Ep.25 – The Pulse Has Stopped, and Breath Awakenses

"The rhythm of the heart won't be enough to survive this world."

Ruan's voice drifted like reeds in the wind, riding the air in soft, featherlight ripples.

He glanced once at Zero's Percussion Drive, then silently drew his own weapon.

Ruan's Emotional Weapon – Breath Circle: Air Pattern

A ring crafted by visualizing the flow of air particles— a pattern of breath rather than emotion.

He controls the flow of battle through respiration, not feelings.

Inhale. Exhale. Hold. Release. A four-phase breathing pattern woven into his combat rhythm.

"Now, follow me. Your heart is too loud. This is a moment for silence."

Ruan gently gestured through the air, tracing invisible circles—one tap at a time.

Zero closed his eyand mirrored him. It wasn't about holding his breath— it was about compressing his emotions inside it.

"Hooo—..." "Hah..."

From the first breath, Percussion Drive slowed. Its resonance narrowed, but gained precision—penetrating instead of striking.

System Update

[Percussion Drive: Breath Mode Unlocked]

Shift from Heartbeat-based to Breath-based Emotional Output

No longer shock-driven— but delivering subtle tremors that stir emotion from within.

Then— the Silent Mask Legion began to move.

Dozens of masked soldiers encircled Zero and Ruan, raising their arms in unison.

"We are sealing the air."

Woooosh—!!!

The space compressed. The air itself collapsed into a vacuum.

Zero fell to his knees. But Ruan closed his eyes and murmured softly.

"The third breath—Held Breath."

"A technique… to endure the past."

BOOM!

Ruan swept his hand. From the Breath Circle, a surge of air erupted, forming walls of vibration that pushed back the vacuum.

"Breath is proof that you're alive. Don't you… want to live?"

"Of course… That's why I fight— with emotion!"

Zero aligned his pulse with Ruan's breath. He pulled rhythm not from his heart, but from his lungs.

In that moment— the sound of Percussion Drive changed.

"Hoo, tap. Hoo, tap. Ha, tap."

Heartbeat × Breath = Dual Rhythm Resonance!

Zero and Ruan— two emotional weapons pulsed in unison.

CRAAAASH—!!!

The Silent Mask Legion began to fall, torn apart by the very air they had consumed.

"That was your first breath." "Now go… and find the one that's truly yours."

To be continued...