Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Bandits
Chapter 13: Bandits
~Albus POV~
"Ahh~"
Yawning from the great morning has been somewhat hard without a bed to sleep on tonight but at least some reassurance of stretching had helped a lot in stretching my bones and muscles.
Despite the floor being hard as a rock but good nonetheless.
Cooking up some breakfast I began to get ready and train when I have the time now with my wooden katana to get myself back into the rhythm of things again.
Needing to train to survive never thought I see the day of that happening.
But many things can happen in a day so what's the use of worrying now.
Before I train in Hamon or Six Powers of One Piece I would like to unlock the most I can from the Demon Slayer Breathing as soon as possible.
*Swoosh*
What I'm talking about is unlocking my Demon Slayer Mark.
The Demon Slayer Mark is a mysterious marking that can be unlocked and may appear on the body of a strong Demon Slayer.
The most talented Demon Slayers of the Demon Slayer Corps have a chance to develop a mysterious tattoo, scar, or birthmark marking. It resembles the crests that demons possess. These marks are referred to as Demon Slayer Marks.
Each Demon Slayer Mark looks unique, relating to the Breathing Style of the bearer.
The true origin of the Demon Slayer Mark is unknown, however, the first recorded occurrence of these markings were in the Sengoku Era, possessed by the first person with a Demon Slayer Mark was none other than the first Breathing Style user, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who, for unknown reasons, was born with a Demon Slayer Mark.
Practically all other swordsmen during the Sengoku Era awakened their Demon Slayer Mark due to the catalyst-like effect of the Mark.
To unlock the Demon Slayer Mark is that it can only appear in Demon Slayers that survived the life-threatening conditions of having a heart rate over 200 bpm and a body temperature over 39° Celsius (102.2° Fahrenheit). The precondition in unlocking it is that an individual directly related to Sun Breathing is present with it.
The Demon Slayer's mark also has the ability to act as a catalyst and spread from the original user to other strong Slayers, such as the Hashira, through resonance, granting them Demon Slayer Marks of their own.
And their abilities would be pretty handy to have at hand as well as the perks Enhanced Physical Capabilities.
Upon activating the Mark, the user is granted superhuman strength, speed, and enhanced breathing techniques beyond that of a normal Breathing Style user. Their strength and speed could even rival that of the strongest demons, such as the Upper Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki.
But the most busted ability would be obtaining X-Ray vision once you get the Transparent World.
The user becomes able to see the muscles, blood flow, and joint movement of living beings, allowing the user to accurately predict and react to their opponent's movements, as well as confirm the health and well-being of others.
Additionally, the user gains hyper-perception, allowing them to perceive the world around them at a much fast rate, making it appear to them as if the world was going in slow motion while in reality, they are reacting faster.
Think of it as one of those slow Mo games where you attack at just the right time in one of those Raiden games with the guy hiding in the box against mechas dinosaurs… I think…
But that's not without its downsides though.
The curse that comes along with the Cursed Demon Slayer Mark.
Having the Demon Slayer Mark has its costs.
Demon Slayers who have awakened the Demon Slayer Mark are said to die upon reaching the age of 25. Kokushibo mentioned that despite the increased power, it reduces their life span due to the strain on their bodies as previously stated by Shinobu, who stated the conditions for unlocking it alone were deadly even for a Hashira.
How the world of Demon Slayer described it though the curse is kind of on the iffy side of things.
Because it's very inconsistent of it's actions that I firmly believe it doesn't exist maybe if the demon slayers were just too weak to handle the burden I mean it is still possible to awaken the mark after a Demon Slayer is older than 25, evident in Gyomei activating it and receiving the benefits without dying immediately.
Due to the curse's inconsistency, it is possible that it's simply superstition. However, there is nothing that comprehensively disproves it either, so it's just as likely that the curse does truly exist.
But once I really don't have to concern myself with the curse though because I have extended my life span by eating the Philosopher Stone or slowing my aging process but I still get to be young regardless.
Once I get Hamon/Ripple though that will completely change.
Maybe I can just unlock it using Hamon or maybe not and see the traditional sense first.
For now, I better return myself training before I leave the area.
/////
Let's get down to business to defeat the Grimm.
*Swoosh*
Did they send me daughters when I asked for sons?
*Swoosh*
You're the saddest bunch I ever met but you can bet before we're through.
*Swoosh*
Mister, I'll make a man out of you tranquil as a forest but on fire within.
*Swoosh*
Once you find your center you are sure to win you're a spineless pale pathetic lot.
*Swoosh*
And you haven't got a clue Somehow I'll make a man out of you I'm never gonna catch my breath.
*Swoosh*
Say goodbye to those who knew me why was I a fool in school for cutting gym?
*Swoosh*
This guy's got them scared to death!
*Swoosh*
Hope he doesn't see right through me now I really wish that I knew how to swim –
"Well, well loosie here boys?"
*Swoosh*
Damn it.
These guys interrupted my concentration of swinging my sword around getting a good grip on it just when I was getting in the mood with a good song with my head using Mulan song for inspirational music.
But hey free meat bags of me to use in a small test for an experiment I have in mind.
Taking a glance at them they draw their weapons as they made their demands clear, "Now, now sunny we only want your stuff belonging to yah? Drop everything you have valuable."
I count about… four of them here as I already have my right arm at the ready in a gripping motion as I began to follow their orders.
At least in their eyes, they think they won.
Not for long.
Dropping my gun and katana they had their eyes on my item when I drop my empty wallet that they think holds Lien I smirked seeing a golden opportunity present here if my Ultimate Eye suggestion is correct.
*Thud*
*SWOOSH*
"What – "
*ZZZ*
*SPLAT*
In a sudden quick motion, before they reacted, I reinforced myself using Cursed Energy at that moment and used my Right Arm made for deconstruction on the man as I used Alchemy to tear off his arms as he was now armless.
Gulp.
Still not used to bloody parts flying around but…
I have to get used to this situation soon.
The sparks coming off from my right arm are apparent to that.
They next followed with worry in their eyes as I began to rush the other three as they saw me with me not hesitating in the slightest as it's their life or mine and I very much like my own life thank you very much.
It's their fault they came with the intention to harm me or rob me.
When you level your gun at the ready you be sure to prepare your own life for your own cause to fight.
Rushing towards the two nearby I used my right arm again to destroy their legs as I need them for something really important as I went towards one. "Got you."
"Ahh!"
*Zzz*
*Thud*
*Bam*
"Cough!"
Another one fell down but the other bandit managed to get me by kicking me as I had my Cursed Energy reinforce my body taking the blow but still hurt.
*Pew*
Hurt enough for me to spit enough saliva into the other man's mouth as he was immediately disgusted, "Ack! What the fuck! Oh gross! I have it in my mouth disgusting freak!"
Next, they began to draw their weapons toward me with their guns as they started shooting as I took the moment to relax slightly in my breathing and used my mana to channel through my body to avoid them enhancing my reflexes to match my Ultimate Eye.
Have to admit predicting where the bullets will land helps and Mana helping my reflexes to catch up certainly makes the difference.
Makes me feel like I'm in the matrix.
*Bang*
*Bang*
*Bang*
*Swoosh*
*Splat*
"Argh…!"
I managed to dodge a few of their rounds but not fast enough as I felt the hot metal of the bullet managed to hit me as I felt the pain of it my eyes widen from it but the burning sensation of pain though is something I'm quite used to.
My Gate can attest to that.
Right…
Almost forgot that despite seeing where they land with their guns I still have to be fast enough to react using the Ultimate Eye.
Dodging the bullets was easy enough as I position my fist and punched one of the bandit's face under his chin as he began to get knocked out with my enhanced strength.
Staring into the last one as he held his gun shaking in my direction as I began to walk towards him pleading for his life, "Wait-t… we didn't mean to rob you… please spare – "
*Swoosh*
*BAM*
Slamming my fist to his head knocking him out instantly as I adjusted my wrist talking to myself proudly, "Man. That felt real good knocking people out like that. Huh? Guess the other two knocked themselves out from the pain and blood loss. Better make this quick then."
Yeah, I have four fresh samples of humans with souls needing to be used up.
While I would highly question the morality of my situation here, I don't have the time to mess around here because of a few facts main the majority of them that I'm weak to deal with anything against big contenders in this world.
It was time to draw out the human transmutation circle to create a Philosopher Stone.
I mean I have some fresh meat and might as well use their life for something useful and having a Philosopher Stone certainly helps me survive some more using a God-tier item but for how long it will last though?
No idea.
I just know I have to make it count with the amount I have.
Now then…
Time to get myself a powerful stone in the makes.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone