After several attempts at refining his technique, Kyoma finally succeeded in performing one proper Yin and Yang breathing exercise.
The Yin and Yang breathing technique, as its name suggests, requires an unconventional and contradictory approach to breathing, forcing Kyoma to engage muscles he didn't even know existed. Despite the diaphragm being the primary muscle used for inhalation, it is used to prevent Kyoma from sucking in air, while the accessory muscles that are usually only used during breathing difficulties are strained for inhalation. Exhalation, on the other hand, is supposed to be a passive process where the relaxation of the diaphragm automatically exhales air from the lungs, and the abdomen muscles can be used to push more air out. However, in the Yin and Yang breathing technique, both the diaphragm and abdomen muscles are used to prevent exhalation, and Kyoma must use his intercostal muscles, which he didn't even know existed, to compress his lungs and release the air.
The creator of this breathing technique must have been both twisted and brilliant. Despite the physical toll it took on Kyoma, he noticed an increase in his metabolism and body temperature after completing one set. The sweat pouring down his body was evidence of the impurities being expelled from his system. The Yin and Yang breathing technique was not only physically demanding, but also beneficial to his overall strength and health. It was as if he had completed a 100m sprint at full speed, and the rewards were worth the effort.
Completing the full set of basic Yin and Yang breathing techniques allowed Kyoma's previous injury inflicted by the mysterious assassin to recover completely. Although there was still a small part that required time to heal, the breathing technique had actually managed to heal the deep wound as Kyoma felt the pain in his chest completely disappear.
After completing one cycle of the breathing technique, Kyoma had a better understanding of it, but he still struggled to replicate it perfectly. Firstly, he had not fully mastered the basics of the technique and the previous success was merely a stroke of luck. Secondly, his body was fatigued from the numerous attempts he had made at the Yin and Yang technique. Each attempt was as demanding as sprinting a 100m race, with failure looming if he couldn't complete the cycle in time. After so many attempts, it was natural for Kyoma to feel exhausted and he needed to take a break.
...
Kyoma removed his armour and washed himself quickly with water from the nearby lake. The Yin and Yang breathing technique had caused him to sweat and expel some impurities from his body, leaving him with an unpleasant odour. He smelled like he had just finished a strenuous workout. Meanwhile, Rina finished her meditation and appeared rejuvenated. If Kyoma looked worn out, Rina looked as though she had just had a full night's sleep and was eager to embark on an adventure.
"Did anything happen?" With a concerned look, Rina inquired if anything had occurred as she observed Kyoma's exhaustion from a brief period of meditative training. During her own meditation, she had not noticed his irregular breathing, resembling that of someone gasping for air after choking on something. While in a state of flow during meditation, Rina became unaware of her surroundings.
Kyoma quickly gathered and packed up their reusable tools, including the skewer he had used to cook the rabbit over the fire. "Everything's fine," he assured Rina before they set off into the territory of the F-ranked monsters, the wild boars. These creatures were generally passive unless provoked and spent their days foraging for food before sleeping the remainder of the day. As such, they were easy to isolate and hunt for both meat and experience.
Although some might view hunting passive wild boars as cruel, it is actually necessary to control their population. Wild boars are invasive species that reproduce quickly. If left unchecked, their numbers will grow exponentially, leading to migration and ultimately disrupting the ecosystem. This was demonstrated in a village that coexisted with wild boars, even worshipping them as deities and refusing to hunt them. The village, known as the Wild Boar Village, suffered the consequences of their inaction when the wild boars multiplied and gave rise to a Wild Boar King, an E-ranked monster with the ability to rally other wild boars into a formidable army. The Wild Boar King, unlike its passive counterparts, was aggressive and ultimately destroyed the Wild Boar Village, elevating the threat level to D-ranked.
Following the Wild Boar Village incident, the population of wild boars has been monitored and controlled to prevent such incidents from happening again. Even the adventurer's guild would periodically issue requests to cull their numbers. By chance, Kyoma had already accepted a guild request to hunt some wild boars and bring back their tusks as proof. As he needed to cross through their territory to reach the Southern forest, Kyoma saw it as an opportunity to complete the guild quest while also obtaining food and exp by hunting a few wild boars.
...
"Archer, hold your fire..."
"Rabbit go for the eyes"
"Hobgoblin, smash!"
"Melee goblin, attack!"
"Archer, fire!!"
Kyoma issued a rapid sequence of commands during his battle with a massive wild boar, instructing his undead companions on how to engage. Due to the boar's thick hide, regular blades were ineffective, forcing Kyoma to rely on his companions to keep it at bay. The boar was much larger than a typical pig, nearly the size of a cow, but this seemed to be a common occurrence in this world, where mana had resulted in unnaturally large wild boars.
Name: Wild Boar
Race: Monster
Level: 7
HP: 420/500
MP: 50/50
Strength: 35
Agility: 25
Intelligence: 5
Passive Skill: Thick Hide (Level 3)
Active Skill: Charge (Level 2)
Description: The Wild Boar is a formidable monster found in the wilderness. Its thick hide provides exceptional protection against external attacks, making it a challenging opponent to defeat. Its ability to charge at high speeds can also catch adventurers off guard, causing significant damage if not properly defended against.
"Are you ready, Rina?" Kyoma asked.
"Just about," Rina replied, her hands already beginning to conjure a large fireball.
"Fireball!" she shouted, launching a massive ball of flames that was as big as the wild boar itself. The beast cried out in pain as it slowly succumbed to its wounds. Despite its thick hide, which made it resistant to physical attacks, it was still vulnerable to magical attacks of that calibre. Kyoma's undead had weakened the wild boar, allowing Rina to finish it off with one powerful fireball. However, the spell had drained a considerable amount of mana from her, and Rina's face turned pale as she started breathing heavily, as if she had just finished a strenuous activity.
"We did it!" Kyoma and Rina had just defeated three consecutive wild boars, and Kyoma was happy as he supported Rina who had used up nearly all of her mana. Compared to their first encounter with the wild boar, this battle was significantly more synchronised and seamless.
The first battle was disastrous as Kyoma had no experience in dealing with wild boars, resulting in the boar charging towards the two of them. The hobgoblin was commanded to stop the charging boar as it prepared to swing its massive sledgehammer. As Kyoma and Rina had never worked together before, they had no coordination, and Rina would randomly shoot a barrage of fire arrows at the boar while it was fighting the hobgoblin. When the hobgoblin was going in for a heavy swing at the charging boar, the fire arrows aggroed the boar, causing it to change directions and the hobgoblin's swing to hit thin air, resulting in the hobgoblin falling due to the momentum of the heavy swing.
Kyoma and his dark goblins quickly intercepted the charging wild boar towards Rina, drawing its aggro towards them. However, their physical attacks proved to be ineffective against its thick hide. To stall the boar, Kyoma devised a plan on the spot, buying time for Rina to chant a long and powerful spell to finish it off. With the success of the first hunt, the subsequent kills of wild boars were much more coordinated and planned, resulting in smooth and efficient kills without any significant challenges.
+ 86 experience points (Kyoma)
+110 experience points (Rina)
If Kyoma had taken down the wild boar on his own, he would have earned a higher amount of experience points. However, since he was working in a party with Rina, the experience points were divided equally between them based on each member's contribution to the fight.
After hunting three wild boars, Kyoma and Rina were exhausted and had to make their way back to the safety of the zone between the field rabbit and wild boar territories. However, the rewards of their successful hunt were plentiful. They now had the carcasses of three wild boars, which would provide enough meat for a feast. Kyoma used a carving dagger to skillfully dismantle the boars, separating the edible meat, tusks, and hide that could be used to craft armour. The tusks, hide, and some of the meat were stored in the bag carried by the hobgoblin, while Kyoma prepared the remaining meat for their late lunch.
While the hunt for three wild boars seemed quick, it actually took them four hours to set up the bait, traps, and engage in a lengthy battle with the animals. The prolonged fight had left them both exhausted and hungry.
Kyoma prepared the wild boar meat by first cleaning and washing it thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. He then cut the meat into small pieces and seasoned it with salt, pepper, and herbs. Kyoma then heated a pan and added a generous amount of oil before searing the meat on both sides until it was brown and crispy. He added some chopped onions, garlic, and carrots to the pan and cooked it until the vegetables were soft and fragrant. Finally, he added some broth and let it simmer until the meat was tender and flavorful. The result was a delicious and hearty meal that satisfied their hunger after a long and exhausting day of hunting.
As Kyoma cooked the wild boar meat, the aroma of the dish wafted throughout the clearing. Rina couldn't help but notice the unique smell and felt curious about it. She walked over to Kyoma and asked about the dish, wondering how he was able to cook it so well. Kyoma explained that he used to be a chef. Rina was impressed by Kyoma's cooking skills and eagerly waited to taste the dish.
...
Kyoma, Rina, the windcutter rabbit and the three goblins gathered around a large bonfire, eagerly awaiting the feast prepared by Kyoma. As they began to eat the juicy, succulent wild boar meat, their taste buds were tantalised by the delicious flavours and aromas. Kyoma had skillfully seasoned the meat with herbs and spices, and had cooked it to perfection over the open flame. The windcutter rabbit and the goblins, who were usually accustomed to eating raw meat, were delighted to experience the delicious taste of cooked meat. As they ate and chatted, they felt a sense of camaraderie and satisfaction, knowing that they had worked hard together to hunt and prepare the feast.
"Squeak squeak!!" The adorable windcutter rabbit expressed its approval with high-pitched squeaks and stood on its hind legs, as if giving Kyoma a standing ovation!
...
Kyoma had about five hours left to complete Loran's ring quest after finishing the meal. He decided to take this opportunity to rest and began practising the Yin and Yang breathing technique.
...
....
Kyoma had completed 4 out of 5 stages of the Yin and Yang breathing technique after an hour, causing his body to ache with pain. The technique required him to exert all of his muscles, and he could feel his body's temperature rising to an extreme degree. He felt as if he could breathe fire, and his mastery over his body had improved significantly. He could now consciously feel the small fibres in his muscles that he previously could not. The Yin and Yang breathing technique had pushed Kyoma to the extreme of breathing while using the smallest respiratory muscles, granting him mastery over his own body that he would not have achieved otherwise.
Kyoma's body was drenched in sweat, emanating a pungent odour due to the expulsion of impurities after completing 3 Yin and Yang breathing techniques. Realising the need to freshen up, Kyoma took a break and cleaned himself using the water from the nearby lake. He opted to save the final breathing technique for later when his body had recuperated. With his newfound mastery over the breathing technique, Kyoma felt more confident in completing his quest without the worry of failure.
Kyoma's initial success rate of perfectly executing the correct form of the Yin and Yang breathing technique was only one out of twenty tries. However, with practice, he had improved his success rate to one out of every ten tries.