Part 4 — Foundation of Power
Daigo nodded once, satisfied. "Good. Now… let's move to the Power System chapter."
He turned sharply to the board and wrote in bold, deliberate strokes:
「Power System – 新章」
He faced the class, voice cutting through the low murmurs.
"From today onward, no one is allowed to be absent. These lessons… are not optional. Every word, every demonstration matters. This is the foundation of everything you will learn. Do not treat it lightly."
Some students shifted in their seats, glancing nervously at one another. Yuna Sekiguchi whispered to Souta Nishikawa,
"Foundation… sounds serious."
Souta shrugged, pretending confidence. "We'll see about that."
Daigo's gaze swept across the room. He paused briefly on Haruto, who sat straight-backed, hair falling over his forehead, fists resting lightly on the desk. Haruto's calm demeanor did not waver, even under the sharp attention.
"Tier 1 begins with the first session: sensing energy," Daigo continued, writing clearly on the board:
Ryuki – Raw Natural Energy
"Ryuki is the ambient energy around you. Sunlight, wind, the life around you—everything possesses it. You do not take it by force. You feel it. Only when your senses are truly attuned can you progress."
Amaya Homura whispered to Arashi,
"…Feel energy? How do you even start?"
Arashi smirked. "Bet I can feel it before anyone else."
Ayame frowned slightly, whispering to Kaito beside her,
"Focus, don't show off."
Kaito just tapped his fingers on the desk, eyes flicking toward Haruto. His posture was tense, but silent attention betrayed concern.
Daigo moved to the next section:
Shuryu – Absorbing Process
"Once Ryuki is sensed, you begin Shuryu: absorbing the energy carefully. This is not a matter of strength—it is precision. You must not let the energy overwhelm you."
Misaki Hoshino fidgeted slightly, whispering to Izumi Homura,
"…I… I don't think I can do that…"
Izumi smiled reassuringly. "Just… try to imagine it. That's all for now."
Daigo's finger traced the board again.
Seiryuka – Refinement Process
Seiryu – Refined Energy
"After absorption comes Seiryuka: refinement. You must process the energy within yourself, purifying it, controlling it. Only when it becomes Seiryu—refined energy—is it safe and stable. Mistakes here are dangerous. Anyone careless will regret it."
Raizo Okabe whispered to Daichi Mori,
"Refine it… sounds like chemistry class, but… scary."
Hina Kobayashi shivered slightly, muttering under her breath,
"I can barely handle absorbing it…"
Daigo's voice rose, cutting through the nervous whispers.
"This is not optional. Every student in this room must understand these stages before moving forward. Ryuki, Shuryu, Seiryuka, Seiryu—memorize them. Internalize them. This is the foundation of your journey in the Power System."
Haruto's eyes narrowed slightly. He remembered the morning run, the way his body had learned to push itself without exhaustion. The faint pulse of energy around him—the Ryuki—was barely perceptible, yet he could feel it. He straightened further, absorbing every word.
Ayame noticed him, her gaze sharp. Kaito's eyes followed too, a subtle tension in his jaw. Even the other students, while whispering and fidgeting, glanced at Haruto once or twice, sensing a quiet intensity in him.
Daigo's voice returned, firm and unwavering:
"Questions will come later. For now, listen and understand. This is your first step. Ignore it, and the path ahead will be impossible."
The room went silent. Even the most restless students straightened in their seats, the weight of Daigo's words settling over them like a shadow.
Haruto closed his eyes for a brief moment, breathing slowly. The energy—the Ryuki—was invisible to others, but he could feel it. Just a little. Enough to remind him that the morning run, the quiet determination, and the hours alone… they had all been preparation.
Daigo turned back to the board, voice steady and commanding.
"Once energy is refined into Seiryu, the next step is Ryukoka—the Flowing Process." He wrote the term clearly, letting it linger.
"Ryukoka is learning to guide refined energy throughout your body. You will feel it move from one point to another, controlled and purposeful. Even at Tier 1, understanding flow is crucial. It prepares you for Tier 2, where energy manipulation begins."
Some students leaned forward, trying to imagine invisible currents inside their bodies.
Naoko Minami whispered to Hina Kobayashi,
"Flowing… inside you? How do you even start?"
Hina shivered. "Feels… impossible…"
Souta Nishikawa smirked confidently. "Impossible is just a word. Bet I can feel it first."
Daigo's sharp gaze swept over the room, pausing on the chatterers. "Do not underestimate even the first step. Ryukoka is about control, not speed. Precision over flashiness. Got it?"
The room fell quiet. Even the whisperers straightened slightly, intimidated by the weight of the words.
Daigo moved to the final concept for Tier 1, writing it on the board:
Ranshu – Temporary Store
"Ranshu is the final step for Tier 1 students: storing refined energy safely within your body. Energy is powerful, yes, but without proper storage, it can overwhelm, injure, or even harm you. Learning Ranshu is your responsibility. If you fail to store it correctly, you will face consequences—physical and otherwise."
Yuna Sekiguchi's eyes widened. "So… we actually keep energy inside us? That's… scary."
Raizo Okabe muttered under his breath, "I'll probably mess that up first."
Haruto, seated silently in the center, clenched his fists lightly, eyes forward. He recalled the faint pulse of Ryuki he had felt this morning during his run, the subtle energy flowing through him. Each term—Ryuki, Shuryu, Seiryuka, Seiryu, Ryukoka, Ranshu—resonated with what he had already experienced alone.
Ayame noticed him straightening further, calm and focused. Kaito's fingers tapped lightly against the desk, eyes flicking at Haruto with quiet attention. Even Misaki Hoshino, sitting nervously, glanced at him, sensing a subtle determination she didn't understand but felt.