Time flew by, and one month had passed.
During this month, Bang, inspired by the Demon Slayer Breathing Style, created the Three-Stage Breathing Style. With each stage activated, the user's physical capabilities would skyrocket, allowing the user to engage different stages of the Breathing Style depending on the situation, making it far more flexible than before while significantly lowering the learning threshold.
Relative to the derivative forms in the original Breathing Styles—such as Flame, Water, Wind, Thunder, and Stone—Bang's Three-Stage Breathing Style remained a universal form that balanced and averaged the enhancement of all physical functions, making it the most powerful version without any major shortcomings.
Aomori did not abandon the Thunder Breathing, as it was highly compatible with him and could mobilize the lightning energy within his body.
With Bang's help, Aomori completed the Thunder Three-Stage Breathing Style. Except for the final stage, which he had yet to fully master, he could proficiently utilize the first two stages. At the same time, he achieved the state of 'Total Concentration Constant', and the [Thunder Breathing Style] in his system was changed to [Thunder Three-Stage Breathing Style].
Aomori's [Thunder Three-Stage Breathing Style] was already vastly different from the Breathing Styles in Demon Slayer. It primarily used Bang's Three-Stage Breathing Style as the framework, augmented by lightning energy to boost its power. Consequently, he might be able to use Thunder Breathing with one hand and another Breathing Style with the other, coexisting simultaneously.
After creating the Three-Stage Breathing Style, Bang showed no favoritism and taught the method for activating the first stage of the Breathing Style, which he considered the ultimate secret of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, to Garou. It would be pointless to teach the others since they hadn't even mastered the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist.
Garou took only three days to master the first stage of the Breathing Style, and in the few times he sparred with Aomori, they were evenly matched, trading victories.
With Aomori around, Garou was significantly stronger than he was in the original storyline, but whether he would still become a "Hero Hunter," with Aomori as his goal, remained uncertain.
In addition, the substantial increase in his Energy attribute granted Aomori a more thorough understanding of energy manipulation, and he was now able to condense energy onto the surface of his body.
Meanwhile, his Lesser Healing Spell had upgraded to [Healing Spell], with enhanced healing effects. When using the [Healing Spell], he could now concentrate the holy light energy into his palm instead of having it descend from the void.
…
A-City, Promenade Street.
"Eek!"
"I'm the Tofu Monster who became a monster by eating too much tofu!" A monster with a cubic white body suddenly appeared on the street. "Lovely ladies, will you let me eat your tofu?"
"Ah, you pervert!"
'Thunder Breathing: First Form, Thunderclap and Flash! Tenfold!'
The purple flash jumped ten consecutive times, instantly slicing the Tofu Monster into countless small fragments.
[Ding! Congratulations to player Aomori for successfully slaying the Tofu Monster (Wolf-level), gaining 220 EXP and 20 Points.]
[Ding! Congratulations to player Aomori for completing the Daily Quest: Monster Extermination (1/1), gaining 550 EXP and 50 Points.]
[Ding! Congratulations to player Aomori for reaching Level 10! Reward: Physique +1, Energy +1, Spirit +1, 100 Points.]
[Ding! Congratulations to player Aomori for unlocking the Level 10 Dungeon. Would you like to enter the Dungeon immediately?]
"No!"
Having finally reached Level 10, Aomori achieved his goal. He comforted the startled passersby and, amidst the intoxicated cries of "So handsome!" from the young women, he left and returned to the filming location—Aomori had been hunting for monsters during his break from shooting a movie.
That same evening, Aomori returned home, made the necessary arrangements, and went down to the basement.
He opened the system, and the Dungeon cooldown had already entered its final countdown: [00:34:29].
In the system, Aomori's attributes had become [Physique 29, Energy 31, Spirit 28], and his Points had increased to 20,693.
Since he hadn't been able to unlock a new pet slot, Aomori decided to enter the Level 10 Dungeon this time.
The Level 10 Dungeon was not a novice dungeon. To be on the safe side, Aomori, who was unaware of the dungeon's difficulty, decided to spend 20,000 Points to open ten Intermediate Treasure Chests.
The ten Intermediate Chests guaranteed one purple quality item. Aomori, who had never seen a purple item before, felt a sense of anticipation.
'I wonder if it will be a Gundam?'
[Ding! Ten Intermediate Point Chests guarantee one purple quality item and require 20,000 Points. Are you sure you want to open them?]
"Confirm!"
Dong dong dong...
Ten heavy treasure chests materialized from the system, dropping in front of Aomori and radiating a wealthy aura.
Aomori, having washed his hands and rubbed his face, solemnly opened the chests.
[Name: Ah Wei's 18 Forms (Blue)]
[Description: From Hitori no Shita: The Outcast, Feng Bao Bao's ultimate technique.]
[Note: The Old Man Pushes the Cart, One Hit One Kill...]
...
[Name: Disguise Glasses (Blue)]
[Description: From the DC Universe, a rule-based equipment used by Superman Clark to hide his identity. It can twist people's cognition to achieve the purpose of disguise.]
[Note: Does this explanation seem reasonable to you?]
...
[Name: Skateboard Shoes (White)]
[Description: Ordinary skateboard shoes.]
[Note: Rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub on the smooth floor...]
...
[Name: Red Potion (Blue)]
[Description: Restores a certain amount of Health.]
[Note: Press the space bar for one-click health regeneration.]
...
[Name: Tattered Tracksuit (White)]
[Description: The tracksuit Saitama wore during his training, which witnessed his growth.]
[Note: Tracksuit: "Remember not to turn on the AC after exercising!"]
...
[Name: Surströmming (White)]
[Description: An indescribable taste.]
[Note: Ugh...]
...
[Name: Laptop (Blue)]
[Description: A System-brand laptop that can be used in any world.]
[Note: If the System produces it, it must be a masterpiece!]
...
[Name: Computer Parts (White)]
[Description: From A Certain Scientific Railgun, Shirai's favorite.]
[Note: Hehehe...]
...
[Name: Supermarket Sale Voucher (White)]
[Description: A Supermarket Sale Voucher, 20% off selected items, valid for 30 days, restricted to the main world only.]
[Note: In the supermarket, you will realize your own weakness!]
...
[Name: Ittou Shura (Purple)]
[Description: From Chivalry of a Failed Knight, unleashes one's full power for one minute. Cooldown: one day.]
[Note: "I will use my weakest to defeat your strongest."]
...
Ittou Shura? Isn't that redundant with the Third-Stage Breathing Style? It's the same type of short-term burst skill, the same type of body over-exertion.
'Forget it. Since I haven't fully mastered the Third-Stage Breathing Style, I'll just treat this as an early familiarization.'
Looking at the other items, Aomori felt the system was acting strangely.
After a brief test, Aomori opened the Dungeon option in the system, and the second entry was glowing.
He selected it and clicked.
[Ding! Enter the Level 10 Dungeon immediately?]
"Yes!"
The grinding-stone-sized black hole reappeared, and Aomori's figure vanished instantly. In the corner of the room, a camera silently continued to record.
…
Amidst the swirling light, Aomori vaguely saw a flash of red. When his consciousness returned, the first thing he saw was the large face of a young man.
Aomori's body trembled. He barely managed to restrain the impulse to strike, noting that there was no malice in the young man's eyes.
"Are you alright?" the young man asked with concern.
Aomori sat up and saw the young man's face clearly: reddish-brown hair, a burn-like scar on his forehead, and sun-patterned Hanafuda earrings dangling from his ears...
This appearance perfectly matched a character in his mind.
Kamado Tanjiro! The protagonist of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba!
This was the world of Demon Slayer!