Second Division, Barracks Prison.
Takashi, escorted here by the Onmitsukidō, calmly pulled over a chair and sat down.
He looked around.
The spacious, clean room didn’t quite fit the term prison cell; it was more like an isolation room.
There were no restraints on his body to limit his movement either.
“The goal of returning to Seireitei before dawn is pretty much achieved. It would be even better if there was a soft, big bed.”
Unfortunately, there was no bed.
Takashi wasn’t sleepy yet either.
The first real battle, with his life on the line, kept his cerebral cortex in an excited state.
From another perspective, it was indeed something to be happy about.
Because after a month, the familiar ink-brush characters reappeared before his eyes.
〔Heaven help us, you led a bunch of rookies to win a rookie battle that wasn’t even at your level.
The mental effort you expended is enough to conceive a classic debut work by an amateur…〕
“???”
〔You killed the minion who tried to inherit the will of a loser, and you also made the beast of wrath, who would have served another loser in the future, forever lose the chance to meet his best friend.
Such a cold-blooded display of the Fourth Calamity’s might, the Machine Soul is greatly pleased!〕
〔You have comprehended the holy sword of a certain otherworld saint who yearned to protect his companions〕
〔Shichisen has been learned〕
〔Yuisen is being learned…〕
Takashi’s body suddenly trembled.
Despite being a spirit body, he still felt a mysterious power surge into the depths of his soul.
His brain roared, as if undergoing a storm’s baptism.
Perhaps it was a storm of inspiration; in a daze, a sudden realization surged into his mind.
He subconsciously wanted to reach for his sword hilt, but his hand grabbed empty air at his waist.
His Zanpakutō had been taken by the guards when he entered.
Otherwise…
this room might have already been obliterated.
A moment later, Takashi slowly relaxed his body, and his eyes regained their clarity.
“Just as I expected, the bigger the waves, the more precious the fish.”
To directly fight a Menos Grande within half a year of entering the Spirit Arts Academy was undoubtedly a rather special achievement and event.
There was no reason for the Machine Soul to remain silent.
Now the rewards had come, proving that Takashi’s approach was correct.
“But wouldn’t that force me onto the path of a thrill-seeker or a battle maniac? I’m an honest person.”
If the Eleventh Division members heard this, they would surely weep tears of envy, jealousy, and hatred.
After all, except for the Fourth Division, which was strictly forbidden from the front lines, what Shinigami wasn’t constantly treading on a knife’s edge, unable to avoid battle?
Takashi quickly focused his attention on the two ultimate techniques he had just comprehended through effort and a flash of inspiration.
The Soul Society is the Eastern Branch, and the Dragon’s Blood from fairy tales comes from the Western Branch in Europe.
There, magic is more prevalent than Zanpakutō, hand-to-hand combat, movement, and Kidō.
Essentially, it’s no different from Kidō; both are sorcery.
And while Shichisen and Yuisen appear to be sword techniques at first glance, they are actually magic.
Kidō spiritual pressure is compressed to an invisible state, capable of being stretched and extended into a thread-like form at any time, then combined with the action of drawing a sword, it’s propelled out at supersonic speed like a whipping long lash.
There are seven of them.
In short, it is a Kidō that instantly slays an enemy seven times with seven Kidō threads.
This is the Shichisen that Takashi comprehended.
It’s worth noting that Kidō threads are pure spiritual pressure products that have not undergone qualitative change and transformed into spell formulas, so they are excellent as ready-made materials for casting spells.
Takashi could even imagine a certain scene.
When an enemy, having anticipated the trick, prepares to defend, the propelled Kidō threads suddenly transform into seven Kidō with different effects, catching the enemy off guard, or the same Kidō stack together, directly and unreasonably engulfing them…
If a sword master knew, they would probably exclaim, “No! This is too un-swordsman-like!”
As for Yuisen.
The Machine Soul indicated it was still learning, meaning it hadn’t been fully mastered yet.
The reason is also simple.
Takashi knew too few Kidō.
Just as Aizen, even without incantation, could only release a Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi with less than a third of its power.
The power of Yuisen depends on the number and mastery of learned Kidō; merely having strong spiritual pressure is not enough to unleash its true power.
It falls within the category of conceptual skills.
Both of these moves were a bit different from the versions Takashi knew, but he felt that this was right, after all, the worldviews were different.
Moreover, didn’t the Machine Soul say that he comprehended them himself?
Some differences were to be expected!
One day, he might point a finger casually.
Others would cast White Lightning.
It would be white.
But his would be green.
That wouldn’t be strange at all.
…
“Captain! Captain! That… this matter has nothing to do with them. They’re just a few students; just send them away. Let’s focus on investigating that woman from the Shiba family. I think she might be involved in this! She’s highly suspicious. How about you let me interrogate those students, and Captain, you go deal with that woman.”
Soi Fon walked quickly through the Division barracks corridor, with Ōmaeda trailing behind her, trying to persuade her with a fawning smile, carefully, yet righteously, not to make a big fuss.
At least, don’t be so serious with those kids.
If there’s anything, just go after that obnoxious woman.
Anyway, the Shiba family is known for their stubbornness, so isn’t it a perfect match for the Second Division?
However, Soi Fon’s attitude remained as cold and hard as ever.
“No, no… Captain, didn’t I explain the whole situation clearly? What do those kids know? I think we should just let them go, otherwise, the Spirit Arts Academy will definitely cause trouble.”
It would have been better if he hadn’t mentioned it.
The moment he did, Soi Fon became even angrier.
She stopped at the cell door of the barracks where Takashi was, glaring at Ōmaeda.
“The bodies of the missing students haven’t been found yet, and there are many suspicious points. Most crucially, you actually believe the enemy’s one-sided story. If the goal of devouring Zanpakutō is true, then do you know how long the enemy has been lurking in Rukongai, and how many accomplices they have?”
“You want me to hastily close this case and write a report of less than two hundred words about a highly dangerous Captain-level enemy’s elaborate plot against the Seireitei, and hand it to the Captain-Commander?”
“If you have this much free time, you might as well quickly take people to Junrin’an and continue the secret investigation. Arrest and interrogate all suspicious individuals to prevent them from escaping to other areas.”
When Soi Fon spoke, it was like a machine gun, spraying Ōmaeda until he couldn’t lift his head.
In the end, he could only flee in disarray.
“Incompetent…”
Soi Fon took a deep breath and ordered the guard.
“Open the door.”
“Yes!”
The guard tremblingly opened the door.
Soi Fon stepped in with her head held high, her pure white Captain’s haori accentuating her petite figure, making her appear full of dignity, with a chilling frost in her cold, beautiful eyebrows that kept people at a distance.
Her entire aura was like the short sword at her waist, slender and sharp.
As for her impression, it was as if she was covered in invisible thorns, never showing a pleasant face to anyone, making people not want to get close, let alone dare to get too close.
Hearing the footsteps, Takashi temporarily put down his research on new moves, raised his head, and looked at the newcomer.
“Shinomiya Takashi, first-year student of the Spirit Arts Academy, came to the Soul Society through soul burial by Thirteenth Division member Kuchiki Rukia, and it has been over a month since then.”
Soi Fon looked deeply at Takashi.
“To be able to contend with an Adjuchas in such a short time shows that your combat skills are excellent, and you are not merely a beginner whose only strong point is spiritual power.”
“Furthermore, unlike that orange-haired brat who kept complaining and feeling wronged, you didn’t say a word on the way back to the Seireitei. I presume you’ve already guessed my intentions.”
“So I won’t waste any more words. Tell me everything you know, and then you can leave.”
“Is that all?”
Takashi seemed puzzled.
Soi Fon scoffed coldly: “Otherwise? Do you expect me to rely on you to investigate the case? Being good at fighting and investigating incidents are two different things. Sometimes it looks like going to Rukongai to play, but in one trip, one can find the culprit’s hideout. The methods involved are beyond the imagination of a kid like you who is still taking classes.”
“Captain Soi Fon has a lot of experience.”
Takashi said it with every appearance of reverence.
“Of course, who do you think is standing before you right now?”
For some reason, Soi Fon’s expression was a little unnatural.
“The Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō, Captain of the Second Division, a super elite who holds two positions and is one of the top combat powers of the Gotei 13, a benchmark for the younger generation, and the spiritual leader of female Shinigami?”
“…It’s good that you know. Also, say such things less in the future. Benchmark, leader, and so on, while true, as a member of the Onmitsukidō, one must always maintain a low-key demeanor.”
“I’ve learned a lot. I believe that with Captain Soi Fon’s abilities, no culprit will be able to hide. I will now report all the information I know.”
Takashi’s serious expression and sincere words greatly improved Soi Fon’s somewhat irritated mood, and her gaze towards him gradually cleared.