Volume 5 Chapter 16 Challenging the Guidance of Tenhou, Seirei, Ouka, Touri, and Senkou in the Legendary Secret Teaching
──Tenhou's Perspective──
"Now we shall begin the Legendary Secret Teaching's 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique.'"
Shuu-sensei's voice reverberated through the hall.
In the center of the expansive room, I took a deep breath.
Then, I closed my eyes.
I wouldn't open them until the Legendary Secret Teaching was complete.
Not a single unnecessary word would escape my lips.
The sound of fabric rustling echoed from the corners of the room.
It was just like during the secret training.
The 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique' of the Legendary Secret Teaching was performed in a state stripped of all excess.
So, I began to loosen my clothing.
The difference from last time was that I was now at the center of everyone.
This time, I would stand at the center, with Seirei to the west, Shouou to the south, Touri to the north, and Senkou to the east.
Surrounded by the 4 of them in their true forms, I would embody my essence unencumbered.
Well, it was fine since everyone had their eyes closed.
Besides... this was something that was necessary.
Before we investigate 'Kiryou town,' I need to enhance my power.
There might be members of the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' lurking in that place.
I wanted to prepare myself with the Legendary Secret Teaching to counter them.
"──Are you all ready?"
Shuu-sensei's voice rang out.
In response, we clapped our hands together.
That was the signal for the beginning of the Legendary Secret Teaching.
"Then we shall start with the 'Tree-Form' of the first technique..."
With that, we initiated the 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique' of the Legendary Secret Teaching.
I realized it just moments later.
This is nothing like when we did it with 4 people.
My body was radiating heat.
It felt like I was soaking in a bath with just the right temperature.
Last time, it felt like I was stepping into a pool filled with 'ki'.
This time, it's like I'm swimming in a denser version of 'ki'──like a jelly.
There's a thread... piin, weaving through it, connecting me and the Seirei.
That's what it feels like.
I can tell where everyone is.
It's not just a presence.
I can clearly sense it.
No... I can see it.
Even with my eyes closed, shapes of people are floating in my field of vision.
Like white-painted stick figures.
I can see a figure shorter than me.
Their long hair sways as they've become one with the trees.
It's Seirei.
A white shadow turns back.
As if aware of my gaze, they tilt their head.
I try to avert my eyes, but it's pointless.
After all, I'm facing a different direction right now.
Seirei is to the west.
I'm facing east, so I shouldn't be able to see Seirei.
But in my vision, Seirei's form is cast as a white shadow.
I can clearly make out her body shape.
When I focus my consciousness forward, now a smaller shadow comes into view.
That's Senkou.
Senkou is in the 'form of the tree'──'Taijin Taiju (Composed Great Tree)'.
But her arm position is a bit off.
She seems not quite used to it yet.
That's only natural.
Senkou just received guidance on the 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique'.
Shuu-sensei spent several days instructing them in the 'Legendary Secret Teaching'.
Even so, it's impressive what they've achieved so far.
But their arm could be a bit higher.
If I could just reach over, I'd fix it for them....
──Whooosh.
Just as I was thinking that, Senkou's arm rose.
Her body now assumed the correct 'Taijin Taiju' form.
(...Huh?)
Suddenly, a voice echoed in my mind.
(Kou Tenhou-sama's touch on Kō's arm...? But...that's impossible, right? Did Kō misinterpret things because they were thinking about Kō Tenhou-sama...?)
It was Senkou's voice.
But, we haven't spoken a single word.
Why can I hear it?
Does the Legendary Secret Teaching's 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique' allow us to hear each other?
──Kō-san?
I called out, but there was no reply.
(Next is 'Sprout of the Great Tree'. It's swaying...)
Still, Senkou's voice reaches me.
Could it be...that this is the influence of the 'Four Fiends' technique, chaos'?
The 'Four Fiends Technique: Konton' has a technique called 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection'.
This technique allows you to sense the aura and movements of your target.
Maybe the Legendary Secret Teaching is enhancing it.
The Legendary Secret Teaching's 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique' can bring out hidden abilities or enhance them.
If so, the enhancement of 'Konton' makes sense.
Seeing everyone's forms as white shapes is probably the effect of 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection'.
Hearing the voices...is that a side effect?
Right now, we're connected by ki.
Because of that, 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' might be super-powered, allowing us to read each other's thoughts.
Probably...once we finish the Legendary Secret Teaching, 'Konton' will become stronger.
'Not just the "Mirror of Shadows Reflection," but I might also be able to use the other 2 techniques... "Shapeless Defense" and "Emperor"s Dominion."'
...I only thought about that for a brief moment.
My thoughts quickly faded away.
I couldn't even hear Senkou's voice anymore.
We focused our minds and continued with the Legendary Secret Teaching.
From the trees to the birds.
We took the form of 'Young Bird Branch Kick,' like fledglings kicking off their branches for the first time to soar into the sky.
Becoming those fledglings aiming for the heavens, we kicked off the ground and leaped up.
...I guess Shuu-sensei hasn't given us the next instruction.
Ah... I see.
It's because I'm still in midair.
I can't transition to the next form until I land.
My toes brushed against the air.
I was hovering, suspended a few dozen centimeters above the ground.
When I focused my consciousness, I noticed Shouou and Touri were still floating in the air.
Neither of us seemed to be falling to the ground anytime soon.
This felt different from when I used the 'Five Divine Steps' leap.
It wasn't a jump; it felt like I was floating.
But, I guess it can't be helped.
Right now, we are birds.
It's only natural for birds to fly in the sky.
"──'Form of the Bird,' 'Unified Ascension.'"
After we landed on the ground, Shuu-sensei's voice resonated through the air.
This time, we would become birds with spread wings.
'Unified Ascension' is shaped like birds returning to their nests, wings aligned.
The lonely birds dance through the sky, touching the wings of their companions.
I stretched out my arms, searching for the wings of my friends.
Someone's hand overlapped with my palm.
My right hand grew warm.
This is──Shouou's hand.
I had sensed they were getting closer.
Shouou's figure had been imprinted behind my eyelids for some time.
As birds in 'Form of the Bird,' Shouou and I pressed our palms together and flapped our wings.
Suddenly, an image floated into my mind.
What I saw was──Shouou, taking on the form of a princess.
She walked gracefully down the corridor of the Souma Country palace.
Beside her, someone was there, smiling at Shouou.
Was this──Shouou's thoughts?
Or maybe just a dream?
In the dream, Shouou dashed away with the elegance of 'Five Divine Steps.'
The person beside her chased after, mirroring each step she took.
They caught up and grasped Shouou's hand.
Shouou blushed, pressing her fingers against the neckline of her dress.
She started to speak about the first time I touched her──
...the first time I touched her...?
...Ah.
Was it when we all gathered for the 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique'?
Back then, I had caught someone who slipped.
......That someone was Shouou.
As I focused my awareness, the white shadow of Shouou smiled.
Her warm fingers slowly began to untangle.
Now, another palm overlapped with my left hand.
A hand slightly cooler than Shouou's.
This was...Touri.
Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of Touri, looking incredibly cool.
It was Touri as a traveling doctor.
As villains attacked, Touri expertly took them down one after another with her Pressure Point Techniques.
With her back against someone for support, the invincible traveling doctor, Touri, knocked down foes left and right.
This felt like a dream of Touri's.
I could feel the 'ki' brimming at the tips of Touri's fingers.
She waved the fingers of her left hand──the one that wasn't overlapping with mine.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)