Author Here, I wanted to know if someone is reading it or not if you are, then comment in this paragraph. With a +1.
---
[DING!]
[New Skill Achieved: Sun Breathing - Level 1]
I stopped mid-step, my breath coming out in shallow gasps, and let myself fall back onto the soft snow. My body twitched slightly from the exertion, the burning strain in my muscles both agonizing and satisfying. I grinned as the notification from the system rang in my head, a charming smile stretching across my face. Sun Breathing... The skill that had saved the Kamado family countless times in the past and would now, hopefully, help me protect them from the looming threat of Muzan.
My breaths fogged the cold air as I closed my eyes, still lying in the snow. My exhaustion felt overwhelming, but it was worth every ounce of pain. Protecting this family, the Kamados—my family now—was all that mattered.
"Mama, I want to marry big brother Kuro when I grow up!" Hanako's sudden declaration cut through the quiet as she grinned with all the innocent energy of a child.
"Ara~ Ara~," came Kie Kamado's amused voice from beside her.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly at her words, but my attention shifted to Nezuko. She was sitting not far from me, her wide eyes fixed on me—on my body, bare and covered in sweat from the rigorous training. There was something in her gaze, something she probably couldn't quite understand herself, but it was there nonetheless. I glanced at her for a moment, and she quickly looked away, turning her face towards Tanjiro to pretend she hadn't been staring.
I pushed myself up, muscles trembling from overuse, and met Nezuko's gaze again. This time, she stood up and hurried inside the house. A moment later, she returned, holding a cup of water in her delicate hands.
"For you, Kuro-kun," she said, her voice soft and filled with a gentleness that matched her smile.
I accepted the water with a grateful nod, smiling at her kindness. 'She's going to be a great wife for someone one day,' I thought to myself as I drank the water slowly, letting the cool liquid refresh me after such a demanding session of training.
"Thank you, Nezuko," I said, handing the cup back to her. She smiled sweetly, and I glanced over at Tanjiro. He was still dancing, his movements fluid and tireless as he performed the Dance of the Fire God, an ancient tradition passed down in his family for generations.
I stood up, feeling the weight of my mission settle on my shoulders again. I still had so far to go. Protecting the Kamado family from Muzan wasn't going to be easy—not even close. If I was to stand a chance, I needed to grow stronger, to master Sun Breathing.
'If I earned the skill while dancing with Tanjiro,' I mused to myself, 'then maybe I can level it up the same way.'
With newfound determination, I threw myself back into the dance, following Tanjiro's movements as closely as I could. My body moved in sync with his, every step and twist of my limbs reflecting his flawless form. As I activated the Sun Breathing skill, I could feel the energy shift inside me—my breathing became easier, my strength surged, and every motion felt smoother, more powerful.
[DING!]
[Sun Breathing (Passive) – Level 1 Activated]
The system's voice rang in my head again, and I felt a rush of exhilaration. With the skill now active, my body flowed with ease, each movement carrying more weight, more grace. But even as I danced, I knew that I was only scratching the surface of what this technique could achieve.
[Next Day]
[DING! New Quest Generated: Level Sun Breathing to Level 15. Reward: Nichirin Blade, Lesser Regeneration (Passive/Active)]
My eyes widened at the notification, and a grin spread across my face. The system was pushing me harder, and I welcomed the challenge. Nichirin Blade... That would be invaluable in my fight against Muzan. And regeneration? It would make me nearly unstoppable.
I threw myself into the training with everything I had. The days blurred together, each one marked by sweat, exhaustion, and relentless effort. Every morning, I woke up before dawn and slipped quietly into the forest. Far from the Kamado house, where I wouldn't disturb anyone, I practiced the forms of Sun Breathing, honing each movement to perfection.
"First Form: Dance!" I shouted, exhaling sharply as I slashed my wooden sword which I created from a tree through the air. With one powerful motion, I cut down a tree in front of me, and three more fell behind it as the force of the attack rippled through the air.
My breath hitched, but I continued.
"Second Form: Clear Blue Sky!" I spun in a graceful 360-degree arc, unleashing a sweeping slash that tore through the forest. The sheer power of the attack left a swath of destruction in its wake, and I gritted my teeth, pushing myself to go further.
"Third Form: Raging Sun!" Two horizontal slashes followed, their force so immense that they sent shockwaves through the trees. My body was burning with exertion, but I couldn't stop. Not now. Not when I was so close.
Day after day, night after night, I practiced each form. My body became a vessel of pain, my muscles screaming for rest, but I pushed through. There was no other choice.
"Sixth Form: Solar Heat Haze," I whispered one evening, my hand trembling as I executed the attack. The blade seemed to strike before it even hit the mark, a deceptive and lethal technique that left my enemies—or in this case, the trees—confused and defenseless.
I could feel my strength growing with every repetition. My breathing became deeper, more controlled. My strikes were sharper, faster, and more precise. The air around me felt different now—heavier, as though it recognized the power I was wielding.
Weeks passed, and the snow around me began to thaw. The Kamado family continued with their daily lives, unaware of the battle I was fighting in the depths of the forest each day. Nezuko, Tanjiro, and even the little ones had grown used to me disappearing for hours on end, returning only to collapse in front of the fire, too tired to speak.
[After 2 Weeks]
[DING!]
[Quest Completed: Sun Breathing – Level 15 Achieved]
I stood alone in the forest, breathing heavily as the final notification rang in my ears. My hands trembled as I looked down at the wooden sword I had carved myself weeks ago. It was battered and splintered now, a testament to the hundreds of hours of training I had poured into mastering the forms. The reward of a Nichirin Blade from the system was within my grasp.
But I wasn't done yet. I couldn't be. I had reached level 15, but there was still more to learn, more strength to gain. And I needed every ounce of it if I was going to protect the Kamado family from the horror that was Muzan Kibutsuji.
I raised my hands one last time, gritting my teeth through the pain that wracked my body. The snow around me had long since melted from the heat of my attacks, and the trees that had once stood tall and proud now lay in shattered pieces at my feet.
"Thirteenth Form..." I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of my ragged breathing.
This form, the ultimate technique of Sun Breathing, required me to carry out all twelve previous forms in a single, fluid motion. It was the pinnacle of the style, and the only thing that might give me the edge I needed against Muzan.
With one final breath, I began to move. Each form flowed into the next, my body moving faster and faster as I unleashed every ounce of strength I had left.
"First Form! Second Form! Third Form!" I called out, my voice growing louder with each strike. The air around me crackled with energy as I tore through the forms, my body a blur of motion. The power I had cultivated over weeks of intense training surged through me, igniting my muscles with the fire of the sun itself.
"Thirteenth Form!" I shouted, the final words leaving my mouth in a roar as I completed the final strike.
The air fell silent, and I collapsed to the ground, my body utterly spent. But I had done it. I had reached the peak of Sun Breathing.
As I lay there in the dirt, staring up at the dark sky, I smiled. I had done it. And now, I was ready to face Muzan.
---