"What do you think of that Shiba Kaien guy?"
Nanao asked suddenly during their post-dinner stroll.
"A genius."
Ren's response was flat.
"Is that so? You didn't seem surprised at all when you saw his test results."
"True. After all... his name is Shiba."
Ren yawned as he spoke.
"Even a fallen noble is still a noble, especially one from a former Great Noble House. It's not strange for a family member to have such talent."
"I feel like he doesn't even need the academy teachers to show him anything. His family heritage alone provides a top-tier education. He's probably just here at the Shin'o Academy to go through the motions. Don't you think?"
"Hmph..."
Nanao let out a soft hum.
She had read many books on the history of the Soul Society and heard the rumors about the Five Great Noble Houses mentioned in class.
Though there were only four now.
She gazed at the sun setting behind the horizon, a hint of melancholy in her eyes.
This was her fifth year at the academy, yet she still hadn't managed to imprint her soul onto the Asauchi provided by the school to manifest her Zanpakuto.
As for which squad to join after graduation, she didn't have a clue.
Despite her Kido talent far exceeding her peers, she wondered if she could truly become a Soul Reaper without awakening her Zanpakuto...
A large hand pressed down on her head, breaking her train of thought.
"Alright, don't overthink it. Things will work themselves out. You've had a long day; go back and get some rest."
Seeing the smile on Ren's face, Nanao felt her cheeks flush. She jerked her head to shake off his hand.
"Yeah, you too."
She turned to leave, clutching her books, then paused to look back over her shoulder.
"By the way, tomorrow is a day off. Are you still going to the library?"
"I am. I haven't finished reading 'On the Current State of the Soul Society over the Last Three Centuries' yet."
"Okay. I'll see you at the usual spot."
Nanao walked away with a light step. Ren watched her go before heading toward his own dormitory.
Once back in his room, he let out a long, slow breath.
'System, open interface.'
A translucent blue screen shimmered into existence before him.
[NAME: Hasumi Ren]
Spiritual Power: Grade 10 (EXP: 2665/3000)
Zanjutsu: LV2 (EXP: 1825/2000)
Hakuda: LV2 (EXP: 1760/2000)
Hoho: LV2 (EXP: 1695/2000)
Kido: LV3 (EXP: 1450/3000)
Zanpakuto: Asauchi Resonance 82%
[SPECIAL ABILITY]
Hollowfication: LV1 (EXP: 10/1000)
These were the attributes he had accumulated during his four years at the Shin'o Academy.
Experience could be gained through his own training or by absorbing fragments dropped by others during their practice.
The more skilled the individual, the higher the chance of a fragment dropping.
When his Zankensoki skills were at level 1, Ren was already a standout among students, no weaker than an ordinary squad member.
At level 2, his abilities had improved drastically, reaching a level comparable to the veteran Soul Reaper instructors at the academy.
And his strongest attribute, Level 3 Kido—boosted by the 'Nanao Kido EXP Pack'—had barely reached the level of a lower-seated officer.
Scanning the data on the screen, Ren's gaze finally settled on the bottom line.
Hollowfication.
It was a strange fragment he had accidentally picked up a few months ago during a patrol internship in the Rukongai.
It emitted a bizarre dark red glow, unlike any fragment he had seen before.
He didn't know what it was at the time, but trusting the system, he reached out and touched it.
Ever since then, a trace of eerie Spiritual Pressure had resided within him.
Hollow Spiritual Pressure.
Ren had never tried to manifest that power, nor had he ever triggered a Hollowfication.
For a Soul Reaper to possess Hollow powers was an absolute taboo in the Seireitei.
Even the captains of the Visored who eventually returned to the Seireitei generally avoided using their Hollow powers in public.
Shiba Kaien's appearance today, combined with the Hollowfication fragment, allowed Ren to deduce their current place in the timeline.
Aizen's Hogyoku experiments had already begun.
The Soul Society, never truly peaceful to begin with, now harbored a hidden danger lurking in the shadows.
In over a decade, the great incident that would shake the entire Seireitei would occur.
The captains' Hollowfication and defection.
In the decades following that, Aizen would select several gifted students with clean backgrounds from the academy to cultivate as his pawns.
Kira Izuru, Hinamori Momo, and Abarai Renji.
During this period, countless Soul Reapers and high-spiritual-power souls would be crushed and fed into the Hogyoku by Aizen.
Using Kyoka Suigetsu, Aizen covered his tracks perfectly.
Ren knew he didn't have the durability of someone like Hinamori Momo.
Nor was he a brilliant genius worthy of special attention.
Consequently, he normally only showed a Level 1 proficiency.
He stayed at the bottom of the elite class—standing out among average students but never drawing too much focus.
Until he had enough strength, he had to avoid being noticed by dangerous figures.
Outside the window, night fell over the Soul Society.
The silhouette of Sokyoku Hill loomed in the twilight as the lights of the Seireitei flickered on one by one.
The barracks of the Gotei 13 sat like silent behemoths throughout the Seireitei.
Ren walked to the window and looked toward the Squad 5 barracks in the distance.
Currently residing there should be the serving Captain, Hirako Shinji, and that lieutenant who was always wearing a smile, Aizen Sosuke.
'There's still time,'
Ren muttered softly, clenching his fist.
His current strength was far from sufficient.
But he had the system.
As long as he stayed low, he would eventually gain the power to face any danger.
Soon, several roommates returned, and they exchanged greetings.
Ren closed the interface and lay on his bed. The night passed in silence.
Early the next morning, Ren headed out.
After breakfast, he made his way to the training grounds.
A few hardworking students were already practicing.
As they moved, fragments of Spiritual Pressure and training insights would drop from time to time.
Ren had tested this before; these fragments lasted for several days before dissipating.
Thus, he visited the training grounds periodically to collect them.
He had spent the last few days assisting with the freshman entrance exams, so today being his day off, he went straight to the training grounds to absorb the fragments scattered across the floor.
Some people saw Ren and greeted him.
Most of them were familiar with this guy who liked to wander around the various training areas.
To keep his behavior from seeming strange, Ren would occasionally help replace equipment or clean up damage on the grounds.
Because of this, he was surprisingly popular among both students and teachers.
[OBTAINED SPIRITUAL POWER FRAGMENT X15, SPIRITUAL POWER EXP +45]
[OBTAINED KIDO INSIGHT X2, KIDO EXP +10]
[OBTAINED HAKUDA INSIGHT X9, HAKUDA EXP +45]
[OBTAINED HOHO INSIGHT X8, HOHO EXP +40]
[OBTAINED ZANJUTSU INSIGHT X12, ZANJUTSU EXP +60]
...
The training insights and realizations contained within the fragments were quickly absorbed and digested by Ren.
His proficiency in several difficult techniques was steadily improving.
This feeling of knowledge being branded directly into his body and mind was much more satisfying than grinding away through blood and sweat.
While picking up fragments, Ren scanned the students practicing on the field.
To Ren, the lowerclassmen's techniques were riddled with flaws and barely provided any experience.
Currently, only the upperclassmen with refined skills could drop useful experience for him.
Before long, once his Zankensoki skills all reached Level 3, the efficiency of gaining experience at the academy would likely drop even further.
'I need to find more ways to collect fragments. This little academy is no longer enough to satisfy me,'
Ren thought, looking up at the clear sky.
The timing was perfect; it was time to meet little Nanao at the library.