The afternoon Kidō class was held in a specialized training ground.
The training ground's design was very similar to a martial arts or archery dōjō; one half was an indoor area with wooden flooring, and the other half was a wide-open outdoor space.
Numerous white targets stood against a far wall. The bullseye was marked by a fist-sized red circle. A pile of discarded targets in the corner still bore scorch marks left by previous students' practice.
The instructor was the class's homeroom teacher, Morikuni Kamiki. His black instructor uniform was clean and neat, the sash around his waist tied straight and precise, and his entire demeanor conveyed a meticulous strictness.
Compared to Yuichi Saitō's slightly oppressive teaching style, Morikuni Kamiki's Kidō instruction appeared notably subdued.
The students sat cross-legged on the ground, holding the spheres of condensed Reishi they had been instructed to form at the start of the class, hovering in their palms.
"The theory, incantation, and Reiryoku circulation routes of Kidō are all detailed in the textbook."
"The foundation of Kidō lies in understanding and control."
"The incantation serves to define and give form to the released technique, outlining the technique's shape, attribute, and power under the caster's Reiryoku control."
Morikuni Kamiki's voice was steady and slow during the instruction. Kidō was more theoretical than swordsmanship.
Aside from the unique requirement at the start of class, his instruction consisted of a continuous, elaborate lecture.
His explanation was as rigorous and detailed as he was, with every key point explained clearly and thoroughly.
Many students found it a bit boring. This was not the cool course they had imagined, with lightning, fire, and gales flying at the wave of a hand, as described in the textbook, but one filled with countless theoretical knowledge.
"...Precise control far surpasses the pursuit of blind power."
"Uncontrolled Kidō is far more lethal than an enemy's blade; it can injure comrades or even backfire on the caster!"
Ohm—
As the emphasis fell on the last syllable of Morikuni Kamiki's sentence, an invisible pressure enveloped the students present.
Although it only lasted for a brief moment, the Reishi spheres maintained by many students visibly deformed or even dissipated.
As a teacher, Morikuni Kamiki also had his own method for filtering students.
"Any impatience or distraction will be reflected in your Reiryoku."
"Alright, students whose spheres showed no fluctuation will form the advanced group."
"The rest will practice lower-level techniques with the upperclassmen."
Morikuni Kamiki's voice returned to its previous steady tone, as if nothing had just happened.
Suō Tsukasa and Tōshirō Hitsugaya were naturally in the advanced group. Both their Reiryoku strength and temperament made them excellent talents for Kidō training.
"Your performance already qualifies you for training with intermediate-level techniques."
"I will perform one complete Kidō. You must carefully sense the flow of Reiryoku."
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south!"
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō (Red Flame Cannon)!"
Morikuni Kamiki raised his hand. His chanting of the incantation was smooth and fluent, yet every syllable carried a unique rhythm, clearly reaching the ears of every student.
As the final syllable of the incantation fell, a small flame appeared above the palm of Morikuni Kamiki's raised right hand, so faint that it only served for illumination.
"Watch closely."
Under the gaze of the students, the air around the flame suddenly warped.
The air fiercely distorted under the high temperature, and the small flame burst into rapid rotation, condensing into a fist-sized, crimson fire sphere.
The fire sphere was incredibly stable, with not a single flicker of flame along its edge, hovering silently in Morikuni Kamiki's palm.
"The key to Shakkahō lies in 'solidity' and 'stability.' The incantation guides the Reiryoku and Reishi to construct the technique's framework, while your will and control determine the ultimate power of the formed fire sphere."
He gave a slight flick of his wrist. The fire sphere shot out soundlessly, tracing a straight path to strike the center of a target on the edge of the training ground.
After the flames dissipated, only a glossy black scorch mark remained in the bullseye.
"Now, first memorize the incantation, then attempt it one by one."
"Do not strive for instant success. Withdraw your Reiryoku immediately if something feels wrong."
Morikuni Kamiki's gaze swept over the students in the advanced group as he cautioned them.
As soon as he finished speaking, Suō Tsukasa immediately walked to the designated position, raised his hand, and aimed at the target.
Having witnessed Morikuni Kamiki's perfect demonstration, he had already grasped the basic principles of Kidō.
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south!"
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō (Red Flame Cannon)!"
Suō Tsukasa had already memorized the incantation. He recited it clearly without the slightest hesitation.
The moment his voice fell, a fire sphere, similar in appearance to the one moments before, rapidly condensed, shot out, and struck the target, blasting a black hole through it before dissipating, with faint white smoke rising from the edge of the hole.
Reiryoku manipulation was inherently his forte; this was the inevitable result of his long-term cultivation.
The surrounding advanced group students merely watched the scene calmly.
"Wow, as expected of Suō, effortlessly achieving what we cannot."
"Normal."
Some whispered, while others nodded in agreement.
There was no noisy discussion or astonished looks, only a tone of "I knew it" certainty.
"Very good. The rest of you should not be discouraged. Concentrate and maintain focus."
Morikuni Kamiki's gaze flickered slightly at Suō Tsukasa's performance, then he looked at the others, encouraging them.
However, the others did not show the dejected disappointment he might have expected; instead, their expressions grew more serious.
"Still slightly off. I should have reduced the output."
Returning to the crowd, Suō Tsukasa reflected on the entire Kidō release process. After all, the result was still slightly different from what he had anticipated.
""Ye lord... Shakkahō!"
As he returned to his place, a second figure stepped up to the designated position.
It was Tōshirō Hitsugaya. A cool, clear chant rang out, and an equally solidified fire sphere whistled forth, directly shattering the target.
"Not bad."
Morikuni Kamiki also affirmed Tōshirō's performance, nodding his approval.
The subsequent students' performances varied.
Some injected too much Reiryoku, causing the fire sphere to explode mid-flight.
Some lacked sufficient mental fortitude, causing the fire sphere's trajectory to be erratic, only hitting the edge of the target.
Morikuni Kamiki stood by the entire time, occasionally stepping forward to halt a student's attempt.
He watched the students' attempts, whether successful or failed, calmly, not betraying any dissatisfaction over any of the mistakes.
"Today's class ends here. Kidō training relies on accumulation over time. Do not rush, nor be slack."
As the setting sun began to stain the training ground's wooden floor crimson-orange, Morikuni Kamiki called a halt to the practice.
"Thank you for your hard work, Sensei."
The students respectfully bowed to their teacher, then scattered in groups of twos and threes, still discussing their performance in the Kidō class.
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