"Understood."
Byakuya nodded and accepted the Quinque from the instructor.
It was a white dagger with an unusual texture—noticeably heavier than an ordinary blade.
Quinques weren't made from standard materials. Besides ghoul kagune and kakuhou, they incorporated specialized components like Quinque Steel, a memory-alloy metal.
[Ding! Host has used a Quinque for the first time. Reward: 1 Fusion Point!]
The instructor hadn't specified how to use the dagger, so Byakuya relied on his own combat instincts.
His first thought was to treat it like a kunai—suitable for both close-quarters combat and ranged throwing.
Having fused with Uchiha Madara's taijutsu, Byakuya had inherited Madara's mastery of kunai techniques as well.
Without hesitation, he hurled the "Hiruko 1/76" toward a large boulder in the distance.
With Madara's abilities backing him, throwing a dagger was effortless.
His form was flawless, and his accuracy was pinpoint.
The dagger struck the boulder dead-center.
Since Quinques were forged from kagune, they possessed power and durability on par with ghoul predatory organs.
Combined with Byakuya's considerable strength, the impact shattered the boulder completely—more devastating than a regular bullet.
And that made sense. Ordinary bullets were useless against ghouls, but Quinques could inflict real damage.
The combat instructor's eyebrows shot up.
The other trainees stood slack-jawed.
Kurona clicked her tongue softly. Watching Byakuya's performance, she already knew: today, she and Nashiro would be overshadowed by him yet again.
"Kurona, he really is impressive," Nashiro murmured, her expression neutral. "To do that on his first time using a Quinque..."
"I'll admit he's strong in this area," Kurona replied coolly. "But these aren't the only things that determine final rankings."
"You've trained with daggers before, haven't you?"
The instructor's voice carried a note of admiration.
"Yes. I've practiced with similar weapons."
Byakuya nodded.
He'd inherited Madara's abilities, so anything Madara had trained in was essentially part of his own experience now.
Otherwise, explaining his textbook-perfect technique would be impossible—raw talent alone couldn't account for it.
"Excellent. Your skills are truly exceptional."
The instructor praised him openly.
Even someone experienced with daggers would struggle on their first attempt with a Quinque. The weight was different, the handling was different—anyone would need time to adjust.
Yet Byakuya had performed flawlessly on his very first try. He was undeniably gifted.
For the rest of the session, trainees practiced throwing daggers at targets and striking air or wooden dummies.
Sparring was off the table—Quinques were too dangerous. Using them in live combat exercises risked serious injury to inexperienced trainees.
Byakuya excelled in every drill, whether close combat or ranged throws, thanks to Madara's inherited abilities.
As the class wound down, Byakuya approached the instructor. "Sir, would it be possible for me to keep this Quinque? The 'Hiruko 1/76' feels really natural in my hand—I'd like to hold onto it."
His goal was simple: obtain a Quinque of his own.
The instructor scratched his head. "That's not permitted under the rules. Trainees can only use Quinques during class. Outside of that, they're generally off-limits."
"I see."
Byakuya wasn't surprised. He'd only been testing the waters.
After all, even active CCG investigators didn't automatically qualify for Quinques—not everyone had clearance to carry one.
Seeing Byakuya's interest, the instructor—who'd already been paying close attention to him—gave the matter some thought. "There might be one way. During field internships, trainees are temporarily issued Quinques. But internships are dangerous, so first-years aren't usually recommended for them."
"Internships? You mean fighting ghouls?"
Byakuya asked.
"Exactly. Every trainee must complete an internship before graduation. You'd be accompanied by experienced investigators, so it's not as terrifying as it sounds."
The instructor elaborated.
"Could I start my internship early, even as a new student?"
Byakuya pressed.
The sooner he completed an internship, the faster he could join the CCG officially.
"That's allowed. The two-year program isn't a strict requirement. If you demonstrate real combat capability against ghouls, you can graduate early and become a full investigator. The internship rules are flexible."
The instructor then added something off-topic: "There are prodigies within the CCG who never trained at the Academy at all. Some of them are so strong they barely seem human..."
"I understand."
Byakuya nodded without comment.
He knew immediately who the instructor meant—the half-humans from Sunlit Garden.
Half-humans possessed physical abilities far superior to ordinary humans. The strongest among them, like Kishou Arima, were virtually invincible. The trade-off was a drastically shortened lifespan—only half or even a third of a normal human's.
But the CCG's human members didn't know those "prodigies" were actually half-humans.
"If possible, I'd like to begin my internship soon."
Byakuya stated his intentions clearly.
The instructor's expression grew serious. "As long as you've thought it through, there's no problem. There's actually an internship batch opening soon. If I remember correctly, the assignment involves accompanying Special Class Arima on a mission to Ward 24."
"Special Class Arima?"
Byakuya was mildly surprised. He hadn't expected to encounter Kishou Arima this quickly.
The instructor nodded, reverence evident in his eyes. "That's right—the 'White Reaper,' the 'Undefeated Ghoul Investigator,' Kishou Arima himself. An internship under his supervision would be significantly safer."