On the high platform, the sunlight was a bit harsh, making it hard to keep one's eyes open.
The two faced each other. It was Kojiro who spoke first:
"I didn't think this day would come so soon — and I never expected that the one standing opposite me… would be you."
Hearing this, Asano Kiyoshi just gave a faint smile and replied:
"Who knows."
As he spoke, spiritual energy surged around Asano Kiyoshi. On the scroll, Kojiro's current stats appeared:
Name: Tsunayashiro Kojiro
Special Status: Sacrifice
Zanjutsu (Swordsmanship): 47 (One-on-one sword training has greatly improved his technique, and the immense strength of his physical spiritual pressure means every strike can cleave through steel.)
Hakuda (Hand-to-hand combat): 48 (In this special state, his spiritual pressure is fully unleashed, greatly enhancing his physical power.)
Reiatsu (Spiritual Pressure): 50 (Having sacrificed everything, Kojiro's soul is completely burned out, and the release of his spiritual pressure shatters the limits of his body!)
Shunpo (Flash Step): 50 (He has abandoned everything, burning out his soul for a single moment of brilliance!)
Reiatsu Rank: Fifth-class Reiatsu (An imperfectly beautiful flower, but one that has compressed its entire blooming season into an instant of ultimate brilliance, blossoming for just one person!)
Overall Evaluation: 197 (Do you understand the meaning of sacrifice? To cast away everything, abandon it all, for a single instant of radiance — like fireworks piercing the night sky, destined to fall into silence again, but that one explosion will light up the darkness for a moment!)
Looking at Kojiro's stats, Asano Kiyoshi felt a faint sense of foreboding. That half-white hair seemed to foreshadow something. In Kojiro's eyes, there was now a new glimmer — he would burn himself up completely for that thing!
Seeing this, Asano Kiyoshi didn't hesitate. He would give his all to crush Kojiro. That was all there was to it!
Kojiro had his convictions — and so did he.
This was a real world, after all. People fought for their obsessions, fell for their obsessions, died for their obsessions, and blossomed for their obsessions.
No one was special. He never believed he was the protagonist.
All he could do was fight with everything he had to defeat his opponent. That was all!
Then, the two drew their swords at the same time, almost simultaneously chanting their release incantations:
"Scatter like the light of heaven — Yomi!"
"Unlock everything — Kenso!"
Amid the inky spiritual pressure, an ancient scroll appeared at Asano Kiyoshi's side. His shihakusho further transformed; red and black garments wrapped in spiritual energy, appearing extraordinarily regal.
As for Kojiro, after his release, his entire sword changed dramatically — the hilt disappeared, transforming into a silver-white chain that wrapped around his right arm, while the blade became a slender short sword, barely the length of a dagger.
Seeing that oddly shaped release, Asano Kiyoshi didn't dare be careless. Same strategy as always: the opponent's panel was higher than his, so he had to create distance and probe Kojiro's attacks and abilities.
After all, this wasn't a manga — there was no way the enemy would pause mid-battle to explain all their abilities.
Seeing Kojiro still standing there motionless, Asano Kiyoshi didn't hesitate at all — he immediately used the highest-level Bakudo he could manage:
"Bakudo #61 — Rikujokoro!"
Six rods of light instantly pinned Kojiro in place! Upon those pure beams of light flickered an ominous, inky spiritual pressure.
Seeing this, Ise Nanao, standing behind Kyoraku Shunsui, was stunned and muttered:
"You're kidding me?! A student who hasn't even graduated yet just cast a level 61 Bakudo without an incantation?!"
Seeing his vice-captain like this, Kyoraku gave a helpless smile, handed Nanao a cup of tea, and said:
"Don't be too surprised — the real show is just beginning."
Nanao wasn't the only one reacting this way. When Rikujokoro came out, the entire crowd fell into brief silence — and then erupted in a wave of cheers!
But that wasn't the end!
After the six beams appeared, Asano Kiyoshi didn't stop chanting:
"Carriage of thunder, gap of spinning wheels — split this light into six!"
As his words fell, the glow on the six rods expanded more than twice their original size — each rod now about the size of Kojiro himself!
Seeing those terrifying rods, even Kuchiki Byakuya's perpetually icy expression wavered with a flicker of shock and confusion.
As someone who frequently used this spell, Byakuya could clearly sense the spiritual pressure Asano Kiyoshi was pouring into it. But that was exactly what confused him — with that level of spiritual pressure, it should've been impossible to bind someone so strongly.
Moreover, that level of control — wasting not a single spirit particle — was that something a person could even do?
And then, seeing Asano Kiyoshi continuing the post-incantation chant after casting Rikujokoro, Byakuya's expression was nearly cracking.
What is up with this guy?!
The post-incantation for Rikujokoro was incredibly difficult — it often took longer than just recasting the spell!
So most people would just use a different Bakudo for multi-layered binding rather than waste time and energy on the post-incantation.
But this common sense had completely collapsed in front of Asano Kiyoshi!
This kid uses the post-incantation like it's child's play?!
He just chants it out? Doesn't he care about the stability of the spirit particles? The output? The arrangement? Is he reciting poetry over there?!
For a moment, Byakuya genuinely thought Asano Kiyoshi was bluffing.
But the suddenly lengthened rods shattered his final illusion, and he now felt a bit… shut down.
Meanwhile, Nanao, her face flushed, was wiping tea off Shunsui's hat brim. She'd just taken a sip to calm her nerves after seeing the incantation-less Rikujokoro — then the post-incantation hit her, and she'd spat her tea straight onto her captain's hat.
What kind of monster is this?!
Seeing Nanao's flushed face, Kyoraku helplessly said:
"You, you… Next time, you're banned from drinking tea behind me…"
Nanao muttered softly, still blushing:
"Sorry… sorry, I was just so shocked. Is this guy really an ungraduated Shinigami? Captain… please don't ever say I have a talent for Kido again…"
Kyoraku patted her head and said gently:
"Don't worry. We won't compare ourselves to him."
Standing there within the massive rods of light, Tsunayashiro Kojiro calmly raised his Zanpakuto, emotionless.
T/N: For up to 20 chapters ahead on all my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle
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