Onmyoji. A special organization that rivals the Seireitei's Secret Mobile Force in strength, this mysterious group is equally secretive. As
Onmyoji.
A special organization that rivals the Seireitei's Secret Mobile Force in strength, this mysterious group is equally secretive. As the name suggests, it consists of Shinigami skilled in Onmyōdō, with the Onmyōdō Shū leader at the top, the Great Onmyōdō Master leading the combat unit [First Division], and the internal affairs unit [Second Division]responsible for managing and sealing various spiritual tools of the Seireitei, such as the Keikaijō and the Sōkyaku.
The position Aizen-sama granted me is in the [First Division], where powerful Onmyoji gather. They are specialists in Onmyoji warfare, fighting the enemies of the Soul Society in secret with even greater stealth than the covert mobile units.
"—Hinamori Momoko, I bestow upon you the name [Hien]. From now on, while wearing this attire, refrain from using your true name."
"...I understand."
Receiving such a stylish codename from the current Deputy Kidō Captain, I was overjoyed inside. Hmph, from now on, everyone will call me Hien.
I donned the long white hooded outfit I'd occasionally seen in the original manga and anime, and was immediately introduced to my instructor. We headed to the training ground at the edge of Rukongai for the practical exam.
"──[Bakudō #21: Sekienton][Hadō #11: Tsuzuri Raiden]"
I covered about ten illusory targets with smoke screens and channeled lightning through the screens themselves, creating a thundercloud attack. This was a combo I had prepared as a backup during the annihilation of the Great Hollow Army but never ended up using. I aimed to take down the enemy group all at once, and heard the instructor's impressed voice.
"──[Hadō #12: Fushibi][Bakudō #26: Kyakko]"
Feeling confident, I decided to end the exam with the combo used by the original Hinamori-chan. However, I would use my signature Hadō technique from the Spirit Arts Academy, not the one from the films. I'm sure the instructor was hoping to see this.
"──[Hadō #73: Sōren Sōkatsui]"
"Hmm..."
The Fushibi concealed the Kyakko, and the blue flames struck all ten targets simultaneously. Since I had concealed my spiritual pressure, the power was unimpressive, but what was expected of a first-year graduate was potential. The advanced Hadō techniques I had mastered over the past six years, including triple incantation and incantation cancellation, must have piqued the instructor's interest.
"Your technique and ingenuity are both flawless. It's easy to believe that you defeated a giant Hollow with [Sōkatsui] in the past."
"Thank you very much...!"
"Anyone capable of triple chanting should be able to reach the 80s in Kidō. I will grant you permission to access the Great Library. Once you have memorized the spirit words of the incantation texts, you may begin your training."
"Yes, sir!"
It seems that the [Twin Lotus Blue Fire, Crash Down] from earlier has already spread throughout the group, and while I'm regarded as an extraordinary newcomer who can use techniques in the seventies with ease, no one treats me like a monster. The only new technique I learned during my graduate studies was [Kūkanten'i] from Tōsen-sensei, so as long as I keep that hidden, I can practice useful Kidō openly.
This year, I was the only one assigned to the ultra-elite combat unit [First Squad]. At night, I was rigorously trained by Onmyoji instructors, during the day I did menial tasks in the Fifth Squad, and on weekends I worked in the Hollow Realm with Tōsen, my days were filled with relentless activity.
"—Ruler of the mask of flesh and blood, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws—
[Hadō #99: Goryūtenmetsu]"
A massive ball of flame erupted from my palm, causing a massive explosion in the First Squad's exclusive training ground. Having finally mastered the difficult Hadō technique numbered in the eighties, I was diligently practicing it repeatedly to perfect my skills.
"—You've come a long way in just half a year, Hien."
"Ah! Deputy Onmyōdō-chō!"
I bowed to the senior member who had appeared at the training ground after a long absence.
Yes. Half a year had passed since I joined the group, and I had finally mastered a new advanced Hadō technique.
To activate Kidō, precise spiritual energy manipulation is essential to construct the spirit words, and spiritual energy is merely the power that boosts the technique's strength. However, increasing the amount of spiritual energy you infuse naturally requires building a stronger spiritual framework to contain it. Therefore, spiritual pressure isn't that important during the learning process, and my advantage lies solely in the talent of the original Hinamori-chan's soul. Even with her potential, which was hailed as that of a prodigy, it took years to master a single technique in the eighties.
The reason I was taught only [Dankū] by Tōsen was because focusing solely on that technique was the only way to master it to the point where I could abandon the incantation after six years. This is entirely different from intermediate Kidō, where even if you build spiritual power somewhat haphazardly, it still takes shape. That is the essence of advanced and supreme Kidō.
...I don't know any fools who thought they could use [Kurohitsugi] just by memorizing and shouting the incantation.
"The 90th rank is really impressive, isn't it..."
"Of course, those who have mastered it are given positions higher than squad leader."
The 90th rank I want to learn includes many forbidden techniques, and above all, the incantations are long and extremely difficult to handle. Even the lowest-ranked [Black Coffin] requires reciting for around fifteen seconds. Imbuing every single syllable with complex spiritual energy manipulation is something that could never be done on the battlefield. No wonder they'd want to ascend to heaven if they could break the incantation.
That shady merchant with the mustache and sunglasses in the real world should stop wearing an apron and act more like a big shot...
"Hien, I am assigning you your first mission. Join the Third Squad and participate in the capture operation in the 78th district of South Rukongai."
"Yes, sir! I understand!"
While I was still lost in thoughts of the distant Black Coffin, I was suddenly assigned my first mission since joining the organization. Since I hadn't heard anything about Aizen-sama playing around in Rukongai, it must be a regular mission related to Hollows. Maybe I'll get to study capture techniques.
I immediately met up with the two other members of Third Squad at the base, received official orders, and departed. Though we were supposed to meet our teammates, with our heads covered by hoods and masks, we could only tell each other's gender by voice and build. The squad leader of Third Squad was a woman with a hoarse voice.
"New recruit, prepare to restrain the target. I'll use spirit manipulation to lure it. The enemy is a special individual—no complacency..."
"Understood."
Ryūkō Street was located within the Inuzuri Forest. The group scattered with lightning-fast movements that didn't seem befitting experts in Onmyōdō techniques. I followed closely behind, moving to the opposite side with the old man, and watched the situation carefully.
"...Target confirmed."
The squad leader's mechanical voice echoed, and immediately afterward, a black void opened in the sky, revealing a single eerie Hollow. For a Hollow not associated with Aizen-sama, it had decent spiritual pressure. Indeed, capturing this thing would be no easy task for the Guard Corps, which specializes in close combat.
Upon confirming its form, we shifted into combat mode. The first to act was an ordinary squad member, who released a Kidō technique from his outstretched hand.
"──[Bakudō #79: Kuyō Shibari]"
Whoa! This old man just casually used a chant cancellation technique from the late 70s, something even a Gotei Squad vice-captain can't do!
Aware of the high level of my comrades' advanced techniques, I used my best solo capture-type Kidō, which I can perform with chant cancellation, to further restrain the enemy.
It's a bit lower in rank, but it's a technique I love that will delight fans of the series.
"──[Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō]"
Taking inspiration from Byakuya, I create six stylish yellow spiritual energy bands from my fingertips and fix the enemy's arms and torso in place from all six directions. Hmm, when it comes to Bakudō, this is the move.
"──[Bakudō #37: Tsuriboshi]"
This Hollow seems to be a special individual that has merged with the ground and uses earth-based abilities, so I'll use [Tsuriboshi] to fix it in mid-air just in case. The numbers are both low, but I'll use a double chant to make it look stylish.
But then.
While I was satisfied with my work, the team leader, who had been muttering an ultra-fast incantation I couldn't understand since earlier, used an unimaginable Kidō technique.
"──[Bakudō #99, Second Form: Bankin]"
"What!?"
I couldn't help but let out a ridiculous scream in the middle of the mission, but this was definitely forgivable. Wait, did I hear that correctly? Which Bakudō did that person just cast?
"──[First Song・Halting Fabric]"
With my jaw hanging open, the absurd scene continued before my eyes. An overwhelming amount of spiritual energy cloth materialized around the squad leader and instantly wrapped itself around the massive Hollow. Before the enemy could even scream, their throat and mouth were sealed shut. I wished my own jaw would close.
"──[Second Song・Hundred Linked Bolts]"
Dozens of equally gruesome spears were fired in the same manner, piercing the cloth and plunging into the gigantic Hollow with a loud thud. The vibrations sent dust flying into the air, and when it settled, an object resembling a mummy that had been stabbed countless times lay on the ground.
Silence. Without even checking for safety, I was drawn toward the completed Kidō and focused on the technique.
This is bad. The spiritual power itself isn't that strong, but the structure is absurdly advanced and complex. I have no idea how many hundreds of times my spiritual pressure would need to be amplified to escape this. Even my full-power technique, which is already a spiritual pressure monster, might not be able to destroy it...
This is the 90th-tier, the pinnacle of Kidō techniques.
"...Both of you, well done. Gather, we're returning."
Beside me, where I can't even breathe, the female squad leader approaches with a hoarse, monotone voice and pulls out a long white sash from her robe.
Wait, is that...!?
"—Sentan Hakuja."
Wow, the Onmyoji use that too! Facing the teleportation Kidō technique used by those famous characters from the novels and the Aizen-sama faction, my heart is so overwhelmed with emotion it's about to explode.
Despite being a spatial transfer technique, it doesn't seem to be classified as a forbidden technique, and before I could recover from the shock of seeing such famous techniques one after another, I found myself teleported to the First Squad's base alongside the other two members of my squad and the captured Hollow.
"—Good work on the mission, squad leader. Did you manage to use the Bankin?"
"...Yes. Her reaction, technique, and quick thinking were all impressive. She should be a valuable asset to our squad in the future..."
"That's the best news. She's the favorite of the Fifth Squad Captain. Keep an eye on her."
"Understood..."
The squad leader praised me with her usual emotionless voice, but after seeing that super technique, I felt a bit embarrassed. In terms of spiritual pressure, I was clearly superior. However, when it came to style, even considering her mask, she was the clear winner.
Damn it, the coolness value of the highest-ranked Kidō is truly beyond compare. Even if I mobilize all my knowledge of original series techniques, I might still lose...!
As I glared at the departing squad leader's back, the vice-Onmyōdō master narrowed his eyes slightly and encouraged me.
"That's the squad leader of the First Division, Third Squad—equivalent to the third-ranked member of the Gotei. She's the third-ranked user of Kidō among us, excluding the Supreme Commander. Learn as much as you can."
"...Yes, sir!"
That's right. Why did I come here? Not to feel down. I came here to learn about the Black Coffin.
They may not have the same level of loyalty to their comrades as the Gotei Corps, but they value their capable subordinates. Plus, their name is "Onmyoji." It's cool and awesome.
──Here, I can become even more stylish.
"...I'll do my best, Shiro-chan."
A letter from my cute childhood friend, who recently graduated early and is bragging about it.
With renewed determination for him, I took another step forward toward my dream.
***
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