As the saying goes: Parents sacrificed, boundless power. If parents aren't enough, relatives will do.
Most protagonists in such situations would erupt with power, shouting about bonds and family, their combat strength soaring, and the art style suddenly changing!
This so-called fighting spirit and momentum should be this very thing.
"En, Mr. Rengoku, I roughly understand," Ryosuke said.
Rengoku Shinjuro nodded, recalling the details of his sparring with Ryosuke, and gave an objective evaluation.
"I observe that your Thunder Breathing is swift and explosive, pushing forward relentlessly, which aligns quite well with the stubbornness and fierceness in your character."
"Therefore, besides Flame Breathing, Thunder Breathing swordsmen are the most likely to develop fighting spirit."
So that's how it is... Ryosuke nodded.
There are 390 lines, each different, and each has its own advantages.
Although Thunder Breathing and Flame Breathing boast impressive speed and power, they lack the unpredictable changes of Water Breathing.
The same goes for Water Breathing; while it has many variations, its damage is mediocre.
Similarly, Water Breathing swordsmen often have stable and dull personalities, like Giyuu.
If Giyuu were to suddenly erupt with power and ignite, that scene... it just wouldn't look right, hey!
Ryosuke mused in his mind, touching his nose and smiling.
So, it seems that this fighting spirit isn't something everyone can cultivate.
Rengoku Shinjuro continued to elaborate.
"Fighting spirit does not conflict with any Breathing Technique; instead, it complements them."
"If fighting spirit is integrated into a Breathing Technique and sword skills, it can greatly enhance their power!"
Ryosuke strongly agreed.
If sword forms are techniques, then Breathing Techniques are mental methods, and the two work together in a continuous cycle.
Fighting spirit is a special buff beyond the two.
While the concept of power-ups is a bit cliché, its contribution to strength is undeniable.
Shinjuro looked at him and suddenly asked, "Young Yasui, why are you so determined to become stronger? Is it to protect others? To slay all demons?"
"Partially."
Ryosuke was silent for a moment, then gave a very simple and unpretentious answer: "Mainly, I just want to survive."
Unexpectedly.
Not only was Shinjuro not disappointed, but he burst into laughter: "Interesting! Very interesting! And a very real answer!"
"Fighting spirit is not only activated by righteousness or a desire to protect."
"A strong will to survive, extreme hatred for enemies, or even a pure desire for battle are all sources of fighting spirit!"
"The key is whether you can refine and condense this intention and infuse it into your blade!"
"You have an extremely strong obsession with slaying demons and with surviving, which is the perfect soil for cultivating fighting spirit."
"Learning to perceive, guide, and hone your own fighting spirit will only benefit you, with no downsides whatsoever."
Having learned everything related to fighting spirit, Ryosuke clasped his fists and bowed slightly.
"I understand a bit more now. Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Rengoku."
"It's good that you understand!"
Shinjuro patted Ryosuke's shoulder: "The cultivation of fighting spirit is not a task for a single day; it requires experiencing and condensing it through countless battles."
"Ryosuke will remember that."
Ryosuke nodded, then somewhat shamelessly asked, "Um, Mr. Rengoku, could you help me get started?"
"Hahahaha, of course!"
Shinjuro laughed a few times and readily agreed: "Although you are unwilling to become my successor disciple, guiding you to a higher level brings me great joy!"
He paused, then continued: "You'll stay here for now; we'll start training tomorrow."
"Alright."
...The next morning, the sky was faintly lit.
The Rengoku Family dojo was exceptionally spacious, and Shinjuro stood in the center.
"Young Yasui, you're here!"
Shinjuro's voice boomed like a bell, and a long-unseen flame burned in his eyes: "The beginning of fighting spirit lies in the high condensation of intent, and even more so in integrating this power into your breathing, infusing it into your blade, and even every inch of your body!"
"Watch closely!"
No sooner had he spoken than Shinjuro, without using any Breathing Technique sword forms, simply took a step and threw a punch!
Boom!
The air exploded with a roar, and a scorching, fierce wave of energy rushed forward.
This was not a physical force, but a pure impact of spirit!
Ryosuke bowed slightly, his entire body aching.
"Did you feel it? That is the power of fighting spirit!"
Shinjuro retracted his punch, his gaze sharp: "Your Thunder Breathing is swift and explosive, pushing forward relentlessly, so your fighting spirit should be like a sudden clap of thunder, sweeping away everything!"
"Alright! I understand!"
Ryosuke nodded emphatically.
The subsequent special training was even more arduous than Ryosuke had imagined, even bordering on torture.
Shinjuro's training method was crude yet effective.
He no longer engaged Ryosuke in conventional sword skill duels.
Instead, under high-intensity physical training, he used his own magnificent and boundless Flame Fighting Spirit as a hammer, continuously oppressing, impacting, and pounding Ryosuke's spirit and body.
"Concentrate! Focus your will to resist!"
"Relying solely on your body won't work at all!"
"You must perceive that energy within your body! Guide it out!"
Shinjuro's furious roars echoed in the dojo.
Ryosuke was repeatedly forced to his knees by the terrifying fighting spirit, sweating profusely.
Soon, his vision blurred, his lungs burned, as if he would suffocate any second.
He felt like a ball of dough, being furiously pounded and kneaded by an invisible giant force, almost falling apart.
Under this extreme pressure, the faint sensation of energy within him began to circulate wildly, struggling to survive.
It was crushed again and again, yet condensed again and again.
"Ugh ah ah ah—!"
Ryosuke let out a low growl, blood vessels spread across his eyes, and faint, uncontrollable electric sparks burst around him, resisting the mountain-like Flame Fighting Spirit.
The admiration in Shinjuro's eyes grew increasingly intense.
"Yes! Just like that! Grasp this feeling! Let it become your instinct!"
One day, two days, three days... Ryosuke was almost sleepless, completely immersed in the cultivation of fighting spirit.
He could clearly sense the faint current of energy within his body, constantly growing stronger and more solid under repeated extreme pressure, being tamed by him, and its integration with Thunder Breathing became increasingly tight.
When he swung his sword, even without using a sword form, it already carried a sharp and imposing wave of energy, and the sound of the blade cutting through the air became even more piercing.
Although Ryosuke's body was exhausted to the point of death every day, the visible strengthening made him incredibly excited.
On the evening of the fourth day, Ryosuke sat cross-legged on the veranda, attempting to guide the nascent fighting spirit within him to circulate with his breathing.
Footsteps sounded, and Rengoku Kyojuro approached, carrying a wooden tray with a bowl of dark brown medicinal wine on it.
"Mr. Yasui, Father asked me to bring you this."
Kyoujurou placed the medicinal wine beside Ryosuke, his voice bright.
"This is a special medicinal wine from our family; it has miraculous effects for restoring stamina and strengthening the physique. Father said you've been training very hard, so this will come in handy."
"Thank you."
Ryosuke picked up the bowl and drank it in one gulp.
A warm current exploded from his stomach, surging through his limbs, soothing the muscle soreness, and subtly nourishing the nascent fighting spirit, making him feel very comfortable.
Kyoujurou did not leave immediately. He looked at Ryosuke and spoke very earnestly.
"Mr. Yasui, thank you."
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