Tenshidō

Tenshidō (天使のよう; lit. "Angel Way", although often rendered as "Angel Arts") is one of the four basic Undouka combat forms. Tenshidō is the technique that Undouka use to focus ambient reishi and their own reiryoku into mystic spells of various powers. These spells serve a wide variety of uses such as healing, defense, or combat. In addition to the secrets found in the Vale of the Inochigami, Tenshidō was also partially derived from the Shinigami battle art, Kidō, and as such, the two arts bear similarities.

The Great Sage Master, Raishuu Onmyou, employing mystic Tenshidō spells.

Tenshidō spells are graded on a scale, although unlike Kidō, these spells are not numbered, but range from Class E to Class S, the latter being the most powerful and the most difficult to perform. The scale is a measure of difficulty, as there can be multiple spells which share the same level. To use Tenshidō, an Undouka must recite the specific incantation for the spell, which is typically long and requires several seconds to speak. Tenshidō spell incantations can be omitted by particularly skilled practitioners. However, unlike Kidō, the spell whose incantation is skipped will not become significantly weaker than a recited spell, but will deplete the user's stamina. Repeated use of this often causes significant levels of exhaustion. The power of a spell relies on the power of the user. Spell of any class or category can be utterly devastating when executed with finesse by a skilled Undouka.

Like Kidō, there are three primary categories to Tenshidō; Subjection spells, or Taritsudō, are mystics which include a wide spectrum of spells that deflect attacks, subdue enemies, and healing injuries. Combative spells, or Messatsudō, are mystics specifically designated to cause harm, damage, and destruction. Universal spells, or Banshoudō, are mystic spells that fall under the miscellaneous category, and are often spells that are cast to create mass teleportations, induce psionic abilities, strengthen physical traits, and other effects. The unique trait of universal spells, is that they can fulfill different function, including being used offensively or defensively despite not being subjection spells or combative spells, depending on its use.

Taritsudō

Taritsudō (服従の方法; lit. "Way of Subjection")

• E-Class: Kagiru (制限; Restrict) — Restrains target's arms in a submissive fashion behind their backs.

• Incantation: "Through the darkness of the enchanted, my feet shall walk upon the light, and with my soul, the fear shall be extinguished!" ("その魅惑の闇を通して、私の足は、ライト時には、歩くものと、私の魂は、消滅する恐れ！")

• E-Class: Kenokan (嫌悪感; Revulsion) — Creates a dome-like reiryoku barrier that repels whatever comes into contact with it.

• Incantation: "Stir the fallen souls, and vex the evil spirits, oh divine ones of the celestial skies, rise!" ("は、倒れたの魂を攪拌し、悪霊を悩ます、天空、神のもの上昇ああ！")

Raishuu Onmyou casting the C-Class Teishidō spell, Enjinissui.

• D-Class: Fukumen (ベール; Veil) — Renders the caster invisible by phasing away their physical form.

• Incantation: Unknown

• D-Class: Henshin (偏向; Deflection) — Summons a circular shield to deflect enemy attacks.

• Incantation: Unknown

• C-Class: Enjinissui (水の指輪; Ring of Water) — Conjures a ring of water around the user to protect from, or redirect, offensive elemental spells, particularly fire or lightning. The ring automatically guards the caster from approaching spells, although the caster can control it to achieve more precise goals.

• Incantation: "By the ocean's call, and through the will of the seas, guard this soul from the malevolent ones!" ("海の呼び出し、さまざまな海の意志によって、邪悪なものからこの魂をガード！")

• A-Class: Amano Enjinissui (水の天体リング; Celestial Rings of Water) — Essentially a magnified variant of Enjinissui, the caster summons two large rings of water around their bodies, in a crossroad fashion. Aside from the rings being two in number, they are also greater in size, and more powerful, hence, able to protect against stronger offensive spells.

• Incantation: "Spirits of the oceans, come forth, and spirits of the sea, assemble to me! Storms above, become my wrath, heed my desire, and that of the heavens!" ("海の魂は、規定、来ると海の魂は、私に集合！嵐の上、私の怒りを、私の願いに耳を傾けるとなり、天を！")

• S-Class: Tenshiin (天使のシール; Angel's Seal) — Creates a pulse that generates a negation barrier over a tremendous radius, well exceeding a five-kilometers. Tenshiin's barrier does not drain or suppress, but completely negates spiritual power, pressure, or enhancements of all within its influence. Hence, this spell can nullify and depower even the most powerful spiritual entities, effectively rendering them fairly equal to the normal level of human endurance, strength and stamina. Tenshiin is, however, considered to be a double-edged sword, so to speak. The effects of Tenshiin are absolute. Even the caster is unable to escape it's power.

• Incantation: "Angels of the heavens, demons of the abyss, come to the forth and seize our souls. Shatter the spirits who tremble before me!" ("天使たちは天と地のは、深淵の悪魔は、私たちの魂をつかむ規定しています。粉々の魂は、私の前に震える！")

Messatsudō

Messatsudō (道閉塞の; lit. "Way of Obliteration")

• D-Class: Amawareru (空裂; Sky Fissure) — Creates a sonic impulse through the air towards the caster's opponent.

• Incantation:

• C-Class: Damashiitaihou (魂の大砲; Soul Cannon) — Gathers spiritual particles, hardens them, and discharges them in a spherical blast.

• Incantation: Unknown

• C-Class: Imihinote (聖なる炎; Holy Flames) — Fires off a white sphere of fire the incinerates its target upon contact.

Raishuu Onmyou casting the A-Class spell, Kurokan.

• Incantation: "Reap the blood of the warriors, harvest the tears of the innocent, subdue the foes of the divine, holy Gods above, unleash the inferno!" ("刈りは、武士の血は、神、聖なる神々は、上記の罪のない、討伐は敵の涙の収穫は、地獄を放つ!")

• B-Class: Anzengufuu (黒い竜巻; Black Tornado) — Creates a black cyclone from the casters arm towards the caster's opponents.

• Incantation: Unknown

• B-Class: Tsuyoihari (強力なビーム; Potent Beam) — Centers the caster's spiritual power, and the surrounding reishi in the caster's body, compresses them, then releases the spiritual power from the caster's mouth in the form of a white beam. Because the Undouka view Hollows as lowly savages, and that Tsuyoihari bears a resemblance to a Cero, the spell it occasionally frowned upon by some.

• Incantation: Unknown

• A-Class: Kiheki (精神バースト; Spirit Burst) — Gathers immense amounts of spiritual particles, and then detonates around the caster in an explosion.

• Incantation: Unknown

• S-Class: Kurokan (ブラックホール; Black Hole) — Creates a small, blue vortex with a dimensional pull on the end of the caster's hand. The vortex can pull in matter down to the atomic level, as well as ambient or solidified reishi, including physical or spiritual beings. Upon the caster closing his hand into a fist, thus ending the spell, they vortex destroys everything, or everyone, drawn into it, crushing them with the gravitational strength of a miniature black hole.

• Incantation: "Spirits of the heavens, reach out to thy servant! By the call of the moon, and the deliverance of the sun, cry out with praise to shatter the stars!" ("天と地の魂は、なたの使用人に手を伸ばす！月の電話、そして太陽の救出、粉々にすることで褒めて、星を叫ぶ！")

Banshoudō

Banshoudō (宇宙の道; lit. "Way of the Universe")

Note: Many Banshoudō spells induce psionic abilities, which were created after the Undouka discovered how to mimic the Zaitensai of their other members. Because they are not naturally achieved, psionic Banshoudō spells can only be maintained for several seconds (approximately eight to twelve seconds) at a time before the spell must be recast. Undouka who have naturally inherited psionic abilities are not bound by such limitations.

• A-Class: Ichuukongou (メルド心; Mind Meld) — The spell allows the use of mystically-induced psionic telepathy. The caster can use the spell to examine another's mind, interpret thoughts and intentions, and perceive past memories.

• Incantation: "Divine spirits, be my guide, holy stars, show me the path, righteous presence, reveal to me!" ("神の霊を、私のガイドでは、聖なる星、私は、私に明らかに、パスは、正義の存在を詳細に！")

• A-Class: Shingan (の心の眼; Mind's Eye) — The spell allows the caster to use their willpower to psychokinetically control the movement of objects, or to create a concussive psychokinetic impulse. The caster can also use the spell to their psychokinesis defensively.

Raishuu Onmyou using his Zaitensai to simulate the S-Class Teishidō spell, Rairin Kanmon.

• Incantation: "Benevolence of the angels, carnage of the demons, hear thy cries and honor thy wish! Upon the ashes of the misguided, I shall never sway, and for that which is hallowed, reflect your shining brilliance upon your servant!" ("博愛の天使たちは、悪魔の大虐殺は、なたの叫び声を聞くとなたの願い名誉！は見当違い、私に影響を与えるものとすることにその名を残す、これは、神聖な時とは、あなたの従者に輝きを反映して輝く！")

• S-Class: Rairin Kanmon (登場ゲートウェイ; Advent Gateway) — The spell psionically melds and phases separate dimensional planes together to allow passage into different worlds and realms without tearing the fabric of space or time. Rairin Kanmon is known to only ten Undouka, and is the method used by the Inboyuigon to travel between Soul Society, the Human World, and Kongoukai. Rairin Kanmon requires massive levels of spiritual energy to execute. Typically, it takes Undouka spellcasters in groups of five to successfully cast Rairin Kanmon.

• Incantation: "Oh holy divination, hear thy voice, and listen thy cries! There is where the bones of the lost ones have risen, and I shall never deviate, no never shall I call upon the power of the abyss! Oh, Gods of the divine, cause the desecrators to perish, and beneath the heavens, thy shall proclaim your might!" ("オ聖なる予言は、なたの声を聞くとなた聞く叫び！ここで、失われたものが上昇しているのは骨ですから、私は決して逸脱するものと、私は深淵の力を求めるものはない！ああ、神の神々と、死ぬにおかす原因は、天の下に、なたを宣言しなければならないかもしれません！")

Kinkeirō

Kinkeirō (禁じられたパス; lit. "Forbidden Path")

Note:Unlike the other spell categories, virtually all Kinkeirō spells earned their status due to their possessing overwhelming power. Consequently, it is widely accepted that all Kinkeirō spells are S-Class level.

• Forbidden: Ketsuretsu (破壊破断; Breakdown Rupture) — The spell creates an localized implosion that breaks down and obliterates a section of space, and everything within it the spatial range down to the atomic level of matter or spiritual particles. Due to its power, Ketsuretsu is considered to be too susceptible to abuse by spellcasters, and is considered to be forbidden.

• Incantation: Concealed (knowledge restricted)

An Undouka Shaman casting the forbidden spell, Mononoke.

• Forbidden: Neikan Kokuhyou (裏切りの苦しみ; Treacherous Damnation) — The spell forcibly summons the Gates of Hell to the vicinity of the caster. The Gates of Hell then act upon the caster's will, condemning the caster's opponent to Hell, be it a Hollow, a soul or a human. Through the use of the spell, the damning of a soul is made unconditional. Hence, even an individual that committed no heinous crime as a human or soul could be condemned. Arguably the most powerful mystic spell among the Undouka, as well as the most morally controversal, Neikan Kokuhyou was the first spell learned from magic spells recovered from the Vale of the Inochigami. As such, it is also the first Tenshidō spell to be considered forbidden.

• Incantation: Concealed (knowledge restricted)

• Forbidden: Bakuhatsu (噴火; Eruption) — The spell induces a volatile internal combustion in a spiritual entity. The spells, when used on a soul, or an individual with a spiritual affinity, 'detonates' the individual by using their own reiryoku against them. As such, the spell can allow its caster to cause their opponents to literally explode. After the event of the Spirit Valley Massacre, the Inboyuigon decided that Bakuhatsu was, like Ketsuretsu, too susceptible corrupt use.

• Incantation: Concealed (knowledge restricted)

• Forbidden: Mononoke (報復妖怪; Vengeful Spectre) — The spell summons a spiritual wraith-like dragon entity, and is sometimes called the Spell of Gluttony. The entity is guided by the caster's hands, and devours spirits and the souls from out of humans. Mononoke was traditionally used as a form of capital punishment for traitors, captured Shinigami, and on exceedingly rare occasions, Arrancar. Execution via Mononoke was eventually considered too barbaric in regular practice, and became forbidden for all but the most severe criminals.

• Incantation: Concealed (knowledge restricted)

Banshoudō's concept

Relationship to Zaitensai

Banshoudō, or universal spells, are almost entirely composed of mystically inducing psionic capabilities. In nature, Banshoudō spells are different from the other categories in that they do not use reishi externally, but internally. Undouka spellcasters use spiritual particles to momentarily enhance their mental aptitudes. Sometime after to the foundation of the Inboyuigon, the Undouka discovered that the training methods derived from the Vale of the Inochigami revealed that some souls are capable of using psychic powers. This occurrence is known as the Zaitensai, and beings that possess it are all trained to be spellcaster specialists. After centuries of studying Undouka with the Zaitensai, the Inboyuigon discovered how to briefly replicate enhanced mental capabilities. Undouka that possess the Zaitensai are highly adept in the Tenshidō arts. Ironically, however, they are also equally incapable of casting Banshoudō spells.

Relationship to the Sasageru

The Sasageru all possess uncanny affinities and unlimited potential in relation to Tenshidō as a whole. The most closely related Tenshidō art, Banshoudō, was the induced creation of psychic activity, simulated through the study and replication of Zaitensai. Consequently, Banshoudō affects the caster before the spells are cast. Ironically, however, the Sasageru are completely unable to cast any Banshoudō spells. Due to the spells fundamental trait of stimulating cerebral activity, the Sasageru are actually not so much incapable, but are, in a way, immune to the effects of Banshoudō.

Behind the scenes

In-universe use of Tenshidō, like the other three Undouka arts, was created as a countermeasure against its canon and Shinigami concept, Kidō, with subtle differences between the two (i.e. classified by an alphabetical scale instead of numerical one; abbreviated spellcasting affects the user, as opposed to the spell, etc.)

The reason for the creation of the psionic powers in the magic classifications was to create a way to meld two opposite concepts together into one category. In other works of fiction, psionics are frequently introduced as an antithesis of magics, and vice-versa. With the creation of Tenshidō, or more specifically, Banshoudō, the two concepts effectively merge, and become one and the same.