Chapter 3: Valuable information and Breathing techniques.
The first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, stirring Noctis from his uneasy slumber on the rooftop. His eyes fluttered open, squinting against the dawn's brightness. He sat up abruptly, his heart racing as reality set in.
"It... it wasn't a dream," Noctis muttered under his breath, rubbing his eyes before pinching his arm hard. "Ouch! Definitely not dreaming. This is real. I'm really here in Dicathen, at Etistin, a city of the Sapin kingdom..." A twinge of confusion lingered in his mind. The boy's memories... they feel like mine. My memories are... intertwined with his. He paused, narrowing his eyes as he tried to untangle the mess in his mind. These memories... they're mine. I'm sure of it. I've just regained them, the memories from my past life. He took a deep breath, finally feeling a sense of certainty. I didn't take over the boy's life; these are my memories, resurfacing after being buried. I'm Noctis Vale... but I'm also someone else. Someone I used to be. This was his reality now, and he would face it head-on.
Shaking his head, he pushed the lingering thoughts aside. "Leaving that aside, during my... stealing last night, I overheard two people talking about Etistin's city bay. That's when it clicked—this place, the war... it's from the story of TBATE." His heart pounded as the pieces began to fit together. I'm not just here by chance... this world, this story—it's all tied together.
The vibrant colors of the sunrise painted the sky, momentarily distracting him from the turmoil of his thoughts. The warm hues bled across the horizon, casting a soft glow over the city below. Noctis stared at the sky, as though seeking some answer in its vastness. As the initial shock faded, his mind raced back to the revelations of the previous night—breathing techniques and their potential.
"If I can master these... maybe I can control my situation, get a handle on... find a way to live here." Noctis's voice trailed off as his thoughts swirled.
Taking a deep breath, he focused on the air filling his lungs. "Breathing Styles... they increase lung capacity and oxygen in the blood, enhancing cardiovascular performance and sustaining the body even under extreme stress. Better trained lungs mean more oxygen, fueling muscles and sustaining energy output without failure." He recalled the concept of Total Concentration Breathing, a technique that expanded the lungs to intake as much air as possible. This not only accelerated blood flow and heartbeat but also raised inner body temperature, exciting the bones and muscles, pushing the body beyond its limits. "That could work here, right?" he thought. "Well, I can only try and check."
Noctis stood and stretched his stiff muscles. Pacing the rooftop, he gesticulated as he spoke aloud to himself, his thoughts racing.
**Sun Breathing**, created by Yoriichi Tsugikuni, is the original Breathing Style from which all other techniques are derived. Yoriichi's mastery of this style allowed him to effortlessly defeat demons, including the Demon King and Upper Rank demons. His techniques were described as breathtakingly beautiful, with a spiritual quality that transcended his human form. Initially composed of 12 interconnected forms, Sun Breathing was perfected with the creation of a 13th unnamed form to target Muzan Kibutsuji's 12 vital organs, consisting of seven hearts and five brains. Tanjiro, while not as naturally gifted as Yoriichi, trains to mirror his breathing pattern. He focuses on deep, controlled inhalations to expand his lung capacity, fueling his movements, and enhances his strikes with large oxygen intake, especially in forms like "Dancing Flash." For speed and precision, he uses rapid exhalations during his techniques, releasing the stored energy to power his strikes. As Tanjiro's stamina improves, he adapts his breathing to maintain high energy output throughout extended battles, resembling the "Total Concentration: Constant" technique. Yoriichi's forms include Dance, Dancing Flash, Clear Blue Sky, Raging Sun, Burning Bones, Summer Sun, Setting Sun Transformation, Solar Heat Haze, Beneficent Radiance, Sunflower Thrust, Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance, Fire Wheel, Fake Rainbow, Flame Dance, and the Thirteenth Form, which combines all 12 forms to enhance accuracy and speed for a single purpose: to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji.
Noctis frowned. *Maybe this could work, but I know it's very difficult. No one could achieve this in Yoriichi's era. Let's see what other Breathing Styles offer.*
He continued, pondering **Flame Breathing**: "It mimics fire—powerful, singular strikes. It replicates flames with movements, techniques, and abilities." He visualized the forms he'd studied. "First Form: Unknowing Fire. A horizontal slash aimed at decapitation. Simple but deadly. Then there's Rising Scorching Sun—a vertical upward slash. Blazing Universe, Blooming Flame Undulation, and Flame Tiger. Finally... Ninth Form: Rengoku. A devastating dash that cuts everything in its path. Powerful, but is it right for me?"
He shook his head, considering the alternative. "Thunder Breathing is about speed—lightning-fast attacks to overwhelm the enemy in an instant. It channels power into the legs for explosive movements. First Form: Thunderclap and Flash. Quick-draw speed like lightning tearing through the sky. Then the advanced techniques—Sixfold, Eightfold, Godspeed. Each one faster and deadlier. But is speed what I need most?"
A cool morning breeze ruffled Noctis's hair, carrying the scent of baking bread from a nearby bakery. His stomach growled, reminding him of his precarious situation.
"Focus, Noctis. Food can wait. I need to figure this out first."
Determined, he moved to the center of the rooftop, closing his eyes and steadying his breathing. He shifted into a stance, imagining flames licking at his fingertips.
"Flame Breathing. First Form—Unknowing Fire."
He attempted the imagined kata, dashing forward and swinging his arm in a horizontal arc. But his movements were clumsy and uncoordinated. Stumbling, he nearly lost his balance.
"Damn it. This is harder than I thought. Maybe Thunder Breathing would be easier?"
Switching tactics, Noctis envisioned lightning coursing through his veins. He took another deep breath, focusing on speed and agility.
"Thunder Breathing. First Form—Thunderclap and Flash."
He mimicked the motion, imagining a quick-draw strike. This time, his movements were smoother, but still far from the superhuman feats he envisioned.
Frustrated, he stopped, running a hand through his hair. "It's not working. Am I missing something? Maybe I need to understand mana better first? No... mana's not the problem. Maybe I need to take in more oxygen or something."
As the sun climbed higher, the sounds of the awakening city drifted up to his rooftop sanctuary. He glanced down at the bustling streets below.
"I can't stay up here forever. I need resources, information... and definitely some food."
With a determined breath, Noctis made his way to the edge of the rooftop, searching for a safe way down. He took one last look at the sunrise before beginning his descent.
"Sun , Flame or Thunder... I'll figure it out. But first, I need to survive in this world."
As Noctis reached the ground, the bustling sounds of Etistin's main marketplace engulfed him. His eyes widened at the colorful array of stalls and the diverse crowd. "It's even more overwhelming up close..."
The aroma of fresh bread and spices wafted through the air, making his stomach growl louder. Glancing around nervously, he spotted a fruit stand nearby. "I hate to do this, but I don't have much choice right now."
With practiced nonchalance, Noctis approached the fruit stand, pretending to examine the wares as he discreetly palmed an apple. Quickly blending into the bustling crowd, he tucked the fruit into his sleeve. "Sorry... I'll make it up someday, I promise," he murmured under his breath.
The shop owner, noticing the missing apple, let out a furious shout and immediately gave chase. Noctis reacted instinctively, darting through the crowd with swift agility, narrowly escaping the owner's grasp. "I need to find another way for food and water. I don't think I can keep doing this without getting caught", he thought, his heart pounding as he continued running.
Breathing heavily, Noctis eventually found a quiet alley. He leaned against the cool stone wall, taking a moment to steady himself. He unwrapped the apple from his sleeve and took a bite, savoring the sweetness as he chewed slowly. As he ate, he observed the people passing by, their lives unfolding before him. "I need more than just food. Information is just as crucial..." he murmured to himself, his mind swirling with plans for what came next.
As he finished his meager meal, he noticed a pub across the street, still lively despite the early hour. Straightening up, he brushed off his clothes. "Perfect. Where there's drink, there's loose lips."
Cautiously, Noctis approached the pub, positioning himself near an open window to eavesdrop. Leaning against the wall, he pretended to rest, his ear straining to catch the conversations from within. At first, the voices were too muffled to make out clearly. He edged closer, being careful not to attract attention.
His efforts paid off when he began to hear fragments of conversation about the royal family. As he leaned in, one voice became clearer:
"Did you hear the kid still has no heir? Is he... you know that," one man said, followed by a burst of laughter.
The other man quickly hushed him. "Shush... if the guards hear you, we'll be in trouble. Though what you said makes sense, but I don't think that's the case..."
Noctis's eyes widened as he pieced the conversation together. "Wait... the royal family of Sapin?" His mind raced as the implications of the words sank in.
Two men inside discussed the king's lack of heirs, despite his marriage to a beautiful woman. Furrowing his brow, he processed the information. "King Glayder and Queen Priscilla... but no Curtis? That means..."
The revelation struck him like a thunderbolt, a jolt of shock coursing through his veins. He staggered back from the window, his chest tightening as the weight of the information hit him full force. His breath faltered, his body shaking with disbelief. No… The realization was too much to bear, yet it was undeniable.
"I'm not just in a different world…" Noctis whispered to himself, his voice trembling. "I'm in a different time. This is… before everything I thought I knew… before Arthur… before it all…"
His mind reeled, and his stomach churned with the unsettling truth. The world, the kingdom, the events he had come to understand—they were all different now. The future he thought was inevitable had been rewritten, and he had been thrust into the heart of a past that held countless unknowns.
And yet, amidst the panic and confusion, something else stirred within him—an unsettling mix of fear and exhilaration. He clenched his fist, the realization settling deep into his bones.
"I have time… Time to change everything. Time to grow stronger. Time to prepare for what was to come." The looming war, the fights, the struggles—all of it was now within his reach. The future was his to shape. A slow, knowing smile crept across his face.
"This changes everything," he murmured, his voice low and full of resolve. "I'll make sure I'm ready. Ready for whatever's coming."