Chapter 32 - Unorthodox Education

Shiki wheels out an interesting-looking object. Best described as a solid block on wheels, it has a glass face and a brick rear.

Shiki: "This is a training dummy I designed specifically for teaching the Penetrating Strike. I've got about ten of these total, so don't go wasting them now. The front of the dummy is made of glass, while the back is made of brick. The concept is simple. If you strike the glass face with a Penetrating Strike, the glass should remain uncracked while the bricks should be blown away. So it should end up looking something a little like this."

Shiki strikes the dummy with exceptional force, and the bricks from its back are sent flying down the training yard. As he steps away, I can see that the glass surface is indeed untainted.

Adachi: "Awesome! How can I do that?"

Shiki: "This will be the first real combat technique you learn besides physical enhancement, so it will require a lot of visualization and metaphors. I expect you to use up at least eight of these dummies before you get it right."

Adachi: "Okay! Go ahead and explain it to me."

Shiki: "Sure. But first, go pick those bricks back up and rebuild this dummy."

After stacking the bricks up again behind the glass, I'm ready to attempt the Penetrating Strike.

Shiki: "There are exact sciences behind how midst techniques are formulated, and you will have to learn about them when attempting more complicated techniques, but for now, just visualizing what you want to happen should be enough.

So, for the Penetrating Strike, imagine that the glass doesn't exist. This should be easy to do because it's see-through regardless. Your punch will go straight to the brick because the glass doesn't exist. Imagining this will subconsciously cause you to project your midst forward into the brick instead of the glass. As you probably already know, midst energy cannot be projected through the air effectively. The best conductor for midst is flesh and blood. Coincidentally, glass is also a decent conductor of midst energy!

Projecting your midst energy through your opponent's body is entirely possible, and you're about to learn how. So take your first swing when you're ready!"

I stance up and stare down at my target. The glass doesn't exist. The glass doesn't exist. What glass doesn't exist? There is only brick in front of me. Okay, here I go.

I pour midst energy into my arm and look directly at the brick. Nothing is in-between this brick and my fist.

Swinging my arm, I wholeheartedly believe that my fist will meet the brick face. When my fist is stopped prematurely by the glass, I'm almost surprised. I may be a little too good at lying to myself.

The bricks are sent flying back across the field, and the glass is left unscathed. My fist stopped when it hit the glass, but my midst energy really continued through it to the brick!

Satisfied with my result, I turn to seek Master Shiki's approval. Instead of a proud look, his eyebrow is raised, and his eyes are widened.

Shiki: "What kind of monster did Kiichi raise on that mountain. Are you sure you're not some genius, kid?"

I chuckle and scratch the back of my head.

Adachi: "Quite the opposite. It was far too easy to convince myself that the glass didn't exist. Maybe that means I'm not too bright."

Shiki: "You were actually able to convince yourself that the glass didn't exist? You're just supposed to visualize it. I didn't expect you would really come to believe it. Your focus is inconceivable!"

Unused to this sort of praise, all I can do is laugh it off. Perhaps my stupidity is my greatest strength.

After doing the same exercise around ten more times, I've successfully convinced Shiki that my success wasn't a fluke.

Shiki: "Alright, you can certainly execute this move with consistency against this dummy. However, being able to see the brick behind the glass is a huge visualization advantage. When fighting an opponent, you can't view their bones or joints. How much do you know about the body's inner workings, Adachi?"

Adachi: "Not much, Master. Unfortunately, there were no textbooks or professors where I grew up. All I know is what Kiichi told me verbally."

Shiki nods his head, presumably finding what I said to be quite reasonable.

Shiki: "I'm not sure if Kina has told you yet, but she's not my real granddaughter. She doesn't have any family left, so I provided her with a place to stay and the materials she needs to continue her research in exchange for sharing her medical knowledge with me. I think that knowing about the human body is essential to combat. To understand how to break something, you must first understand how it is built."

Since I first came here, I've noticed it, but the Seiei dojo's methods have more to do with combat philosophy than actual bodily training.

Shiki: "Anyways, to be able to visualize your opponent's inner workings, you should probably go get a crash course in anatomy from Kina. I'm sure she'll be able to teach you about it better than I can."

Adachi: "I see. Thank you for today, Master! I'll go see if Kina has free time on her hands."

I dash off to the dojo to find Kina. Hopefully she isn't too busy!