Red sigils flickered in the air.
The moment Tessai finished his incantation, crimson light erupted, binding Rukia in place.
"Ugh!"
Her body pitched forward—straight into Cole's arms.
Tessai's gaze sharpened. "Cole-san, how is your progress?"
Cole cradled Rukia, pretending to think. "Not bad. Doesn't seem that difficult."
"Not… difficult?" Tessai's brows furrowed. He was about to scold him for arrogance when Cole raised his hand—already chanting.
"Self-destruct, hound of Rondanini! Look upon yourself and burn! Tear out your own throat…"
"What!!?"
Tessai's eyes flew wide.
The cadence, the surge of reiatsu—there was no doubt. Cole had already grasped Bakudo #9: Geki (Strike).
Impossible. I needed a whole week to learn that…
"Bakudo #9: Geki!"
Scarlet light blazed, ripping through the air and crashing onto Tessai.
His body froze, locked in place like a puppet dangling on invisible strings.
Urahara's eyes narrowed. "Tessai… what do you think?"
The man swallowed hard, still stiff under the binding. "It is indeed Bakudo #9, and it's truly his first cast. I can see it clearly."
Shattering the spell with a flex of his body, Tessai's eyes gleamed with rare excitement. "Cole-san, would you like to study kido under me?"
"Of course," Cole answered without hesitation. "I've always been interested in kidō."
In Soul Society, the zanpakuto might reign supreme—but kidō was not far behind.
He thought of Aizen, who once obliterated Abarai Renji with a single Hado #90: Kurohitsugi (Black Coffin). Kido carried power and versatility unlike anything else.
And before him stood the Grand Kido Chief—the strongest practitioner alive.
To learn from him… could mean transcending even captain-level mastery.
Urahara coughed into his hand. "Tessai. Calm yourself. Let's discuss this further once we're back."
Only then did Tessai suppress his excitement. "Cole-san, please come with us. Don't worry—we mean you no harm."
Cole nodded easily.
Jinta scowled. "That's it? We're just taking him back? I still wanted to rough him up."
Urahara's eyes curved into a sly smile. "Not so fast, Jinta, Ururu. You two can't return yet."
"What?"
They blinked.
He pointed at the wreckage surrounding them. "You'll need to take care of the witnesses first."
"…"
Jinta and Ururu groaned in unison.
——
Soon after, the group arrived at Urahara Shōten.
The shopkeeper opened a massive trapdoor, leading them into the basement.
Cole and the others stepped inside—and froze.
Their breaths caught in awe.
Before them stretched not a basement, but a barren world.
Endless plains of ochre dust. Jagged rocks. Lone stone peaks stabbing into a lifeless sky.
Not a hint of greenery anywhere.
Tessai's chest swelled with pride. "Impressive, isn't it? I created this space with kidō and barriers. It naturally draws in reiryoku."
Cole crouched, scooping up a rock, excitement flickering in his eyes. "This… it's all made from spirit particles?"
Ichigo stomped on the ground, skeptical. "No way. There's no chance dirt and stone could just be spirit energy."
Ishida adjusted his glasses, scoffing. "Foolish shinigami. Of course reishi can be used for construction."
"What did you say!?" Ichigo bristled.
Ignoring him, Ishida lifted his hand. A blue bow bloomed to life, its arrow forming as the ground itself dissolved into spirit particles and flowed into his weapon.
Ichigo gasped. "No way—it's really made of reishi!?"
Tessai chuckled. "Indeed. But don't absorb the ground's reishi. If you do…"
"RUMBLE!!!"
The earth quaked violently.
Cracks spiderwebbed in every direction. Dust and stone erupted into the air.
"…you'll cause the entire space to collapse."
Tessai's eyes darted instantly to Cole. "Stop! Don't absorb anymore!"
Cole reluctantly halted. But beneath his feet lay a crater seven or eight meters deep.
Tessai winced at the damage. "What, do you have nowhere else to absorb from?"
In truth, just those few seconds had drained the training ground so heavily it would take weeks to recover.
Cole shrugged innocently. "I just wanted to test it."
But inwardly, his heart raced as he glanced at his system panel.
[Available Points: 2,768]
[Reiryoku: 48,900]
[Strength: 5,142]
[Speed: 842]
[Zanpakuto: 110]
[Reiraku: 100]
[Soul Control: 100]
[Reiatsu Burst: 100]
[Reiatsu Armor: 100]
[Kidō · Bakudō #4: Hainawa — 132]
[Kidō · Bakudō #9: Geki — 132]
[…]
Just ten seconds… and over two thousand points gained.
Normally, that much would take ten days.
This wasn't just a training space.
This was paradise. His promised land.
Cole's eyes gleamed with greed. He licked his lips unconsciously, yearning to drain it dry.
Tessai sighed, shaking his head. "Forget it. Cole-san, let's continue with your kidō training."
Ichigo groaned. "Hey, can I go home now?"
He'd seen enough. If Cole was safe, then he had no reason to stick around.
Ishida adjusted his glasses again. "I've no interest in mingling with shinigami."
Urahara chuckled. "Now, now, Kurosaki-kun, Quincy-kun. Since you're here, why not play a bit before leaving?"
"Play? You mean fight shinigami?" Ishida's voice dripped disdain.
Jinta stomped in, clutching his massive bat, face dark with fury.
"Playtime, alright. I'll play whack-a-mole with you two. Better watch your heads, or I'll smash them flat."
...…
...
(End of Chapter)
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