Time flew quickly, and in the blink of an eye, four years had passed.
It had now been fourteen years since Kurotsuki Renya joined the Onmitsukidō, and he was twenty-eight years old in appearance—though his youthful face still made him look more like a boy than a grown man.
Standing beside Captain Sui-Feng, who barely stood over 1.5 meters, his height suited her. Yet Renya often felt dissatisfied. He thought of how he wanted to embrace her properly, to protect her. But with her overwhelming strength and skill, she was hardly someone who needed protection. If he tried, she'd probably punish him so severely that he'd be bedridden for weeks.
Still, Renya knew he needed to seek an opportunity—perhaps in the Dangai (Precipice World)—to accelerate his physical growth and finally shed his boyish frame.
What frustrated him most was not his height, but his relationship with Sui-Feng. After that night beneath the fireworks, after holding her hand, he had expected their bond to deepen. But instead, Sui-Feng had grown distant, her usual composure strained by rumors spreading throughout Seireitei. With her pride and stubbornness, she reacted with coldness and a sharp tongue, keeping Renya at arm's length.
It was classic tsundere behavior—bluntness and pride to conceal genuine affection.
But how does one conquer such a wall of pride? Renya had no clue.
⸻
"I told you, don't bring me flowers anymore! I don't like them!"
Sui-Feng's voice was sharp, her face colored with irritation as Renya stood before her, a bouquet in his hands.
Renya tilted his head, unbothered. "Then… what about this one? Should I throw it away?"
Sui-Feng snatched it, her brows furrowed. "Tch. I already told you, since you bought it, just leave it there. It would be wasteful otherwise. But listen carefully—don't ever buy them again!"
Renya's lips curved into a faint smile. "I'll remember that."
She waved him off impatiently. "Enough. Leave. You're a nuisance just standing there."
Renya bowed slightly and left her office. Once outside, he chuckled to himself. She says no, but still accepts them every time…
The task was complete. Every week, without fail, he delivered flowers to her. It had been Captain Kyōraku Shunsui who suggested it, insisting that flowers were the fastest way to soften a woman's heart. Shunsui had even bragged about his bestselling book The Rosy Path, claiming expertise in romance.
Still, Renya had his doubts. Captain Shunsui, weren't you hopelessly in love with Lady Nanao for decades? And in your past life, you weren't exactly loyal either…
Shaking his head, Renya moved on to his next routine. That afternoon, he made his way to Reifu Mountain for training.
⸻
Renya's schedule was strict. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays were dedicated to direct sparring under Captain Sui-Feng. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays were reserved for solitary training at Reifu Mountain. Occasionally, Lieutenant Shiba Kaien would join him with a sake jug, and the two would drink together after training.
As Renya stepped out of the barracks, a shadow loomed over him.
"Oi, brat. What a coincidence. How about a spar?"
Standing there was none other than Zaraki Kenpachi, his jagged grin and bloodlust unmistakable.
Renya's eyes widened, and in the next heartbeat, he vanished with Shunpo.
"Che. Cowardly little bastard," Kenpachi muttered, scratching his head before stomping off.
Renya knew better. Kenpachi fought without restraint—every duel was to the brink of death. Even if Renya unleashed all his thunder techniques, he doubted he could endure more than three strikes. Best not to tempt fate.
⸻
Arriving at Reifu Mountain, Renya looked around.
Kaien isn't here today.
He took position and drew his Zanpakutō, chanting softly:
"Fall from the heavens… Tenrai Banrai."
Dark clouds swirled overhead, thunder crackling. A bolt struck the earth, reshaping into a gleaming spear of lightning in his hand.
Renya exhaled, pushing his reiatsu outward to stabilize the storm. Then he swung.
BOOM.
The spear roared, releasing a dragon of lightning that spiraled through the sky before detonating in a thunderous explosion. The shockwave carved a crater into the mountainside.
This was his Thunder Shaping: Thunder Dragon Form.
Over the past four years, Renya's control over his element had refined immensely. He could mold lightning into beasts, spears, or even wings. But maintaining these constructs drained vast amounts of spiritual energy. Compared to high-level Hadō such as Hadō #88: Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō (Flying Dragon-Striking Heaven-Shaking Thunder Cannon), his creations were inefficient. That Kidō, with full incantation, struck harder while consuming less reiatsu.
Still, Renya had mastered it to a frightening degree. He could now cast seven full-power Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō in succession, each devastating enough to cripple even most captain-class opponents. Only monsters like Zaraki Kenpachi could withstand it.
Yet his reiatsu still hadn't reached the level of the Gotei 13's strongest. He needed another four to six years before closing that gap.
But power wasn't everything. His lightning constructs had versatility and flair. Against an opponent, he could dazzle, overwhelm, and corner them with sheer unpredictability.
⸻
Renya extended his arm, summoning a flock of Thunderbirds. They screeched, scattering in all directions before colliding mid-air. The resulting explosion lit the sky like a miniature sun.
This was his refined Raijū (Thunder Beast) Chidori—swift, piercing, and adaptable. Even once released, he could redirect their flight paths, striking from impossible angles. Combined with close-quarters combat, it was a deadly art.
He conjured another spear but didn't release it, wary of causing further destruction to the mountain. His condensed lightning spears could detonate with tremendous force, though they lacked the absolute piercing trajectory of Kidō.
Then, in his left hand, he formed something smaller—no longer than an inch. It hummed with violent energy before vanishing in a flash.
A second later, a distant peak was ripped open by a deep black cavity.
This was his Instant Railgun—a compact electromagnetic projectile capable of Mach 3 speeds. Though weaker than his fully charged railgun, which reached eleven times the speed of sound, its near-instantaneous release made it perfect for battle.
With his Thunder Wings, enhanced Shunpo, and relentless training, Renya could now spar evenly with Captain Sui-Feng whenever his Bankai was active. His stamina and extended Bankai duration placed him firmly in the mid-tier of captain-level combatants.
But he knew well—he was still far beneath the likes of Sōsuke Aizen, who had stopped Ichigo's Bankai with a single hand, felled Komamura effortlessly, and humiliated multiple captains. Against such transcendent power, Renya admitted, he would be slain instantly.
Still, he trained tirelessly, honing his control. Every strike, every construct, every bolt of lightning pushed his spiritual power further.
⸻
Just as he paused to catch his breath, a soft voice came from behind.
"Renya…?"
His head snapped around, recognizing it instantly.
"Kaien-dono?"
But before he could react further, a massive white fist materialized in his vision.
BOOM!
The blow sent Renya flying, smashing him into the mountainside in an explosion of rubble.
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