Chapter 83: Awakening
Though Black Coffin was captivating, Shikai wasn't bad either.
That night, Suoh devoted all the time usually spent practicing Kido to training his Shikai.
After mastering the light cannon proficiently, he began some new attempts—like light walls and reflecting light rays.
The light wall could conceal his figure, but its defensive power was average, only slightly stronger than an incantation-abandoned Enkosen.
Its significance equated to a composite Kido combining Enkosen with Bakudo Number Twenty-Six: Kyokko—considered a decent unexpected harvest.
However, reflecting light rays could be called a complete failure. Each time the light reflected at a point, the beam's power diminished. Suoh's assessment: utterly impractical.
This didn't surprise Suoh. The radiance Kikou released had some basic properties resembling sunlight, but it was essentially a high-density spirit particle flow containing light characteristics driven by spiritual pressure.
If the extension speed of Soul Society's fastest Zanpakuto, Shinso, was 500 times the speed of sound, within a certain range Kikou's light cannon speed could reach double that—but still fell far short of true cosmic light speed limits.
Inside the cottage.
Suoh sat cross-legged on the bed with closed eyes, reviewing today's training. His Asauchi and Hazy Night lay beside him, his expression calm as always.
The joy brought by successfully achieving Shikai was genuine and surging.
Shikai had indeed clearly enhanced his actual combat abilities and provided deeper tactical maneuvering space.
When Kikou's power first awakened in his palm, when the scene of the light cannon penetrating rock pillars entered his eyes, an unprecedented fulfillment and excitement seized his heart.
For an instant, he'd even conceived the impulse to specialize in optics at a World of the Living university, to thoroughly analyze and develop Kikou's radiance to its limits.
However, the failure of attempting to create reflected light ray techniques was like a handful of cool spring water dousing that impulse, waking him from a magnificently brilliant dream.
He understood better than anyone that in this Shinigami world, no matter how Zanpakuto abilities changed in myriad ways, how mysteriously unfathomable they were.
The most fundamental and most unshakeable law would forever be spiritual pressure suppression.
Technique might win for a moment, but absolute spiritual pressure determined the ultimate life and death of both combatants.
Spirit particles in the World of the Living were too sparse. Every second spent there meant his spiritual pressure accumulation and training stagnated.
Not to mention still needing to spend time and energy replenishing spiritual pressure consumed during World of the Living activities—tantamount to losing the forest for the trees.
"Zanpakuto Shikai ability development is ultimately just icing on the cake."
Suoh opened his eyes, his gaze falling on both swords beside him.
"The foundation will forever lie in spiritual pressure accumulation and training in the four Shinigami arts."
Understanding this point, the last trace of restlessness produced in Suoh's heart from gaining new power completely settled.
"Sleep!"
Regarding Zanpakuto ability development, Suoh was currently very satisfied.
Tomorrow when the sun rose, he'd continue going to work, continue his day-after-day training.
Walking along that most simple yet most solid path.
Six hours later.
Ring ring ring—
The alarm's ringing sounded especially clear in the cottage.
Suoh's hand quickly emerged from under the covers, precisely stopping the clamoring alarm beside him.
Slowly rising, opening his eyes, his gaze clear—his entire being full of spirit and energy, showing not half a trace of drowsiness.
This sleep duration was the balance point he'd repeatedly worked out, sufficient to sweep away the previous day's fatigue.
Suoh took Hazy Night and walked out of the cottage, lightly squinting his eyes.
The underground training ground didn't distinguish between night and day, maintaining the same brightness outdoors constantly.
Before the hot spring cottage was built, the omnipresent light had indeed affected his sleep quality.
So previously, no matter how tired, Suoh always persisted in returning to his quarters to rest.
After washing up, he used the convenient hot spring to boil several onsen eggs.
Tender egg whites with flowing yolks, paired with freshly stir-fried meat and vegetables plus steaming rice, he finished his first meal.
Without spending too much time, he ended morning practice, changed into his Shihakusho, and took his Asauchi.
After a moment, Suoh's radiant figure flashed and disappeared from the high cliff wall.
Running from Sōkyoku Hill toward the Thirteenth Division across the empty Seireitei roads, he still encountered no one.
Ordinary squad members' patrol routes—he knew them by heart.
However, unlike usual, his spiritual perception sensed four people with very strong spiritual pressure rapidly approaching from the side.
Suoh felt somewhat surprised, but also had guesses and answers in his heart.
Sensing their approach, Suoh didn't deliberately evade.
At this moment, he'd already traveled far from Sōkyoku Hill. Being seen by people didn't matter.
As expected, smoothly traveling back and forth between both places unobstructed was rather impossible.
Feeling the spiritual pressure approaching closer from the side, he didn't deliberately accelerate to evade. Instead, he slightly slowed his shunpo speed.
Suoh's steps had just slowed not long.
Before long.
A petite pink figure landed like a small whirlwind on the wall before him, her voice clear and cute.
"Your shunpo is really fast! I'm Kusajishi Yachiru. What's your name?"
"Thirteenth Division—"
Though the spiritual pressure felt unfamiliar to Suoh, he wasn't the least bit unfamiliar with this person's appearance—the Eleventh Division Lieutenant.
Just as he prepared to answer, a series of heavy and aggressively forceful footsteps accompanied by distinctive bell sounds approached from far to near.
With each ring of those bells, the invisible pressure in the air grew heavier.
"Yachiru, where's this interesting guy you mentioned?"
A rough shout. A massive figure enthusiastically charged out from around the corner.
Wild, unique hairstyle decorated with small bells, plus the eye-catching tattered white captain's haori—none other than Eleventh Division Captain Zaraki Kenpachi.
Plus a bald man and a somewhat bewitching-faced male who'd landed beside him.
Sure enough, the Eleventh Division quartet was all here.
In the Gotei 13, a combination of such numerous strong fighters existed only here.
The next moment, Zaraki Kenpachi's towering form carried nearly tangible oppressive force, stopping before Suoh.
Instantly, the air around Suoh seemed to freeze.
This was unconscious leakage from Zaraki Kenpachi before him—powerful pressure pure and savage as a primordial beast, sufficient to make ordinary Shinigami's hearts and spirits tremble together.
Standing at this spiritual pressure storm's center, Suoh's expression showed no change whatsoever.
"Thirteenth Division 3rd Seat Suoh Tsukasa. I've met you all, Captain Zaraki."
He had nothing to fear from these people.
Wearing a smile, his expression calm, he completed the greeting.
This extraordinary composure made Madarame Ikkaku beside them raise his eyebrows, also shifting Ayasegawa Yumichika's attention from appearance to Suoh as a whole person.
"Indeed somewhat interesting."
Zaraki Kenpachi's gaze swept across Suoh's robust physique and steady demeanor.
His eyes like a beast seeking prey locked firmly onto Suoh before him.
Though the prey before him appeared somewhat immature, it didn't prevent arousing a trace of his interest.
"Zaraki Kenpachi. Kid, I'll remember you."
His single eye finally met Suoh's directly, grinning with satisfaction.
Though a smile, it showed not a hint of friendliness. Combined with the scar running vertically down his right face, he looked terrifyingly fierce.
***
30+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces