"O, King! Mask of flesh, all creation, flap your wings, things that bear the name of man! Truth and temperance, upon the wall of dreams, stand but upon it!"
"Hadō #33 – Sōkatsui!"
In the Training Grounds of Soul Society's Spiritual Arts Academy, Raizen Kō aimed at the dummy before him, releasing a fully incanted Sōkatsui. A pale blue spiritual energy flame shot forth with perfect focus.
"Rumble!"
The concentrated Hadō blast instantly incinerated the specialized Technological Development Bureau dummy, reducing it to blackened charcoal. The force of the impact left a sizable crater in the ground, sparks dancing wildly across the Training Grounds.
The nearby Kido instructor's jaw dropped. Swallowing audibly, he muttered under his breath:
"Is this real? This squad member… he's far beyond expectations!"
Clearing his throat, he spoke aloud, admiration lacing his voice:
"Raizen Kō, intermediate Kido score: Excellent!"
Raizen Kō blinked, slightly dumbfounded. "Did I… hold back too much?" In truth, he had restrained the Sōkatsui. The incantation had been complete, but the spiritual pressure released was carefully controlled far below his full potential. He simply hadn't anticipated the dummy would be so fragile.
Nearby, Hisagi Shūhei, finishing his own assessment, hurried over with wide-eyed astonishment.
"Raizen-Nii! You're incredible! I thought I had talent as a Shinigami, but next to you… I'm far behind."
From another direction, the petite but striking Matsumoto Rangiku approached, eyes wide with admiration.
"You two are amazing! Remember to have confidence in yourselves, little Hisagi and little Rangiku!" Raizen Kō said warmly, extending his hands to ruffle their heads in a rare show of affection.
"We'll work hard!" the two replied in unison, brimming with resolve, before heading off to take their Kido assessment.
Raizen Kō watched them go, yawning lazily. His gaze drifted deliberately or perhaps unconsciously toward a white-haired figure lurking outside the Training Grounds, barely daring to peek at Rangiku from a distance.
"Oh dear… I've been discovered.
What a monstrous spiritual perception!"
In a corner of the southwest Training Grounds, Ichimaru Gin, who had been secretly observing Rangiku, realized he had been seen by Raizen Kō. He narrowed his eyes, smiled faintly, and vanished in an instant.
It had been roughly five months since Raizen Kō joined the Spiritual Arts Academy. Within the first month, Raizen, Rangiku, and Hisagi had already skipped to the second term. Now, all three had advanced to the third term.
This rapid progression explained their close bond. In their current class, the only other students were old-timers who had been studying for three years. The academy consisted of six terms from enrollment to graduation, one term per year, but completion at a standard pace was not strictly necessary for exceptionally talented students.
"Ito-Nii! A hot pot restaurant just opened in South Rukongai, Area Three. They say the food is amazing, and my scholarship came in, so let's go together!" Rangiku and Hisagi called out excitedly after class.
"I still have errands. You two go ahead I'll treat you next time," Raizen Kō replied with a polite smile, declining their invitation.
He then headed toward West Rukongai, Area Eighty the most chaotic district in Soul Society.
The streets were filthy. Sewage and excrement ran freely, and garbage piled up along the sides. Raizen Kō covered his nose and prepared to move quickly with Shunpo when a figure suddenly darted from an alley.
The man wore ragged clothing, his complexion sallow, eyes sunken with dark circles, and a chipped dagger clenched in his hand. He glared at Raizen Kō with raw hostility.
"Kid! Hand over your valuables! Food too! And… that clean robe! That fabric must be worth a fortune!"
Raizen Kō raised an eyebrow. The man didn't even recognize his Spiritual Arts Academy uniform—and audaciously, he wanted to rob a Shinigami trainee!
Without speaking, Raizen Kō briefly flared his spiritual pressure. The emaciated man collapsed unconscious as if struck by an invisible force.
Shaking his head at the weakling lying like a dead dog, Raizen Kō continued walking. Such creatures weren't even worth his energy he didn't step on insects in his previous life without cause, and he would not waste effort on them now.
This was typical for the lower districts of Rukongai. Clean water was scarce, and spiritual particle density was minimal. By contrast, the nobles of Seireitei those who abstained from production controlled over eighty percent of Soul Society's resources, enjoying the highest spiritual particle concentration and optimal conditions.
At this moment, Raizen Kō understood Aizen and Tōsen's intent with much greater clarity.
"Indeed… where there is injustice, there is resistance."
After passing through several desolate streets, Raizen Kō arrived at a large open space.
Two figures in Shinigami uniforms awaited him: one with narrow eyes and a shiny bald head, the other with smooth, medium-length hair, a feathered decoration over his right eye, and a neck guard.
It was Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika.
"Yo, little Raizen, you're late again!" Yumichika greeted, casually running a hand through his hair.
"Apologies, Yumichika-senpai. I was delayed by some matters on the way," Raizen Kō replied politely.
"Alright, enough talking! Let's begin!" Ikkaku interjected, already growing impatient.
He produced an Asauchi from a package behind him, tossing it to Raizen Kō, then drew his own blade from his waist, charging with a wide grin.
Since Raizen Kō had not yet graduated, he was not formally granted his own Zanpakutō. The Asauchi Ikkaku lent him came from another Eleventh Division member. Without it, their sparring would have been limited to wooden swords a compromise neither found satisfying.
Thus, whenever they trained together, Ikkaku would borrow a sword from his comrades and secretly hand it to Raizen Kō, allowing a true duel. It was an illegal maneuver, prohibited by the Central 46, which was why they chose West Rukongai, Area Eighty far from Seireitei as their training ground.