Since the boulder was split, the training focus shifted. The suffocating "Bean Hell" finally ended.
One afternoon, Kuwajima pulled out a small bag of roasted sunflower seeds. "Take a break."
Tatsuya was surprised. "Master? Snack time? Did the sun rise in the west today?"
"Hmph. You need strength to be beaten." Kuwajima cracked a seed. "Your First Form is passable as an entry level. Since the foundation is set, you should know the other forms."
Tatsuya's eyes lit up. "Finally! New moves! Tell me, are there things like 'Heavenly Lightning Prison' or 'Nine Heavens Thunder Burst'?"
Kuwajima nearly choked on a seed. "Fool! What kind of trash novels are you reading? Thunder Breathing doesn't have those flowery names! Listen!"
He cleared his throat and listed them out:
Second Form: Rice Spirit. "Not a single strike, but a series of rapid, successive slashes. Like rice ears swaying in a storm—too fast to track."
Third Form: Thunder Swarm. "It sounds weak!" Tatsuya complained. "Shallow!" Kuwajima barked. "It uses high-speed movement to circle the enemy while delivering countless small slashes. Like the buzzing of a swarm, ending in a thunderous finish. It's about confusion and the kill!"
Fourth Form: Distant Thunder. "Is it a ranged lightning bolt?" Tatsuya asked. "In your dreams! It condenses power at the tip for a long-range thrust. Fast as a distant flash of light."
Fifth Form: Heat Lightning. "A circular slash centered on yourself. Explosive and good for both offense and defense."
Sixth Form: Rumble and Flash. "The largest range. A top-down strike with the force of ten thousand tons. Like divine punishment."
Kuwajima dusted his hands. "Remember: while they look different, the core—the explosion, speed, and resolve—all come from your understanding of the First Form. All things return to the source."
Tatsuya chewed on his words. He thought about the Second Form: Rice Spirit. Rapid Successive Slashes... high speed... multiple strikes...
He suddenly stood up and grabbed his wooden sword.
"Hey, kid, what are you doing?" Kuwajima raised an eyebrow.
"Master, I think... I'm starting to feel it!" Tatsuya's voice carried a mix of excitement and uncertainty. He stepped into the center of the field, recalling the sensation of condensing his entire being into a single point during the First Form. Then, instead of focusing that explosive power into a lunge, he tried to distribute and release it through a rapid vibration of his wrists and arms.
"Thunder Breathing—"
He let out a low shout, leaning slightly forward. The wooden sword in his hand instantly transformed into several blurred, golden afterimages! Though the trajectory was a bit unrefined and the range was small, the sharp whiz-whiz of tearing air and the simultaneous flashes of light were unmistakably—
"Second Form: Rice Spirit!"
As the move ended, Tatsuya stared at the fading shadows of his blade, unable to believe it himself. He turned his head to look at Kuwajima, who was equally stunned. A massive grin spread across Tatsuya's face as he remarked with deep realization:
"Master, I think I understand what you meant by 'all things returning to the source.' This Second Form... it feels like taking the impact of the 'Thunderclap and Flash' and making it 'bloom' in an instant!"
Kuwajima looked at his disciple, a flash of pride crossing his eyes before he resumed his stern mask. "Hmph. You have the shape, but your exertion is stiff, and the number and precision of your slashes are far from adequate! Still... at least you're not a total blockhead."
He stood up and walked to the center of the clearing, picking up his training sword. "Watch closely, you brat! Touching the threshold is just the beginning. This is the true spirit and control of the Forms!"
The moment he gripped the sword, the atmosphere turned cold. The aura of a former Hashira spread silently. Though there were no actual lightning effects, Tatsuya felt the air grow heavy.
"Second Form: Rice Spirit!"
Kuwajima gave a short shout. His wrist flickered, and the wooden sword turned into a dizzying array of afterimages! He didn't chase range; instead, he unleashed a dense, pinpoint-accurate series of slashes within a small space. Whiz-whiz-whiz! It was as if golden ears of rice were being harvested in a heartbeat. Every strike was distinct yet connected, forming a brief, lethal web of light.
Tatsuya was enthralled. "So fast... and so steady!" He could feel that his master wasn't just chasing speed—every strike carried terrifying control.
Without stopping, Kuwajima shifted his weight, his figure moving like a dragon.
"Third Form: Thunder Swarm!"
He moved rapidly around an imaginary enemy, the wooden sword tracing short, tricky arcs. He thrust and slashed from unpredictable angles. The path wasn't linear; it was deceptive, like a swarm of biting mosquitoes, yet every hit targeted a vital spot.
"The footwork... it's so fluid!" Tatsuya watched his master's feet intently. Kuwajima didn't move like a man with a prosthetic leg at all.
Before the circling momentum died, Kuwajima froze, his center of gravity pressing forward as the sword shot out like an arrow.
"Fourth Form: Distant Thunder!"
SHING—!
A condensed, linear thrust. It was so fast it left a pale golden trail on the retina. The tip of the wooden sword tore through the air with a relentless momentum. Even without the lightning effects of a real Nichirin blade, the sheer speed and penetration were undeniable.
"This thrust... is more condensed than my Thunderclap and Flash!" Tatsuya whispered.
Then, Kuwajima exerted power from his core, the sword tracing a full, heavy arc.
"Fifth Form: Heat Lightning!"
The sword swept through a massive circular area with a violent gust of wind! It wasn't an energy blast, but the sheer speed and power created an impenetrable barrier of slashes, protecting him while maintaining high offensive pressure.
Finally, Kuwajima took a short breath, leaped slightly, and brought the sword over his head with a weight as heavy as a mountain. He swung down with the force to split the earth!
"Sixth Form: Rumble and Flash!"
BOOM!
With the heavy thud of his foot hitting the ground, the sword tore through the air. Though it was just a demonstration, the aura felt as if it had summoned real thunder. It was a wide-area strike, filled with destructive pressure.
Kuwajima slowly relaxed his stance, the sword tapping the ground. His breath was steady, as if that display of immense power was nothing more than a casual stretch. But his majestic presence remained etched in Tatsuya's mind.
Tatsuya let out a long breath and clapped his hands with sincere excitement. "That was incredible, Master! Every move was... perfect. No wasted movement. I think I understand what 'control' really means now."
Kuwajima sat back down and grabbed another handful of seeds. "Hmph. At least you have eyes. The road is long; remember that feeling. Now, go back to practicing the Second Form. If you don't hit eight hundred swings today, don't even think about resting."
I knew the snacks were a trap! Tatsuya's jaw dropped, but his eyes were determined. "Yes, Master!"