10 YEARS AGO, 10450, SPRING MONTH 2, DAY 2, YEAR 10,450 SAMURAI COUNTRY NAGASUKE.
The following week had Skrylla Yokuta facing them off at 10% And while he could be said to be sustaining more hits, his age and lack of cultivation made it so that they still really could not look down on him.
So, while they landed no solid hits, neither could he.
By the end of the week though, he was keeping up a nudge faster and the Mistress began suspecting that it was because of the Tissue Activation Powder she had given him.
What she found weird about it though, was that the effect of powder should be less with each day but it was as though it was either stationary and constantly effective or it was because his body had a way of reducing the amount that was depreciated with each intake.
Also, his rare ability of adaptation was frightening, every practice had him knowing how to counter a kick the next time he saw it, like he had impeccable memory and suitable reflexes for each variable.
Another shocking thing was how much his practice helped him.
The Mistress also found something else rather peculiar.
Every time he practiced on then 7th day, it was as if he was personally experiencing their former battles again.
Like he was burning all his experience into his subconscious.
And that was because of his performance the next week.
The following week was 15 percent strength and he got more cuts but his wide smile never wavered during battle still making remarks to his ‘buddy’ while teasing Gejiro, and talking about situations happening in the moment.
So, the Mistress reasoned that he either saw the blade as a literal extension of himself, a friend in a literal manner, or he had an imaginary friend which was unhealthy.
But, he was a kid, right?
Anyways, Gejiro held himself back from laughing at his face or mocking the boy in response because the boy was not even a cultivator or close to his age.
To be honest, though he would never say it, he thought Skrylla Yokuta was impressive.
The next week was 20 percent and the disparity got so bad that Skrylla Yokuta had to start doing his breathing technique during battle.
In fact, when he realized he could have always done so, he smacked himself in the head.
Apparently, he had been so caught up in the thrill of battle that he had missed this fact.
However, it was one thing to disgrace himself and it was another to disgrace the greatness of his buddy.
Or, embarrass himself before his buddy.
So, he took the time and began going through how to do his Breathing Technique while moving and seating and eating and speaking.
Meaning that, by the end of the week he surprisingly drew the battle to a point where no one was hurt at all.
Right there in the rain, he evoked surprised expressions from all their faces.
And at the end of that week – and the 2nd Spring Month – another supplement was added to his cauldron bath.
This one was called a Tissue Enhancing Powder.
So, in the mixture of the cauldron, outside of water of course, it was Tissue Activating Powder, Aperture Opening Powder and Tissue Enhancing Powder.
The 5th week since they began their regimen started with Skrylla Yokuta was fending off 20 percent of their attacks and by the end off the week he managed to touch a glancing blow at Karin.
They had been practicing when she noticed something peculiar but made no mention about it.
By now, the Translucent Trails of Inspiration started making their intentions clearer.
When 30 percent was used the following week, Skrylla Yokuta was losing at the beginning of it but adjusted to it by the week’s end and after training Karin pointed at him.
“Sword Wind!”
He blinked at her.
“What?”
“Sword Wind, you can now use Sword Wind!”
“Oh, I have heard somethings about that.”
She scoffed.
“It is a major improvement, keep your breathing technique up.”
“Oh, no wonder buddy here gained some heft.
During some of my intense moments.” He hugged his blade “I need to be more attentive, sorry buddy!”
Jin laughed and Gejiro snorted.
“Happy for you.” The mistress clapped with enthusiasm.
“So, are there like levels to this?”
“Well, it is a total of 7.”
“Woah, can’t wait.”
Gejiro blew air, “its not that easy, champ.”
“Buddy, he has finally learned some manners.”
Gejiro’s face grew black limes as Jin explained
“Breathing Techniques are judged from 0-13 Stars.
In fact, only 12 stars are known about and that is from rumors.
But about 7 are official.”
“Yet each star increases its potential benefits,” Karin spoke again.
“Also a star and a half would mean it is peculiar.
Like a wild card.”
“Hmmm.” He pinched his chin as his mother told him not to speak about it.
“I’ll master this Sword Wind and whatever comes next!”
“Ha, even ours is only 4 stars.
How many stars is yours?”
“Buddy, I seem to have forgotten my hearing somewhere.”
Jin fell on his back laughing and although the Mistress and Karin were on their feet, they found.
Gejiro’s expression to be hilarious.
“The least you can do is tell me yours.” Gejiro looked wrong.
Skrylla Yokuta covered his ears and stuck out his tongue before turning around and slapping his weapon against his ass.
Now, Karin was rolling on the floor and Gejiro knew that if he did anything the Mistress would have his head on a spike.
So, he stood up and silently walked away.
Just then, rain began pouring heavily and drenched him.
The next week Skrylla Yokuta kept on actively using the Breathing Technique and he was stuck at the impasse until his Ghost Trail began becoming clearer in his mind.
It was as though he now saw it less as smoke and more of black lines.
35 percent and he felt a bit under pressure but he was all right in total.
The following week, he noticed something strange.
That is, the 7th week and under 40 percent of strength without Ko-jin, he began to see how his Sword kept on getting heavy as he fought.
But when he seized his Breathing Technique, it stopped.
In fact, when the change started, he persevered because he had to finish the practice session.
Well, another surprise was that while it was not now as heavy as when he used it, its base mass had increased.
“Your sword is not normal.” Jin’s voice entered his ears just as he finished his visualization technique.
“Yeah, not everyone can have a great buddy such as this.”
“No, I mean that it does not have a single scratch on it and it is up against tempered steel.”
“Oh, mother said my sword is made from the sturdiest lumber in existence.”
Gejiro scoffed and spat.
“What, is it invincible?” .
“Buddy, it seems stupidity is not something that can’t be fixed with cultivation.”
“That all you got?” Even though they laughed at him again, Gejiro would just ignore them.
He then began his own laughing in mockery and Skrylla Yokuta simply stood up to put it over the fire they were using for warmth and light.
Well maybe just warmth as they were cultivators so they kept warm just fine.
“Are you nuts?
it looks like you don’t treasure your sword.”
“Buddy, this guy’s dumber than a block of wood.”
“What are you saying, you are mot many any se-“
Then, Gejiro stared wide eyed at what Jin and Karin were ogling at too.
“It’s not… burning.”
The Mistress turned from where she slept to observe it as Skrylla Yokuta placed it on his hand and showed them no burn mark.
Hashna Drisnyl Tsuyo-ya had jumped in fright to stop him from harming himself but she caught the blade just as it landed on his skin and now her mouth hung open.
“It’s not even the slightest of anything warm.”
The Mistress had once harbored a theory that he was a disciple from a prestigious school or association sent to train.
His growth during this month had made her slowly approve of this theory but now she felt she was at least 90 percent sure.
Maybe ‘Mother’ was a term he simply used for his teachers.
Maybe he was really a spy.
But that was wrong because she had literally started the Small Scale Of Oniga with her 2 hands.
So, it was simply impossible for anything to be wanted from her Gathering.
Which brought her back to the fact that he had not lied.
Either way, Jin spoke to him in a lowered voice.
“I don’t think you should expose much else about yourself anymore.
It will protect you more.”
Karin wanted to say something as well but closed her moth and slowly nodded.
The final week of the 1st Summer Month, The Mistress added Aperture Activating Powder a day before the next month.
So, it was now, Tissue Activating Powder and Aperture Opening Powder, Tissue Enhancing Powder and Aperture Activation Powder.
That same week before the next month, he got the feeling more and more that the ‘Translucent trails Of Inspiration’ were Black.
Plus he began to suspect that Sword Wind had its percentages.
That is, while aroused, Sword Wind grew by 5kg for every 10 percent.
When the Summer Month finally came, the strength he was exposed to became 45 percent!
And Skrylla Yokuta only got cuts in the beginning because he had to adjust to the Sword’s growing weight.
But he did not tell them that.
In fact, he guessed that they could tell the Sword’s difference but chose not to talk about it, which he was fine with.