Chapter 17: Chapter 017 ⤞ The Sleep God's Thunderous Slash
Zenitsu collapsed, overwhelmed by the intense shock.
"Hee hee hee, hahahaha~" Spider Brother cackled wildly, his mockery unconcealed, "Is this weakling really a Demon Slayer? He's utterly useless!"
He had a point — Zenitsu's display was indeed pitiful.
Had Tanjiro and Inosuke been present, they likely would have punched him for fainting so easily.
Spider Brother licked his lips, eyeing Adam with malicious intent — as if savoring a delectable feast. He could scarcely contain his eagerness to devour him!
"You're next, hee hee hee~"
He felt no concern about the mortal human posing any threat. Without a Nichirin Sword, he couldn't kill him, so there was no reason for alarm.
"Surely you've noticed something peculiar about that boy? Those remnants of a toxin-ravaged body, the blue marks spread across various parts — they're telltale signs of someone on the brink of transforming into a spider." He deliberately highlighted Zenitsu's abnormalities, attempting to unsettle Adam.
But to Spider Brother's dismay, Adam — aware of the outcome — remained unperturbed, meeting his gaze with calm resolve.
Displeased by his confident demeanor, Spider Brother threatened, "Why aren't you running? Soon you'll share the fate of that unconscious brat!"
"Oh, is that so?" Adam waved his hand dismissively. "If I were you, I'd be more concerned about Zenitsu."
"What are you talking about? That kid is already unconscious..."
Spider Brother couldn't finish his sentence as he witnessed the unconscious Zenitsu rising from the ground.
Eyes tightly shut, Zenitsu stood in a wide stance, both hands gripping the sword ready to strike. Hot, intense breaths escaped from his mouth.
"What is this?!" Spider Brother exclaimed, shock and doubt evident in his voice.
Logically, the toxin should have already corroded Zenitsu's nerves, rendering him unable to stand.
"Why?! How can he still stand?!"
Spider Brother cried out in alarm, frantically summoning small spiders to swarm and attack. He also spat poisonous sticky fluid from his mouth, now intent on killing him directly.
He had abandoned his plan to turn Zenitsu into a spider demon.
"Wow, what a treat for those with trypophobia!" Adam quipped, quickly dodging to the side and jumping away from the dense swarm of small spiders closing in.
Seeing this, Spider Brother laughed and taunted, "You're just running away? Not going to help him anymore?"
Though he might have had the verbal upper hand, the reality of the situation remained uncertain.
"Ah, Zenitsu will be fine, no need to worry." Adam said as he jumped onto a tree, "He doesn't need my concern. You, on the other hand, are the one in trouble!"
"Huh? I'm in trouble? Don't make me laugh!" Spider Brother glanced at the crybaby boy, who was engulfed by the swarm of small spiders, his expression smug with apparent victory.
But his confidence was about to be shattered.
Suddenly, a blinding golden lightning erupted from within the spider swarm. With a deafening crack, Zenitsu obliterated the attacking arachnids, emerging as a figure cloaked in crackling electricity.
The lightning danced around him, a perfect complement to his yellow attire. He stood there, a living embodiment of thunder's might!
Zenitsu's stance was impossibly low, feet spread wide, eyes shut tight, both hands gripping his sword with unwavering resolve.
This time, however, something was different — electrifyingly so.
◈ Thunder Breathing, First Form ⫸ Thunderclap and Flash, Sixfold ◈
The words flowed calmly from his mouth. In an instant, he vanished — disappearing from Adam's sight!
Fast! Blindingly fast! Unimaginably fast!
Adam's keen vision couldn't track Zenitsu's movements. Like a streak of yellow lightning, he zipped through the intricate mountain forest, leaving a trail of heart-stopping golden light!
In martial arts, nothing is truly impenetrable — only speed reigns supreme. The [Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash] embodies this principle, pushing speed to its absolute limit!
All power, concentrated on a single point, reaching the zenith of possibility!
Zing! Zing! Zing! Zing! Zing! Zing!
Six consecutive light sounds echoed as golden lightning streaked across the sky shrouded in dark clouds.
Soon after, the dazzling golden light dissipated.
Opening his eyes again, Adam saw that Spider Brother's head had been cut off, rolling to the side. The demon's mouth still moved, shouting, "Im-impossible! How could a mere, lowly Demon Slayer... actually kill me?!"
In endless regret and anger, he turned to ashes, dissipating before him.
"So, so strong!" Adam had to admit that the Thunder Breathing Technique was far beyond what he could contend with right now!
Thunderclap and Flash is a sword-drawing technique. In the world of sword-drawing techniques, there's a saying that Adam found quite accurate.
" The lower the posture, the stronger the slash! "
Judging by Zenitsu's wide stance — nearly parallel to the ground — the attack power was indeed as formidable as rumored!
He truly lived up to his "Sleep God" nickname! A single lightning slash was no joke.
Let me reiterate: Zenitsu Agatsuma is far from weak. His poor mental resilience and lack of self-confidence merely make him appear cowardly. Once asleep, however, his attacking ability is worlds apart from his waking state.
The Thunder Breathing Technique is terrifyingly powerful!
And now, all of this belonged to Adam.
〖Analysis start... Analysis complete!〗
〖Copying start... Copying complete!〗
〖〚Thunder Breathing Technique〛Acquired!〗
〖〚Thunder Breathing Technique - Total Concentration〛Acquired!〗
〖〚Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash〛Acquired!〗
"So, this is your sword technique, Zenitsu." Adam clenched his fists, feeling a surge of newfound strength, "I'll gratefully accept it!"
The 「Skill Thief」 had struck again!
"Wait, I should hurry and treat him."
Pushing aside his excitement over acquiring a new skill, Adam nimbly climbed up to the small wooden house suspended by spider threads. He began examining Zenitsu's condition.
"This isn't good — the poison has penetrated too deeply." He furrowed his brow, "Nevermind, let's try anyway."
Adam retrieved a small bottle from his pocket and carefully poured its contents into Zenitsu's mouth.
A water-blue glow enveloped his entire body. After a moment, the light faded, and all the toxins in his system were purified.
This was Holy Water, specially crafted by Aqua before his departure. As the Goddess of Water, producing it was effortless for her — requiring only a tiny bit of divine power to create a bottle. Adam carried three such bottles as backup, crucial rescue supplies for unexpected situations.
While Holy Water could dispel all negative states, it lacked healing properties and couldn't repair Zenitsu's body, which had been ravaged by the spider venom.
Without immediate treatment, his life remained in danger.
"Could magic work on him?" Adam pondered briefly before deciding to attempt it. After all, if Holy Water had proven effective, there was no reason magic wouldn't.
◈ Heal ◈
Adam had acquired this skill from the High Priest — the elderly man at the church. A single casting had been enough for Adam to learn〘Heal〙. At a mere cost of ξ500, it was both economical and potent.
A verdant glow enveloped Zenitsu's body once more.
"It's working!" Adam exclaimed, pleasantly surprised by magic's efficacy. His efforts to save him hadn't been in vain.
He considered it fair compensation, given that he'd appropriated Zenitsu's Thunder Breathing Technique.
Just as Adam prepared to carry him down, the soft whisper of a long sword leaving its scabbard reached his ears from behind.
Swoosh!
"A sneak attack?!"
How dishonorable!
Adam's eyes narrowed as he executed a backflip, deftly bringing Zenitsu to the ground with him. Whirling to face his would-be assailant, he demanded.
"Who are you?!"
✧✧✧
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