13org

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

Will have a post done tonight when I get out of work! I've been keeping the location of the Daikaku temple intentionally vague so it's easier to meet others.

Will edit a set location once the first 'contact' happens lol

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

Daikaku Kōshin

'D a i k a k u K ō s h i n'
'D a i k a k u K ō s h i n'

A g e: 22 | R a n k:
???

^{P e r s o n a l i t y} :
Much of Kōshin's personality was shaped by the teachings he received on the Daikaku Buddhist temple. When he was taken in by the Daikaku temple, the anger and violence of his youth were tempered into unwavering discipline, perseverance and unshakable resolve. These teachings not only made him an unshakable pillar of faith, but also instilled in him a detachment that can make him seem distant and unapproachable, especially due to the Buddhist beliefs of detachment, which he follows with a fierce determination.

Despite being silent, reserved and judged harshly due to his intimidating appearance, Kōshin is always willing to offer advice and words of wisdom to those who seek his help, showing himself to be very approachable. Like Acala, one of the wrathful deities Kōshin felt most admiration for, along with Yamantaka, he can mostly be described as a wrathful protector.

While Buddhism teaches non-violence, Kōshin developed a unique interpretation shaped by his experiences. Through his master, Kōshin met demons who sought nothing but peaceful coexistence and at the same time, humans consumed blind hatred, capable of acts of cruelty rivaling demons. Over time, Kōshin came to realize that good and evil transcended species. Unlike the more fanatical slayers, he does not condemn demons. He doesn't hunt them, he seeks to eradicate cruelty and evil, wherever they might lie.

On the other hand, while Kōshin believes even evil deserves a chance at redemption, he also knows that some evils are beyond redemption.
When there is no remorse or hope of change in this life, Kōshin's does not hesitate to act.
His blade, not a hateful one, but at the same time, nor it is kind... It simply is. A blade that does not act, but reacts. One that bearing the weight of their own karma to strike them down, severing evil and ignorance, returning them to Samsara in a final act of compassion so even the damned can be reborn free of their past, their karma and their sins.

^{S h o w a S e c r e t} :
Tales of demon hunts and their survivors are not rare in Japan. Since ancient times, many have lost everything to these creatures. Having their lives twisted by grief and vengeance, many of these survivors are put into a path of ruin and self-destruction. Some become troublemakers or criminals, the impotence and hatred they felt festering and causing them hate the world itself while others are thrown into path of self-destruction and revenge. The few who are either lucky or skilled enough, happen to become members of the Demon Slayer Corps... Many of which still face an untimely death, either sooner or later.

For Kōshin, his story might have followed any of these paths, but by a whim of fate, before his hatred set him into a path of no return, a meeting with an old monk who took care of an incredibly old Buddhist temple would set him into a new path.

In his youth, Kōshin was a delinquent. Angry, aimless, and fueled by hatred for demons. Stealing to survive, venting his anger and frustrations with violence were just a few examples of what he used to do. Marked by the violent demise of his parents, for Kōshin, the world was a miserable and violent place and the ones responsible for all that were the demons, cruel beasts that fed on lives, despair and pain.

The turning point came one Friday afternoon. Kōshin had heard a rumor: a local shopkeeper was supposedly a demon sympathizer. For the young, misguided boy, a rumor was all it was needed to stoke the hatred in his heart. Grabbing a rusted pipe from a dumpster, he invaded the store with grim intent, smashing windows and displays in a blind rage. The old monk found him there, his eyes like a wild beast's, just as he advanced on the terrified shopkeeper. The monk stepped between them without fear, calmly asking Kōshin to stop and think before acting. Being beyond talk or convincing, Kōshin simply charged. But the monk moved with quiet precision, effortlessly dodging every wild swing before striking the weapon from Kōshin’s hands with a single, sharp strike of his staff. Struck by both fear, surprise and the sharp pain of the monk's strike, Kōshin fell backwards, waiting for retaliation for his actions. Surprisingly enough, the monk simply looked at Kōshin with sadness in his eyes before turning and walking away.

In the days that followed, Kōshin felt lost. He had expected to be beaten and punished, just like all the other times he was caught stealing or causing trouble. But the monk had shown only a deep sadness in his eyes. Curious and confused by the monk's puzzling reaction, he began trailing the old man from a distance. Eventually, swallowing his pride, Kōshin approached and asked to be taught how to fight, only to be met with a swift and sharp rejection. Having seen the hatred in Kōshin's heart, the monk refused to aid in his destructive path. But Kōshin persisted. Only after he showed a true willingness to change did the monk finally accept but on one condition: that Kōshin would study Buddhism and help care for the temple alongside his training. From that day on, Kōshin became both student and caretaker, walking the temple’s ancient halls not as a lost boy, but as someone seeking purpose.

Years later, the reckless boy Kōshin once was, had faded into memory, replaced by a man shaped by discipline and devotion. Kōshin’s hatred cooled into clarity. He learned to wield not only a sword, but also compassion, patience, and understanding. The old monk taught him to see beyond the surface—beyond species, beyond rage and when he finally was deemed ready, the true story behind the Daikaku temple, it's connection with the Demon Slayer corps and the reasons and the reason why they chose to follow a separate path.

Eventually, the temple elders recognized the strength and balance Kōshin had attained. Though once a stray with no future, he had become a pillar of Daikaku. In time, he was named heir to the temple. Not because of bloodline, but because of spirit. A wrathful protector who would defend not just humans, but peace itself.

_________________________________________________________________________

'K o k y ū'
'K o k y ū'

^{F l a m b o y a n c e} :

無我輪廻の呼吸 — Muga Rinne no Kokyū | Breathing of Egoless Samsara

The origin of the Breathing of Egoless Samsara lies in the flowing aspect of the Water Breathing. By meditating on ideas that formed the Water Breathing style, the earlier Buddhist monks came to the realization that many Buddhist teachings and concepts could be incorporated to it.

The first part of their meditation led to a concept that could be easily correlated to the already existing Water Breathing style, the concept of non-permanence. A blade that flowed like the waters of a river, ever-changing, flexible and adaptable, mighty but fluid.

By further meditating into this state of permanent change, the concept of Samsara was incorporated. For even in an ever-changing blade, the eternal cycle was still present. From stillness, to motion and then stillness again. While in motion, every movement leads to another, even failure leads to rebirth through adaptation. Thus the breathing style became an ever-changing cycle, simultaneously formless and with a form. Ever-changing, but still defined. Form is emptiness and emptiness is form.

But even when incorporating these concepts, both the blade and the breathing style were still, inherently, instruments of harming, killing and even when used with the purest intentions, every cut left one vulnerable to the inner demons that corrupted and perverted. The answer, the final realization the monks had was the incorporation of the concept of non-self. By erasing one's self, the user does not decide when to strike, they simply allow it to happen. Without self, there is no ego, no pride in victory or grief in defeat, no love or hatred. Thus the breathing style became one devoid of the self. A blade that does not carry hostility, emotions or intentions. Not a threat but a void, calm and endless. Not a being, but a blade moving without owner, carrying the weight of karma as the world balances itself.

Shapeless, formless—
Unity of blade and soul;
One cut, samsara.

Thus the Muga Rinne no Kokyū, the Breathing of Egoless Samsara was created.

---

The Muga Rinne no Kokyū, being loosely based in the Water Breathing, retains its flowing nature, but sheds its aggressive nature. It is not a dance or display, it is absence given form, defined by an extreme economy of actions and movement. The user, like a water mirror, move only when disturbed. Every slash is preordained, flowing from stillness like a ripple across a pond and immediately returning to stillness once the moment has passed. Every attack is just as fast as it needs to be, moving just enough, with just enough strength and speed to be lethal. There are no wasted movements, no excess, no flair.

Being fundamentally a reactive style, the Muga Rinne no Kokyū user never rushes or initiates an attack. It merely waits and react. If the opponent moves, the user moves just enough to react to the attack. Offense is born within defense, merely a redirection of karmic force.

Staying true to the concepts of non-self and impermanence, when wielding a blade, the user of this style isn't enforcing their will into the world through it's blade, but simply allows the cut to happen. Even if a user of this style may appear to be overwhelmed by a torrent of attacks, they are merely waiting for the exact moment. When the blade finally moves to strike, it is as if the blade seems to guide the consequence to its inevitable conclusion. Fuid, but exact. Gentle, but absolute. Inevitable.

Despite all that, differently from other reactive styles focusing on counter attacks, in it's core, the Muga Rinne no Kokyū is not a deceitful blade. It does not aim to deceive with it's swift movements. With that said, the lack of self, hostility or killing intent in the user's blade, coupled with the adaptable, 'formless' nature of this style, often makes it particularly difficult to follow and react to it.

✧ First Form, Ichi no kata: Muku Kiryū | Innocence Returns to the Stream: The first form of the Muga Rinne no Kokyū is the foundation of the style, a stance that embodies stillness, the concept of Muga, no-self and the principle of non-violence. Strictly defensive it is a stance without being a stance, a form without a form. Can be performed with the blade still in the scabbard or even with the prayer beads Kōshin carries with him. When in this stance, the user deflects, dodges and parries attacks with little to no effort, always with as little movement as possible. Every move is met with the appropriate reaction. When violence meets non-violence, only ripples remain in the water mirror.

It is the base stance of the Muga Rinne no Kokyū. All other forms are performed after this one.

✧ Second Form, Ni no kata: Setsuna Sazanami | Momentary Ripple: A fleeting instant between the ripples in a water mirror after disturbed. A strictly non-lethal move. Using the openings created by the first form, the user performs a swift strike, often superficial, aimed to disable but not kill. It usually targets to cut tendons and muscles, a blunt strike to joints or even aiming at the opponent's hands or weapon. A strike born out of compassion, aiming to disable and disarm rather than kill.

✧ Third Form, San no kata: Ruten Shōgyō | All things flow and fade: Lit. Flowing of all actions.
What began as a ripple, now became a wave. A single transient cut, ending and fading as quickly and calmly as it came. This form aims at decisively ending a combat, without leaving any possibility of retaliation. While still technically non-lethal, it aims to cause grave wounds, such as completely severing a member or cause too great of a wound for the battle to continue.

✧ Fourth Form, Shi no kata: Mugetsu no Nagare | Flow Beneath the Moonless Night: Lit. Flow of the Moonless Night.
The wave after running it's course, comes to a quiet and silent end. A final cut, devoid of any hostility or intention. A particularly difficult form to defend or perceive, being a move embodying the concept of non-self and detachment. A formless blade that moves without an owner.
The first lethal form of the Muga Rinne no Kokyū, aiming to end a life. Painlessly and cleanly. A single precise cut, sending one's soul back into the great cycle of Samsara.

Despite the decisive nature of this move, like all other moves from the Muga Rinne no Kokyū, it does not take the form of a mighty or an exceptionally fast strike, instead being calm, effortless strike, focusing on precision above all else.

✧ Fifth Form, Go no kata: Enmei Hōrin | Wheel of Dharma, Eternal Clarity: Lit. Radiant Dharma Wheel.
The perfect culmination of everything the Muga Rinne no Kokyū embodies, when stillness, compassion, detachment and non-self have become one. Can only be performed if the user is in a state of perfect Samadhi.

A strike that transcends self, carrying the full weight of karmic equilibrium, the weight of the world as it balances itself. A strike that follows no path, yet all paths. Impossibly fast yet at the same time, impossibly slow. One's perception of time seems to dilate as the user performs a circular motion resembling the ensō (Zen circle), before raising the blade. For a brief moment, the blade hangs over the user's head. A single moment that seems to extend to eternity before the blade finally comes crashing down, the convergence of all cycles, all rebirths, all causes and effects, everything that led one to this moment. Upon cutting, the user cuts more than just flesh and bone. Those who fall to this strike have their karmic bonds cut and their souls, severed from the cycle of Samsara, sent to Naraka for purification through suffering, until rebirth.

✧ The price of Dharma

The Enmei Hōrin is not a strike born of self, but of the world balancing itself through the user. The more impure or corrupted is the soul he severs, the heavier the toll, as the karmic burden flows through him before dispersing into nothingness. In other words, by offering oneself as both the vessel and the axis through which the Wheel of Dharma turns, the user becomes temporarily one with the Wheel. But as a consequence, everything that resists this impermanence is gradually grounded away with each turn of it. This means that every time the Enmei Hōrin is used, a part of the user is sacrificed. This takes form of more than just the memories and feelings the user has, but the memories and feelings the world has for him. This means not only the user can forget both memories and feelings he might have for companions and allies, but they will also forget about him. When there is nothing more to ground but the user's own self, compassion becomes impossible and thus, the act carries only detachment. Without compassion, what was supposed to be the ultimate act of mercy becomes true annihilation.

True annihilation, completely removing a soul from the cycle of Dharma is an impossibility, breaking the rules of Dharma and in order to correct itself, the Wheel of Dharma erases the contradiction. Not back to Samsara, but into pure nothingness.

The final use of Enmei Hōrin, when the Wheel has nothing to grind but the Self, becomes a paradox. The very act of surrendering the self is still a conscious act, becoming, at the same time, the ultimate assertion of self as the user negates their own 'Self', their detachment perfecting itself into nonexistence. Resulting in true annihilation, dissolution.

_________________________________________________________________________

'N i c h i r i n'
'N i c h i r i n'

^{B l a d e W o r k} : Staying true to the philosophy behind the Muga Rinne no Kokyū, the blade Kōshin wields is simple and devoid of any embellishment or decoration, being merely a shirasaya, lacking even a proper tsuba. When unsheathed, it seems to almost completely lack any change in color like most other Nichirin blades, being only distinguishable as such due to an incredibly faint golden light which seems to mix with the natural reflection of the blade. A reflection of the countless monks that inherited this sword through the ages as heirs to the Daikaku temple, the weight of their vows and the detachment to self and desires.
_________________________________________________________________________

^{U n i q u e T r a i t s} :

Samadhi: Years of meditation, training and studying the Buddhist teachings allow Kōshin to temporarily attain the state of Samadhi. Intense concentration allow him to reach a state of mind where he eliminates the self and is, essentially one with it's blade. Merely an empty vessel, through which the world restores its balance. Unclouded by fear, urgency, pain, hesitation and freed from the interference of all six senses, sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and mind, Kōshin attains perfect perception. Every second is experienced and known in it's entirety. No minor detail or movement is left unperceived, allowing him to dodge and counterattacks with uncanny precision, making any attempt to deceive or misdirect, useless. With the elimination of self, there is essentially no reaction time, as Kōshin's body moves before the mind intervenes. More than a trait, the Samadhi is the very essence of the Muga Rinne no Kokyū.

It does not come without a risk though, as it is very taxing on the user's brain, especially if fighting against multiple foes. If forced to focus in multiple targets at the same time, this state of Samadhi can only be maintained for a few minutes before it becomes dangerous to continue further, causing the brain to overheat and finally, shutting down completely, essentially incapacitating Kōshin for the time being.

Reinforced Prayer Beads: The long prayer beads that Kōshin carries with him, while not exactly a weapon, were especially made to be very strong and resistant to cuts, given Kōshin's tendency to use these prayer beads to sometimes stop attacks or bind enemies.

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

Heeey great!!

I can post him here then, right? XD

13org's characters

Daikaku Kōshin

'D a i k a k u K ō s h i n'
'D a i k a k u K ō s h i n'

A g e: 22 | R a n k:
???

^{P e r s o n a l i t y} :
Much of Kōshin's personality was shaped by the teachings he received on the Daikaku Buddhist temple. When he was taken in by the Daikaku temple, the anger and violence of his youth were tempered into unwavering discipline, perseverance and unshakable resolve. These teachings not only made him an unshakable pillar of faith, but also instilled in him a detachment that can make him seem distant and unapproachable, especially due to the Buddhist beliefs of detachment, which he follows with a fierce determination.

Despite being silent, reserved and judged harshly due to his intimidating appearance, Kōshin is always willing to offer advice and words of wisdom to those who seek his help, showing himself to be very approachable. Like Acala, one of the wrathful deities Kōshin felt most admiration for, along with Yamantaka, he can mostly be described as a wrathful protector.

While Buddhism teaches non-violence, Kōshin developed a unique interpretation shaped by his experiences. Through his master, Kōshin met demons who sought nothing but peaceful coexistence and at the same time, humans consumed blind hatred, capable of acts of cruelty rivaling demons. Over time, Kōshin came to realize that good and evil transcended species. Unlike the more fanatical slayers, he does not condemn demons. He doesn't hunt them, he seeks to eradicate cruelty and evil, wherever they might lie.

On the other hand, while Kōshin believes even evil deserves a chance at redemption, he also knows that some evils are beyond redemption.
When there is no remorse or hope of change in this life, Kōshin's does not hesitate to act.
His blade, not a hateful one, but at the same time, nor it is kind... It simply is. A blade that does not act, but reacts. One that bearing the weight of their own karma to strike them down, severing evil and ignorance, returning them to Samsara in a final act of compassion so even the damned can be reborn free of their past, their karma and their sins.

^{S h o w a S e c r e t} :
Tales of demon hunts and their survivors are not rare in Japan. Since ancient times, many have lost everything to these creatures. Having their lives twisted by grief and vengeance, many of these survivors are put into a path of ruin and self-destruction. Some become troublemakers or criminals, the impotence and hatred they felt festering and causing them hate the world itself while others are thrown into path of self-destruction and revenge. The few who are either lucky or skilled enough, happen to become members of the Demon Slayer Corps... Many of which still face an untimely death, either sooner or later.

For Kōshin, his story might have followed any of these paths, but by a whim of fate, before his hatred set him into a path of no return, a meeting with an old monk who took care of an incredibly old Buddhist temple would set him into a new path.

In his youth, Kōshin was a delinquent. Angry, aimless, and fueled by hatred for demons. Stealing to survive, venting his anger and frustrations with violence were just a few examples of what he used to do. Marked by the violent demise of his parents, for Kōshin, the world was a miserable and violent place and the ones responsible for all that were the demons, cruel beasts that fed on lives, despair and pain.

The turning point came one Friday afternoon. Kōshin had heard a rumor: a local shopkeeper was supposedly a demon sympathizer. For the young, misguided boy, a rumor was all it was needed to stoke the hatred in his heart. Grabbing a rusted pipe from a dumpster, he invaded the store with grim intent, smashing windows and displays in a blind rage. The old monk found him there, his eyes like a wild beast's, just as he advanced on the terrified shopkeeper. The monk stepped between them without fear, calmly asking Kōshin to stop and think before acting. Being beyond talk or convincing, Kōshin simply charged. But the monk moved with quiet precision, effortlessly dodging every wild swing before striking the weapon from Kōshin’s hands with a single, sharp strike of his staff. Struck by both fear, surprise and the sharp pain of the monk's strike, Kōshin fell backwards, waiting for retaliation for his actions. Surprisingly enough, the monk simply looked at Kōshin with sadness in his eyes before turning and walking away.

In the days that followed, Kōshin felt lost. He had expected to be beaten and punished, just like all the other times he was caught stealing or causing trouble. But the monk had shown only a deep sadness in his eyes. Curious and confused by the monk's puzzling reaction, he began trailing the old man from a distance. Eventually, swallowing his pride, Kōshin approached and asked to be taught how to fight, only to be met with a swift and sharp rejection. Having seen the hatred in Kōshin's heart, the monk refused to aid in his destructive path. But Kōshin persisted. Only after he showed a true willingness to change did the monk finally accept but on one condition: that Kōshin would study Buddhism and help care for the temple alongside his training. From that day on, Kōshin became both student and caretaker, walking the temple’s ancient halls not as a lost boy, but as someone seeking purpose.

Years later, the reckless boy Kōshin once was, had faded into memory, replaced by a man shaped by discipline and devotion. Kōshin’s hatred cooled into clarity. He learned to wield not only a sword, but also compassion, patience, and understanding. The old monk taught him to see beyond the surface—beyond species, beyond rage and when he finally was deemed ready, the true story behind the Daikaku temple, it's connection with the Demon Slayer corps and the reasons and the reason why they chose to follow a separate path.

Eventually, the temple elders recognized the strength and balance Kōshin had attained. Though once a stray with no future, he had become a pillar of Daikaku. In time, he was named heir to the temple. Not because of bloodline, but because of spirit. A wrathful protector who would defend not just humans, but peace itself.

_________________________________________________________________________

'K o k y ū'
'K o k y ū'

^{F l a m b o y a n c e} :

無我輪廻の呼吸 — Muga Rinne no Kokyū | Breathing of Egoless Samsara

The origin of the Breathing of Egoless Samsara lies in the flowing aspect of the Water Breathing. By meditating on ideas that formed the Water Breathing style, the earlier Buddhist monks came to the realization that many Buddhist teachings and concepts could be incorporated to it.

The first part of their meditation led to a concept that could be easily correlated to the already existing Water Breathing style, the concept of non-permanence. A blade that flowed like the waters of a river, ever-changing, flexible and adaptable, mighty but fluid.

By further meditating into this state of permanent change, the concept of Samsara was incorporated. For even in an ever-changing blade, the eternal cycle was still present. From stillness, to motion and then stillness again. While in motion, every movement leads to another, even failure leads to rebirth through adaptation. Thus the breathing style became an ever-changing cycle, simultaneously formless and with a form. Ever-changing, but still defined. Form is emptiness and emptiness is form.

But even when incorporating these concepts, both the blade and the breathing style were still, inherently, instruments of harming, killing and even when used with the purest intentions, every cut left one vulnerable to the inner demons that corrupted and perverted. The answer, the final realization the monks had was the incorporation of the concept of non-self. By erasing one's self, the user does not decide when to strike, they simply allow it to happen. Without self, there is no ego, no pride in victory or grief in defeat, no love or hatred. Thus the breathing style became one devoid of the self. A blade that does not carry hostility, emotions or intentions. Not a threat but a void, calm and endless. Not a being, but a blade moving without owner, carrying the weight of karma as the world balances itself.

Shapeless, formless—
Unity of blade and soul;
One cut, samsara.

Thus the Muga Rinne no Kokyū, the Breathing of Egoless Samsara was created.

---

The Muga Rinne no Kokyū, being loosely based in the Water Breathing, retains its flowing nature, but sheds its aggressive nature. It is not a dance or display, it is absence given form, defined by an extreme economy of actions and movement. The user, like a water mirror, move only when disturbed. Every slash is preordained, flowing from stillness like a ripple across a pond and immediately returning to stillness once the moment has passed. Every attack is just as fast as it needs to be, moving just enough, with just enough strength and speed to be lethal. There are no wasted movements, no excess, no flair.

Being fundamentally a reactive style, the Muga Rinne no Kokyū user never rushes or initiates an attack. It merely waits and react. If the opponent moves, the user moves just enough to react to the attack. Offense is born within defense, merely a redirection of karmic force.

Staying true to the concepts of non-self and impermanence, when wielding a blade, the user of this style isn't enforcing their will into the world through it's blade, but simply allows the cut to happen. Even if a user of this style may appear to be overwhelmed by a torrent of attacks, they are merely waiting for the exact moment. When the blade finally moves to strike, it is as if the blade seems to guide the consequence to its inevitable conclusion. Fuid, but exact. Gentle, but absolute. Inevitable.

Despite all that, differently from other reactive styles focusing on counter attacks, in it's core, the Muga Rinne no Kokyū is not a deceitful blade. It does not aim to deceive with it's swift movements. With that said, the lack of self, hostility or killing intent in the user's blade, coupled with the adaptable, 'formless' nature of this style, often makes it particularly difficult to follow and react to it.

✧ First Form, Ichi no kata: Muku Kiryū | Innocence Returns to the Stream: The first form of the Muga Rinne no Kokyū is the foundation of the style, a stance that embodies stillness, the concept of Muga, no-self and the principle of non-violence. Strictly defensive it is a stance without being a stance, a form without a form. Can be performed with the blade still in the scabbard or even with the prayer beads Kōshin carries with him. When in this stance, the user deflects, dodges and parries attacks with little to no effort, always with as little movement as possible. Every move is met with the appropriate reaction. When violence meets non-violence, only ripples remain in the water mirror.

It is the base stance of the Muga Rinne no Kokyū. All other forms are performed after this one.

✧ Second Form, Ni no kata: Setsuna Sazanami | Momentary Ripple: A fleeting instant between the ripples in a water mirror after disturbed. A strictly non-lethal move. Using the openings created by the first form, the user performs a swift strike, often superficial, aimed to disable but not kill. It usually targets to cut tendons and muscles, a blunt strike to joints or even aiming at the opponent's hands or weapon. A strike born out of compassion, aiming to disable and disarm rather than kill.

✧ Third Form, San no kata: Ruten Shōgyō | All things flow and fade: Lit. Flowing of all actions.
What began as a ripple, now became a wave. A single transient cut, ending and fading as quickly and calmly as it came. This form aims at decisively ending a combat, without leaving any possibility of retaliation. While still technically non-lethal, it aims to cause grave wounds, such as completely severing a member or cause too great of a wound for the battle to continue.

✧ Fourth Form, Shi no kata: Mugetsu no Nagare | Flow Beneath the Moonless Night: Lit. Flow of the Moonless Night.
The wave after running it's course, comes to a quiet and silent end. A final cut, devoid of any hostility or intention. A particularly difficult form to defend or perceive, being a move embodying the concept of non-self and detachment. A formless blade that moves without an owner.
The first lethal form of the Muga Rinne no Kokyū, aiming to end a life. Painlessly and cleanly. A single precise cut, sending one's soul back into the great cycle of Samsara.

Despite the decisive nature of this move, like all other moves from the Muga Rinne no Kokyū, it does not take the form of a mighty or an exceptionally fast strike, instead being calm, effortless strike, focusing on precision above all else.

✧ Fifth Form, Go no kata: Enmei Hōrin | Wheel of Dharma, Eternal Clarity: Lit. Radiant Dharma Wheel.
The perfect culmination of everything the Muga Rinne no Kokyū embodies, when stillness, compassion, detachment and non-self have become one. Can only be performed if the user is in a state of perfect Samadhi.

A strike that transcends self, carrying the full weight of karmic equilibrium, the weight of the world as it balances itself. A strike that follows no path, yet all paths. Impossibly fast yet at the same time, impossibly slow. One's perception of time seems to dilate as the user performs a circular motion resembling the ensō (Zen circle), before raising the blade. For a brief moment, the blade hangs over the user's head. A single moment that seems to extend to eternity before the blade finally comes crashing down, the convergence of all cycles, all rebirths, all causes and effects, everything that led one to this moment. Upon cutting, the user cuts more than just flesh and bone. Those who fall to this strike have their karmic bonds cut and their souls, severed from the cycle of Samsara, sent to Naraka for purification through suffering, until rebirth.

✧ The price of Dharma

The Enmei Hōrin is not a strike born of self, but of the world balancing itself through the user. The more impure or corrupted is the soul he severs, the heavier the toll, as the karmic burden flows through him before dispersing into nothingness. In other words, by offering oneself as both the vessel and the axis through which the Wheel of Dharma turns, the user becomes temporarily one with the Wheel. But as a consequence, everything that resists this impermanence is gradually grounded away with each turn of it. This means that every time the Enmei Hōrin is used, a part of the user is sacrificed. This takes form of more than just the memories and feelings the user has, but the memories and feelings the world has for him. This means not only the user can forget both memories and feelings he might have for companions and allies, but they will also forget about him. When there is nothing more to ground but the user's own self, compassion becomes impossible and thus, the act carries only detachment. Without compassion, what was supposed to be the ultimate act of mercy becomes true annihilation.

True annihilation, completely removing a soul from the cycle of Dharma is an impossibility, breaking the rules of Dharma and in order to correct itself, the Wheel of Dharma erases the contradiction. Not back to Samsara, but into pure nothingness.

The final use of Enmei Hōrin, when the Wheel has nothing to grind but the Self, becomes a paradox. The very act of surrendering the self is still a conscious act, becoming, at the same time, the ultimate assertion of self as the user negates their own 'Self', their detachment perfecting itself into nonexistence. Resulting in true annihilation, dissolution.

_________________________________________________________________________

'N i c h i r i n'
'N i c h i r i n'

^{B l a d e W o r k} : Staying true to the philosophy behind the Muga Rinne no Kokyū, the blade Kōshin wields is simple and devoid of any embellishment or decoration, being merely a shirasaya, lacking even a proper tsuba. When unsheathed, it seems to almost completely lack any change in color like most other Nichirin blades, being only distinguishable as such due to an incredibly faint golden light which seems to mix with the natural reflection of the blade. A reflection of the countless monks that inherited this sword through the ages as heirs to the Daikaku temple, the weight of their vows and the detachment to self and desires.
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^{U n i q u e T r a i t s} :

Samadhi: Years of meditation, training and studying the Buddhist teachings allow Kōshin to temporarily attain the state of Samadhi. Intense concentration allow him to reach a state of mind where he eliminates the self and is, essentially one with it's blade. Merely an empty vessel, through which the world restores its balance. Unclouded by fear, urgency, pain, hesitation and freed from the interference of all six senses, sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and mind, Kōshin attains perfect perception. Every second is experienced and known in it's entirety. No minor detail or movement is left unperceived, allowing him to dodge and counterattacks with uncanny precision, making any attempt to deceive or misdirect, useless. With the elimination of self, there is essentially no reaction time, as Kōshin's body moves before the mind intervenes. More than a trait, the Samadhi is the very essence of the Muga Rinne no Kokyū.

It does not come without a risk though, as it is very taxing on the user's brain, especially if fighting against multiple foes. If forced to focus in multiple targets at the same time, this state of Samadhi can only be maintained for a few minutes before it becomes dangerous to continue further, causing the brain to overheat and finally, shutting down completely, essentially incapacitating Kōshin for the time being.

Reinforced Prayer Beads: The long prayer beads that Kōshin carries with him, while not exactly a weapon, were especially made to be very strong and resistant to cuts, given Kōshin's tendency to use these prayer beads to sometimes stop attacks or bind enemies.

Duplicitous Ruins in the Land of Twilight

Miwa nodded with a kind smile as she heard Vesemir's proposal. Not only she was glad that he understood her concerns, but he also gave her a very good alternative. Without saying a word, she took off both beaded hair-bands she used to tie her hair, handing them to Vesemir and Eblana with a kind smile.

"Thank you for humoring my request. The elders might indeed notice... They are strangely perceptive when the matter is anything I shouldn't have or shouldn't do... Regardless, I might be able to just talk my way out. These are my hair accessories, after all." Miwa said with a slight bow and a mischievous wink to both Vesemir and Eblana.

"Please take your time, I will be right over there if you need me." she said with a smile, having noticed that Akari did not hesitate in giving Vesemir and Eblana quite the workload.

Even since Jazdia mentioned that the party used to have one more person, curiosity had been gnawing at Miwa. Considering the already diverse cast of members the party had, she had absolutely no idea who, or even what, the last member could be.

Miwa didn't take long to find Jazdia and Verdant being guided by Arcan down the north corridor. At first, Miwa would approach them but since both were talking, Miwa decided to politely wait so their talk wouldn't be interrupted. Thanks to that, Miwa inadvertently ended up catching a bit of their conversation, just the ending of it, but it was already enough for her to sense, once again, a certain weight in Jazdia's words.

"I am sorry to interrupt... And to overhear your conversation, but Verdant is correct." Miwa said, approaching both of them as she gave Verdant a kind smile and a gentle headpat, finding the way Verdant showed to care and worry about Jazdia quite adorable.

"I did mention I would help you as much as I could with your curse, wouldn't I? Knowing more about it will definitely make my job a whole lot easier." Miwa said, looking to Jazdia with a reassuring smile, trying to encourage her as best as she could.

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

Sounds great!

Breath variants can still be created, right?
Was thinking of a variant of water breathing based on Ishikawa Goemon from Lupin the Third, consisting mostly on responding and reacting to attacks instead of going on the offensive.

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

Hey, this definitely sounds fun!

Any spots left?

Duplicitous Ruins in the Land of Twilight

Being a scholar through and through, Miwa somewhat expected that it would be a bit difficult to have Vesemir's attention while he was absorbed trying to study the contents of the gallery. Fortunately, Jazdia seemed to notice Vesemir's lack of interest to what she was saying quite quickly and promptly made sure the elf scholar would pay proper attention at what Miwa was saying.

With a discreet glance and nod of thanks towards Jazdia, Miwa silently thanked Vesemir as he gave his consent for them to start the purification of the defiled rooms the curator mentioned, while also presenting an apparently, recently made runestone to aid them. Undoubtedly, already a fruit of Vesemir's research of the artifacts at the gallery.

While it was beyond any doubt that the Lich was a threat that would better be dealt with, the discussion started by Verdant's comment brought very valid points. Taking down the necromancer would be undeniably dangerous, especially if he had already established a base somewhere, possibly getting stronger than before.

"It might seem to be a daunting task now, but I am sure it might prove to become more feasible as we know more about the necromancer's powers and how to counter them. Purifying the room the lich left behind might seem like a menial task, but it might prove to be important for us to better understand it's powers." Miwa said, with a kind smile as she watched Verdant, excitedly watching as Vesemir enchanted her weapon before she walked away with Jazdia once Vesemir was finished.

Miwa waited patiently as each group member's weapons were enchanted. Most were thankful or excited for having their weapons enhanced, but Miwa felt a deep weight in Rezello's words as he handed his sword to Vesemir. Rezello was carrying a heavy burden in his heart. While the desire for vengeance was an understandable one, it was a goal that often left one empty once it was over... And depending on how long one was consumed by revenge... It might be hard to see anything else in life after the only reason for them to live disappeared.

When her turn finally arrived, Miwa approached Vesemir with her weapon in hand.

"I know it might be a bit presumptuous of me to try and explain artifacts to a scholar such as yourself but... the Ama Matoi isn't just a weapon. It is also a sacred artifact for the temple, one passed down from miko to miko for generations. Despite being it's current wielder, I know no better of how exactly it works or how it was created than it's previous wielder... I am not sure of what effects engraving a rune could have on it... Besides, I am not sure what the elders of the temple would do to me if they found out the Ama Matoi was engraved with strange runes. If possible, could you just enhance it's effects without inscribing any new rune?" Miwa asked a bit shyly and embarrassed, not sure how Vesemir would receive her request.

The Envenomed: Military Science Fiction Deniable Operations

Amidst the dizzying and nauseating feeling of the qillatu saturated ambient, Alice gasped, surprised as she felt the peculiar semi-corporeal feeling as King helped her to maintain balance. While his help was definitely welcome, the sensation was rather disconcerting, almost as if it was a mass of pure nothing standing behind her, having basically no ethereal presence.

Shaking her head, Alice forced herself to focus on the battle as best she could as she heard both Ilshar warning her he was going to try to pinpoint the location of the responsible for the ambush and King's words as he aided her, trying her best to hide her reaction to his touch and close presence, even if it was a subtle one considering everything else that was going on.

"T-thank you, King. There is much qillatu around... Ilshar, I'll need a moment to recover but I will be ready to-" Alice said, her voice faltering as she lifted her head and her pistol, ready to finish off the creatures she was certain her ethereal blast had brought down. Before she could even take proper aim though, one of the creatures, unaffected by her etheric blast was already mere inches away from her. There was little time to react as it's sharp claws bit into her left side, digging deep before raking backwards tearing and ripping apart Alice's side as she let out a sharp yell of pain, one of her hands instinctively going towards the horrible wound on her side as she desperately discharged her pistol at the creature before it could attack her again.

Duplicitous Ruins in the Land of Twilight

While knowing that the lich didn't seem to be an immediate threat, Miwa knowing a powerful necromancer like that was not only roaming freely but making new victims wasn't something acceptable for a Miko. Even if Theriadore's Gallery and the countless powerful artifacts that lied in it seemed to be apparently safe from the necromancer, nobody could be sure it would remain like that forever...

"Dangerous as it might be, such evil is still a blight upon this world. To allow it to roam freely would be to accept the horrible fate that might befall the innocent victims the necromancer preys upon and turn a blind eye to the countless ones that have already died in it's hands." Miwa said with a grim tone on her voice.

"Whether our group accepts the task of dealing with the necromancer or not, I am not one to decide, but the lease we could do is purifying the desecrated grounds created by him." Miwa said, nodding towards Arcan and Fia, silently thanking the latter for her willingness to aid Miwa.

"Besides, should Vesemir allows us to at least purify the cursed room left behind by the necromancer, it could prove useful to analyze and know a bit more about how his powers work, should we happen to meet him sooner or later in our journey." Miwa said nodding towards Fia, certain she would be able to take out some valuable information from the cursed room, should they be able to purify it.

As Mr Elc began arguing with Arcan regarding the accountability of his actions, Miwa couldn't help but think it was a terrible idea to antagonize an unknowingly powerful being.

While it might appear strange or counterintuitive, Miwa could still somewhat understand the logic and reasoning behind Arcan's actions. His task was protecting Theriadore's Gallery and being it's curator. Anyone who had the proper authorization to get inside was welcome to do so, as long as they followed the rules while inside. Who they were or what was their purpose was irrelevant to Arcan. In a way, it was almost as if he was a construct made with a very specific set of instructions to follow and nothing more. Matters pertaining the outside world and the fate of anything that wasn't Theriadore's Gallery didn't matter, as Arcan himself made it quite clear.

In the same way, Miwa could also understand Mr. Elc's reasoning and logic. Handing out powerful artifacts to whoever had the proper authorization, regardless of their motives did seem to be quite an oversight, whether by Arcan himself or Theriadore, whom apparently was Arcan's creator... or contractor. Even if bound by his duty and the strict instructions given to him by his master, one should still be held somewhat responsible by whatever happens to be the outcome of handing out such powerful artifacts, especially if Theriadore's directives did include dealing with evil, should they come to the vault.

With that said, even though Miwa could see both Arcan and Mr. Elc's points, she definitely wasn't keen in being part of the heated debate between both of them and was quite relieved when Stepan approached to stop Mr. Elc from continuing.

Following Fia's advice, Miwa proceeded to the workshop, where Vesemir, Eblana and Jazdia were searching through tomes and artifacts left by Theriadore.

"Excuse-me, Mr. Vesemir. I am sorry to interrupt you but Arcan gave us some important information regarding the cursed rooms, the victims in the tunnels and the necromancer who seems to be responsible for both..." Miwa said, stopping at the entrance of the workshop and announcing her arrival before approaching Vesemir and telling him about what Arcan told them about the necromancer.

"The necromancer seems to have made a lair for itself far from here, so it is not an immediate threat... Although I would like to express my desire to deal with it, either sooner or later. Allowing it to roam freely would not only be turning a blind eye to the suffering of the countless victims he made and the countless more in the future." Miwa said with a serious tone.

"For now though, I would like to ask the permission to purify the cursed room left behind by the necromancer together with Fia. Besides being my duty as a Miko, I am sure we should be able to gain some important insight on how to deal with the necromancer's curses and powers, should we decide to face him later on." Miwa completed, patiently waiting for Vesemir's reply.