From the billowing cloud of dust, a bloodied figure burst forth. Ren moved like a shadow, clutching the Captain-Commander's wrist mid-motion, his body twisting through the air at an unnatural angle.
With a powerful shift, his muscular legs stretched out, one aiming for the elder's neck and the other targeting his chest. His grip on the Captain-Commander's wrist locked like a vice as he abruptly straightened backwards into a flawless
Observing the scene, Yoruichi's face lit with surprise. She hadn't expected someone as brash as Ren to execute such a clean and advanced grappling technique.
The Captain-Commander, however, remained rooted where he stood. Unshaken by the manoeuvre, he turned his head slightly to glance at Ren.
"Interesting, boy. If our spiritual pressures were evenly matched, you might've won."
Before he could finish his thought with a but, Ren released the hold, landing lightly and resuming his stance.
"Oh? What's the meaning of this?" the Captain-Commander asked, curious.
Ren's eyes burned with unyielding battle spirit, and he grinned. "This kind of move isn't my style. Besides, if you hadn't released my leg earlier, I wouldn't have been able to counter at all."
He referred to the moment when the Captain-Commander had flung him to the ground but chose to let go instead of following through. Ren had calculated that if the Captain-Commander had truly intended to finish the fight, he would've maintained his grip.
Essentially, Ren lost the moment he was grabbed.
The Captain-Commander threw his head back in hearty laughter. "Boy, you're starting to grow on me."
Blood streamed down Ren's face, soaking his upper body, tracing through the crevices of his muscles like crimson rivers. Yet, rather than appearing defeated, he resembled a battle-hardened warrior—a shura.
"Still eager to trade blows with me?" the Captain-Commander asked, assuming a ready stance.
Ren inhaled deeply, his heart pounding like war drums, sending adrenaline and resolve coursing through his veins. Though his head throbbed from the earlier blow, clarity surged within him. Facing the strongest of all Shinigami, he felt more alive than ever.
"Absolutely. Round two starts now!"
The Captain-Commander's eyes gleamed with approval, and in the blink of an eye, both figures vanished.
The floor of the dojo groaned beneath the rapid stomps of their feet, while the air crackled with the sound of fists and feet colliding.
To the average first-year students watching, the combatants were nothing more than blurs, darting and clashing at impossible speeds. The sound of each strike reverberated like thunder, filling the training hall with tension.
"He's actually keeping up with the Captain-Commander…" Yoruichi murmured, astonished.
She, more than anyone, understood Ren's capabilities. For him to not only fend off the Captain-Commander's relentless assault but also find opportunities to counterattack was beyond her expectations.
"Did he grow stronger in mere moments?"
Nearby, Aizen also watched the sparring session with a serious expression. He had thought it would be a one-sided crush by the Captain-Commander. Apart from the initial surprise attack, Ren seemed to have somehow 'adapted' to it.
He could see through what Yoruichi couldn't: Ren's growth wasn't in raw skill but in adaptability. He was beginning to read the Captain-Commander's movements, choosing optimal responses amidst overwhelming pressure.
It was this ability to adapt in real-time that allowed him to endure.
What are your limits, Ren?
Boom!
The deafening crash brought the match to an abrupt end. A figure flew through the air, slamming into the wall with enough force to leave a massive dent.
All eyes turned toward the crumpled form of Ren. His battered, shirtless body slid to the ground, too drained to rise.
Despite his impressive showing, he was no match for two thousand years of combat experience and flawless hand-to-hand mastery.
Aizen moved forward to help Ren up, while the Captain-Commander, exuding calm authority, adjusted his stance and looked down at his chest.
That boy… actually touched me, he thought, noticing where Ren's strike had grazed him moments before being flung away. Though the attack lacked enough power to cause damage, the feat was remarkable nonetheless.
Retrieving his haori, the Captain-Commander donned it again and turned his back to the room. "Heal yourself with Kaidō. I'll be back in two days."
Lying on the ground, Ren's eyes sparkled with renewed determination. Losing didn't deter him; it exhilarated him. The opportunity to challenge the pinnacle of the Shinigami hierarchy again was a dream come true.
-----
Later that evening, Ren sat cross-legged on his bed, pondering aloud. "Aizen, how do you think I can defeat the Captain-Commander?"
Aizen looked up from his seat, clearly exasperated. "Ren-kun, aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself? That's the Captain-Commander—the strongest Shinigami in two millennia."
To Aizen, the gap in their skills was insurmountable. The Captain-Commander's combat ability, speed, and spiritual energy were leagues beyond anything Ren could currently muster.
Yet Ren, unfazed, grinned cheekily. "Sōsuke, haven't you heard the saying?"
"What saying?"
"A Shinigami who doesn't aim to surpass the Captain-Commander isn't a true Shinigami."
His tone was dead serious, but Aizen could only shake his head, suppressing a smirk at Ren's audacity.
"I understand you want to continue advancing in hakuda," Aizen analysed, "But surpassing the Captain-Commander is unrealistic."
"Why not?" Ren asked, genuinely curious.
"It's not that I doubt your talent, Ren-kun," Aizen clarified. "It's the fundamental difference between you and the Captain-Commander."
"A fundamental difference? You mean battle experience?"
"That's part of it," Aizen acknowledged. "But more importantly, even when the Captain-Commander suppresses his spiritual pressure to train you, his perception, reflexes, and cognitive speed remain on an entirely different level."
Ren blinked, the realization dawning on him.
It was true—he hadn't considered that.
The Captain-Commander could lower his spiritual pressure to match a trainee's level, but his body, honed over centuries by that very spiritual energy, retained its superior physical capabilities. His eyesight, reflexes, and decision-making were at a level Ren simply couldn't match.
In essence, the Captain-Commander was like a master with maxed-out attributes temporarily restraining his strength. Yet those inherent advantages couldn't be turned off.
To the Captain-Commander, Ren's moves likely appeared in slow motion. This wasn't truly a "fair" sparring match. Even setting skill aside, the Captain-Commander's inherent physical superiority was crushing.
"I see…" Ren nodded thoughtfully, processing Aizen's explanation.
Yet, as Aizen observed him, his friend's expression grew peculiar.
"Wait," Aizen said, raising an eyebrow. "You're not discouraged at all, are you?"
"Not at all," Ren replied, his lips curving into a wide grin.
"Why?"
"Because that just makes it more challenging, doesn't it?"
Aizen stared at him, momentarily speechless.
"Of course, you'd say that," Aizen finally muttered, shaking his head. A trace of a smile tugged at his lips despite himself.
___________
[T/N] - Here's the Extra Chapter.
Oh and just a reminder: Vote 50 Powerstones to get 1 Extra Chapter. [97 Stones at the time of publishing the chapter]
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