At six o'clock in the morning, the young wizards, who usually would have slept in on a Saturday, all woke up exceptionally early today. This was because today was the day specified in the notice for the commencement of the Ki Magic course.
Although five days had passed, the fervor surrounding little Goku defeating two Heads of Houses and challenging Dumbledore had not diminished in the slightest. After the challenge, Hogwarts had suddenly added a new magical course—scheduled for Saturday, which was originally a rest day. It was completely unprecedented.
The uniqueness of the course was further highlighted by the fact that students from all years could sign up, with participation and withdrawal being entirely voluntary. To have a twelve-year-old child teaching a class was a feat never before seen in the history of the school.
Add to that the fact that Goku, the central figure of these events, had not appeared in the school for five days, and the curiosity of the students regarding him and this course had reached a fever pitch.
Thus, early this morning, whether they had signed up for the course or not, the young wizards gathered on the lawn outside the castle gates. According to the notice, the teaching of Ki Magic would not take place in a traditional classroom within Hogwarts Castle, but out in the open air.
Roughly seven or eight hundred young wizards, spanning from first to seventh year, stood in a massive crowd on the grass. They whispered among themselves, discussing the nature of Ki Magic. Among them were Harry, Ron, and Hermione—the three who were most familiar with Goku.
"This is so strange. Isn't there a textbook for this class?" Hermione complained, looking visibly unsettled. Without a textbook, she couldn't preview the material.
Without previewing, she wouldn't be able to raise her hand to answer questions during class, which meant she couldn't earn points for Gryffindor. Even the Care of Magical Creatures class for upper-year students had a textbook.
Ron let out a massive yawn and shot back, "So, you can't function without a textbook to preview? This is exactly why I signed up for this class—even if it is Saturday and I had to wake up this early!"
He had been deeply discouraged during classes with Hermione this past week. Coming from a wizarding family where his older brothers were some of the most outstanding students in their years, he found the gap between himself and the Muggle-born Hermione to be staggering.
He didn't possess the elitist superiority of the Slytherins, nor did he discriminate against Muggle-borns, but he felt he should have some advantage. Instead, he was being thoroughly outclassed.
Crucially, Hermione's habit of instructing him in a superior tone had wounded his pride. Seeing her frustrated now made him feel much better; without a textbook to memorize, her performance might not be much better than his.
"Hmph! Even without previewing, I'll still learn faster than you!" Hermione threw a look of royal disdain at Ron. Ron trembled with indignation but had no retort.
"Look! It's Goku... and all the professors are coming!" Harry suddenly exclaimed, cutting off their bickering.
At the castle gates, Headmaster Dumbledore and Goku walked side-by-side at the front, with the four Heads of Houses and professors from other subjects following closely behind. The sight of nearly the entire faculty attending a single new course made the students even more expectant.
Dumbledore hadn't actually ordered all the teachers to attend. Originally, it was meant to be just him, Goku, and Madam Pomfrey, who was there to handle any potential medical emergencies.
However, the professors were just as curious as the students about the content of this Ki Magic course. Aside from Snape and McGonagall, who knew a few details, the rest of the faculty didn't quite understand why the Headmaster placed such immense importance on this curriculum.
"Silence!"
Dumbledore's voice, amplified by a Sonorus charm, echoed across the lawn. The noisy chatter of the students ceased instantly.
"The Ki Magic you are about to study is an exceptionally powerful form of magic. And Professor Son Goku, who will be teaching you, is a formidable wizard whose strength is not inferior to my own."
Hearing Dumbledore say this, the students and even some of the professors wore expressions of utter disbelief. Strength not inferior to Dumbledore? Even in Voldemort's case, most people felt that in terms of true power, he was still second to Dumbledore.
How could a twelve-year-old Professor Goku rival Dumbledore, even if he had defeated two Heads of Houses? Most assumed Dumbledore was simply being humble.
Dumbledore ignored the whispers and continued, "But I must also tell you that the study of Ki Magic is extremely difficult—more difficult than any course you have ever taken. Only the smartest, bravest, and most talented wizards with the greatest perseverance will be able to master it. If you believe you are incapable, if you believe you are a failure, or if you believe you lack the dignity to push through, you may choose to abandon this course at any time. However, I believe that you are the most talented wizards in this world, and you will certainly persist!"
Hearing Dumbledore's words, the students who had signed up puffed out their chests with pride. Even the Slytherins were no exception; they considered themselves the most noble wizards in the world and refused to be outdone by other Houses.
Those who hadn't signed up were starting to feel a twinge of regret, planning to enroll immediately after watching today's session. While the course was intriguing, many upper-year students were preoccupied with preparing for their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s. Students close to graduation were already planning their future careers, and wasting an entire day on a new course seemed unwise.
Though the magic was powerful, ninety percent of wizards didn't intend to become Aurors after graduation. Most magical careers—working in herb shops, cooking in wizarding pubs, or breaking curses for Gringotts—didn't involve combat.
It was like a college senior suddenly being offered a martial arts elective; despite the benefits, they wouldn't take it if it didn't help their employment prospects.
Scanning the crowd and noting the expressions of the students, Dumbledore knew his psychological priming had worked. He stepped aside. "Goku, you may begin."
At this point, following the teaching steps Dumbledore had arranged in advance, Goku walked to the front of the students, successfully capturing every eye. He didn't speak. Instead, he dropped into the starting stance for the Kamehameha and began to condense the ki within his body.
"KA-ME-HA-ME... HAAAA!!!"
With a thunderous shout, Goku aimed the blast toward a mountain peak three or four hundred meters high, situated on the opposite side of the Black Lake.
A blinding blue light erupted from his palms, a massive pillar of energy that roared across the lake, parting the water in its wake. When the blast struck the mountain, a deafening explosion shook the very foundations of the castle.
The students watched, frozen in shock, as the entire peak of the mountain was pulverized into dust, leaving a jagged, smoking crater where the summit had been.
The silence that followed was absolute. The "magic" they had just witnessed didn't require a wand, didn't involve a complex Latin incantation, and possessed a raw, cataclysmic power that made their standard spells look like children's toys.
"That," Dumbledore said into the silence, his voice calm but resonant, "is the power of ki. Now, Professor Goku will show you the path to obtaining it."
Goku turned back to the students, his expression serious. "To get that power, you have to start from the very beginning. Everyone, follow me! We're going for a run!"
He didn't wait for a response. He turned and began a steady jog around the perimeter of the lake. The students looked at each other, then at Dumbledore, who nodded encouragingly. Slowly, the massive group began to follow.
They didn't realize it yet, but the "Demonic Training" of the Turtle School had officially begun. Within thirty minutes, the pride and excitement on their faces would be replaced by gasping breaths and aching muscles, as they realized that "Professor Goku's" class involved much more than just waving a wand.
***
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