Null Breathing

**Null Breathing** (无 (なし) の呼 (こ) 吸 (きゅう) , *Mu no kokyū*?) is a Breathing Style derived from Thunder Breathing.

## Description

Null Breathing is a Breathing Style based on the concept of nothingness, and as a result of that does not mimic any element in the way other Breathing Styles do. Rather the user focuses intently on the power of their own body, particularly the speed and strength with which they move, amplifying what they are normally capable of using their force of will. Most if not all known techniques of this style result in the user vanishing and reappearing as though they faded suddenly into nothingness.

This Breathing Style is the creation of Ada Komurasaki, created by using Thunder Breathing as a foundation while incorporating Ada's own ideas and concepts to it. Rather than focusing specifically upon the legs, as Thunder Breathing does, Ada focuses every ounce of her power into increasing the speed of her body unilaterally. She wastes no movement or energy in doing so, making each strike as efficient as possible. This focus renders Null Breathing the fastest of all Breathing Styles, with Ada's movements appearing as though she disappears entirely, or rather that she never existed in the first place.

This style thrives as an art of assassination due to a side effect of Ada's intense focus. She pours every bit of herself into the strike, going so far as to hold her breath in order to maximize the power drawn from a single inhale, and only exhaling upon the strike itself landing. During the duration of this held breath, all of her life processes are put on pause while she focuses solely on her speed, in essence killing Ada for the fraction of a second required for her to cut down her opponent.

While the nature of the style's execution makes it powerful, it also makes it dangerous, as attempting to hold a single breath for an extended period of time can lead to Ada's actual death. Similarly, any interruption to her focus while using the techniques of this style can lead to recoil damage as her body is "shocked" back to life.

This Breathing Style is one of a kind in that the user does not visualize themselves manifesting a force of nature, controlling an element, or taking upon the nature of creatures. Instead Ada visualizes herself vanishing from the world entirely, leaving behind only a blade aimed to strike down her targets with impunity. As a result her more supernatural gifts differ from those of other slayers, being more internal than external when employed.

## Known Techniques

Null Breathing has 7 core techniques, not including the Final Form or techniques used within it.

* **First Form: Lack of Intent** (, *****First Form: Lack of Intent*****?)
* **Second Form: Silent Lament** (, *****Second Form: Silent Lament*****?)
* **Third Form: Null Step** (, *****Third Form: Null Step*****?)
* **Fourth Form: Flawless Execution** (, *****Fourth Form: Flawless Execution*****?)
* **Fifth Form: Minimum Effort** (, *****Fifth Form: Minimum Effort*****?)
* **Sixth Form: Euthymic Impermanence** (, *****Sixth Form: Euthymic Impermanence*****?)
* **Seventh Form: Evanescent** (, *****Seventh Form: Evanescent*****?)
* **Final Form – Opening Act: True Teachings of an Empty Mind** (終 (つい) ノ型 (かた)  一 (イチ) 段目 (ダンめ) , *Tsui no Kata - Ichidanme: Musō Shinsetsu*?) -
	+ **Final Form - Closing Act: Single Slash of Thoughtlessness** (終 (つい) ノ型 (かた)  〆の段 (しめだん)  無想 (むそう) の一太刀 (ひとたち) , *Tsui no Kata - Shime no Dan: Musō no Hitotachi*?) -

## Trivia

* This Breathing Style was made partly in reference to the Noble Eightfold Path, though its forms are meant to be the inverse of the eight principles.