2nd Division, Barracks Prison.
Shigū Takeru, having been escorted here by the Onmitsukidō, calmly pulled over a chair and sat down.
He surveyed his surroundings.
The empty, clean room didn't much resemble a "prison cell." It was more like a confinement room.
He had no restraints on him.
"Well, I achieved my goal of getting back to the Seireitei before dawn. It would be even better if there was a soft bed."
Alas, there was no bed.
And Takeru wasn't sleepy. His cerebral cortex was still buzzing from the first real-life battle he'd ever had.
On another level, he had good reason to be happy.
After a month, the familiar ink-wash text had finally appeared before his eyes again.
[By some miracle, you led a bunch of rookies to victory in a battle far above your weight class. The brainpower you expended was enough to plot out a classic amateur-to-pro debut work...]
"???"
[You murdered the lackey of a would-be inheritor of a failure, and you have forever denied the Beast of Anger, who would have served another failure, the chance to meet his best friend. Such a cold-blooded display of a 'Fourth Calamity's' power... The Machine Spirit is delighted!]
[You have comprehended the blade of a certain Saint from another world who yearned to protect his companions—]
[「Seven Flashes」 has been acquired.]
[「Solitary Flash」 is being learned...]
Shigū Takeru's body jolted.
Even as a spirit, he felt a mysterious power flood the depths of his soul.
His mind roared as if being baptized by a storm.
Perhaps it was a storm of inspiration. A sudden clarity, a profound understanding, washed over him.
He instinctively reached for his sword hilt, but his hand grasped empty air.
The guard at the door had confiscated his Zanpakutō when he entered.
Otherwise... this room might have already ceased to exist.
A moment later, Takeru slowly relaxed, his eyes regaining their clarity.
"Just as I expected. The bigger the storm, the more valuable the fish."
To have a real, life-or-death battle with a mid-level Grand Hollow less than half a year after entering the Academy was undoubtedly a "special" achievement and event. There was no way the [Machine Spirit] would stay silent.
The reward was here, and it proved Takeru's line of thinking was correct.
"But in that case, isn't this just forcing me down the path of a thrill-seeker or a battle maniac? I'm supposed to be the honest, quiet one."
If anyone from the 11th Division heard that, they would cry tears of blood from envy and hatred.
Even members of other divisions would be green with envy.
After all, besides the 4th Division, which was strictly forbidden from the front lines, what Shinigami wasn't walking on the edge of a blade every day? Battle was unavoidable.
Takeru quickly focused his attention on the two new ultimate skills he had "comprehended" through hard work and a flash of inspiration.
The Soul Society was the "East Branch." His Fairytale Dragon's Blood came from Europe's "West Branch."
What was popular over there wasn't Zan-Ken-Sō-Ki (Swords, Fists, Flash, Kido), but magic.
In essence, it was no different from Kido. It was all spellcraft.
And 「Seven Flashes」 and 「Solitary Flash」, while they looked like sword techniques, were actually magic.
It was a technique that compressed Kido Reiatsu to a point invisible to the naked eye, ready to be extended into a thread-like form. Combined with the motion of drawing a sword, it shot out at supersonic speeds, like the crack of a whip.
And there were seven of them.
In short, it was a "Kido" that used seven Kido-threads to instantly slay an enemy seven times.
This was the 「Seven Flashes」 that Takeru had comprehended.
It was worth noting—
The Kido-threads were a product of pure spiritual pressure, not yet converted into a formal spell. This made them excellent raw material for casting other spells.
Takeru could even picture it.
Just as an enemy, knowing the trick, prepared to defend... the seven Kido-threads would suddenly transform into seven different Kido spells, catching the enemy completely off guard. Or, they could all stack into the same spell and simply annihilate the target...
If his Kendo master ever saw it, he would probably shout, "No! That's not Kendo at all!"
As for 「Solitary Flash」...
The [Machine Spirit] had indicated it was "being learned," meaning he hadn't fully mastered it.
The reason was simple.
Takeru knew far too few Kido spells.
Just as Aizen, when discarding an incantation, could only unleash a Hadō #90 with less than a third of its power, the power of 「Solitary Flash」 was determined by the quantity and mastery of Kido spells one knew. Merely having strong Reiatsu was not enough to unleash its true potential.
It was a conceptual skill.
Both skills were different from the "versions" Takeru was familiar with, but he felt that was correct. After all, the worldviews were different. Besides, hadn't the [Machine Spirit] said he had "comprehended" them himself? It was only logical there would be some differences!
One day, he'd casually point his finger.
Others would cast "Byakurai" (White Lightning).
It would be white.
His... might be green.
And it wouldn't even be strange.
...
"Captain! Captain! That is... it has nothing to do with them! They're just a few Academy students! Just send them on their way! We should be focusing on that woman from the Shiba family! I think she's definitely involved! She's the suspicious one! How about... how about you let me interrogate the students, and you go deal with that woman?"
Soi Fon strode down the barracks hallway, Ōmaeda trailing behind her, wearing a fawning smile as he tried to cautiously, yet righteously, persuade her not to make a big deal of this.
At least don't take it out on those kids. If you have a problem, take it out on that damn woman. Everyone knows the Shiba family is stubborn as hell. It's a match made in heaven, right?
However, Soi Fon's attitude was as cold as ever.
"Shiba Kūkaku will be dealt with last. These students are a more suitable starting point for breaking the case."
"No, that's not... Captain, didn't I explain everything? What could those brats possibly know? I think we should just let them go. Otherwise, the Academy will definitely complain."
He shouldn't have said that. Soi Fon only got angrier. She stopped at the door to Takeru's cell and glared at Ōmaeda.
"We still haven't found the bodies of the missing students. There are still too many suspicious elements. Most importantly, how could you believe the enemy's one-sided story? If 'devouring Zanpakutō' is its real motive, do you have any idea how long it's been lurking in the Rukongai, or how many accomplices it has?"
"Do you want me to just close the case, and write up the conspiracy of a highly dangerous, Captain-level enemy plotting against the Seireitei in a report of less than two hundred words for the Captain-Commander?"
"If you have this much free time, you should be leading your men back to Junrinan to continue the investigation! Arrest anyone suspicious for interrogation before they escape to other districts!"
Soi Fon's words came out like machine-gun fire, spraying Ōmaeda so hard he couldn't even lift his head. In the end, he could only flee in disgrace.
"Useless..."
Soi Fon took a deep breath and ordered the guard, "Open the door."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The guard tremblingly opened the door.
Soi Fon strode in, her chin high. The pure white Captain's haori made her petite figure seem all the more imposing. Her cold, beautiful features were frosty, pushing everyone away.
Her entire aura was like the short-sword at her waist: slender and sharp.
Her impression was that of someone covered in invisible thorns, who had a harsh word for everyone, making no one want to get close.
Hearing footsteps, Takeru paused his research and looked up.
"Shigū Takeru. Shin'ō Academy, First-Year. Sent to the Soul Society via Konso by 13th Division member, Kuchiki Rukia. It has been just over a month."
Soi Fon stared at Takeru.
"To be able to fight a Grand Hollow in such a short time... your combat skills are outstanding. You're not just some beginner with high spiritual power."
"Also, unlike that orange-haired brat who keeps whining about being wronged, you were silent the entire way back. You must have already guessed my intentions."
"So, I won't waste words. Tell me everything you know, and then you can go."
"Is that all?" Takeru asked, feigning confusion.
Soi Fon scoffed. "What else? Did you expect me to ask you to help me with the investigation? Being good at fighting and being good at investigating are two different things. Sometimes, it may look like I'm just playing in the Rukongai, but on that one 'trip,' I can find the enemy's stronghold. The methods involved are beyond what a student like you can imagine."
"Captain Soi Fon, you sound very experienced," Takeru said with "deep respect."
"Naturally. Who do you think is standing in front of you?"
For some reason, a flicker of uncertainty crossed Soi Fon's face.
"The Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō, Captain of the 2nd Division, the super-elite who holds two of the highest posts in the Gotei 13, the benchmark for the new generation, and the spiritual leader of all female Shinigami?"
"...Good that you know. And, less of that in the future. 'Benchmark,' 'leader'... while it's true, as a member of the Onmitsukidō, one must always maintain a low-key profile."
"I stand corrected. I trust that with Captain Soi Fon's abilities, the culprit will have nowhere to hide. I will now report all the information I have."
Takeru's serious expression and sincere words greatly improved Soi Fon's sour mood. Her gaze, as she looked at him, gradually cleared.
-------
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