Fantasy Library, Ch 191-195: King of Zanpakutō

Chapter 191: “Asauchi”

Shin'ō Academy, outside the main gate.

At this time, Sōsuke Aizen had completed his inspection and was walking out with his Lieutenant, bidding farewell to the crowd of Shin'ō Academy students who had been following behind.

As the two made their way back toward the Fifth Division’s barracks, they finally left all the chatter behind and entered a state of solitude.

Only then did the always-smiling Lieutenant walking behind Aizen break the silence.

“You’re just leaving like that, Captain Aizen?”

His deeply meaningful question did not cause Sōsuke Aizen to stop walking.

“What, is there something else you want to do, Gin?” Aizen chuckled without turning his head. “If so, you can go back—after all, that place was your alma mater, wasn’t it?”

“Well, I did graduate from Shin'ō Academy, but I only stayed there for a year. I don’t really have any attachments to the place,” Ichimaru Gin said, hands spread. “I mean, are we really heading back just like this?”

“You came all the way just to see that little genius, Captain, and now you’ve only exchanged a few words with him and done nothing more?”

“At the very least, shouldn’t you have shown him your Zanpakutō? That would make it easier to control him, right?”

Ichimaru Gin asked three questions in a row, but still, Sōsuke Aizen didn’t stop walking.

“If we’re too obvious, people will grow suspicious, Gin,” Aizen said, perhaps answering Gin’s question, or perhaps simply speaking to himself. “Though still young, a genius is a genius. It seems his excellence isn’t limited to his Spiritual Pressure—his temperament is exceptional too.”

“Even though I tried to guide him subtly with my words several times, he never let down his guard against someone he was meeting for the first time. Perhaps that’s to be expected of someone from the Zaraki District.”

“As I thought—he doesn’t easily trust others.”

“That’s true,” Ichimaru Gin said, recalling the boy’s demeanor, and whether his tone was one of praise or mockery was unclear. “Just a first-year student newly enrolled in Shin'ō Academy, and yet he could face Captain Aizen so calmly, so composed... definitely not someone to underestimate.”

“He’s already caught the Captain Commander’s attention, and many within Seireitei are watching him as well. So it’s best we don’t act rashly.” Aizen continued walking forward, still smiling. “We’ll leave it at that for now. Next time, I’ll make sure to prepare a proper gift.”

“Ha, so Captain Aizen’s taken a liking to him after all.” Ichimaru Gin wore a predictable smile, sly and cunning. “Only seventeen when he died, and he’s only been in Soul Society for less than half a year, yet he’s already a Second-Class Spiritual. That’s some terrifying talent.”

“If he continues to grow, he might become a figure who rivals even you or the Captain Commander, huh?”

“Really wouldn’t want to face someone like that as an enemy.”

He spoke with a tone of mock fear, but the ever-smiling expression on his face made it clear he was just acting—it couldn’t have been more fake.

“He’s a Shinigami in the end. Even if he reaches his full potential, so what?” Aizen pushed up his black-rimmed glasses, their lenses catching the light and concealing his eyes. “Unless one surpasses the very existence known as ‘Shinigami,’ then they will forever remain a prisoner of this false world. Whether it’s me or Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto—we’ve already proven this.”

“Well, that’s a shame. I really would’ve liked to see what kind of future that genius has,” Ichimaru Gin said noncommittally. “Captain Aizen, are you planning to test him with a gift? Need me to do anything?”

“I already told you, Gin, this much is enough for now.” Aizen replied at a leisurely pace. “Too many people are watching him right now. It’s not the time to act.”

“Wait until he leaves Shin'ō Academy—or even Soul Society—before we proceed.”

“This batch of new students is quite interesting. Though none of them are as outrageous as him, there are still a few with decent potential. With proper guidance, they could rise to considerable positions in the Gotei 13 in the future.”

“When they all leave Soul Society together, I’ll send them the gifts I’ve prepared.”

As he said this, Aizen still wore his gentle smile, but it gave off an inexplicable, bone-chilling feeling.

Of course, Ichimaru Gin’s ever-smiling face was equally unsettling.

“Well, since Captain has already made up his mind, I’ll stop meddling and go back to doing my job as Lieutenant.”

At those words, Aizen neither confirmed nor denied, but he did say this:

“Before long, I’ll recommend you for promotion to Captain.”

Even so, Ichimaru Gin’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.

That look—it was as if a Captaincy, something revered by all others, was no more than something easily within reach for him.

Aizen continued.

“The Sixth Squad Captain is also due to be replaced. Gin, you can ascend along with him.”

To Aizen’s arrangement, Ichimaru Gin responded only with a smile, expressing neither agreement nor objection.

It didn’t seem like Aizen was seeking Gin’s consent anyway. After finishing his arrangements, he looked up toward the sky.

“Now then... I wonder if you’ll bring me amusement and surprise?”

As if speaking to someone not present, Sōsuke Aizen revealed a thought-provoking expression.

“Let me see what your potential is, Kaiser-kun...”

……

Sōsuke Aizen’s inspection didn’t remain a topic of discussion for long at Shin'ō Academy.

Because he often came to Shin'ō Academy for inspections and lectures, this wasn’t all that unusual.

By the next day, no one was really talking about it anymore—aside from a few girls whispering about how gentle and handsome he was, saying they absolutely wanted to join the Fifth Division after graduation.

As for Kaiser, though he knew better than anyone what Aizen’s true nature was, it was still far from the start of the original plot. He himself was merely a newly enrolled first-year student at Shin'ō Academy. With no real entanglement with Sōsuke Aizen for now, he soon forgot the encounter and returned to his own routine.

Daily lectures, Shunpo and Kidō training, casual strolls around campus, and the occasional Hakuda session—Kaiser’s days remained peaceful and fulfilling, completely unaffected by Aizen’s presence.

In this manner, several months passed, and at last, Kaiser welcomed something he’d been eagerly awaiting.

……

That day, all classes for First-Year Class 1 were temporarily canceled.

All students in the elite class were ordered to gather in the classroom. No absences or requests for leave were permitted—leaving the students looking at one another in confusion.

“Did something happen?”

“Why are all classes suddenly canceled?”

“There was supposed to be a swordsmanship class today... and I love that one...”

“Haha, I’m actually glad. We had Shunpo class this afternoon, and I still haven’t even gotten the hang of it. If I went, the teacher would definitely yell at me!”

“Same here. Shunpo is really hard. I think it’s even harder than Kidō.”

“What can you do? Even in our class, barely anyone can successfully use Shunpo. I heard even among Gotei 13 members, many can’t use it proficiently.”

“Seriously? It’s that hard?”

“Actually, we’re not doing too bad. I heard some other classes haven’t even officially started Shunpo training. The teachers said there’s no point teaching them yet since they wouldn’t get it anyway.”

“Then I guess we’re doing pretty well. At least we’ve got a few people who managed to pull off Shunpo.”

“Too bad it’s only occasional success. No one can use it proficiently yet.”

The students chatted idly, quickly setting aside their initial confusion as they gossiped about the other classes.

The truth was, the other classes were far behind Class 1 in terms of progress. And the gap only widened over time. Even Class 2 lagged far behind Class 1—let alone those further down the line.

Many of the other classes hadn’t even begun Shunpo lessons, and their Kidō training was also way behind. Only swordsmanship and Hakuda were more or less on the same pace.

As for other lessons—such as Konsō and actual combat training—those hadn’t even started for Class 1, let alone for the others.

Under such circumstances, Class 1’s atmosphere was rather relaxed—not too tense or pressured. Many students wore a laid-back look on their faces.

“Haa~~~”

Kaiser didn’t join any of the conversations. He sat alone in the corner of the classroom, yawning lazily.

“Clack!”

Just then, the classroom door swung open.

The Class 1 homeroom teacher entered from outside, carrying a heavy load, drawing held breaths from the students.

“W-What is...?!”

Led by Renji Abarai, many students lit up the moment they saw the teacher, their faces showing excitement.

Even Kaiser stopped mid-yawn, the corner of his mouth curving upward.

The teacher brought the large bundle to the front podium.

Clatter clatter—!

He set the items down, the sound of clashing metal ringing out.

Looking closely—it was a pile of swords, all sheathed.

Not wooden swords—real ones.

“Sensei!”

Renji Abarai couldn’t help but stand up and shout excitedly toward the instructor.

“T-This is...?!”

The others reacted similarly, visibly thrilled.

Seeing this, the teacher smiled.

“Looks like you’ve already guessed what this is.”

As he arranged the swords in front of him, he finally said the words everyone was dying to hear.

“That’s right—these are Zanpakutō.”

“More precisely, they’re Asauchi—the unshaped forms of Zanpakutō.”

Chapter 192: Call My Name

“Asauchi is the unawakened form of a Zanpakutō, and also the prototype of all Zanpakutō.”

“It is the shape a Zanpakutō takes before it fully forms, lacking its own name and the soul that belongs to it.”

“Only when someone imprints their spirit and beliefs into it—molding it with the Shinigami’s very soul—can an Asauchi be born into its own name and consciousness, thus becoming a unique Zanpakutō that belongs solely to that individual.”

The First-Year Class 1 instructor stood before the class, introducing the pile of swords on the podium to the entire room.

“There are over six thousand squad members in the Gotei 13, including seated officers, Lieutenants, and even Captains. All of them received their Asauchi during their Academy years. Only after infusing them with their spirit and convictions over many years did they forge their own Zanpakutō.”

“You may be newly enrolled freshmen, but as students in the Elite Class, you’ve already earned the qualification to receive your own Asauchi and begin cultivating your own Zanpakutō.”

“These here are the Asauchi that will temporarily be loaned to you. Only once you graduate from Shin'ō Academy and join the Gotei 13 will they be formally granted to you.”

“As for whether you can successfully shape it—transforming the Asauchi into a Zanpakutō with its own name, consciousness, form, state, and power—that will depend entirely on your own capabilities.”

Seeing the eager and already somewhat restless gleam in the eyes of the students before him, the instructor gave a helpless smile, then said:

“Now then, starting from the first seat in the front row, come up one by one to receive your Asauchi.”

As soon as the words were spoken, the student seated at the first spot in the front row immediately stood up and dashed toward the podium at near sprinting speed.

“Hurry and pick one.”

Seeing the student glancing around indecisively, clearly unsure which sword to choose, the instructor urged him impatiently.

“All Asauchi start out exactly the same. There’s no difference in appearance. Only once you learn their true name and achieve the first release will their size and shape vary based on the user’s traits and personality.”

“So there’s no point agonizing over it. Just grab one and be done.”

“At this point, they’re all the same. There’s nothing to ‘carefully select.’”

Upon hearing this, the student grabbed one of the Asauchi and excitedly ran back to his seat to fiddle with it.

“Next, hurry and come up.”

The instructor maintained order, calling each student up one after another to receive their own Asauchi.

Kaiser, seated in the last seat of the last row, was naturally the last to go up.

When he stepped onto the podium, only one Asauchi remained. The instructor handed it to him personally and gave him a look of encouragement.

Kaiser took the Asauchi back to his seat and examined it carefully.

Just as the instructor had said, at this initial stage, Asauchi had no name, no spirit, no abilities. It looked like an ordinary katana in standard size.

Kaiser himself possessed two Zanpakutō, but he felt the shape of this Asauchi more closely resembled Kirin Todo's Senbakiri.

He activated the unique golden markings inside his body, which began to flicker faintly.

Kaiser immediately noticed that this blade was different from Ryūjin Jakka and Hyōrinmaru, as well as from any of his other personal weapons. It was empty inside—like ordinary forged iron, nothing like a Shinigami’s exclusive weapon.

The rest of the students didn’t seem to notice anything. They were enthusiastically playing with their blades—some even whispering to the blades as if naming them.

“Alright, stop fooling around with those and listen up.”

Seeing those students talking to their Asauchi like they were naming them, the instructor was exasperated.

“From now on, your task is to eat and sleep with your Asauchi—keep it with you at all times.”

“Try to synchronize your thoughts with it, let it be constantly bathed in your Reiatsu, and absorb your spirit, beliefs, and convictions.”

“If you maintain that without interruption, when the time is right, you’ll hear a voice.”

“That voice will tell you a name. If you can hear it clearly, then call it—that will be the name of your Zanpakutō.”

“That’s right. A Zanpakutō’s name reveals itself. You don’t get to make one up. Those of you muttering nonsense back there, pipe down—have some self-respect, will you?”

At those words, the students who had been whispering turned red-faced, while the others burst out laughing.

Only then did the teacher continue.

“When you learn your Zanpakutō’s true name, you can release its true form and power by calling that name. We call this process Shikai, the first release—the first stage of awakening.”

“Of course, if there’s a first stage, there’s a second stage. Beyond Shikai, a Zanpakutō has an even more advanced form and power. We call this Bankai.”

“Bankai is the final release of a Zanpakutō. But that’s far too distant for you. For now, just focus on achieving Shikai.”

No sooner had the instructor finished speaking than someone raised their hand.

“Sensei,” Renji Abarai asked eagerly, “when can we achieve Shikai?”

“You all?” The instructor chuckled. “You’ve got a long way to go!”

“Let me put it this way—Shin'ō Academy has six years. Right now, not a single student in any year has achieved Shikai.”

“Don’t forget—you’re still just Academy students. Even once you graduate and join the Gotei 13, you’ll just be ordinary squad members.”

“Regular squad members in the Gotei 13 generally don’t have Shikai. Those who do are typically seated officers.”

In other words, once you succeed in achieving Shikai, you’ve left the ranks of ordinary members and stepped into the level of seated officers—people with standing in the Gotei 13.

“Th-that difficult?” Momo Hinamori exclaimed quietly.

“…That’s just Shikai,” Izuru Kira couldn’t help adding. “Then what about Bankai? Isn’t that even harder?”

Bankai?

The instructor could only laugh.

“Let me put it another way,” the instructor said, arms crossed, speaking deliberately. “In every generation, among thousands of Shinigamis, fewer than twenty have ever achieved Bankai.”

“Once a Shinigami achieves Bankai, their name is inscribed in the history of Soul Society and remembered forever.”

“Shinigamis capable of Bankai generally become Captains. In fact, one of the core requirements to become a Captain is mastering Bankai.”

“Now you understand, right?”

At those words, the entire class fell silent.

Thousands of Shinigamis in every era—and fewer than twenty with Bankai?

And achieving Bankai makes one a Captain?

Doesn’t that mean unless you stand at the peak of Soul Society, you can never reach Bankai?

No—it's the other way around.

If you achieve Bankai, then you can stand at the peak of Soul Society.

The students were visibly shaken.

Even the normally fearless Renji Abarai.

“That’s why I said,” the instructor shrugged, seeing everyone stunned, “Bankai is far beyond your reach. Not just yours—even for the instructors here at Shin'ō Academy, it’s out of reach.”

“Even our Academy Headmaster hasn’t attained Bankai. What chance do we have?”

“Let alone Bankai, even achieving Shikai is hard. I don’t even know how many of you will ever get to have a true Zanpakutō of your own.”

The entire class fell into silence.

As members of the elite Class 1, they’d always had pride in themselves—especially when compared to the lower classes, even bordering on arrogance.

But now the instructor was telling them that even as elites, most of them would still graduate as ordinary Shinigamis.

Even obtaining a Zanpakutō with a true name, power, and consciousness wasn’t guaranteed.

Or rather, even if they could attain it, without the strength of a seated officer, they wouldn’t be able to hear its name.

With that realization, many students’ pride was crushed.

Renji Abarai gripped his Asauchi tightly, staring at it as he muttered under his breath.

“I will achieve Shikai—no matter what.”

Not only Renji Abarai, but Izuru Kira and Momo Hinamori also shared the same thought.

Bankai was too far off—they dared not imagine it.

But Shikai—they absolutely had to reach it.

That was the resolve of anyone unwilling to live a mediocre life.

Only Kaiser seemed completely uninterested in what the instructor had said.

He merely held up his Asauchi and stared at it, the golden circuit patterns within his body flashing faster and faster.

At the same time, Kaiser began channeling his Reiatsu into the Asauchi, like striking a forge, pulsing in waves.

Gradually, Kaiser felt it.

He felt the Asauchi in his hands begin absorbing his Reiatsu—and even the essence of his soul.

The Authority accelerated this process, making it feel like the Asauchi was being reforged from scratch, slowly beginning to heat up.

Suddenly—

Hummm…

From Kaiser’s Asauchi, a surge of flame-like Reiatsu appeared.

It was golden—just like the Authority within his body.

Golden Reiatsu flickered like firelight, dyeing the Asauchi in his hands with a golden hue.

“Call me…”

Then, Kaiser heard a faint voice.

“Call me…”

“Call me…”

“Call my name…”

Chapter 193: King of Zanpakutō

When that faint, ethereal voice echoed in his ears, just like the time when he first obtained Ryūjin Jakka and Hyōrinmaru in the Fantasy Library, Kaiser saw a vision.

It was as though he had entered another world, appearing upon a vast land.

The land was not desolate—on the contrary, it was full of vitality. There were forests, oceans, a continuous chain of mountains, grasslands, and rivers. Aside from the absence of cities and people, it was nearly indistinguishable from the real world.

But in this world, swords were embedded everywhere.

Mountains were covered in swords, forests filled with swords, even the depths of the oceans and rivers were packed with swords of all kinds.

Here, swords were life—swords were the inhabitants of this world. Every sword seemed like a distinct individual, radiating a powerful sense of existence.

If anyone else had accidentally wandered into this place, they would certainly feel out of place—an anomaly in this realm.

But not Kaiser. To him, this place felt intimate. Staying here felt completely natural.

The Authority inside his body was burning hot, making him feel like he had come upon countless vassals, countless subordinates.

Unfortunately, the king of this place was not him, but rather a being born from within his own soul.

Kaiser wandered through this world, as if taking one step could span a thousand miles, quickly leaving behind all the surrounding scenery.

Before long, Kaiser arrived atop a towering mountain.

It was the greatest mountain in this world.

Its summit was the highest point of this entire realm.

With one step, Kaiser ascended to the mountaintop.

There, he saw a lofty altar.

The altar was ancient, exuding a timeworn aura.

Its structure resembled both a palace and a throne.

And atop that palace-throne floated a single sword.

The instant he saw that sword, Kaiser understood.

“That is the king of this world.”

“That is the most noble, the most powerful being here.”

“That… is my Zanpakutō.”

This was the inner world of a Zanpakutō—his own inner world.

The sword before him was the Spirit of his Zanpakutō—its soul, the form it had taken.

The Zanpakutō Spirit of a Zanpakutō was not always a blade—sometimes it was humanoid, sometimes beast-like, in all forms imaginable.

But his Zanpakutō, even as a Zanpakutō Spirit, existed purely as a sword. It would never take any other form.

Because that was the form that best represented it. It was its symbol, its essence.

Just like how Ryūjin Jakka, as the oldest and strongest Fire-type Zanpakutō, had appeared to Kaiser as a sky full of flames when he encountered it. Just like how Hyōrinmaru, the strongest Ice/Snow-type Zanpakutō, had appeared as a dragon formed entirely of ice and snow.

His Zanpakutō was the king of all Zanpakutō.

Therefore, it would only ever be a sword—it had to be a sword.

“Call out…”

From the sword came a majestic will, like that of a monarch. The once vague voice now rang with utter clarity.

“My name—you are worthy to know it. You alone are worthy to know it.”

This was a king acknowledging another king.

“My name is…”

Kaiser heard the name with unparalleled clarity—and in that instant, he understood everything about it.

Hummm…

Golden circuit lines flared across his body, and the world around him was overlaid in gold.

Forests, oceans, earth, mountains, grasslands, rivers… everything was etched with golden lines.

There was no need for Kaiser to invoke the Authority to establish ownership—his Authority and the Spirit of the Zanpakutō, born from his soul, had already resonated on their own. From the moment it was born, it had recognized Kaiser as its master, and become one with him.

“———”

Kaiser felt the world around him suddenly drift far away, his figure rising into the sky—higher and higher.

Eventually, Kaiser left that world and returned to the classroom of First-Year Class 1 at Shin'ō Academy.

At that moment, the students were still immersed in the sobering reality of how difficult Shikai and Bankai were. One by one, they sat in silence.

Kaiser looked around and noticed that not a single person had noticed the change in him.

Even though his Asauchi was clearly radiating golden Reiatsu, no one could sense it.

They were too weak. Their Reiatsu and ability to control it were far too lacking to detect the Reiatsu coming from Kaiser’s blade.

Even the instructor at the podium seemed completely unaware.

“That’s a relief…”

Kaiser relaxed, then turned his gaze back to the Zanpakutō in his hand.

He could now rightfully call it a Zanpakutō. It was no longer a nameless Asauchi.

Though Kaiser had yet to call out its name, its appearance had already changed. It no longer resembled an ordinary katana.

Its blade had become unnaturally straight. The tip had no curve—it was angled in a diagonal cut. The edge was extremely thin, flashing with a cold gleam, and looked razor-sharp.

Its guard was also different from other Zanpakutō—rather than a flat crossguard, it was vertically aligned in a “U” shape, with the blade extending straight from the top of the “U”, giving it a seamless look.

The hilt, too, was unlike the cylindrical shape of most Zanpakutō. It was angular, a rectangular form, entirely silver-white with gold accents—exuding nobility.

The change, while not earth-shattering, was more than significant enough for any keen eye to tell that Kaiser’s blade was no longer a nameless Asauchi—it had already undergone release, possessing its own form and dimensions as a true Zanpakutō.

Even the scabbard had changed to match the blade’s exact size and shape. It too had become silver-white with golden trim. Not ostentatious, but certainly eye-catching.

“…If someone sees this, it’ll be hard to keep hidden, won’t it?”

Kaiser sighed in mild exasperation.

Luckily, no one had noticed the change yet, and Kaiser had no desire to draw attention. He quickly put the sword away.

Of course, he didn’t store it in his body like his other exclusive weapons.

The instructor had just said that all Asauchi given to Academy students were loaned. Only those who graduated and joined the Gotei 13 would be formally granted their Asauchi and recognized as its true owner.

If one failed to graduate or didn’t join the Gotei 13, the sword would be reclaimed.

In that situation, if Kaiser made his Zanpakutō disappear into his body, the instructor would definitely investigate.

Even if Kaiser could come up with an excuse, not carrying his Zanpakutō wouldn’t be acceptable either.

After all, the instructor had specifically reminded them: from now on, they should keep their sword with them at all times—eating and sleeping with it, never separating, to better synchronize with it.

So, after some thought, Kaiser didn’t store his Zanpakutō. Instead, he sheathed it and strapped it to his waist.

“If they find out, they find out. Being able to achieve Shikai isn’t that big a deal.”

He was already Captain-class in Spiritual Pressure. Would it make sense if he couldn’t even attain Shikai?

Though achieving Shikai on the very day of receiving an Asauchi was certainly excessive in a school where not even sixth-years had done so, Kaiser had already broken thousand-year records since enrollment. Breaking the Shikai record too didn’t seem like such a big deal.

As for Bankai…

That couldn’t be exposed so casually.

Touching the hilt at his waist, feeling the immense power inside that could be released at any moment, Kaiser—who had fully mastered the blade upon claiming it—muttered:

“Achieving Bankai on the first day of receiving an Asauchi… if this gets out, I’ll probably get dissected, huh?”

Looking around at his classmates, who were still fiddling with their Asauchi and swearing to master Shikai, Kaiser didn’t feel out of place in the inner world—but did feel it here.

No one knew that among these first-year students—who hadn’t even attained Shikai—there was already someone who could use Bankai.

Kaiser chuckled quietly, letting his Zanpakutō retreat into the shadows, hiding both merit and power.

At that moment, the instructor spoke again.

“Now that you’ve received your Zanpakutō, even if it’s still an Asauchi, you’re qualified to carry out the duties of a Shinigami.”

“With that in mind, your next lesson will be on Konsō.”

“Do you know what Konsō is?”

The instructor’s words immediately drew the students’ attention.

“I know!” Momo Hinamori raised her hand and answered, “Konsō is the ritual where we send the souls of the dead in the World of the Living to the Soul Society!”

“Exactly.” The instructor nodded. “When humans in the World of the Living die, they become Plus souls. They’re harmless—just souls who’ve lost their physical bodies. In all other ways, they’re just like living humans.”

“But if a Plus doesn’t receive Konsō from a Shinigami and come to the Soul Society, they’ll remain in the World of the Living, endlessly wandering.”

“There are only two fates for such Pluses: they either become Hollows, or are devoured by Hollows.”

Hollows, in other words, are malevolent spirits.

If a soul lingers too long in the World of the Living, its lingering desires will eventually corrupt its Soul, transforming it into a monster—a Hollow.

Hollows roam the world devouring the souls of others—especially those they once loved in life.

Some have lost all reason. Others retain a sliver of it, but still devour other souls, making them harmful entities.

The duty of a Shinigami is twofold: performing Konsō to send souls to the Soul Society, and purifying Hollows by slaying them.

Both tasks require a Zanpakutō.

Therefore, having received their Zanpakutō, the students present were now qualified to begin studying Konsō and even Hollow purification.

“Be ready—your training will be scheduled soon.”

With that sentence as a closing remark, the class ended.

Chapter 194: Class 1’s Combat Training

Shin'ō Academy, First-Year Class 1.

After the instructor announced the end of class, the students, each carrying their Asauchi, exited the classroom while chatting among themselves, walking off in different directions.

Due to all classes being temporarily canceled today, the students of Class 1 were dismissed on the spot and didn’t need to move elsewhere for further lessons.

Their task for the day was to become familiar with their Asauchi, in preparation for the upcoming Konsō training and even live combat training.

Therefore, most students of Class 1 didn’t plan on wandering around aimlessly. Except for a very few, the majority were heading back to the dorms, or to the training grounds and Kendō hall to get acquainted with the Asauchi in their hands.

When the students of Class 1, each carrying a sword, walked out of the classroom, students from other classes were momentarily stunned, then immediately filled with envy and jealousy.

“Are those the Zanpakutō issued by the Academy?”

“Class 1 already got their Zanpakutō?”

“I’m so jealous!”

“Yeah, I’ve been waiting eagerly for my own Zanpakutō.”

“Same here.”

“When is it going to be our turn to get Zanpakutō?”

The students from other classes conversed with either envy or jealousy, eyeing the Asauchi in the hands of Class 1 students with longing expressions. This made the Class 1 students puff up with pride, walking with their heads held high and chests out. Some even intentionally placed their Asauchi where they could be clearly seen, showing them off to stir others’ envy.

Especially those who had acquaintances in other classes—they deliberately walked up to those acquaintances to flaunt.

For example, Renji Abarai did just that.

“See this, Rukia!”

Renji Abarai grabbed Rukia Kuchiki, who happened to be wandering nearby in Class 2 next door, and pointed proudly at the sword strapped to his back.

“I’ve already received my sword! How’s that? Cool, huh?”

Upon hearing this, Rukia glared at Renji, doing her best to make her eyes look fierce so he wouldn’t notice the envy in them.

“It’s just a Zanpakutō! We’ll be getting ours soon too, you idiot Renji!”

Rukia waved her small hand, slapping Renji’s stomach.

“Ow ow! Don’t hit me, you!” Renji quickly grabbed Rukia’s hand, gritting his teeth. “And besides, this is called an Asauchi! It’s the name and form a Zanpakutō has before it’s released! Don’t call it wrong again!”

“Oh please, acting like you know everything.” Rukia was so mad she gritted her teeth and snorted. “You probably just learned that in class today and are now parroting it to sound smart. An idiot like you showing off knowledge—totally doesn’t suit you.”

“W-what?” Renji’s face froze, then he got mad and shouted, “Damn it, you’re just jealous! Jealous I got my Zanpakutō before you!”

“Who’s jealous of you, you idiot Renji!” Rukia immediately got flustered and shouted back, “And didn’t you just say it’s called an Asauchi? You messed it up too, idiot!”

“You’re the idiot! Idiot Rukia!”

“Idiot! Idiot! Renji, you’re such an idiot!”

The two of them bickered like this in the hallway, the level of the quarrel rather childish, causing passersby to steer clear.

“…Are you guys five?” Izuru Kira happened to walk by and couldn’t help but comment helplessly.

“Ahaha…” Momo Hinamori laughed awkwardly, saying nothing.

She thought the scene looked oddly familiar—just like when she used to argue with her own childhood friend…

So, back then, did she also look like a little kid in other people’s eyes?

Thinking that made Momo feel strangely embarrassed.

“Oh?”

While arguing with Rukia, Renji suddenly noticed someone, and his eyes lit up. He actually left his childhood friend behind.

“Hey! You over there, stop right there!”

Renji pointed at someone else walking past and shouted provocatively.

Everyone nearby was drawn by the shout and looked over, then immediately revealed strange expressions.

“…You’re not talking to me, are you?”

Kaiser, who happened to be passing by, saw Renji pointing straight at him and his eyelid twitched hard.

“That’s right! I’m talking to you!”

Renji’s expression was arrogant, exactly like a delinquent extorting lunch money.

“Hey! Renji! What are you doing?!”

Rukia was shocked by the scene.

And it wasn’t just her—Izuru Kira and Momo Hinamori were startled too.

“Abarai, what are you doing?”

“T-That’s Kaiser-san, you know!”

Kira and Hinamori both tried to stop Renji in a panic.

Unfortunately, Renji was already too fired up.

“Don’t stop me, Kira, Hinamori.” Renji waved them off, then struck a stance in front of Kaiser, eyeing him like a predator. “I’m saying, Kai—now that we’ve got our Asauchi, how about a match?”

That line didn’t frighten Kaiser—but it did scare the others again.

“What are you saying, Renji?!”

“Don’t be reckless, Abarai! This isn’t a joke!”

“These aren’t wooden swords—these are real blades!”

Everyone could tell exactly what Renji meant. He clearly wanted to spar using Asauchi.

This was no joke. As they say, blades have no eyes. Sparring with wooden swords and sparring with real ones were completely different things.

If anything went wrong, someone could get hurt—or worse.

Kaiser was exasperated too.

“Using Asauchi or wooden swords isn’t much different, really.” Kaiser sighed. “Unless you’re trying to fight to the death or release your Zanpakutō’s true form and power, having a real blade won’t make you any stronger than when you had a wooden one.”

In other words, just because you’re holding an Asauchi doesn’t mean you’re any better.

If you’re going to lose, you’ll still lose.

“It just feels different, okay?” Renji replied. “Come on, say yes or no. Or are you afraid of losing to me?”

Kaiser nearly rolled his eyes.

Even when he had a wooden sword, Renji couldn’t beat him. Now that he had a real Zanpakutō, how could he lose?

Renji wouldn’t get any stronger just because he had an Asauchi. But Kaiser was different.

Thanks to the Authority, whenever he acquired a stronger weapon, his skill in using that weapon would also improve to bring out its full potential.

So what was Renji going to win with?

“Let it go, Abarai.” Kaiser shook his head. “If you’ve got so much pent-up energy, why not save it for later when the combat training starts?”

Before Renji could object, Kaiser revealed a piece of news.

“Just now, the instructor pulled me aside and gave me a heads-up. He said after the Konsō lessons begin, the combat training will soon follow.” Kaiser dropped a heavy bomb. “When that happens, we’ll be going to the World of the Living to fight Hollows in specially prepared locations.”

Sure enough, Renji was distracted.

“Fight Hollows?”

He was startled.

“R-Really?”

Rukia, Kira, and Hinamori all changed expressions too.

Hollows were evil spirits that devoured souls—genuine monsters.

Even though purifying Hollows was part of a Shinigami’s job, they were still just first-year students. Was it really okay to send them to fight monsters that ate people?

Everyone started getting worried. Momo, being on the timid side, even turned a little pale.

Seeing this, Kaiser calmly added,

“Relax. They’re not real Hollows, just simulated ones. They won’t eat anyone—at most, you’ll get a few scratches.”

Speaking of this, Kaiser found it a little funny.

They’d be fighting simulated Hollows that weren’t even that dangerous, and yet the instructor had gone out of his way to pull him aside and caution him carefully, as if cradling the nation’s future flower in his arms. It was almost laughable.

Of course, Kaiser understood—only he got that kind of treatment.

After all, he was a once-in-a-thousand-years genius. If anything happened to him, the Academy would probably cry for weeks.

But those teachers could never possibly know—Kaiser wasn’t someone who’d get into trouble.

Even before obtaining his Zanpakutō, he wouldn’t be afraid of a few Hollows. Even Menos Grande-level threats wouldn’t scare him.

“Come to think of it…”

Kaiser suddenly remembered something.

“Doesn’t this training session… have some kind of accident?”

He couldn’t quite recall the details.

He only remembered that the incident… seemed to be caused by that person behind the scenes.

Would that person, just like in the original storyline, stir up trouble here?

Kaiser fell into thought.

“Simulated Hollows, huh…”

Meanwhile, after hearing the truth about the combat exercise from Kaiser, Renji and the others finally sighed in relief.

“Guess I’ll go prepare then.” Kaiser patted Renji’s shoulder and gave Rukia, Kira, and Hinamori a gentle smile. “See you around.”

With that, Kaiser turned and left without looking back.

“Ah!” Renji finally came to his senses and shouted, “He got away!”

Hearing this, Rukia wanted nothing more than to bash Renji’s head in.

Izuru Kira and Momo Hinamori exchanged glances—then chuckled bitterly.

The news that Class 1 would soon begin Konsō and combat training spread through the first-years like wildfire.

And the students of Class 1 began preparing with all their might—those needing to familiarize themselves with Asauchi focused on that, while others practiced combat techniques. Preparation was in full swing.

And so, several days passed.

Class 1’s combat training arrived right on schedule—drawing the attention of many.

Chapter 195: That’s What You Call Lacking Emotional Intelligence

Shin'ō Academy, corner of the academy wall.

Atop the wide outer wall, spacious enough to be considered a small clearing, there now stood a single traditional-style door.

It stood there as if a door had been detached from somewhere and placed here to bask in the sun. There were no buildings in front of or behind it, yet it remained upright in the howling wind, utterly unmoving.

The students of First-Year Class 1 had each brought their Asauchi and gathered here before this door.

By the time Kaiser arrived, the class had mostly assembled, and in front of the door stood three unfamiliar faces quietly waiting for Class 1 to fully gather.

“Hey! Kai! Over here!”

Renji Abarai had seemingly arrived quite early. Upon seeing Kaiser, he immediately waved at him.

Beside Renji was the figure of Izuru Kira.

Kaiser smiled, resting his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakutō at his waist, subtly covering the handle to avoid letting others see too clearly. Only then did he walk over to Renji and Izuru.

“You guys got here pretty early.”

Kaiser said that to the two of them.

“You’re just late,” Renji snorted. “Everyone’s almost here and you just arrived. Any later and you’d be late.”

“I’m not late though, am I?” Kaiser replied nonchalantly. “Whether you get here early or not, it’s just standing around waiting. Arriving just in time is the perfect timing.”

“That’s true,” Izuru said with a gracious smile. “We did get here too early and ended up waiting for almost half an hour.”

“You hear that, Abarai?” Kaiser tilted his chin at Renji. “That’s emotional intelligence. Look how nicely he puts things. Now look at you—your words are hard to listen to. No wonder your childhood friend is still just your childhood friend. If it were someone else, they'd already have kids by now.”

“W-What the hell are you even talking about?!” Renji jumped up in flustered panic, shouting angrily, “Rukia and I are just friends! Comrades! It's not what you think!”

“…That panicked denial right there? That’s what you call lacking emotional intelligence.” Kaiser gave Renji a speechless look and sighed. “I advise you to be more honest. Otherwise, if one day your childhood friend runs off to the World of the Living and starts batting eyes at some human punk, don’t blame me for not warning you.”

“R-Rukia would never do something like that!” Renji’s face turned green and red in turns. Furious, he snapped, “Also, why’d you say it so specifically?! It’s like you actually saw that future already…”

…Because I did already see that future, you dumbass.

Kaiser silently muttered in his heart.

“Ahaha…”

Izuru Kira laughed awkwardly on the side, unsure how to chime in.

No helping it. Aside from Renji—this big dummy who regularly throws himself at the top genius of the Academy like a brick wall—there really wasn’t anyone else who could talk to Kaiser so casually and unfiltered.

Although Renji used to brood over constantly losing to Kaiser, after failing so many times, the hot-headed brute genuinely came to respect him from the heart.

That was why he could talk like this, without any reserve.

Izuru couldn’t do that.

Kaiser was just too dazzling. As someone gloomy and reserved, even getting close was pressure-inducing.

As Kaiser and Renji bickered, the departure time drew closer and closer.

Soon, the three people standing before the door finally stirred.

“First-years, quiet down for a moment and listen to me.”

The one at the front stepped forward and addressed all of Class 1.

“First, allow me to introduce myself. I am a sixth-year—Shūhei Hisagi.”

With those words, quite a few students stirred in astonishment.

“That’s the Shūhei Hisagi?!”

Izuru was also surprised.

“What? You know him?” Renji asked in confusion.

“Of course,” Izuru nodded without hesitation. “When it comes to sixth-years, Shūhei Hisagi is the one who got promoted into the Gotei 13 before even graduating. He’s a super rookie—tons of seniors in the Gotei 13 are optimistic about him. He’s a big name here in the Academy.”

Then Izuru seemed to recall something, and glanced at Kaiser—who was watching Hisagi with interest—before whispering to Renji:

“Of course, the most famous person in the Academy is Kai-san. But before he enrolled, the top spot belonged to Senior Hisagi.”

Renji didn’t look too pleased hearing that.

“Shouldn’t I be the one right behind Kai in terms of fame?”

Izuru’s mouth twitched.

You?

Sure, you’re known…

At least all of Year One knows there’s a red-haired guy in Class 1 who challenges the school’s super-genius all the time, and loses every time, losing so much he's nearly lost his pants.

Kaiser had no idea Izuru was roasting Renji in his heart. He just looked at the stern-faced Shūhei Hisagi and inwardly sighed.

“Another future Lieutenant. This generation of Shin'ō Academy students really is bursting with talent.”

The Gotei 13 only had thirteen Captains and roughly that many Lieutenants. In an entire century, they might not even produce one new Lieutenant-class individual. But in this generation, they were popping up in batches—no wonder Sōsuke Aizen had his eye on this class.

While Kaiser was thinking this, Hisagi began his explanation.

“For this training, you will be traveling to the World of the Living for Konsō practice and Hollow combat exercises. We will be the ones leading you.”

“Some of our sixth-year students have already gone ahead to scout out suitable locations in the World of the Living for your practice.”

“We’ll be departing shortly. If you have any questions, ask now.”

As soon as he said that, Renji—completely lacking awareness—shot his hand up.

“Excuse me, Senior, but why are sixth-years leading the practice instead of the instructors?”

…And that’s what I mean by lacking emotional intelligence.

Kaiser couldn’t help but roast him in his head.

Fortunately, Shūhei Hisagi was a responsible senior and wasn’t upset by Renji’s poorly timed question.

“The instructors will be observing from within Soul Society, along with members of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. There are two reasons why they aren’t leading this training: one is to train your independence so you don’t rely on teachers too much in real combat; the other is to train our ability to lead.”

Hisagi explained patiently.

“We sixth-years were assigned this task as part of our own curriculum.”

“In the future, when we join the Gotei 13, we’ll need not only strong combat ability but also solid teamwork. If we become Seated Officers, we’ll have to support our superiors and lead our subordinates.”

“So learning how to lead and work as a team is part of our coursework too. Consider this part of our own practicum. Understand?”

Hisagi’s tone and explanation even managed to satisfy a troublemaker like Renji, who nodded and fell quiet.

“You can rest assured during training. If any situation arises that we sixth-years can’t handle, we’ll immediately contact Soul Society. The response team will deploy right away.”

Hisagi scanned the crowd, his eyes pausing on Kaiser for a moment before he made the announcement.

“No more questions, right? If not, then get ready to depart!”

With that, Hisagi turned and whispered a few things to his two sixth-year teammates, then turned to face the door.

“————”

The door then opened slowly, as if possessing a will of its own, revealing the space beyond to everyone.

But what appeared inside the door wasn’t the scenery on the other side—it was a vast white void.

At the end of the space was another door. Beyond that door was yet another door. Eventually, it led to a pitch-black space.

“Everyone stay behind me and do not fall behind!” Hisagi shouted to the first-years. “Getting lost in the Dangai is no joke—stay sharp!”

The Dangai was the space that connected the Soul Society and the World of the Living.

It was a corridor-like dimension, separated from space and time, floating in the void known as the Garganta. It was filled with danger—if you got lost, you could be stuck there forever with no way back.

After issuing the warning, Hisagi released a small black butterfly.

It was a Hell Butterfly, a creature that traveled between the World of the Living and Soul Society—only Shinigamis could control them. They played key roles in guiding Shinigamis, relaying information, and receiving emergency messages from the Communication Technology Research Division.

Whenever Shinigamis went to or returned from the World of the Living, it was always under the guidance of a Hell Butterfly—a crucial tool for safe passage between realms.

“Let’s go!”

Hisagi gave the order, and along with his teammates, followed the Hell Butterfly into the door.

“Move out!”

“Let’s go!”

The first-years immediately began calling to each other and charged into the door after them.

Kaiser was among them. As the door grew closer and closer, his eyes shimmered faintly.

“If something does go wrong during this exercise…”

Then he’d have no choice but to go all-out for once...

(End of Chapter)