章 36: Mount Natagumo
Nature Manor,
Ryou, who was practicing his breathing technique, suddenly opened his eyes, sensing a presence. In the next moment, a Burmese cat appeared before him, seemingly out of thin air, with a talisman around its neck.
Nearly two years had passed, and Ryou had grown significantly. Now standing nearly 6'2" with a well-proportioned, lean, and ripped physique, he exuded strength.
His shoulder-length, lush black hair, parted both ways, framed his face, and gracefully concealed his ears. His calm demeanor, coupled with his height and impressive physique, gave him a commanding presence.
"Meow!" The cat called out to Ryou in a cute tone. On its back, it carried a letter from Tamayo.
"It's been some time since I last saw you, Rini. Looks like you've grown plump," Ryou teased the cat affectionately as he retrieved the letter from its back.
'Why did Tamayo send a letter at this time...could it be?' Ryou thought, quickly opening the letter to take a look.
As he guessed, she mentioned Tanjiro and Nezuko, and how they had encountered Muzan Kibutsuji.
'There's something about this boy named Tanjiro. Even Muzan sent his minions after him. And his sister... her blood is different from all the demon samples I've collected so far. Her demon blood isn't under Muzan's control.
I believe her blood holds the key to perfecting the drug I have been developing.
I've entrusted the boy with the task of collecting demon blood samples, as my intuition tells me he will encounter higher-order demons.
If possible, please help the boy and girl. They are good kids with potential!'
Ryou mused over the letter, realizing that events were unfolding similarly to the original timeline.
'Tamayo had finally managed to obtain Nezuko's blood and will soon develop a drug that can turn demons back into humans. Everything is on track.'
After a few seconds of thought, Ryou penned his reply and sent it back with the cat.
"Tanjiro Kamado... I can't wait to meet him. The protagonist of this world." Ryou chuckled inwardly.
In his free time, Ryou searched for traces of the Kamado family but couldn't find them. After a period of searching, he eventually gave up since it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Over these years, the only notable events were the appointments of new Hashira, including the Serpent Hashira and the Love Hashira, bringing the total number of Hashira, including himself, to ten.
As a result, his responsibilities and tasks had recently relaxed, allowing him more free time.
--
Ryou opened his system panel:
[~ Name: Ryou
Physique: Nature [Advanced - 0-->40%]
Skill: Nature Breathing - Advanced [51/200], Tekkai [Max], Sharingan [Not upgradeable]
Demon Points: 0-->250 ~]
His physique had improved significantly, now at 40% into the Advanced stage. Additionally, his demon points had reached an astronomical figure of 250, earned from slaying nearly 200 demons, with over 50 of them being special ones.
Recently, it had become increasingly difficult to improve his physique. The system had mentioned that the Advanced Physique was the limit in this world, and it didn't bother introducing him to the next 'Supreme' level.
After some thought, Ryou decided to focus on improving his Nature Breathing technique. He allocated 150 demon points, which upgraded his Advanced stage Nature Breathing to Proficient [1/500].
As the improvement took effect, Ryou's brain froze for a second. The system imprinted new experiences directly into his mind, making it feel as though he had practiced in a white space for countless years.
This intense, immersive training session allowed his skill to break through to the next level. The memories were fresh in his mind, and the nine forms of Nature Breathing were now imprinted into his memory and muscle reflexes.
Although this upgrade didn't enhance his physical strength, it greatly improved his skill level.
Ryou could feel the difference immediately. The connection between his mind and body had been refined to a new level of balance.
'What a wonderful feeling,' Ryou thought, lying on his back in the grass beneath the sakura tree.
As he lay there, the sun's rays filtered through the delicate pink petals of the sakura blossoms, casting a shadow on his face. He allowed himself a rare moment of relaxation, enjoying the serene breeze.
At that moment, Yui approached him with a tray filled with food in her hands. She called in a soft tone, afraid of disturbing his relaxed mood. "Ryou-sama, your breakfast is ready!"
Hearing Yui's call, Ryou sat up and looked at Yui who had a tray full of food.
"Thank you, Yui. I don't know what I would do without you guys..." Ryou chuckled, accepting the tray from her. He then gestured for her to join him,
"Come, have it with me. I've been feeling a bit bored lately,"
"Yes, Ryou-sama," Yui smiled, taking a seat next to him. "There's been a noticeable decrease in demon activity in our region. It's been relatively quiet without any distress calls in the past few days."
Ryou nodded thoughtfully, picking up a piece of fruit from the tray. "Quiet times like these are rare. But I think it's the calm before the storm. Times are changing."
--
Three days later,
After sundown, Ryou's Kasugai crow arrived with a new mission from the Ubuyashiki mansion.
"Caw! Caw! Ryou, urgent mission. Demons at Mount Natagumo. The Demon Slayers need help! Ubuyashiki-sama thinks it may be Twelve Kizuki!"
'Mount Natagumo... isn't that where Tanjiro meets a Lower Moon named Rui? It seems like something has changed since I'm being sent there!' Ryou thought.
'Finally, I can meet a Lower Moon!' Without wasting a moment, Ryou set off immediately. As he sprinted through the way, he asked his Kasugai crow, "Is there anyone else besides me on this mission?"
"Yes, Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho will tag along due to her expertise in medicine and poisons."
"Good!"
--
At that moment, Mount Natagumo,
The trio of Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu finally reached Mount Natagumo after traveling for a day. The mountain stood tall with an intimidating presence, and the darkness made it even more foreboding.
Just outside the forest cloaking the mountain, Zenitsu demanded a halt. "Would you two mind waiting for a second?"
"What happened, Zenitsu?" Tanjiro asked.
"I'm scared, alright," Zenitsu said, shaking and hugging his knees.
"Why is he sitting? He's weird!" Inosuke mocked.
"You're one to talk, Pigface. Don't tell me you're not getting any vibes from that mountain?" Zenitsu retorted.
Suddenly, Tanjiro sensed something with his incredible sense of smell. "What is this smell?" he muttered before sprinting a few steps forward before coming to a halt.
A boy in a Demon Slayer uniform lay on the road. Seeing them, the boy looked up with wide, terrified eyes and said, "H-help me, please help me."
"What happened? Are you alright?" Tanjiro asked, rushing to help. But before he could reach him, the boy was suddenly jerked into the air, still begging for aid. He moved too fast and was too high for them to go and help.
"I am going!" Tanjiro said, shivering slightly.
"I'll go on ahead. You can follow, Shivering!" Inosuke grinned, brandishing his dual swords.
With that, they both ventured into the eerie forest without hesitation, leaving Zentisu behind.
--
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