Chương 53: Skills of the Hashira

"You have a Skill like Cael's. Then I suppose my own Skill is passable, barely." Obanai spoke with his usual sharp edge. The instant he received Falna, he had felt his strength rise to another level. More importantly, he had touched Transparent World, the state that stood at the end of martial pursuit. He was excited enough that even his tone could not fully hide it. Cael was not surprised. Obanai would have reached Transparent World in the future. Falna opened the locks on potential.

Someone already standing on the edge of Transparent World stepping through that door was only natural. Next came Muichiro. [Status] Name: Muichiro Tokito Level: Lv. 1 Skills Sword Technique Master - Greatly increases the speed of learning sword techniques. - Greatly increases the power of sword techniques. Heaven-Sent Talent - Greatly enhances learning ability for anything that interests the user. - Greatly shortens the time needed to master what the user learns.

Transparent World - Allows the user to see through the structure and movement of living bodies. - Allows the user to perceive weak points in living bodies. - Accelerates the user's perception.

"There is another Skill like Cael's. Did Cael infect them somehow?" Hestia patted her cheeks, eyes wide in disbelief.

"I am going back. I will forget this anyway," Muichiro said, then wandered off to stand to one side.

"Next!" Hestia's eyes seemed to hold an impossible number of little stars. Giyu was next. [Status] Name: Giyu Tomioka Level: Lv. 1 Skills Sword Technique Master - Greatly increases the speed of learning sword techniques. - Greatly increases the power of sword techniques. Born Sword Art - Greatly enhances the ability to create sword techniques. - Greatly increases the power of all learned sword techniques while using a sword. Calm Mind - Keeps the mind in a calm state. - Moderately enhances perception of danger.

Flesh-Cutting Blade - Increases active damage against creatures with regeneration. - Damage increases according to the target's regeneration speed. Then came Gyomei. [Status] Name: Gyomei Himejima Level: Lv. 1 Skills Sword Technique Master If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. - Greatly increases the speed of learning weapon techniques. - Greatly increases the power of weapon techniques. Strength - Greatly enhances physical strength.

Martial Master - Moderately increases weapon power while holding a weapon. - Moderately increases barehanded power while unarmed. See One's Nature and Become Buddha - While angry, temporarily grants the Development Ability Crush. - While grieving, temporarily grants the Development Ability Strong Body. - While sorrowful, temporarily grants the Development Ability Magic Resistance. - While excited, temporarily strengthens all learned Skills.

Transparent World - Allows the user to see through the structure and movement of living bodies. - Allows the user to perceive weak points in living bodies. - Accelerates the user's perception.

"These Skills are shockingly similar," Cael said, genuinely surprised. That was worthy of the strongest Hashira. The set was incredible. It even resembled the abilities of Ottar, the Level 7 adventurer known throughout Orario. Cael almost wanted to see what would happen if the Stone Hashira reached Level 7 and fought Ottar head-on.

"Namu Amida Butsu. To become a child of the goddess must be the fortune of many lifetimes. I am deeply grateful." Gyomei pressed his palms together as tears poured down his face. Hestia grew embarrassed under the force of his gratitude.

"No, no. I am the one who is happy, Gyomei." Zenitsu came next. The two girls were left for last.

"It is finally my turn. I am so nervous. What amazing Skills will I have? My heart is going to jump out." Zenitsu looked as if his heart really might leap from his chest.

"Relax, Zenitsu," Hestia said with a bright smile.

"Everyone has rare Skills. I am sure you will have something too." Her smile had not faded once. Hestia Familia had gained so many excellent members in a single day. If that poor flat-chested goddess found out, she would be jealous enough to beat her own chest. [Status] Name: Zenitsu Agatsuma Level: Lv. 1 Basic Abilities Strength: D 436 Endurance: E 413 Dexterity: D 563 Agility: E 556 Magic: H 112 Development Abilities: None Magic: None Skills Super Hearing - Moderately increases the ability to identify sounds.

- Moderately increases the ability to perceive objects through sound. Personality Switch - When the main personality loses consciousness, a secondary personality takes control. - While in the secondary personality state, learned Skills are greatly enhanced. - While in the secondary personality state, temporarily grants the Development Ability Swordsman. - While in the secondary personality state, moderately enhances all Basic Abilities.

"I see. Zenitsu really is amazing," Tanjiro said gently, as if everything now made sense.

"Oh? The sleepy guy has pretty good abilities after all," Inosuke said, leaning in.

"I am pretty amazing, aren't I?" Zenitsu said proudly while staring at the parchment. A moment later, his confidence collapsed again. But demons were still terrifying. Just imagining them made him shudder.

"Last are you two. Come with me to the basement." Hestia pointed energetically at Shinobu and Mitsuri. Watching Hestia lead the only two female Hashira into the basement, Cael let out a tiny sigh before he could stop himself. Every Hashira turned toward him at once. Cael stiffened under their stares. Uh-oh. Had his small disappointment at not seeing their Status directly shown on his face? Would their opinion of him drop by a little?

"Lord Cael," Lili whispered beside him, "were you disappointed because you would not get to see their Status directly?" Her little eyes seemed to say, I knew Lord Cael was that kind of flirt. She had not forgotten what happened last night. After all, he had managed to charm Lili in less than three days. Of course other girls might catch his attention too. Lili was not some naive child.

"W-what are you saying, Lili? I was curious about their Status, that is all. A little curiosity is normal. Completely normal." Cael hurriedly covered Lili's mouth, his cheek twitching. Why did this girl have to say the truth out loud? After removing her mask of obedience, Lili was no longer quite so meek. She had experience, knowledge, a sharp mind, and strong insight. Cael was not emotionless enough to hide every reaction from her. Still, he was not the type to panic once exposed.

If he was caught, he might as well admit a little of it. Lili stared at him. Lord Cael actually admitted it openly. Well, that was very Lord Cael. The others did not dwell on it. Soon, their attention shifted to the two women returning from the basement. Everyone wanted to know what abilities they had gained.

"It seems my abilities are decent, even if my Basic Abilities cannot match everyone else's," Shinobu said, sounding satisfied.

"Let me see." Cael moved closer at once. He really was curious. Lili watched him rush over, her little eyes filling with a hint of jealousy. Lord Flirt. He had clearly kissed her already. They had even slept together. And now he was this eager to look at another girl.

"Except for Agility exceeding one thousand, most of your values are in the eight hundreds," Cael said, suddenly shocked.

"But you actually have Magic!"