Ten whole days had passed.
Gion had tried every method imaginable to teach Sean swordsmanship. She had been more diligent in her teaching than she had ever been in her entire life.
But the result...
Gion had completely thrown in the towel.
She had finally discovered that Sean didn't lack the ability to control Sword Energy—it was that this guy simply had no Sword Energy at all!
He was an absolute anomaly.
However, she didn't realize that Sean had actually made significant gains over these ten days. He discovered that by training the way Gion taught him, although he could never manifest Sword Energy, his Reiryoku was skyrocketing.
He even began to suspect the real reason he couldn't develop Sword Energy was... because it was all being automatically converted into Reiryoku.
After ten days, Sean checked his attributes.
[Sean Campbell]
[Zanjutsu: Lv.4 (1750/2000)]
[Hakuda: Lv.3 (750/1000)]
[Hohō: Lv.4 (880/2000)]
[Kidō: Lv.3 (150/1000)]
[Reiryoku: 5980]
[Physique: 1247]
[Zanpakutō: Hekireki (Shikai achieved)]
While this was partly due to two massive experience multipliers he had received recently, at this rate, he would easily hit 10,000 Reiryoku within a month.
Reiryoku wasn't just for unleashing the ultimate moves of a Zanpakutō. Even the four basic arts of a Shinigami—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō—relied on Reiryoku to function. Given the same level of proficiency, the amount of Reiryoku and the strength of one's Reiatsu determined the power of these basic skills.
Most importantly, after achieving Shikai, a Shinigami's Reiatsu could be increased by two to three times, depending on the specific Zanpakutō. In other words, once Sean activated Shikai in actual combat, the power of his Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō would be further amplified.
If he could eventually achieve Bankai, his Reiatsu could potentially increase by at least ten times.
Thus, the power system of a Shinigami rested on two main pillars. One was the foundation: Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō. The other was the release of the Zanpakutō, using Shikai and Bankai to drastically amplify the Shinigami's Reiatsu.
Of course, beyond the Reiatsu boost, releasing a Zanpakutō granted various unique abilities. In that regard, it was somewhat similar to the Devil Fruits.
A standard Devil Fruit power was akin to a Zanpakutō's Shikai, while an Awakened state was like Bankai.
'If I were to eat the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, what would happen? Would one plus one be greater than two? Or would one plus one still just equal one?'
Sean didn't have the answer. Besides, it seemed a bit too late to think about that now. Based on the timeline, Enel had already eaten the Rumble-Rumble Fruit about two years ago. Even if he went to kill him, the probability of obtaining the fruit was extremely low.
'Sigh, who told me to spend three years on a deserted island? Otherwise, I could have intercepted Enel.'
'Or maybe I can find a way to trick the information out of Blackbeard regarding how to steal fruits, and then give it a try?'
Resting his chin in his hand, Sean sank into deep thought.
"What are you thinking about? Get up and keep going!"
"Vice Admiral Gion, I really think we should stop training Sword Energy. I feel like I'll never be able to manifest it in my entire life!"
"Is that something to be proud of, you brat?"
"Of course not. I'm just thinking that since I can unleash the same flying slashes without relying on Sword Energy, it's really unnecessary..."
"Fine, whatever. Just move back to the training camp dorms today!" Gion waved her hand, speechless. This guy was too weird; she was truly at her wit's end.
'Wait!! Move back?'
The conditions there were crude, and it certainly wasn't as comfortable as here. Why move back when he could wake up every day with the beautiful sight of Gion?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
"Vice Admiral Gion, I feel that as a swordsman, it's simply unacceptable to lack Sword Energy! Please continue to guide me!"
"Heh!" Gion let out a cold sneer.
Did she not know exactly what he was thinking? Over the last ten days, if she hadn't been careful, she didn't know how many times Sean would have "accidentally" stumbled into her bathroom or bedroom due to some "unavoidable incident."
The idea of him continuing to loiter here was out of the question!
"Are you moving or not?"
"I'm not moving! I'll die before I move!"
"Then just go ahead and die!"
'Clang!!!'
'Hiss...'
This woman actually drew her sword! She was ruthless! Sean's eyes widened in shock.
Just then...
"Gion, what on earth are you two doing?"
"Sister Tsuru!" Sean exclaimed.
Hearing the voice, Gion immediately sheathed her blade. Sean also stepped forward to greet her. Tsuru visited every two or three days, and Sean had become quite familiar with her—he even had the nerve to call her "Sister Tsuru," just like Gion did.
As for why he called her that, Sean argued that since Sister Tsuru was so young and beautiful, how could he possibly call her "Grandmother"?
Gion actually found it hard to refute... She couldn't exactly come out and say that Tsuru was actually quite old and that her beauty had faded. Consequently, the habit had stuck.
"You little rascal, you certainly have the sweetest tongue in all of Headquarters!"
"Hehe, I'm just an honest man telling the truth!"
"Hah, honest? If you're honest, then there's no such thing as a dishonest person in this world!" Gion glared at him.
"Alright, stop bickering, you two. Gion, there's something I forgot to tell you."
"Sister Tsuru, what is it?"
"Recently, you two have been the subject of quite a few rumors here at Headquarters. You're probably aware of that?"
"Let them talk. It doesn't affect me anyway," Gion said indifferently.
"I figured you'd say that. However, it seems someone told Vice Admiral Tokikake at the G1 Branch. That man didn't even wait for Akainu's approval before rushing off, and he's currently refusing to answer any phone calls."
"News just came in that Tokikake's warship has been spotted near the G8 Branch. Based on the distance, he should arrive at Headquarters in about seven or eight days."
As she spoke, Tsuru glanced at Sean.
"Sean, Tokikake's return won't affect Gion, but for you..."
"Vice Admiral Tokikake? You mean the legendary simp of the Marine? The one who spends all his time following Vice Admiral Gion around like a dog?"
The room fell instantly silent for a full ten seconds.
Gion was certain that if she had been drinking water just then, she would have spat it right in Sean's face.
A simp?
And he even used "one" as the unit of measure to describe Tokikake?
You've really got something, Sean...
Still, she loved that description! After all, that guy really was quite repulsive.
"Sean, Tokikake is a Marine Vice Admiral, after all. Like Gion, he is a candidate for Admiral. The way you put it..."
"Sister Tsuru, there is no way he'll ever become an Admiral!"
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Because a simp like him will just keep simping until he's left with absolutely nothing!"