Chapter 56: That's Not How You Use Kido Reiatsu
The Second Division barracks were built high on a mountain. The quiet atmosphere was reminiscent of a temple or shrine, but the first impression it gave was much closer to the headquarters of some martial arts sect.
After passing through winding corridors and layered courtyards to the back mountain, that impression only grew stronger.
Jagged stone pillars rose everywhere, like the training ground of some reclusive master.
Especially now, with Suì Fēng standing proudly atop a sharp stone spire, the picture was complete. If someone claimed she was not a martial arts master and this was not some secret training ground, most people simply would not believe it.
"You arrived quite quickly…"
Her gaze swept over them.
"But what are those expressions? Especially you, Omaeda. You look like you are watching a comrade march bravely to his death."
"Ah? No, that… Captain, if there is nothing else, I will go work now!"
Omaeda ran off in a panic, making Suì Fēng even more suspicious that something was off.
"Takeru, did that guy badmouth me behind my back again?"
"No. He only said you seemed different. That you did not scold him even though he was slacking yesterday."
Takeru studied her from head to toe.
"But I do not see any problem. You would not get angry over something that small. That kind of restraint just shows how strong your inner self is."
"…Ah. Yes. That is right… He always makes a fuss over nothing anyway."
Suì Fēng's reaction was a little awkward, as if she was afraid he would notice something, and she quickly changed the topic.
"Enough about me. How is your Bankai progressing? If you still have not figured it out, I happen to have a method…"
"It is complete."
"Although it is a bit dangerous, Bankai training is always hard, so…"
"What?"
"I said, it is complete."
Takeru looked completely relaxed.
It was not just his expression. His whole body, from posture to breathing, gave off a quiet ease.
Suì Fēng did not make the mistake of thinking that ease meant openings or carelessness.
Because hidden beneath that calm was something else.
A Reiatsu compressed so tightly it felt soft, yet resilient, full of terrifying explosive force.
It was a captain level spiritual pressure, already stronger than it had been the day before, the kind of power that would slip past you if you were not paying close attention.
"…What happened? What did you do after you went back?"
"Nothing special. I slept. Then…"
Takeru tilted his chin slightly, enjoying the view of the stone forest around them.
"Maybe I have been saying too many arrogant things lately, so I finally got a proper night's sleep and a good dream. I dreamed of my past self, back when I was not so arrogant. That is how I remembered it."
"They say what you think of by day, you dream of at night. Seems there is some truth to that."
"…I do not think that has anything to do with it."
Suì Fēng's eyes were complicated.
"Your inner self is too strong. You looked obsessed, but in reality you were just treating it like a puzzle, thinking about it as something amusing. Otherwise, in a normal case like this… you would not be able to sleep at all."
She sounded absolutely certain, like she was stating a fact proven beyond doubt.
From the corner of his eye, Takeru took in the young woman in front of him. Her expression was composed, her stance steady… and there were faint shadows under her eyes.
He silently pretended not to notice.
"Anyway, Vice Captain Suì Fēng's words did help."
"Maybe…" She paused, then seemed to remember something. "By the way, what was the answer?"
"What answer?"
"… "
Suì Fēng narrowed her eyes. Her expression turned distinctly unfriendly.
Takeru could only sigh.
"The thing that has scared me most so far? To be honest, it is nothing profound or philosophical. It is actually a little embarrassing to say when I am fully awake."
"Oh? Not profound, not philosophical… so it is something simple, even childish?"
Suì Fēng's interest clearly spiked.
"I am getting more and more curious. Could a man like you really give an answer like 'snakes' or 'bugs' to that kind of question?"
"We can talk about it next time we drink. Do not worry, I will not lie."
"I do not mind if you lie. That might be even more entertaining."
"…Speaking of which, Vice Captain Suì Fēng mentioned earlier a method that was a bit dangerous. What exactly was that?"
Takeru looked at her calmly. With that expression, it was obvious she was already planning to visit the tavern again tonight.
"You mean that…"
Her attempt to change the subject was smooth, and effective.
Even though the method was no longer needed, Suì Fēng was still proud of her own cleverness. As soon as she brought it up, she dropped the question, clenched her fist, and let her spiritual pressure explode.
Reiatsu surged, visible currents of air wrapping tightly around her seemingly slender wrist.
Then, without warning, she drove that fist straight toward Takeru's face.
Boom.
Takeru did not dodge. He did not even blink.
Because the fist stopped perfectly at the tip of his nose.
The gale created by the compressed spiritual pressure roared past his cheeks like a speeding train. Behind him, dust erupted, and two stone pillars were sheared clean in half by the invisible shockwave, crashing down with a thunderous rumble.
He remained completely unharmed.
The display, however, was more than enough to terrify an average vice captain into freezing on the spot.
"How was it?"
Suì Fēng withdrew her fist.
She was a little disappointed that she had not seen any fear on Takeru's face, but even more eager to hear his evaluation.
"You understand what I was trying to do, right?"
"…Yes."
Takeru did understand.
Which was exactly why he was speechless.
"Captain Suì Fēng… were you planning to make me skim the edge of death so I would instinctively recall my life and drag the answer out of that?"
"What is wrong with that? You needed to recall, not think. My method fits the conditions perfectly and works for most people. It is dangerous, yes, but compared to the benefits of Bankai, I would say it is worth it."
Suì Fēng folded her arms, tilted her head slightly, and pouted.
She genuinely believed what she was saying.
Takeru silently glanced back the way they had come.
Omaeda was long gone, his large silhouette nowhere in sight.
But that bulky figure remained clear in his memory.
Good.
When the day came that Omaeda "accidentally" sacrificed himself due to non combat attrition, he would not be forgotten too quickly.
"Takeru?"
"Sorry. I was wondering if you had any other methods. Normally there should be a backup plan, right?"
"A pointless question."
Suì Fēng hopped lightly onto another stone pillar and looked down at him.
"It seems your memory really is not that good. Did I not tell you last night? I was going to show you a power that surpasses imagination."
"Although the technique is not complete yet, having you train with me would help you clear your mind, and maybe jog your memory."
"But now that you are done with Bankai, neither that gentler approach nor the more aggressive one from earlier will be used. What a… pity."
As she spoke, her hand was once again wrapped in swirling Reiatsu.
This time it was even more intense, shining with a bright white glow heavier than mere air currents. It was high density Kido reiatsu.
She did not put much strength behind it. She simply raised her hand and tapped the rock pillar beside her with the back of her knuckles, like knocking on a door.
The towering pillar, over ten meters tall and thick enough that a dozen people holding hands could barely circle it, shattered with a deafening boom.
Fragments of stone exploded outward, only to be blown away again by the Reiatsu surging from her body.
"How was it?"
She repeated the same question.
But this time her tone was sharper, uplifted.
Not just confident. Almost arrogant.
She started explaining before Takeru could even answer.
"This is my original Hakuda ultimate technique. By wrapping Kido Reiatsu around my hands and feet, I massively increase their destructive power. Even a weak woman like me can crush mountains."
"Combined with precise Shunpo and refined Hakuda, the boost in combat strength is absolutely comparable to a Zanpakuto release."
"In fact, once it is perfected, it might not be an exaggeration to say it rivals Bankai."
"And the current level you saw is not even a half finished version. It is only the tip of the iceberg."
"Right."
Takeru nodded thoughtfully.
"Your conversion rate from Reiatsu to Kido state is too low, and the compression process is not smooth enough. So the wrapping is always half a beat late, and it does not cling tightly to your hands and feet. If you punch like that, the power will definitely scatter."
"At best, you are getting a blunt impact. The ideal effect should be pinpoint detonation, with area bombardment as second best, and simple impact as the lowest tier. You are currently in that lowest tier."
"Also, your Kido Reiatsu output port is narrower than average. That is a physical trait you cannot change. But looked at another way, if you do not try to unleash too much Reiatsu in one shot and instead release it in tiny amounts at extremely high speed, you could make it as flexible and sharp as a blade."
"And your conversion efficiency is too low, which is probably because your concentration slips at crucial moments. I suggest… what is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"…?"
Suì Fēng's lips parted, but no sound came out.
She had invited him as a sparring partner so he could clear his thoughts and sharpen his techniques.
So why did it sound like she was the one getting a lecture?
"…Are the Fifth Division Kido classes under Aizen really that good? For a first year to understand the practical use of Kido Reiatsu to this extent…"
"My teacher's Kido lectures have helped me a lot, that is true. But they are not related to what I just said."
Takeru blinked.
"Forgive my rudeness, but has the Onmitsukido, or Vice Captain Suì Fēng herself, not seen the Human World combat footage in the projection room? I clearly used a technique there… the ultimate form that combines Zanjutsu and Kido. Was that not why you wanted to spar with me?"
He stared at her in genuine surprise.
Suì Fēng was just as confused.
"The projection room is not omnipotent. It cannot capture everything in detail. At best, it catches pieces of footage when your group makes a big scene."
"I have no memory of the technique you are talking about. I only know you released your Zanpakuto and wrecked the surroundings."
"During the investigation of the battlefield where you fought that Adjuchas, we did find a huge trench that looked like it had been cut by a sword. But was that not your Shikai ability?"
"…"
"…"
The two of them stared at each other, feeling like everything the other said was correct, and that something was still off anyway.
"Forget it. That is not important right now."
Suì Fēng shook her head, then fixed Takeru with a sharp gaze.
"What matters is… you just said 'ultimate form combining Zanjutsu and Kido,' correct?"
"Did I?"
Takeru frowned slightly.
Whoosh.
A fist shot straight at him like a cannonball.
This time, Takeru's body blurred and he vanished from in front of her.
Suì Fēng slammed into empty air, then braked instantly, sand skidding under her sandals. She turned and looked up at Takeru, who was now standing on top of a stone pillar with casual grace.
Her brows tightened.
"Hey, Takeru… who taught you that Shunpo?"
"I worked it out myself. If you want to learn, I can teach you, just like I was instructing you earlier."
His teasing tone made Suì Fēng let out a short, helpless laugh.
"Do you know who you are talking to? Forget it. I brought you here to fight anyway."
"Whether you want to review your life or perfect your technique, you will not get anywhere without actual combat."
"You might as well use the Bankai you just finished to familiarize yourself with how it performs."
"I cannot do that. That would be too unfair."
Takeru shook his head firmly.
Suì Fēng was about to smirk and say, "You are still far too early if you think you can beat me with Bankai," but the moment she saw Takeru's hand move to his sword hilt, every hair on her body stood on end.
Even from that distance, she felt a suffocating sense of crisis, as if a blade were pressed against her throat.
Which could only mean one thing.
If he drew that sword, that was exactly what would happen in the next instant.
"…The ultimate form that combines Zanjutsu and Kido, is it."
Suì Fēng took a slow breath, clearing her mind.
She no longer thought he was joking.
"I will have to see for myself just how unimaginable it really is."
The jagged stone forest echoed with thunderous booms.
Time passed in a blur.
In the blink of an eye, the third day before the execution arrived.
And on that day, in West Rukongai's Runrinan district, three uninvited guests appeared.
In everyone's eyes, there was only one word for them.
The "ryoka."
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