[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-from-thunder-breathing-to-the-multiverse":3,"chapter-from-thunder-breathing-to-the-multiverse-from-thunder-breathing-to-the-multiverse-chapter-5":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","From Thunder Breathing to the Multiverse",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1676039,2141,"Chapter 5 5: Battle Against Rokuro","from-thunder-breathing-to-the-multiverse-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>Tachibana Kyūjō stood still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes were fixed on the figure approaching—an oni with bloodshot eyes and a mouth still stained with what looked like tofu soup, staring at him with hungry anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rokuro, Lower Moon Two, advanced slowly, his lips curled into a grotesque grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill crept into Kyūjō's spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I lose… I'll be eaten too, won't I?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quieted his thoughts. Pushed away the fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped into position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right foot slid back. Knee bent. His waist dropped into a lowered stance. His right hand hovered gently over the hilt of the katana hanging at his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Breath…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breathing adjusted. His heartbeat slowed. The world seemed to fall into a calm, silent rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew into the opening stance of his inherited technique—Iaijutsu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rokuro was exactly five meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, between them—in the empty space where tension gathered—fine threads of invisible light began to appear, like the glinting strands of spider silk in the dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were gaps—visible only to those who had awakened Kenshin Tōmei—the Sword's Heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An inner sight that connected sword, rhythm, and world. The lines danced gently in the air, flowing into Kyūjō's mind with lucid precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rokuro halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His narrowed eyes scanned the young human before him. A boy—nothing more. And yet…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did he feel this… unease?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Kyūjō's fingers touched the sword, a spike of intuition stabbed Rokuro's brain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I take one more step forward…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll be sliced to pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rokuro's lips curled, his pride flaring like fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A mere insect… thinks it can harm me?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a roar of fury, he lunged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His claws slashed through the air, fangs bared—aiming straight for Kyūjō's face with terrifying speed no normal eye could follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to Kyūjō, the world had slowed to a crawl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes locked onto Rokuro's inner elbow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, the gap opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And like a bolt of lightning piercing a storm, the katana flashed from its sheath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clean, merciless draw. The blade cut through the air—through flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It glided through muscle like a hot knife through wax, sliding across joint and tendon with inhuman precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyūjō stepped back, resheathing the sword in one smooth motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rokuro's right arm hit the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very ground Kyūjō had been standing on a second earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But something about the wound was… strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cut was too clean. Even the bone had been severed perfectly at the joint. As if the arm had been designed to be removed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rokuro stared at his fallen limb in disbelief. The pain finally surged—sharp, vicious, crawling into his skull like hot needles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rage. Pure, blinding rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Kyūjō was already out of range, his eyes focused and calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rokuro growled and raised his leg to deliver a high, crushing kick to Kyūjō's head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before it could connect—Kyūjō read him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through Kenshin Tōmei, he felt the tension in Rokuro's muscles. The direction of the force. The angle of the next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dropped backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then with a fierce motion, he slashed upward from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oni's heel struck the blade first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the katana had already carved through his ankle—muscle and flesh parted like silk, the edge emerging clean on the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyūjō's eyes flicked briefly to Rokuro's severed hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already starting to regenerate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…This rate of regeneration… nearly on par with an Upper Moon…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could his Blood Demon Art be like Akaza's? Body reinforcement for hand-to-hand supremacy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Kyūjō didn't linger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and sprinted into the forest outside the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how it looked from the outside—this wasn't a fair fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In strength and speed, Rokuro far outclassed him. One mistake, and his life would end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And worse—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rokuro hadn't even used his Blood Demon Art yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Kyūjō…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already pushed himself past the limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— — —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rokuro watched the boy flee into the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Running away?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His jaw tightened. Veins bulged across his temples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A member of the Twelve Kizuki—mocked… by a brat who couldn't even use Breathing Techniques?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His rage exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without caring about his damaged leg, he leapt after him—eyes locked on a single target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyūjō's back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— — —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Rokuro vanished into the forest, the only remaining witness—Fujiwara Naoto—finally exhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breathing was ragged. His eyes shook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at the severed limbs scattered across the alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Incredible,\" he whispered. \"His swordsmanship… to cut so precisely, through arms and legs, at that speed…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But awe couldn't mask the fear in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naoto clenched his fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyūjō… isn't part of the Demon Slayer Corps. He doesn't use Breathing Techniques. And more importantly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…If I saw correctly, his blade isn't a Nichirin Sword…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without that special ore, no demon could be truly slain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how many times they were dismembered, as long as their heads remained, they would regenerate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And eventually…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyūjō would run out of stamina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naoto looked up at the sky, then knelt beside his fallen comrade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up the Nichirin Blade from the corpse's hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sword in each hand, he ran—toward the forest. Toward the sound of battle. Toward where the clash of two fates was unfolding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— — —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath a canopy of mossy branches and moon-filtered fog, Kyūjō stopped running and turned around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood calmly on damp earth, sword gripped tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, crashing through branches and roots, Rokuro emerged—limping, furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His left shoe was gone. One sleeve had been torn off. He looked like a mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his grin never faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You stopped running?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon's voice was hoarse, burning with hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You filthy human insect… I'll crush you until nothing's left!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyūjō didn't respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his sword with both hands, standing firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes were clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the wind—sighing through the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrying with it the scent of blood… the earth… and the unshakable resolve of a man who had chosen to stand and fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— — —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>✨ Special thanks to my newest Patreon supporters!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your support keeps this series alive and growing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>$10 – Joseph Sepulveda, Big Brizzz\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>📚 Want to read more chapters or get early access?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Join my Patreon here:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>🔗 patreon.com\u002FFaaanzKun\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>✅ Enjoy 10 chapters ahead of WebNovel\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>✅ Get 1-2 new chapters every day exclusively on Patreon\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> Already caught up with the latest chapter on WebNovel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continue the journey early for just:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>$5\u002Fmonth\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Join now and dive deeper into the story—weeks ahead of public release!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you for your amazing support 💖\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— — —\u003C\u002Fp>",1131,"2026-06-06T13:14:23.720Z",1,"novelbin.me","ec37213d33367d5b22448a0aa29d4a0c3d67de89524303b19ca1d1c199f2becb","from-thunder-breathing-to-the-multiverse-chapter-6","from-thunder-breathing-to-the-multiverse-chapter-4",389,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffrom-thunder-breathing-to-the-multiverse-cover.jpg"]