The vibe of the training ground changed completely.
Tatsuya had just ducked low in the obstacle course, narrowly avoiding a swinging log. Before he could even catch his breath, the whistle of the wind arrived! Three beans infused with the power of Thunder Breathing, trailing faint golden light, zipped toward him in a triangular formation—blocking his left, right, and center.
They were so fast they left afterimages. His pupils shrank. Relying on his sharpened reflexes, he twisted his body violently to the right. The beans grazed his clothes, leaving a burning sensation. However, a fourth bean had predicted his move. Snap! It struck the outside of his left knee—his supporting leg—with pinpoint accuracy.
"Agh!"
A violent surge of numbness instantly spread from Tatsuya's knee to his entire leg. He let out a muffled groan, his balance crumbling as he collapsed heavily onto one knee. Almost simultaneously, a sharp bamboo spike sprang from the ground beside him, missing his abdomen by a mere inch!
"Anticipate! Perceive! Is your breathing just for show? Have you been practicing all this time just to use your lungs as ornaments?" Jigoro Kuwajima's critique was like a winter gale—merciless.
Tatsuya gritted his teeth, rubbing his numbing knee as he struggled to stand. Kuwajima's tone suddenly shifted to one of infuriating "satisfaction."
"Well, dodging two is a bit of progress. Keep up this momentum of getting beaten; maybe one day you'll manage to get hit by one less. I have high hopes for you."
Tatsuya nearly choked on his own breath. Great. The old man is definitely holding a grudge.
During weighted pull-ups, Tatsuya's muscles were taut, maintaining Total Concentration Breathing as he laboriously pulled himself up. Just as he reached the peak of his exertion—at the exact moment his breath hitched and his core muscles relaxed for a fraction of a second—a golden bean flickered like a ghost. Ignoring his swaying body, it struck his tensed abdomen with pinpoint accuracy.
"Puh-hu!" The heavy impact to his gut caused Tatsuya to deflate instantly. His grip slipped, and he fell from the bar, curling into a ball on the ground. It felt as if his internal organs had all shifted out of place.
"Keep your core tight when exerting force! Your breath must drive your entire body!" Kuwajima strolled over, using a specialized technique to massage Tatsuya's throbbing muscles and clear his tensed meridians. He added helpfully, "Next time, try catching it with your face. It's a larger target."
Tatsuya winced in pain. This old man is doing this on purpose!
The endurance runs were the ultimate torture. Already burdened with double weights, maintaining Total Concentration was exhausting enough, yet Kuwajima's "Thunder-Breathing Beans" never ceased. When Tatsuya's energy flagged and his breathing rhythm faltered, a bean would strike his lagging back with a searing sting. As he stumbled, two more would immediately fire toward the spots where his feet were about to land, forcing him to twist his frame violently. His breathing would shatter, leaving him clutching his knees and gasping for air.
"Tired? How about I give you two extra bowls of rice tonight?" Kuwajima's voice was like a haunting melody. "Remember this powerlessness. In a real battle, the price of exhaustion is becoming a demon's snack."
Tatsuya looked at the seemingly endless mountain path ahead and the strict master behind him. With no choice but to adjust his breathing, he moved his leaden legs and continued the infinite cycle of torment.
He wailed through this "Bean Hell," but the boy knew his perception and reflexes were being forced to evolve. His master seemed heartless, but every drill and every sharp word was designed to ensure his disciple wouldn't lose his life to a demon in the future.
The schedule didn't stop for the boy's feelings. The next priority was integrating the breath into sword techniques—specifically, mastering the core of Thunder Breathing: First Form: Thunderclap and Flash.
"Tatsuya, your breath and body have been in sync for a month. It is time to touch the first and most vital secret of Thunder Breathing—Thunderclap and Flash."
In the clearing, the old man spoke with tireless solemnity. "The root of Thunderclap and Flash lies in the momentum of 'charging forward' and the courage of 'fearless sacrifice'!" His eyes flashed like lightning. "Gather all your spirit, will, power, and breath into a single point! Transform into the lightning that rends the sky! If there is the slightest hesitation, doubt, or fear of injury in your heart, your breath will scatter, your stance will crumble, and you will never manifest the true Thunderclap and Flash!"
"Izumo Tatsuya, remember this! Concentrate on one point! Hone it to perfection!"
Under Kuwajima's guidance, Tatsuya began his grueling attempts. He took a deep breath, circulating the "thunder" within him, and shouted:
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
He lunged forward! However, his clunky control of the power caused his initial step to be unbalanced. He shot off like a runaway horse, slamming straight into a thick wooden post at the edge of the clearing—
THUD!
Tatsuya saw stars as a large red bump swelled on his forehead.
"Wild Boar Charge!" Kuwajima's laughter was immediate. "Are you here to slay demons or to bow to a wooden post?"
Tatsuya rubbed his aching head, his eyes burning with defiance. "Again!" He stood up and reset his stance. This time, he focused on direction and was much more cautious with his start. But because of that "caution," he lacked power. His speed was sluggish—his "dash" looked more like a fast walk.
"Snail climbing a tree!" came the critique. "At this speed, the demon will die of old age before you reach its face!"
On the third try, Tatsuya turned fierce. He pushed his breathing to the limit and kicked off the ground! The speed was there, but his coordination failed. His feet tangled, and with a thud, he tripped over his own feet on flat ground, face-planting into the dirt.
"Tripping on flat ground?" Kuwajima's voice carried incredulous mockery. "Are you here to practice swordsmanship or perform a comedy routine? Did I throw those beans for nothing? Stabilize your lower body!"
The fourth, fifth, sixth time...
Either his path was crooked, his breath failed halfway, or his swing was disconnected from his dash. Tatsuya failed repeatedly, adding bruises and scrapes to his body. His uniform was soaked with sweat, and his lungs felt like they were on fire.
Yet, as Kuwajima watched the boy get up without hesitation every single time, wiping away sweat and blood with eyes that burned brighter after every failure, the old man felt an indescribable sense of relief.
Good... truly good... he thought. A normal person would have lost heart or grown resentful after such hopeless failure. But this boy's resilience and fighting spirit are far beyond the norm. This unyielding nature is exactly the quality needed to master Thunder Breathing.
He could see that with every failed attempt, Tatsuya was progressing by a fraction—finer control, better timing, and a deeper grasp of that "one-way" momentum. The speed of his improvement was terrifying.
But Kuwajima would never say this out loud. He kept his face stiff, scrutinizing every tiny error with harsh words.
"I don't believe I can't do this!"
Tatsuya wiped the sweat from his eyes once more. Ignoring the aches, he reset the stance of Thunderclap and Flash. His golden eyes burned.
"Breath... concentrate it all... into one point..."
Kuwajima watched silently, the corner of his mouth twitching into an almost imperceptible smile.
This is the one!
Tatsuya abandoned all distractions. He stopped worrying about direction or falling. There was only the "forward." He poured every ounce of strength and breath into his legs and kicked!
"...Hone it to perfection!"
"Thunder Breathing, First Form—Thunderclap and Flash!"
BOOM!
His figure shot out! Unlike all previous attempts, this start had an explosive quality, sending dirt flying. Although he didn't manifest the dazzling golden lightning of his master, his speed reached a new level. The air let out a distinct tearing sound. He was a blurred, rapid shadow, thrusting straight forward!
This time, he didn't hit anything. He didn't stumble. He maintained that momentum for nearly ten meters before finally stopping, propping himself up with his wooden sword.
He panted, his chest heaving, but his face was filled with excitement. He had felt it! The perfect synchronization of power and breath, driving him like an arrow from a bow!
The clearing went silent. Tatsuya looked back at his master, his golden eyes full of anticipation.
Kuwajima's sternness melted away. He stared at Tatsuya for a long time before finally speaking—not with mockery, but with heavy recognition:
"Good."
Just one word, but it felt like a cool drink on a summer day to Tatsuya.
"Your finish was clumsy, and your control is unrefined," Kuwajima continued calmly. "But that burst of speed and resolve... it finally has the shape of 'Thunderclap and Flash.' You have finally... touched the threshold."
Tatsuya froze, then a wave of achievement washed over him. He had finally received his master's acknowledgment!
"So... can I have two extra bowls of rice tonight, Master?!"
"Just go eat already!"