room for a shower. Before dinner, he took a moment to review his progress.
[Name: Roy Zoldyck]
[Physique: 11.75 (Avg. Adult = 1)]
[Nen Ability: "The Gate of Cognition"]
[Shape Transformation: Novice (10/100)]
[Property Transformation: Not Yet Activated]
[Breathing Style: "Sun Breathing": Novice (30/100)]
[Combat Experience: LV2 (35/100)]
[Swordsmanship: LV1 (10/100)]
[Assassin Arts:]
Shadow Step: Proficient (99/100)
Rhythm Echo: Proficient (84/100)
Snake Awakens: Novice (98/100)
[Title: Budding Nen User, A Sprout Reaching for the Sun]
From a "Fledgling" to a "Sprout." Was that significant progress? He wasn't sure. But he knew his focus had to remain on two things: Nen and Breathing. One was his foundation, the other was his power. Both had to be honed. His Shadow Step and Snake Awakens were on the verge of breaking through to the next level of mastery. With his newfound mastery of Zetsu, he could now sense the trajectory of an attack by reading the disturbance in his opponent's aura. But dodging it still came down to raw speed.
He would not simply "endure" three lashes from his father.
That night, after dinner, he closed his eyes and returned to the world of Demon Slayer.
The snow was still falling. Tanjiro was gone, and the small cabin felt emptier. Urokodaki was already up, a pot of porridge simmering over the hearth.
Roy opened his eyes to find a pair of beautiful green ones staring intently at his face. "Makomo, stop it," Sabito's voice chided from the doorway. The girl waved a hand in front of Roy's face. Seeing no reaction, she sighed in boredom and floated over to join her friend.
"He really can't see us," she said.
"Is this the first time you've realized that?"
Roy ignored them, went to the kitchen, and found Urokodaki peeling potatoes. He leaned against the doorframe. "Master," he said. "I would like to practice with a sword today."
Swordsmanship was the other key to mastering a Breathing Style. It was time to begin his "ten thousand practice swings."
"Have you forgotten what I told you?" Urokodaki said without turning around.
"No," Roy replied, setting two bowls on the small table. "You said I was not to touch a blade until I had understood the meaning of 'breathing'. And now, I have."
He smiled and activated Zetsu.
In an instant, his presence vanished. He simply ceased to exist. If Sabito and Makomo hadn't been watching him, they would have had no idea he was even in the room.
"He's merged with nature!"
"Fukuda! Did you see that?!"
The ghosts, who had been dozing in the rafters, all came zipping down, their spectral eyes wide with shock. They swirled around Roy, a silent, ghostly tornado.
"How many days has it been...?"
"He learned 'breathing' in just ten days?!"
Sabito and Makomo exchanged a look of pure astonishment. "Hey," Makomo whispered, nudging her friend. "Ten days."
Sabito let out a shaky, disbelieving laugh. Ten days. He'd been fast, but not that fast. If Giyu knew... he thought, the look on his face would be priceless.
Perhaps as priceless as the look on his master's face now. The hand that was peeling the potato had gone completely still.