Chapter 35: Kidou
The afternoon kidou class was conducted in a specialized training ground.
The training ground's style closely resembled an archery range. Half was an indoor area floored with wooden boards, while the other half was an open-air field.
Against the distant wall stood many white targets. The bullseye was marked with a fist-sized red circle. A pile of discarded targets in the wall's corner still bore scorch marks left from previous students' practice.
The instructor was homeroom teacher Kaminoki Bokumori. His black teaching robe was clean and neat, the sash at his waist tied perfectly straight. His entire person conveyed meticulous precision.
Compared to Saitou Yuuichi's somewhat oppressive teaching method, Kaminoki Bokumori's kidou instruction appeared particularly understated.
Students sat cross-legged in the field, spirit particle orbs of light they'd been required to condense at class opening floating in their palms.
"Kidou theory, spirit words, and spiritual power circulation routes are all clearly written in the textbook."
"The foundation of kidou lies in comprehension and control."
"Spirit words define and give form to the technique being released, outlining the technique's shape, attributes, and power under the caster's spiritual power control."
During instruction, Kaminoki Bokumori's voice was steady and measured. Kidou was more theoretical compared to zanjutsu.
Aside from the unique requirement at class opening, it consisted of endless explanations.
His explanations were as rigorous and detailed as himself, every key point explained clearly and thoroughly.
Quite a few students found it somewhat boring. This wasn't the cool curriculum they'd imagined where one waved hands to summon thunder, flames, and dancing windstorms as described in textbooks, but was filled with countless theoretical knowledge.
"...Precise control far surpasses blindly pursuing power."
"Uncontrolled kidou is far more lethal than an enemy's blade. It can accidentally injure comrades, or even backfire on yourself!"
Hmm—
As the emphatic ending of Kaminoki Bokumori's final sentence fell, an invisible pressure enveloped the students present.
Though it only appeared for a brief moment, the spirit particle orbs many students maintained in their hands produced obvious deformation or even dispersed entirely.
As a teacher, Kaminoki Bokumori similarly had his own method for screening students.
"Any impatience or distraction will manifest in your spiritual power."
"Alright, students whose orbs showed no fluctuation are the advanced group."
"The rest, follow the upperclassmen to practice lower-level techniques."
Kaminoki Bokumori's voice returned to its previous steadiness, as if nothing had just happened.
Naturally both Suoh and Hitsugaya Toshiro were in the advanced group. Whether in spiritual pressure intensity or personality, both were superior talents for kidou training.
"Your performance has already qualified you to train mid-level techniques."
"I will completely release a kidou technique. You must carefully sense the spiritual power's flow."
"O 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!"
"Hadou Number Thirty-One: Shakkahou!"
Kaminoki Bokumori raised his hand. The spirit word incantation flowed steadily and smoothly, yet each syllable carried unique rhythm, transmitting clearly to every student's ears.
As the final syllable of the spirit words fell, a small flame sprouted above Kaminoki Bokumori's raised right palm—so weak it could only serve for illumination.
"Watch carefully."
Under the students' attention, the air around the flame suddenly distorted.
The air twisted violently under high temperature. The flame exploded, rapidly rotating and condensing into a fist-sized crimson fireball.
The fireball's state was incredibly stable—not a trace of flickering flame at its edges, quietly floating above Kaminoki Bokumori's palm.
"Shakkahou's key lies in 'solidity' and 'stability.' Spirit words guide spiritual power and spirit particles to construct the technique's framework, while your will and control determine the finally formed fireball's power."
He lightly flicked his wrist. The fireball shot forth soundlessly, tracing a perfectly straight trajectory to strike a target's bullseye at the field's edge.
After the flames dispersed, only a smooth black scorch mark remained at the bullseye.
"Now, first memorize the spirit words, then take turns attempting one by one."
"Don't pursue success on the first try. If anything feels wrong, immediately withdraw your spiritual power."
Kaminoki Bokumori's gaze swept across the advanced group students as he instructed.
The moment his words fell, Suoh directly walked to the designated position and raised his hand to aim at a target.
From Kaminoki Bokumori's perfect demonstration just now, he'd already grasped kidou's basic principles.
"O 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!"
"Hadou Number Thirty-One: Shakkahou!"
Suoh had long since memorized the spirit words. He clearly recited them from his mouth without a single pause.
The instant his voice fell, a fireball with appearance nearly identical to before rapidly condensed, shot forth to strike the target, blasting through it with a black hole before dispersing. The hole's edges emitted wisps of white smoke.
Spiritual power manipulation was originally his specialty. This was simply the inevitable result of accumulated daily training.
The surrounding advanced group students only watched this scene calmly.
"Wow, worthy of being Suoh—easily accomplishing what we can't."
"Normal."
Someone spoke softly. Someone nodded in agreement.
No clamoring discussion, no astonished gazes. Their tone held only a certainty of "just as expected."
"Very good. The rest of you don't be discouraged. Focus your minds and maintain concentration."
Watching Suoh's performance, Kaminoki Bokumori's gaze flickered slightly before turning to encourage the others.
However, the others' faces didn't carry the defeated disappointment he'd imagined. Their expressions were even more serious instead.
"Still fell a bit short. Should reduce the power output slightly."
Returning to the crowd, Suoh recalled the entire process of releasing kidou just now. After all, the result still had some discrepancy from his expectations.
"O lord... Shakkahou!"
After he returned to position, a second figure stepped to the designated spot.
It was precisely Hitsugaya Toshiro. Cool incantation voice rising, similarly a solid fireball howled forth, directly blasting the target to pieces.
"Not bad."
Kaminoki Bokumori similarly gave affirmation to Hitsugaya's performance, nodding.
The following students' performances varied.
Some input too much spiritual pressure—the fireball exploded halfway through flight.
Some had insufficient mental strength—the fireball's trajectory drifted, only hitting the target's edge.
Kaminoki Bokumori always stood to the side, occasionally stepping forward to halt a student's attempt.
He calmly watched students' successful or failed attempts, never revealing any dissatisfaction at any mistake.
"Today's lesson ends here. Kidou training lies in daily accumulation. You must not be impatient, nor must you slack off."
When the setting sun began dyeing the training ground's wooden floorboards orange-red, Kaminoki Bokumori called a halt to practice.
"Thank you for your hard work, sensei."
After the students respectfully bowed to their teacher, they dispersed in twos and threes, still discussing their performance in kidou class.
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