Watching the demon dissolve after falling beneath his blade, Natsunishi began to review the encounter in his mind.
To be honest, the art direction of this game was excellent. There wasn't a single recycled character asset. It seemed the developers had created a unique model, several sets of specific attack logic, and distinct templates for every single enemy that appeared. There was even different AI dialogue logic. In other games, only named bosses and elite mobs enjoyed this kind of treatment. As for other "trash" mobs? Forget lines of dialogue—just getting a color swap or a different texture was considered a generous effort from the developers.
So, were the three demons he had encountered all elite mobs? Impossible, absolutely impossible. There was no logic in encountering three "one-shot" elites immediately after finishing the tutorial.
Leaving the art aside, if Natsunishi had to evaluate the rest, it was a mixed bag of quality. The good part was the realistic physics engine, the great impact feel, and the assist system that significantly optimized the gameplay experience. The bad part was the numerical balancing—it felt like it was filled in by someone using their feet. Aside from basic attacks, the monsters offered zero mechanical fun. True, their stats were high and they had percentage-based health regeneration, so one couldn't just mindlessly trade hits. But how could an enemy unit have zero special skills other than stats far exceeding the player's? They just rushed forward howling "Awoooo."
In any other game, this level of play wouldn't even pass for a ranked match; even a casual player could give them a thorough thrashing. At best, they were mid-tier bots. Designing monsters based on "grindy" stat-check games for a hardcore role-playing game was...
While Natsunishi was critiquing the game internally, a somewhat timid voice came from beside him.
"Um... excuse me, sir..."
He looked back.
[Yukiziri Sashiko (Power Level: 25)] Water Breathing LV.1
Low power level, low skill level, generic "Water Breathing." Oh, it was a "trash" ally NPC.
The girl didn't seem to notice Natsunishi's judgmental gaze. Instead, she said rather sheepishly, "Can I... move with you for a while?"
"This place is more dangerous than I imagined."
"If possible, it would be much safer for two people to look out for each other!" she explained, stammering slightly. "It's definitely not because... because you are very strong!"
Sashi (Vow) was the name she had chosen for herself after deciding to join the Demon Slayer Corps. It was to help her overcome her fear of those monsters and to constantly remind herself of the hatred she felt for the demons that murdered her family. She had undergone more than half a year of training under a Cultivator. Her Breathing Style was considered at the entry level, and she had mastered half of the sword forms. Even her body was several levels stronger than her formerly frail self. She had thought she would no longer be afraid when facing a demon, but... but...
"Sure."
The boy, who might be younger than her, didn't hesitate at all. It was as casual as sharing a rice ball when taking out a bento. This was supposed to be the Final Selection, an incredibly solemn event. She had been prepared to be rejected.
"Eh?" Sashiko's hands, already awkward, now had nowhere to settle. "Thank you, thank you very much!"
Natsunishi said, "Having another teammate to pull aggro—er, I mean, an ally to draw fire isn't bad. I'm Kuguruma Natsunishi. How should I address you?"
The girl breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward to walk alongside him. "My name is Yukiziri Sashiko. I use Water Breathing. But compared to you, I'm far too lacking. I saw your fight with that demon just now; it was amazing! It's Wind Breathing, right? Like a wild gale, you just swept all those demons away..."
Perhaps because she had relaxed after finding a teammate, Sashiko began to chatter away like beans spilling out of a bag.
"Draw your sword."
"Eh?"
"A combatant should look like a combatant. There's no telling where a monster might spawn in this place." Natsunishi looked at the Nichirin Sword hanging at her waist and continued, "How can you react instantly if you keep your blade sheathed? Or is the Water Breathing style best at Iaijutsu quick-draws?"
Sashiko's face turned red, and she hurriedly drew her sword in a bit of a scramble.
The two chatted as they walked deeper into the mountain forest. Natsunishi felt that the spawn rate would be higher in the center of the instance. And while Sashiko seemed somewhat timid, she lived up to her name when it came to slaying demons; she didn't shrink away from the task.
There wasn't much talk along the way. Aside from occasional distant shouts from other slopes, the most common sound was their clothes brushing against branches. It was unclear if it was because they were traveling together or if the demons had been lured away by others, but they hadn't encountered a new demon for quite a while.
Instead...
Chopping off another section of the branch in front of him, Natsunishi looked at his panel.
[Lumbering LV.1 (1/500)]
He had activated another life skill. He now had 7 Achievement Points in his pocket. If it weren't for the fact that his compatibility with Wind Breathing was a bit low, he would have already leveled the Breathing Style to Level 3. Achievement point conversion would result in nearly a one-third waste. To be honest, it still stung a bit.
Maybe when the experience is close enough, I'll splurge and waste a skill point to level up the Breathing Style first to enjoy the power? Sigh, the plan to practice other Breathing Styles needs to be moved up.
"Trash mob—Sashiko, right? How long does it usually take to learn your Water Breathing?"
Caught off guard by Natsunishi's sudden question, the girl froze for a moment. "It took me nearly a year to learn. But my Cultivator said my talent is average. I think talented swordsmen could probably reach entry level in a few months?"
Natsunishi thought for a moment and said, "Perform a set of Water Breathing forms for me to see?"
"Eh?" The girl was stunned. "Right here?"
She looked around nervously. The moon was bright but the stars were sparse, and the forest cast long, shifting shadows. She didn't know if there were other demons or people lurking in the dark. "Is that really okay?"
Despite saying that, she found a relatively open patch of flat ground and began to demonstrate obediently. The girl took a deep breath, and the shyness and unease on her face gradually faded. A faint white mist spread from her lips.
[Water Breathing]
[First Form: Water Surface Slash]
In a trance, the cold Nichirin blade seemed to condense a thin mist, rippling out with a simple yet clean arc.
[Second Form: Water Wheel]
She immediately charged forward, leapt off a tree trunk, and performed a 360-degree flip, slicing out a smooth wheel of water.
Form after form, Sashiko began to display the sword techniques she had learned over the past year before the boy.
Water Breathing. It was as flexible and inclusive as flowing water, as ceaseless as a tide. Compared to Natsunishi's Wind Breathing, it had less killing intent and madness, and more composure and calm. Generally speaking, it was a softer style of swordsmanship. Unfortunately, the user lacked experience. The forms weren't condensed enough, there were many openings in her movements, and the transitions between forms were stiff.
Natsunishi rubbed his chin, pondering silently. A pity the system learning prompt didn't pop up.
"Kuguruma-kun, this is the Water Breathing I've mastered," the girl panted slightly. "Compared to your Wind Breathing, I've only barely reached the entry level."
Natsunishi said, "True. But can you demonstrate it one more time? I feel like the Breathing Style you're using is a bit different from others."
Though the girl was confused, she followed his request and performed the Breathing Style again. Soon, the system in Natsunishi's eyes began to react.
[Observed: Water Breathing Style, Water Breathing Sword Forms]
[You have learned from an incomplete Water Breathing Style]
[Insight gained, Learning Progress +1]
[Water Breathing (Unmastered) 1/100]
There really is a success rate. This is it.
A smile finally appeared on Natsunishi's face, causing the girl's cheeks to flush for a moment. It was the same as when he practiced with his "cheap" master. Through observing and practicing Breathing Styles and sword forms, he would accumulate "Learning Progress." When it reached one hundred, the system would naturally evaluate him as having mastered the first step. That is, activating Skill Level LV.0. At that point, he could judge the compatibility through the point-allocation preview.
In a much better mood, Natsunishi's tone softened significantly. "Sashi-chan, you actually have a lot of potential. Why don't you show me one more time?"
The intimate nickname and the praise made the girl's face turn even redder. "Kuguruma-kun... I'm actually not that..."
Her voice stopped abruptly, and her pupils shrank. She had discovered a bloodthirsty shadow rapidly approaching behind Natsunishi.
"Watch out!"
[Water Breathing]
[First Form: Water Surface...]
Before her blade was even halfway through its swing, the demon was swallowed by the storm in Natsunishi's hand.
[Sixth Form: Black Wind Mountain Mist]
[Wind Breathing LV.2 (401/1000) +24]
Sheathing his Nichirin Sword, Natsunishi said nonchalantly, "It's fine. Sashi-chan, please continue."
The girl swordsman stood frozen on the spot. Observing from a distance before was one thing; experiencing it this close was a completely different level of shock.
"So... so strong..."