-Narrator's POV-
...
"This is not hard, it's boring." Could be very well Kaminari's motto as he's diving into the books Ectoplasm gave. But even as he's initially overwhelmed by the equations and jargons, a few key concepts catch his eye.
Ohm's Law... Coulomb's Law... Kirchhoff's Laws... I may be a prosecutor after learning so many of those.
He tried his best to focus, the formulas were hard to understand at first, but it didn't take long before Kaminari started to draft and even apply certain concepts to possible technique ideas:
"So... The concept of Dieletric Breakdown... When the electric field in a material exceeds it's breakdown strength, it becomes conductive."
I know that, that's how I ionized the air around me and Shiozaki and created a path for lightning... I wonder... If I can mix and utilize Ohm's Law to calculate how much voltage I need, I won't have to burn myself or overconsume my reserves!
His sudden realization was quickly written down, nothing being left behind.
Soon, Kaminari was drawing inspiration from real word examples.
"The human body's resistance is approximately 1,000 ohms..."
So if I want to go for incapacitate enemies without causing severe harm, I can decrease amperage to stay under 0.1 amps...
The once boring material now offered unlimited paths for refinement. Kaminari is thrilled at the possibilities, only noticing how late was it by the change of the sky, with the first signs of dawn in the horizon.
By the end, his notebook is full of formulas, sketches for ultimate moves and possible secret technique names.
...
It's the second day of secret technique training. Ectoplasm observes Kaminari who, unlike from the previous day, has a more focused direction.
"Very well, Kaminari. Let's see if you managed to absorb any knowledge from those books." He exclaims before opening his mouth and white smoke began to be expelled, gradually taking shape and solidifying into a clone of its own.
"This clone will play the role of a lowlife villain, he does not pose a significant threat, but nonetheless needs to be stopped. Contain him in a non-lethal manner."
The clone prepares to attack, Kaminari looks at him carefully while activating his electricity.
"Non lethal, low current, 0.05 amps... Localized burst!" He hits the clone with a controlled zap, brief, discharge arcs emanating from his palms, locking the muscles in place.
Ectoplasm observes with satisfaction.
"Very good, Kaminari, now let's see if you can reason under pressure." He quickly forms another clone that wastes no time in advancing on Kaminari.
"Damn, he didn't say what kind of villain this is, stronger current? Medium voltage? No time to think!"
Kaminari panics, unleashing a wild burst of electricity. The clone falls and fades away, but Ectoplasm frowns.
"Sloppy. Remember, a real fight won't allow you to calculate with precision. You won't always have information on those you will face. It's up to you to identify and contain the threat."
Kaminari absorbs every word with rapt attention. He understands that out there he won't have the luxury of stopping and calculating his output.
"Again!" This time, more than one clone is made, throughout the rest of the day, different situations are thrown in order to gauge how Kaminari deals with stressful situations.
...
Kaminari collapses onto the bench after the session, drenched in sweat but buzzing with energy. He flips through his notebook, glancing at his calculations and new attack sketches.
"I'm getting there. Multiple simultaneous attacks are tough, but I'll figure it out. Non-lethal strikes… Those are a start. I'll keep studying, keep practicing. I can't let this quirk control me anymore. I have to control it." His inner monologue is brimming with resolve and willpower. Never again would he let his power dictate when he would act.
He looks at the simulation chamber, determination flaring in his eyes.
"One day, Ana… I'll make you proud."
...
It's late, in the dormitory, silence reigns, but one student is restless.
I can't just sit around and wait for the classes. I need to do this right now.
The clock strikes 00:01 AM, its faint chime swallowed by the dense silence of the U.A campus. Moonlight filters through the trees as Kaminari sneaks out of the dorm, careful to avoid the hallway cameras and squeaky floorboards. His heart pounds—not from fear, but from excitement.
With him, a foldable mannequin under his arm, made from insulator materal, a courtesy of Yaomomo, he needed something to test his hypothesis. On the other hand, his notebook filled with his sketches.
After finding a small sclearing deep in the woods, far from prying eyes, he places the mannequin at the center, his eyes dazing at the remnants of previous attemps of a secret technique.
"All right... Let's do this." He muttered to himself as sparks begin to dance across his body, filling the air with a ressonant rhytm.
He kneels beside his notebook, lit faintly by the moonlight and his phone's lantern. Scribbled formulas and diagrams cover the pages, detailing the intricacies of his new technique.
"High voltage for range. Low amperage to avoid overloading. Controlled discarge. Arc it... make it snap. Ionize the path, then let it travel. If I can' stabilize it, it'll just fizzle out—or worse, explode on my face." Whispering to himself, still afraid of getting caught, he stands, clenching his fists as the image of this technique is formed in his mind.
...
The first attempt was frustated, thrusting his arm foward, aiming for the mannequin proved unfruitful as the jagged bolt of electricity shoots out, only to sputter halfway.
"Not enough voltage. I need more focus."
At the second attempt, he recalculates, raising the voltage, sparks flying as he pushes harder.
This time, the bolt reaches the mannequin! But it's wild, arcing uncontrollably and splitting a tree behind it.
"Too much power. Dial it back, dumbass." Kaminari gritted his teeth.
...
Hours pass as Raio pours everything into perfecting the technique. The air around him grows heavy with heat and ozone.
His movements become sharper, more deliberate. Step by step he starts to understand the path. He adjusts stance, his breathing, his focus.
"Ionize the air... channel it... Strike!"
Each failure brings him closer to understanding, refining the balance between power and precision.
...
The first rays of dawn are just about beginning to tint the sky. Raio's body trembles, is breath coming in ragged gasps. His hands are scorched, his shirt damp with sweat.
"Come on... One more." His words find themselves difficult to come out between breaths.
Summoning the last of his reserve, Raio plants his feet firmly and extend his arm. His eyes narrow, and his voice barely a whisper.
"Execute... Now!"
...
Raio collapses to one knee, a tired smile spreading across his face as he looks at the mannequin, its frame charred and smoking.
"We did it... Ana. We finally did it!" He quietly whispers as to even talk took considerable energy as fatigue settled.
The clearing grows eerily silent, save for the faint hiss of smoldering mannequin. Raio's moment of triumph is interrupted by the faint rustle of leaves behind him. He stiffens, adrenaline surging anew.
I thought I was alone out here... Who's there?
He turns slowly as the source of the sound reveals itself.