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Nigendō (二元道, "Way of Duality") was a branch of Kidō usage developed jointly by Kenji Hiroshi and Van Satonaka, with various insights from Ino Hiroshi and Kei Yume, over the course of decades.
Nigendō was developed during the First Spiritual War solely to combat Averian who proved to be nigh-invulnerable to even Bankai-level attacks. In fact, one of the earliest plans to deal with Averian involved powerful sealing spells, the strength of which was enhanced by a Captain's Bankai and a HollowfiedVisored, which failed. The techniques that served as the foundation of the Nigendō style were developed through extensive study of the seven Kyūtai, which Kenji and Van had earlier hid away to prevent misuse of their power. Due to this, Nigendō had the unforeseen side effect of being effective against beings blessed by the Tenjin. Additionally, it remained one of the few sure-fire methods of eliminating the numerous and durable Soulless. And whilst the techniques themselves were incapable of killing pure Tenjin outright, they did cause lasting harm and allowed the practitioner to force even divinity to flee.
Following The Collapse, the only practitioners left, aside from those who created the style, are those who either received direct tutelage from Kenji and Van, or those who had a hand in the style's creation or refinement. Kentaro Hiroshi, Ayumi Satonaka and Shinrei Kurosaki are notable masters who survived the destruction, and Kentaro and Ayumi refined the spell-list considerably before and after the events of The Collapse. Kenji's twinsons, who were thrown into an alternate world by The Collapse, have also been trained in the style. As well as the twins, the original members of Hotaru's followers, all of whom were ex-Kidō Corps, were trained personally in the style by Hotaru. Asuka Natsume saw her initial training begin under Hotaru, but was subsequently taken up by Akira. Additionally, Akira trained Ashido in these techniques.
Terminology & techniques[]
Motionless casting -- one of the key traits of the Nigendō style is the fact one does not require time-consuming incantations or wasteful motions to invoke the spells in question, even though both can be used to invoke an even greater degree of spell-power.
Blending -- a trait that is seemingly unique to the Nigendō style. As no motions or incantations are required, it is a simple matter for the practitioner to cast their spells on the backs of other techniques. Kenji, for example, often drove Sōtōzashū into an opponent's body through the penetrative Byakurai, with Van doing something similar through his crystal constructs.
Van utilizing Kesshō to crystallize opponent's spiritual attacks.
#1. Kesshō (結晶, Crystallization) -- a spell designed by Van mimicking his own crystal manipulation skills, which Kenji, and he developed as an "ultimate shield" against the various stolen spiritual abilities Averian employed without restraint. As demonstrated by Van himself, this spell was wholly capable of crystallizing anything, including Cero, Bala, and even other forms of Kidō, as well as Zanpakutō powers. Even Kenji's robust and highly complex lightning-related skills were rendered useless before this crystallization. Kazuma Nishiki once claimed that Van's defensive crystal techniques made his defensive strength unparalleled. Incantation: Unknown.
Van utilizing Kandenshi to electrically charge his body to drastically increase his physical parameters.
#2. Kandenshi (感電死, Electrocution) -- a spell designed by Kenji mimicking his own lightning manipulation skills, which Van, and he developed as an "ultimate spear" for use against Averian's near-invulnerability due to his status as a pseudo Tenjin. As demonstrated by Kenji himself, this spell was wholly capable of casually slicing through fortified Hierro and other stout defences, and could be applied in any number of ways; its only limiting factor, it seemed, was the practitioner's own imagination and resourcefulness. Kusaka Kori often remarked that Kenji was fit to create "whole new techniques on the fly", which Van himself would later display as well. Incantation: Unknown.
Kentaro ensnaring Averian in the first stage of Sōtōzashū, which encased him in a fiery barrier in preparation for the next stage.
#3. Sōtōzashū (勦ザ周囲, Annihilate the Surroundings) -- a spell designed specifically to infiltrate an opponent's body on the back of a separate Hadō -- such as the penetrative Byakurai -- where it was then triggered remotely to restrict and horrendously burn the target. Sōtōzashū began by trapping the target within a rectangular prison. Shafts of light then skewered the barrier from all sides as a blaze of epic proportions erupted within the barrier's confines, which were seemingly bolstered by the target's own spiritual power. This three-step offensive culminated in a massive fiery explosion that produced vast quantities of heat and energy. This spell was one of the few whose flames were potent enough to exploit the Soulless's incredibly durable bodies and render them unto ash, whilst also being powerful enough to drastically slow even Averian's accelerated healing factor. When applied through Dōdōjōshō, for example, Kentaro slaughtered the entire first generation of the Soulless created by Shinzō. Incantation:"Illuminate the far heavens, faith-filled flames!"
#4. Dōtekisokubaku (動的束縛, Dynamic Restraints) -- a spell designed for the sole purpose of restraining beings with spiritual power many times higher than a typical Captain-class fighter. This spell manifested itself as blackened tendrils which Kenji and Van could direct with thought alone to ensnare their victims, at which point the tendrils forcibly robbed the target of their spiritual power. Thus, those with greater spiritual power were at far greater risk. Kentaro and Ayumi would take this spell further than Kenji and Van ever dared, however, for they discovered a means to recycle this stolen spiritual power to bolster their own attacks. In Kentaro's hands he was fit to ensnare a target, drain them to the point they were little more than a withered husk, and then blend the stolen power with his own to produce frighteningly powerful attacks that could effortlessly annihilate entire landscapes. Incantation: Unknown.
Jiyū was born through the combination of Kenji and Van, specifically when Kenji acted as lead fusee. His counterpart was Shiba Satonaka.
#5. Kyōdōsensen (共同戦線, United Front) -- the most breathtaking spell used by Kenji and Van, for it enabled the two rivals to pool their strength and experience and fight as one entity for a limited duration. This spell was considered highly dangerous; enough that Garian Shinjo advised against its use, subsequently labelling it as forbidden. When used by individuals as strong and gifted as Kenji, Van, and Kusaka, the result was a single warrior with such overwhelming strength that he was viewed as a far greater threat than even Averian. Kenji and Kusaka produced Rōnin Kori, whilst a fusion between Kenji and Kentaro produced Nanashi Shinzui. Kenji and Van were also the only individuals to demonstrate two fusions; the first, led by Kenji using Kyōdōsensen, produced Jiyū. The second, led by Van using Gōdō, produced Shiba Satonaka. Incantation: Unknown.
#6. Ōrukūki (蔽うる空気, Enfolding Air) --
#7. Joshinchō (女神帳, Goddess Curtain) -- a healing technique with long-term healing properties used by Kenji to reverse the damage caused to Van by Kenji's own impostor. Kenji would muse at the time that conventional Kidō would have done little to appease Van's symptoms. When used by Kenji, he created four lightning rods anchored to the four corners of Van's bed, with the space between being filled with healing Kidō. Akira, however, showed a more slim-line version that took the form of what is best described as a lightning blanket, which he wore whilst he slept. This version however was noticeably weaker than Kenji's more elaborate ritual and was seemingly intended for the treating of single wounds, with minor wounds requiring follow-up treatment.
#12. Kizuimōka (気随猛火, Willful Flames) --
#26. Dōdōjōshō (堂々上昇, Majestic Rise) --
Behind the scenes[]
Trivia[]
Whilst Nigendō is effective against the Tenjin it is by no means a sure-fire way of killing them. The style simply harms them more than others would.
