Demon Slayer: Can I add points to my Breathing Technique?

"My other bodies will immediately tear open the throats of the rest of them, guhahahaha."

"Guess whether it's faster for you to rush at me and strike, or for me to have a thought?"

Dojima's momentum came to an abrupt halt.

The flames on his Nichirin Blade flickered, as if reflecting his inner turmoil.

Elsewhere, there are comrades still fighting.

There were also civilians lying on the ground, not yet dead...

The demon reveled in the despair on his face and slowly presented him with the last, and most cruel, choice.

"Still the Twelve Ghost Months?"

"Swordsman, you really know how to ruin Gu's good mood."

"Well then, you're a loyal and good man, you don't want to abandon your comrades, right? Well, it's not like we can't make an exception..."

"So, Gu has a good idea."

"Stay here and end your life with this beloved knife."

The "kindness" on the demon's face gradually turned into pleasure.

This was its favorite part of the day.

Watching the sweat stream down the other person's face, watching that perseverance slowly crumble in despair.

It's something more enjoyable than just mood.

"Maybe, if I'm in a good mood, I'll just parasitize them instead of killing them all?"

"Trading your life for several of theirs, isn't that a great deal?"

The words, like icicles, completely halted Dojima's Nichirin Blade.

The swordsman is clearly caught in a dilemma.

Breathing became difficult.

The knife, too, became as heavy as a thousand pounds.

The demon did nothing but sit there with his arms crossed, watching the swordsman gradually succumb to the brink of collapse.

Whether it's a foolish act of self-destruction or a desperate gamble with oneself, so be it.

For it, there isn't much difference.

It's just another way to tease the other person.

Of course, if the other party really abandons their dignity and rules, disregarding the lives of others.

It's just a little boring.

"Damn it...you bastard, you're so despicable..."

Dojima felt like he was going to grind his teeth to dust.

This was the moment he felt despair.

boom!!!

The brick wall on the side suddenly cracked.

"What are you mumbling about?"

Amidst the smoke and dust, Xia Xi covered her nose and mouth as she stepped through a hole in the workshop wall.

"OI, why aren't you finished yet? If you don't hurry up, I'm going to steal your monsters."

It's my stepson!

Dojima's heart, which had just been in his throat, suddenly relaxed.

Now that they've arrived here...

We're saved!

“Stepson, this demon can split its body and is immune to ordinary slashes…”

Dojima's words were interrupted by the demon.

"Another reckless swordsman has arrived. Looks like this is going to be fun."

With a wave of his hand, two or three small clones immediately broke free from Dojima's encirclement and pounced on Xia Xi with strange cries.

Snapped!

It seemed to be three crisp sounds, yet it also seemed to overlap into one sound because the intervals were too short.

The palm-sized demon was easily slapped away.

It crashed into a nearby machine, splattering large amounts of blood.

Although he did not die from being beheaded by the Nichirin Blade, he was clearly temporarily incapacitated.

But Xia Xi naturally wouldn't let the opportunity to finish off his opponent slip by.

The Nichirin Blade at his waist was drawn and, in the blink of an eye, pierced through the bloodied and mangled necks of the three little demons.

"Tsk, as expected, no experience points again."

Seeing several low-level enemies (below level 5) slowly disappear, Xia Xi turned her gaze to the tumor demon in front of her.

[Painful pounding? ???]

[Ability Level: 139 (Physical 99, Technique 15, Mental 25)]

[Blood Demon Art: Multiple Consciousnesses] [Blood Demon Art: Split Flesh and Blood]

Such a high number?

So this is the real thing.

"Hehehe, swordsman, don't think that I and my little Ke..."

The true form of the evil spirit [Painful Rush] spoke in a sinister tone.

Xia Xi, who was in front of him, then disappeared.

Breath of Thunder

The First Form: Thunderclap Flash

In the dim light, the figure transformed into a straight, fast lightning bolt, leaving only a afterimage.

It pierced straight through the evil spirit.

Something feels off, is it Blood Demon Art?

Xia Xi's attack failed to kill, but he also showed no intention of lingering in the fight.

Using the momentum, he flipped backward and landed lightly in front of Dojima.

Is it another strange blood demon spell?

With his back to the swordsman, Xia Xi turned his head slightly: "Can you still move, Dojima?"

So fast……

Is this the true power of the stepson who is skilled in using the Breath of Lightning?

Wait a minute, doesn't the Storm Pillar use Storm Breathing? Besides, where are the Lightning Pillar or Thunder Pillar in the team right now...?

Dojima suddenly snapped back to reality.

Looking at the figure in front of him, his throat went dry: "My lord, this ghost can split itself when the knife strikes its body in order to avoid the blow."

"Please...be extremely careful."

Aside from providing a little information, I seem to be quite useless.

Dojima couldn't help but feel a sense of dejection.

Xia Xi's sharp gaze swept across the entire room.

The demon's true form, the remaining split monsters, and the few manipulated civilians with empty eye sockets who staggered to their feet again.

His gaze was calm to the point of being indifferent.

Oh?

Civilians? Under control?

Countless similar game scenarios flashed through Xia Xi's mind in an instant.

In other games, how are abnormal friendly units that have been controlled handled?

The next second, Xia Xi moved.

Instead of rushing towards the demon, he swayed and used the Breath of Wind to nimbly approach the few stiff civilians.

Click! Click...

There was no knife used, but a series of cracking sounds came from bones.

The next second, the two nearest civilians were no longer under the control of [Pain Rush] and collapsed to the ground.

The granulation tissue at the back of their necks was still present, but they were no longer able to move.

"What did you do?!"

Both Oni and Dojima were taken aback.

"A non-lethal knockdown will do."

Xia Xi's voice came calmly, as if stating a very simple fact.

It's not like he hasn't played these kinds of restricted levels where you can't harm NPCs before.

"Dislocating a joint, or precisely striking a nerve node in the spinal cord with a chopstick. Wouldn't that temporarily incapacitate someone?"

Oni, Dojima:......

Won't this... kill or cripple someone?!