NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30: Chapter 30 • The Sword that Split the Mountain
In the stillness of the early morning, Yuto Amakawa suddenly woke up. With slow, drowsy movements, he reached out to the little table beside his bed and picked up his smartphone. The clock read 1:33 a.m. and a notification icon flashed insistently on the screen.
Curious, he tapped on the notification and discovered that Scream had posted a new video. Distracted, Yuto walked to the bathroom, still holding the device. It was only when he settled down to answer nature's call that he remembered the newly posted video and decided to watch it.
The scenery that appeared on the screen was unmistakable and at the same time strangely unique, completely alien to ordinary Japanese landscapes, although all indications pointed to a Japanese creator. It was an epic and mysterious scene, containing elements that his mind struggled to interpret, but which certainly hinted at the prelude to the chaos described in the pages of ancient legends.
At that moment, Yuto didn't allow himself to be completely absorbed by the magnitude of it, but simply concentrated on the video. Scream's figure appeared, as enigmatic as ever, wrapped in a hood that concealed his head and face, leaving only an ethereal void in its place. When a dim light illuminated the figure, it was revealed to be a skull mask, smooth as old bone and scarred by time, whose eye sockets seemed to swallow up all light and hope.
The entity's cloak rippled as if touched by a non-existent breeze, its ragged edges moving like tentacles made of mist. The sword that Scream held emitted a menacing silver glow, signaling an implacable fate for those who dared to get too close. Scream's presence was a harbinger on the edge of reality, a vision plucked from a nightmare universe, a spectre of death or a herald of macabre tales.
The popularity of Scream's videos was no mystery; in addition to the intimidating figure, there was the mastery with which the special effects were executed, easily surpassing the big Hollywood releases.
Engrossed, Yuto barely noticed when Scream's voice broke the silence:
"Bankai... Hikarinotsurugi."
The words reverberated as he watched, through the smartphone screen, an intense light emanating from the sword which, the instant he could see it again, transformed. What had once looked like a simple metal blade was now transfigured. Although the handle remained unchanged, the blade vibrated with a supernatural intensity, its outline blurred by speed. Around it, a golden aura evoked an almost divine presence, a splendor that seemed to transcend the mortal world, entering the realm of the supernatural.
In an instant, Scream's voice rang out again, cold and deep, through the smartphone's speaker.
"Utae, Hikarinotsurugi," Scream commanded, and the voice rang out with a timbre that seemed to summon arcane forces, sending shivers down the spine of Yuto, who watched mesmerized by the authority that each syllable carried.
With Scream's vigorous vertical slashing gesture, Yuto witnessed an impressive scene. From Scream's sword emanated a beam of light reminiscent of the Getsuga Tenshō, directed with devastating precision at a mountain. To Yuto's amazement, that mountain - as imposing as Mount Fuji - was split in half with disconcerting ease.
In the wake of the forked mountain, an explosion erupted, followed by a blinding flash...
Yuto was stunned, his mind clouded by a mixture of disbelief and excitement, his face flushed with the intensity of his emotion, and in a moment of strange relief, he inwardly thanked himself for sitting on the toilet.
However, his amazement was due not only to the spectacular attack, but to a sudden realization.
"He... He's... Light Yagami?!?"
The supposition struck him like a bolt of lightning. Yuto wanted to deny the idea, wanted to erase the thought as quickly as it had arisen. However, something inside him screamed with certainty that this was Light Yagami.
"No, no, there must be a mistake," Yuto muttered to himself in an attempt to dispel his own doubts. "The use of a golden light by both of them can't be a coincidence that indicates they're the same person..."
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While Yuto was processing the surprising revelation, Light, who had posted a video just ten minutes earlier, noticed that his latest creation had already accumulated 10,000 views. For him, the numbers were impressive, especially considering the unusual timing of the post.
When he checked his account, he was pleased to see that he had accumulated almost 20,000 dollars as a result of his work on the videos. A discreet smile appeared on his lips.
'My allowance is coming to an end,' he thought, 'I hope this money is in my account before it runs out.
It was the last day of the month, and all Light had to do was wait for the monthly closing process and the subsequent cycle of payments.
Ultimately, regardless of his earnings from the videos, Light was still counting on the allowance his father would give him on the first day of the following month, which happened to be tomorrow. Although the amount wasn't as high as he would have liked, it was enough to cover a few outings and allow him to make some occasional purchases, meeting his immediate needs.
Ten minutes later, a new refresh of the page revealed a jump to almost 20,000 views. Satisfied and in high spirits, Light turned off his computer and went to bed.
Was Light aware that making these videos could expose his identity? He certainly wasn't unaware of the risk. However, was he upset by this possibility? Absolutely not. And what was the reason for his peace of mind? Let's put it this way: if someone tried to exploit the content of the videos to confront him or understand the powers he displayed, there would certainly be a 'pleasant' surprise in store for them...
Before drifting off to sleep, Light noticed a particular skill in the system store's virtual window, which immediately caught his interest.
[Fundamentals of Breathing Technique]
He looked at the description of the skill.
Fundamentals of the Breathing Technique (300 Fate Points): This is an enhancement skill for entities, granting the practitioner the power to tune into and enhance environmental energy, promoting a rise in the condition of their existence on the Physical, Magical and Spiritual levels. Easy to assimilate, it allows the individual to adjust the depth of their breathing according to the surrounding energy, guaranteeing continuous and stable development. With each new breath, a greater amount of energy is assimilated, culminating in the integral growth of the being.
"Let's try it out then..." With a click, Light acquired the technique.
Immediately, a stream of knowledge about the Fundamentals of Breathing Technique flooded his consciousness.
With a slight sigh of anticipation, he couldn't contain a flash of excitement...
Settling into the lotus position, he began to practice.
As he began, he felt the surrounding energy being drawn into him, flowing through his pores.
Gradually, a growing wave of energy seeped into his being.
However, he maintained the practice for only 10 minutes before stopping.
With a mere thought, the Attributes Panel appeared before his retina.
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Character: Light Yagami
Identity: Student
Halo: Predestined Villain
Physical Power: 431.7 (443.2) ↑ ━ Existence Level 2 (1.1%)
Magical Power: 499.8 (501.1) ↑ ━ Existence Level 2 (1%)
Spiritual Power: 444.3 (446.7) ↑ ━ Existence Level 2 (1%)
Personal Dimension: [Inner World]
Techniques: [Observation Haki] Level 2 (91/200), [Weaponry Haki] Level 2 (95/200), [Breathing Technique Fundamentals]
Mystical Abilities: [
Fate Value: 9,960
Fortune Value: 1,930
Store system: Open
Store: [Random Skill Thief Card] 2x, [Fortune Looter Card] 5x, [System Reward Calculation Multiplier Card] x3, [Sacred Gear, Longinus - Boosted Gear] 1x
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'Ten minutes and my existence has already expanded by 1%,' he reflected. He considered this a significant advance - neither too slow nor too fast.
He pondered why the technique seemed to have a momentary improvement ceiling, concluding that he was still in the process of assimilating the fundamentals. Once he had completely mastered the basics, Light believed he could begin to unlock and exploit the true potential inherent in the technique.
However, for the time being, he chose not to devote himself any further to this practice; there was an unease about the possibility of accidentally reaching a state of enlightenment or losing the perception of time while meditating, which could inadvertently accelerate his progression through the levels of existence - an event he did not wish to precipitate.
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