Demon Slayer: Taking Care Of Tanjuro's Wife And Daughter

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As the demon perished, its body began to disintegrate into ash, gradually dissipating into thin smoke. At that final moment of death, an overwhelming sadness filled the air. The demon, in its last moments, regained memories of its human life, and the sorrow of the past washed over it.

Along with the growing sorrow came the stench of death, as the demon's body continued to fade away.

"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have killed an evil spirit and gained 0.5 attribute points."

A mechanical voice echoed in Ryuji's mind as the demon vanished completely.

Hearing the familiar notification, Ryuji's body instantly relaxed. He withdrew from his "breathing" state, allowing exhaustion to wash over him.

Ryuji wasn't surprised that Sun Breathing had allowed him to kill the demon. As the original and most powerful of the breathing styles, Sun Breathing had its own unique characteristics.

Unlike other breathing techniques, Sun Breathing was imbued with the same energy as the sun itself. This energy was deadly to demons.

Swordsmen who practiced Sun Breathing could channel this energy into their blades, creating a burning crimson sword known as "Hinokami Kagura."

When the crimson blade penetrates a demon's body, it burns the internal organs as if consumed by flames, causing the demon's body to collapse and preventing regeneration.

The reason why Nichirin Blades, used by the Demon Slayer Corps, can kill demons is that they are crafted from materials—scarlet iron and scarlet ore—that absorb sunlight, imbuing the blades with the sun's energy.

However, Sun Breathing itself allows a swordsman to directly emit solar energy without the need for a special blade.

While other breathing styles, derived from Sun Breathing, can also kill demons and suppress their regenerative abilities, this requires a deep mastery of the technique. And only with special training can a swordsman of other styles imbue their weapon with energy, much like a Sun Breathing practitioner does effortlessly.

This doesn't mean that other breathing styles are weaker than Sun Breathing; each has its own characteristics. Swordsmen who practice Sun Breathing simply have an advantage when dealing with demons due to their ability to counter the demons' strongest asset—their regeneration.

This is why Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King, sought to eradicate all Sun Breathing practitioners and tried to erase its legacy from the Demon Slayer Corps hundreds of years ago. As a result, not only have demons forgotten about Sun Breathing, but even most Demon Slayers rarely remember its existence.

Although the Corps lost Sun Breathing, they have developed and honed other breathing techniques. Each style offers unique strengths, making it valuable for teamwork within the Demon Slayer Corps.

For example, those who practice Water Breathing become calm and steady, allowing them to deflect attacks with fluid grace, changing their form as freely as water itself.

Serpent Breathing uses flexibility, enabling the swordsman to twist through narrow spaces and strike with unpredictable, winding movements.

Stone Breathing draws upon immense physical strength, blending offense and defense into one harmonious technique.

In the end, no breathing style is inherently stronger or weaker than the others. When mastered, all lead to the same pinnacle of skill.

Right now, Ryuji's body was overwhelmed with fatigue. His arms trembled, and he could barely move a single finger. But he knew it wasn't safe to stay in this area. Gritting his teeth, he pushed through the exhaustion, picked up the firearm he had discarded earlier, and staggered away.

Not long after Ryuji left, several people arrived at the scene, their faces dark with concern as they took in the destruction before them.

"Investigate! I want to know who did this!" a cold, harsh voice commanded.

Ryuji dragged his exhausted body back home. Upon reaching the safety of his house, he collapsed onto his bed, his mind still racing from the battle.

Even though the encounter had left him shaken, he was also filled with a sense of achievement. The attribute points he earned today would further strengthen him.

Involuntarily, Ryuji's mind turned to his attribute panel:

Name: Ryuji

Physique: 2.15 (normal adult physique: 1)

Dexterity: 2.15 (normal adult dexterity: 1)

Strength: 2.15 (normal adult strength: 1)

Spirit: 2.35 (normal adult spirit: 1)

Breathing Style: Sun Breathing (2.4/100)

Attribute points earned: 2.25

The attributes gained tonight reached an astonishing 2.2.

Without hesitation, Ryuji added all 2.2 points to his Sun Breathing.

As soon as he did, a wave of dizziness washed over him, as if his head had been encased in a large bell. His vision blurred, and experiences of Sun Breathing training filled his mind. It was as if he had been practicing Sun Breathing for years, gaining deeper insight into the technique.

When he finally awoke from this trance, Ryuji could feel his understanding of Sun Breathing had deepened significantly.

Taking a breath, Ryuji now felt that if he entered the breathing state again, his physical abilities would be even greater, and he could maintain the state for longer. Even after exiting it, his body wouldn't feel as drained.

Curious, Ryuji once again looked at his attribute panel:

Name: Ryuji

Physique: 3.25 (normal adult physique: 1)

Dexterity: 3.25 (normal adult dexterity: 1)

Strength: 3.25 (normal adult strength: 1)

Spirit: 3.45 (normal adult spirit: 1)

Breathing Style: Sun Breathing (4.6/100)

Attribute points available: 0.05

Now, his physical stats had all surpassed 3. With such numbers, Ryuji's physical fitness was almost equal to that of the demon he had slain tonight.

As his body reached this new level, Ryuji noticed a change. His awareness of his surroundings was sharper, and he had the vague sense that he had broken through a limit of some kind.

It was a strange sensation, difficult to put into words.

Hesitant, he picked up the dagger he always carried with him. It had served him well as a weapon, sharp and durable.

With a light touch, he pressed the blade against his arm. To his surprise, the blade struggled to pierce his skin, as if he were cutting through leather.

This startled Ryuji.

He knew how sharp the dagger was. Previously, it could slice through flesh without resistance. But now, things had changed.

Touching the skin, it felt no different than before, but its defense had significantly improved.

"The texture hasn't changed, but my skin's resilience has," he muttered softly.

He then applied more force with the dagger. It finally pierced his arm, but only after considerable effort.

Blood trickled from the wound, but almost immediately, it stopped. The wound began to heal at a visible pace.

"Not only has my defense improved, but my healing has as well," Ryuji mused, a wave of excitement rushing through him.

"I've broken through the limits of the human body..."

Feeling the power coursing through him, Ryuji clenched his fist slightly. "If I face another demon, I could defeat it even without entering the breathing state."

A slight smile tugged at his lips as he glanced down at the bed. He playfully tapped the edge, but the wood instantly shattered into pieces.

"I've gained more strength, but I'm still not used to controlling it," Ryuji murmured, observing the splintered wood.

Just as Ryuji was about to head outside to adjust to his newfound strength, a soft rustling sound caught his attention.

His sharp senses picked up on a figure outside.

Through the moonlit night, he could clearly sense a woman in pajamas creeping toward his door with quiet, cat-like footsteps.

Moments later, the door opened a crack, and a woman with a slender waist and cascading black hair cautiously stepped inside.

She was wearing a white nightgown, and beneath the dress were black, laced socks. The faint moonlight accentuated her soft, glowing skin.

Her face flushed with warmth as she gazed at the figure lying on the bed. Like a graceful cat, she moved toward Ryuji, her black hair flowing like a waterfall behind her.

A faint scent of flowers filled the air as she bent down, her voice low and seductive as she whispered something unintelligible.

Ryuji felt heat rising in his chest, but he dared not move.

His newfound strength had yet to be mastered. He feared that if he got too excited or moved carelessly, he might crush the soft, delicate woman.