Lord Of Doom!Reincarnated Into a Novel as the Strongest Side Character-Chapter 45: Essence of the river technique

A palm stretched over Sakura’s shoulder, and her eyes slowly rolled to it—Gojin’s hand. He unleashed a sonic force from his palms, blasting the wind pull away. The cave trembled, its structure cracking and crumbling under the pressure, shards of stone raining down like confetti.

Sakura, about to fall into Gojin, was caught instead by Kenji, who had rushed in just in time. "I’ve got you!" he exclaimed, steadying her as the debris fell around them. His weak hands managed to hold her.

"Thanks!" Sakura breathed.

She glanced back at the cave, now a chaotic mess of dust and rocks. "How did.."

Gojin intercepted, his expression was serious as scanned the area. "This cave is a nexus of energy. It’s drawing in everything nearby, feeding off substances, it’s like the Earth’s Black hole."

"I was asking how you two got here?" She yelled, she was surprisingly quick to had gained energy back. Kenji also gained some back.

All thanks to Gojin.

***

Flashback!

Gojin, suffering from hunger, struggled to swallow the rushing water that poured into his mouth. The quantity was overwhelming, causing most of it to spill back out, leaving only a drop—barely the amount of saliva.

Kenji, on the other hand, endured both immense pain and hunger. He felt tempted to throw himself into the water, letting it carry him to the so-called sea for refreshment. But what if he died before reaching it? That wasn’t a smart choice.

"Darn this, I’m done here," Gojin declared, as the water pressed against them. It splashed against their bodies like a wall, only to recede when Gojin lifted a finger. He could control all the elements. But the water, defiant, surged back toward him. With a wave of his hands, he scattered it across the area; some returned to the source while others splashed onto the shore.

Water everywhere!!

Exhausted and hungry, Kenji fell into the shallow water around him.

"Why hadn’t you done this sooner?" he asked.

"Well, I just realized the whole point of this technique."

[Congratulations, Host has received the second river technique.]

[This can’t be doubled, as it’s a mere raw technique with no Ki embedded in its use.]

[Would you like to sell this to us for 1000 Dm? A bonus of 2% of all energy will be added.]

Pause, let’s bargain later. - Gojin said to Livas’s slave.

He then turned to Kenji as he emerged from the water and stepped onto the shore, water splashing over his feet with each step.

Plop, plop.

"The whole point is to defeat the source of the problem, not to endure it. Enduring it will only lead to your demise. Did you actually think we were going to stay here for two days?"

Kenji frowned:

"What?"

Gojin sighed, and replied:

"It’s all about solving the problem, not just enduring it. How is that so hard to understand? We were trying to endure the water when we should have been focused on eliminating the source."

Just as Gojin had said, the whole point of learning the Second River Technique wasn’t merely about endurance; it was about addressing the source of a problem. Sensei wanted them to grasp this concept, and many others had failed to do so. Gojin was astute to recognize its significance.

The Seven River Technique was particularly beneficial for Kenji, who lacked Ki, as it would help him develop his prowess and sustainability in battles. This technique closely resembled a spiritual battle, incorporating all elements of combat: endurance, raw strength, and more. At its core, it was about dismantling the source of conflict. If Kenji could master these principles, he would achieve nearly a 67% boost in his battle skills against Akumas three times stronger than him, such as a Grade 3 Radiant. Given his extensive knowledge of martial arts, akin to Gojin’s, it seemed a promising endeavor.

However, it was important to remember that training alone could not prepare him for real combat. A thousand days of practice could not match the experience of someone who had faced ten tough battles. This was merely a preliminary outline of what he could achieve after mastering the technique. The true essence of battle was murder, and training did not encompass that reality.

Gojin, on the other hand, had mastered all martial arts techniques, including the advanced ones, making him a formidable combatant, despite lacking the destructive battle experience of someone capable of leveling a city. He had only fought a few strong opponents like Makato and Kurozai, the rest were just ’Battles"

Makato could be considered a typical battle.

Kurozai at that time was also the same because he had not yet reached his full potential.

Despite having understand the River Technique focus and being at the peak of his martial arts understanding, Gojin still felt an urge to continue his training. But why?

As Gojin began to dry himself, he shook his head vigorously, sending droplets of water flying into the air. He rubbed his arms and legs, trying to rid himself of the lingering wetness, each motion created a soft splatter against the damp sand.

Meanwhile, Kenji crawled out of the water, his limbs feeling heavy and uncooperative, each movement was a struggle against the fatigue that weighed him down. The sand beneath him was rough and gritty.

Finally, he collapsed beside Gojin, the wet sand pressed against his skin. The water pooled around him, gently cradling his back and providing a comforting sensation as he lay there.

His eyes were fixed on the sky, no stars in sight.

The night was quiet, the only sounds being the gentle lapping of the waves and his own labored breaths, leaving him feeling at peace in the stillness.

Gojin dropped beside him, taking a seat on the wet ground, placing both hands on the earth and staring up at the sky.

"So, is Kurozai still feeding on your brain cells by trying to engage in conversations with his shallow understanding of modern Exorcists like us? Just so he can grasp everything he’s missed?" Gojin’s words cut deep, diminishing Kurozai’s self-esteem.

Kenji wore a plain expression, mirroring Gojin’s sentiments. He regretted ever swallowing that first fragment of Kurozai, now realizing he had to endure the whole bitter experience. The search for the other fragments he was to consume in this era was about to begin, as the three of them had planned.

Frustrated, Kenji complained:

"Yeah! My head hurts every time he speaks in that low-pitched voice. Half of my brain cells are burning away. He’s making me dumber than I’ve ever been."

Kurozai overheard their banter but remained unfazed, his own plans for revenge simmering beneath the surface. He might pretend to be indifferent, but his psychopathic thoughts lingered; he could wipe out an entire city just to make a point.

"Wait... what about Sakura? She must still be suffering right now. We should go help her!" Kenji reminded, suddenly standing up with a worried look.

"Oh, right," Gojin replied, feigning devastation.

"Let’s take a rest for about thirty minutes. She can survive that long, right? Good idea?"

"I don’t know why I always agree to your cruel logic, but I won’t be indifferent, so yes."

The two of them rubbed their necks for relief and exhaled together.

"I’m so hungry! I read that ancient foods taste better than modern ones. I can’t wait to devour four large servings."

It was something he could easily consume—no, inhale—because even after that, it still wouldn’t be enough to satiate his hunger. He would finish it all in less than thirty minutes.

"My body aches all over, plus the hunger. This is real pain..."

And this was how they got to Sakura.

***

"Congratulations...!" a voice called from behind them.