"Ren-kun, did you understand the basic theory? With your spiritual power level, as long as you're not completely untalented in controlling spiritual energy, you should be able to successfully cast Kido."
Aizen led Ren to an open training ground. Unlike other combat courses, Kido classes were conducted outdoors because the techniques often caused significant disturbances. Additionally, many Kido techniques required precise aiming, so there were numerous targets set up nearby for practice.
"It doesn't sound too difficult. The real test will be trying it out," Ren mused. Under Aizen's watchful gaze, he stepped up to one of the targets, raised his right hand, and began chanting the incantation from the textbook in a low voice. Finally, he shouted, "Hado #4: Byakurai!"
A streak of white light shot from his hand, striking the target and leaving behind charred marks.
Though he successfully cast Kido on his first attempt, Ren didn't feel particularly thrilled. To him, this basic level of Kido wasn't too challenging. Once he grasped the technique for channelling spiritual energy—or reishi—he felt confident he could master most low-to-mid-level Kido spells.
Now, his personal skill interface even displayed a new entry: Hado #4: Byakurai, officially categorized as a learned skill.
However, Ren couldn't help but feel that Hado seemed... a bit weak.
He glanced at his soul source meter. That single use of Byakurai had drained 1% of his reserves. According to the system's description, if his soul energy dropped below 10%, he'd experience extreme mental exhaustion, and if it hit zero, he'd pass out, followed by prolonged weakness upon waking.
From a combat efficiency standpoint, Ren felt that expending 'mana' in this way wasn't particularly cost-effective. Physically slashing with his blade might deal more direct damage.
"As expected of you, Ren-kun. You succeeded on your first try. You seem to find the textbook examples a bit too basic. How about trying something slightly more advanced?" Aizen suggested with a smile, clearly curious about the limits of Ren's talent.
"Oh? What do you have in mind?" Ren asked, intrigued.
As first-year students, their Kido curriculum followed a structured progression, with the highest-level spell in their textbook being Hado #12: Fushibi.
Standing beside him, Aizen raised his hand toward a target. His deep, magnetic voice chanted:
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado #31: Shakkaho!"
Crimson light flared in Aizen's palm. The heat emanating from it made Ren instinctively uncomfortable. As the red glow reached its peak, a fiery blast streaked through the air, leaving a long, glowing trail.
Boom!
The target was obliterated, and flames continued to smoulder on the charred remains of the post.
Watching the scene, Ren's interest was piqued. Though Aizen had restrained his spiritual pressure to stay below Ren's own level, the sheer power of the Shakkaho was undeniable. If that blast had struck him directly, he would likely be seriously injured if not killed.
"What do you think, Ren-kun? Do you believe you can cast this Kido?" Aizen turned to him, his calm gaze meeting Ren's. He had deliberately slowed his chanting to allow Ren to feel the reiryoku fluctuations as a demonstration.
Before Ren could respond, a large hand clamped onto Aizen's shoulder, and the atmosphere seemed to darken slightly.
"Aizen-kun, you should give a heads-up before casting such a dangerous Kido," said a deep voice.
Unfazed, Aizen slightly turned and replied, "My apologies, Tsukabishi-sensei. I merely wished to show Ren-kun the allure of Kido."
Tsukabishi Tessai, the head instructor, didn't press further. Instead, his gaze carried a hint of admiration as he looked at Aizen. The Shakkaho he had just cast was something many graduates couldn't do, and even fewer could do it so perfectly. Tessai began to wonder if he should recruit Aizen to join the Kido Corps in the future.
Ren, observing Tessai's microexpressions, could vaguely guess what the man was thinking. He found it slightly ironic, knowing that this "model student" in front of him would one day force even someone like Tessai into exile in the human world.
"I don't recommend attempting this, Ren," Tessai said, turning to him. "Kido practice requires steady progression. Jumping ahead recklessly can lead to serious consequences. You should focus on mastering the single-digit Hado spells first."
Tessai's concern was warranted. As the head of Kido instruction, he had seen how dangerous these techniques could be. Even at Shin'o Academy, accidents during Kido practice weren't uncommon, and the mortality rate for Kido classes far exceeded that of Hakuda or Zanjutsu.
Higher-level Kido, if mishandled, could easily backfire. A failed Shakkaho, for instance, would detonate at point-blank range, severely injuring the caster.
"I understand the risks, Sensei. But I'd still like to give it a try. If it feels beyond me during the construction phase, I'll stop immediately," Ren said with a confident smile. "Besides, with you here, I feel much safer."
Tessai frowned slightly. With his skill, he could certainly intervene if Ren lost control. But encouraging such behaviour set a bad precedent. What if Ren tried something like this when Tessai wasn't around? The outcome could be fatal.
Still, having witnessed Ren's natural talent with Byakurai, Tessai hesitated to dampen the student's enthusiasm.
"Just this once. If you fail, you will follow the standard curriculum from now on, or I'll personally expel you from Shin'o Academy," Tessai warned sternly.
Ren nodded, recognizing the seriousness in his tone. As the Grand Kido Chief, Tessai had every authority to have him expelled with a word.
Taking a deep breath, Ren walked a few steps to the left, setting his sights on another intact target. He gathered his focus, calmed his breathing, and began the chant:
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, fluttering wings, ye who bears the name of man…"
Compared to Aizen's resonant, almost theatrical chanting, which felt like a recitation by a seasoned orator, Ren's delivery was flat and emotionless, devoid of any passion. His chant sounded more like he was reading off a script.
Yet, as his voice carried on, a crimson glow began to form in his palm. The light illuminated Ren's face and reflected in the astonished eyes of both Aizen and Tessai.
"Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado #31: Shakkaho."
As he completed the incantation, a fiery blast, albeit slightly weaker than Aizen's earlier demonstration, streaked through the air and struck the target. With a loud explosion, the target was engulfed in flames.
In the ensuing silence, the crackling of burning wood was the only sound. It took several seconds before someone let out a sharp gasp.
"That....that guy actually managed to cast Shakkaho!?"
"That's Hado #31! Even most graduates can't pull that off!"
"And the execution was impressive! It's almost as good as Aizen's earlier demonstration."
"Is this guy even human? Isn't he supposed to be some vagabond from the Rukongai? Being skilled at swordsmanship and Hakuda is one thing, but even his Kido is monstrous?"
"This talent is unreal! Is he some kind of prodigy in everything?"
The murmurs among the students grew louder, filled with a mix of shock, awe, and disbelief. In the crowd, Yoruichi furrowed her brows slightly as she looked toward Ren. She wasn't unaccustomed to seeing prodigies, but there had to be limits, didn't there?
Her initial impression of Ren was that he was a simple brute, someone who only knew how to fight with his fists or sword. She had even been looking forward to seeing him flounder in Kido class and had prepared herself to enjoy the spectacle. Yet, here he was, not only succeeding on his first attempt at Kido but immediately following it up by flawlessly casting Shakkaho.
"Fine, so maybe Kido's out of the question," she muttered to herself. "But tomorrow's Shunpo class... I'll make sure to regain some ground there."
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[T/N] - Don't forget to VOTE Powestones!