Fantasy Library, Ch 181-185: Volume 3, Bleach

Beginner’s Guide to the World of Bleach

This guide introduces the key ideas, places, and powers that shape the universe of Bleach. It's designed to help you understand what’s going on, even if you’ve never seen the anime or read the manga.

1. The Three Worlds

World of the Living

• This is the human world—normal life as we know it.

Soul Society

• The afterlife where most human souls go after death. It resembles a mix of spiritual and feudal society.

  Soul Society has two major areas:

  • Rukongai: The outer region where most souls live. It's divided into districts—some are peaceful, others are poor and dangerous.

  • Seireitei: The inner city protected by high walls. It’s where the spiritual military and governing bodies reside.

Dangai (Precipice World)

• A dangerous dimension that connects Soul Society and the World of the Living. Used for travel, but extremely unstable.

2. Spirits and Beings

Humans

• Living people. Some are spiritually aware, most are not.

Souls (Pluses)

• The spirits of humans who’ve died. They wait to be sent to Soul Society through a ritual called Soul Burial.

Shinigami (Soul Reapers)

• Spiritual beings responsible for maintaining balance between worlds. They perform Soul Burials and protect both the living and the dead from dark spirits. They carry unique swords and wear traditional black robes.

Hollows

• Corrupted spirits that devour other souls. Dangerous and instinct-driven, they are the main threat Shinigami combat.

3. Spiritual Power System

Reiryoku (Spiritual Energy)

• The basic energy that souls possess. It fuels combat abilities, spells, and other spiritual techniques. Stronger souls have higher Reiryoku and may feel hunger even in the afterlife.

Reiatsu (Spiritual Pressure)

• The pressure or force created when spiritual energy is released. It can intimidate, disable, or damage weaker beings just by presence alone.

Spiritual Pressure Levels

• A rough way to measure how strong a soul is. The higher the level, the more powerful the individual.

Reishi (Spirit Particles)

• The building blocks of the spirit world. Spirits and Shinigami use Reishi to walk in the air, shape energy, and even form barriers.

4. Shinigami Combat Skills (Zankensōki)

Shinigami are trained in four main combat disciplines:

• Zanjutsu: Sword fighting using a special blade called a Zanpakutō.

• Hakuda: Hand-to-hand combat.

• Shunpo: High-speed movement, often appearing like teleportation.

• Kidō: Spiritual spells used for offense, defense, healing, or binding enemies.

5. Kidō (Spiritual Arts)

Kidō is divided into three types:

• Hadō: Offensive spells, such as energy blasts or elemental attacks.

• Bakudō: Binding and defensive spells, used to restrain or shield.

• Kaidō: Healing spells used to treat injuries.

Spell Numbers

• Spells are ranked from #1 to #99. Higher numbers are stronger but require more skill and energy.

Incantations

• A full chant can be used to increase a spell’s power. Experienced users can cast without chanting, though usually at reduced strength.

6. Zanpakutō (Soul-Cutter Swords)

Every Shinigami wields a unique sword that reflects their soul. These swords grow and evolve with their wielder.

• Shikai: The first release of the sword’s true form. Unlocking Shikai requires knowing the sword’s name and communicating with its spirit.

• Bankai: The final, most powerful release. Reaching Bankai shows mastery and vastly amplifies strength.

Each Zanpakutō has its own personality, powers, and abilities—no two are alike.

7. Soul Society Structure

The Gotei 13

• The military organization that defends Soul Society. It’s made up of 13 squads, each with specific roles and responsibilities.

Squads

• Each squad is run like a military division with its own base, culture, and specialty (combat, healing, research, etc.).

Ranks

• Captain: The strongest in each squad, often possessing Bankai and vast knowledge.

• Vice-Captain: The second-in-command, usually very skilled.

• Squad Members: Trained soldiers of various strength levels.

Central 46

• The governing council of Soul Society. It handles laws, judgments, and punishment.

Noble Clans

• Powerful families with political influence. They uphold tradition and often play key roles in Soul Society’s structure.

Onmitsukidō

• A covert force specializing in stealth, intelligence, and assassination. Closely tied to one of the military squads.

  __________________________________________________________________
  
  

Chapter 181: “Zanpakutō”

Fantasy Library, in front of the bookshelf...

A book titled High School DxD was fully opened, emitting a gentle glow as it undulated, bringing forth a mysterious, profound, and tranquil atmosphere.

Suddenly, the soft glow began to intensify, and the light radiating from the book grew dazzling. A humanoid silhouette seemed to step out from the book, slowly arriving outside.

“Buzz...”

The will of the Fantasy Library descended instantly, falling upon Kaiser, who had not even opened his eyes yet.

[Librarian detected returning. Commencing settlement of this life experience.]

[Based on the excitement level of this life experience and the degree of authenticity of the world, the Library will—cooperating with the Librarian’s own authority—grant the Librarian additional rewards.]

[Settlement in progress...]

[Settlement complete.]

[Commencing reward distribution...]

With the appearance of this will, an invisible wave of power swept through the Library, causing one bookshelf after another to light up.

When Kaiser opened his eyes, a book radiating the brightest, most piercing light happened to fly over and arrive before him.

From within the light, two weapons slowly emerged and approached Kaiser.

“Two?”

Kaiser immediately revealed a surprised expression.

There were actually two items as rewards for this life experience?

Kaiser quickly focused and looked closely, finally seeing the full appearance of the two weapons.

They were two tachi with similar appearances.

The one on the left had a plain design, a deep purple hilt, an oval guard, and a brown sheath. Overall, it looked unremarkable, yet gave off a faint, imperceptible sense of heat.

The one on the right was not too different in appearance, with a light purple hilt, a cross-shaped guard, and a dark blue sheath. Unlike the previous one’s heat, this one subtly emitted a chill.

“These two blades...”

Kaiser felt he had some impression of them, but couldn’t be certain.

So, Kaiser reached out with both hands and grasped the two blades. The golden tattoo on his body flashed, and he instantly grasped the information about these two blades.

Ryūjin Jakka: The strongest and also the oldest Fire-type Zanpakutō. Its ability is to release and manipulate flames. The heat of the fire it releases is sufficient to reduce all creation to ash and is said to possess the strongest attack power in the Soul Society.

Hyōrinmaru: The strongest Ice/Snow-type Zanpakutō. It freezes the moisture in the air using overflowing Reiatsu, forming an ice dragon that transforms everything into ice and snow. Its power is so strong that it can even manipulate celestial phenomena and is said to command everything in the sky.

“Zanpakutō!”

Kaiser’s expression brightened.

“The rewards for this life experience are actually these two Zanpakutō?”

Zanpakutō, the exclusive blade of the Shinigami.

There is a world in which a group of beings known as Shinigami exist.

They are lifeforms with extremely high concentrations of Reishi, possessing abilities surpassing humans, capable of battling Hollows, tasked with protecting humans and guiding and purifying Hollows, maintaining the balance between the Human World and the Soul Society.

They are both similar and different to the death gods of legend.

The similarity lies in the fact that they are not human but Reitai with power, and part of their duty is also to guide the souls of the deceased to the Soul Society, being its protectors and rulers.

The difference lies in the fact that they do not wield soul-reaping scythes, but instead use weapons called Zanpakutō.

Zanpakutō are formed based on the Shinigami’s own soul—its shape, form, and abilities are all modeled on the Shinigami’s soul. By conversing with the blade’s spirit, one can know its name, and by calling that name, gain power and unleash astonishing might.

Each Zanpakutō has its own name. When its name is called during battle, its true power is released. One can even unleash even more powerful forms to fight.

They possess their own soul, thoughts, and personality, and are lifelong companions who sleep, eat, and never part from the Shinigami—not mere weapons.

At this moment, the two blades Kaiser received were indeed Zanpakutō.

Moreover, they were hailed as the strongest in their respective fields—Zanpakutō that had left mighty reputations in the history of the Soul Society.

“This is a jackpot.”

As this thought flashed through his mind, Kaiser instinctively activated his own authority. The golden tattoos shimmered in his palms and spread across the two blades.

“Zing...”

The golden tattoos covered the blades and hilts, flickering several times before being absorbed.

“Boom!”

In that instant, Kaiser felt the world before him tremble violently, and he saw two different visions.

One was engulfed in endless flame, scorching hot, as if the sun had fallen from the sky, resonating with an ancient voice.

One was an icebound world, bone-chilling cold, where a dragon composed entirely of ice spread its wings, casting a pressure-filled gaze upon him.

“Master...”

“Master...”

Two voices entered his ears in succession.

No—it wasn’t entering his ears, but rather his soul.

The owners of those voices were expressing submission to him.

The owners of those voices were expressing respect to him.

“My name is Ryūjin Jakka.”

“My name is Hyōrinmaru.”

“We hereby offer you our absolute loyalty and all of ourselves.”

The voices gradually faded away, and the two visions shattered with a boom, returning Kaiser to the Fantasy Library.

And in that very instant, Kaiser fully grasped the complete power of the two blades.

Be it their names, their abilities, or even their deeper powers and more profound realms, he had mastered them all in that brief moment.

“Not bad.”

Feeling the power of the two Zanpakutō, Kaiser revealed a satisfied smile.

“Though not as overpowered as a Longinus, compared to Sacred Gears beneath the Longinus level, they’re in no way inferior—perhaps even stronger. They’re clearly much more powerful than Orga Lux weapons. As expected of the strongest Fire-type and Ice/Snow-type Zanpakutō.”

“If I unleash their full power, even compared to Longinus, they might not be far behind, right?”

“All in all, this haul isn’t bad.”

Obtaining two exclusive weapons on par with Longinus in one go—this undoubtedly pleased Kaiser.

Unfortunately, unlike last time, this one didn’t come with any new authority.

Of course, that didn’t mean there was nothing left.

“Swish!”

The book that had released the two Zanpakutō flew over to Kaiser, its light flickering erratically.

“Buzz...”

“Buzz...”

The two Zanpakutō immediately responded to the book, and began flickering as well.

The will of the Fantasy Library immediately descended and was received by Kaiser.

[Open the book to enter the fantasy world recorded within, and begin random selection of a life experience.]

[Note: Librarian currently holds key components of the fantasy world recorded in this book. If the book is opened, the range of life experiences will be narrowed based on the held components, resulting in a background more aligned with those components.]

[Librarian may also store the key components of the fantasy world recorded in the book. Opening the book after doing so will allow continued random selection, with no narrowing of the range.]

“As expected, just like last time—as long as I hold key components of a world, that world will resonate and come to me.”

Kaiser confirmed this and reached out to open the book before him.

“Shhhhhh—”

As the book opened, its pages began to flip rapidly on their own, and one page after another detached from the book, fluttering around Kaiser.

The two Zanpakutō continued flashing, reminding Kaiser of what happened last time during such a scene.

He remembered that time, under the influence of the world’s key components, some of the life pages disappeared, leaving only those more aligned with the held components.

When holding key components of a fantasy world recorded in the book, opening the book will narrow the range of selected life experiences, yielding a background more in line with those components. Last time, Kaiser had received a background related to the Church and Sacred Gear users.

So what about this time?

“Could it be I’ll receive a background related to Ryūjin Jakka and Hyōrinmaru?”

Thinking of this, Kaiser quickly stored the two Zanpakutō into his body.

This time, he would draw randomly—without narrowing the selection.

He had no choice—Ryūjin Jakka and Hyōrinmaru had great influence in this fantasy world. Especially the former. If anything went wrong, the entire development of the world might go awry.

To prevent any accidents, this time Kaiser opted not to narrow the selection.

And so, the pages flying around him gradually dwindled. When only one remained, the title appeared on the cover of the book before him—Bleach.

Then, the last remaining page flew into Kaiser’s mind, while the book, now devoid of all pages, turned completely blank.

“A new journey...”

Seeing this, Kaiser couldn’t help but feel a little anticipation.

Although he had already obtained two Zanpakutō—both incredibly powerful ones—if he could become a Shinigami in this world, he should be able to acquire a Zanpakutō of his own, right?

What would his Zanpakutō be like?

It was because of these thoughts that Kaiser began to feel expectant.

“Let’s go see...”

See what he could stir up and obtain in that world.

Kaiser stepped forward, reached out, and touched the blank book.

The next second, his figure disappeared from where he stood—entering the world within the book.

Chapter 182: “Soul Society”

Soul Society.

This is a world where Shinigami and the souls of those who died in the World of the Living reside together.

If one must describe what kind of place this is, then it can only be said that this is a world with an extremely profound hierarchy.

It resembles an era when samurai still roamed the earth freely—the buildings are somewhat old-fashioned, with a sense of age, the streets are rarely paved with stone and are mostly well-maintained dirt paths, and the people on the streets are mostly dressed in kimono, making one feel as if they have returned to the Taishō era, or even an earlier time.

Of course, this is merely the area where ordinary souls reside.

Soul Society is generally divided into two parts—one is Seireitei located at the center, and the other is Rukongai, which spreads outward surrounding Seireitei.

Seireitei’s residents are Shinigami, nobles, and the main ruling class of Soul Society.

Rukongai’s residents are ordinary souls, divided into four directions: east, west, south, and north. Each direction is further divided into eighty districts. District 1 is the closest to Seireitei, with the best public order, while District 80 is the farthest and therefore has the worst.

Every soul sent to Soul Society by the Shinigami is randomly placed into one of the districts in Rukongai. There, they seek out a suitable family, gathering together to live as relatives.

Because of Soul Society’s rules, even souls who died at the same time and place rarely end up in the same district. Thus, most families in Rukongai are newly formed for mutual support, not relatives who lived together in life.

Naturally, as a place where ordinary people live, life in Rukongai is not prosperous—rather, it is relatively poor, and the farther from Seireitei, the poorer it becomes.

There is generally only one way to leave Rukongai and live in the affluent Seireitei.

That is to possess Reiryoku and enter the only educational institution in Soul Society with training capabilities—Shin'ō Academy.

Shin'ō Academy was established a thousand years ago by the Captain Commander of the Gotei 13, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, to train future members of the Kidō Corps, Onmitsukidō, and Gotei 13—an educational institution that allows ordinary souls to gain power and become Shinigami.

Its gates are always open and have long welcomed enrollment. Even those from Rukongai may enroll if they pass the entrance exam, and study here to become a Shinigami.

Among Seireitei’s ranks, nearly all Shinigami who originate from Rukongai are graduates of this academy. Whether it is the Gotei 13 who protect the Soul Society and the World of the Living, the Onmitsukidō who carry out top-secret missions, or the Kidō Corps responsible for opening passages, erecting Kekkai, and sealing dangerous items, there are many Rukongai-born graduates among them.

Its registration site is also completely public. It is located in the west district of Rukongai in Soul Society. From the Hakutō Gate used to enter Seireitei, head south for 100 meters, then turn right to arrive.

Today, an entrance examination is being held enthusiastically at this registration point.

“Spiritual Pressure Level 21! Qualified!”

“Spiritual Pressure Level 23! Qualified!”

“Spiritual Pressure insufficient! Failed!”

“Failed!”

“Failed!”

Amid loud voices, those gathered here to take the entrance exam showed varied expressions—some with joy, some with sorrow, some nervous and uneasy, others calm and composed. The full range of human emotions was on display.

A group of people in neatly dressed white robes, clearly personnel from Shin'ō Academy, were organizing the entrance examination.

The test was very simple—measuring Spiritual Pressure.

Spiritual Pressure refers to the concentration of Reiatsu within the Reitai. It was originally a unit used by the nobles.

Anyone with Reiryoku will have it in varying strengths.

Reiatsu refers to the density of the soul.

The greater the density of the soul, the stronger the Reiatsu. Its relationship with Reiryoku is like that of water to water pressure, or air to air pressure.

The stronger one’s Reiatsu, the more Reiryoku they can wield. As for control, that depends on individual ability.

Spiritual Pressure is what measures the upper and lower limits of Reiatsu. The higher the Spiritual Pressure, the greater the potential Reiatsu that individual can manifest. Thus, Spiritual Pressure has become the entry standard for Shin'ō Academy.

To study at Shin'ō Academy, one must at least possess a Spiritual Pressure of twenty-five.

If one’s Spiritual Pressure does not reach twenty-five, they will be denied entry to Shin'ō Academy.

The higher the Spiritual Pressure, the more attention one receives at the academy.

Unfortunately, up to this point in the entrance exam, no one had reached even a Spiritual Pressure of twenty.

Spiritual Pressure twenty is the usual standard for past graduates of Shin'ō Academy and also the normal level of Reiatsu for ordinary Squad Members in the Gotei 13.

If a student appears with a Spiritual Pressure of twenty before enrollment, it is generally certain that they can study through to graduation.

As for those with a Spiritual Pressure above ten, they are bona fide prodigies—even within the Gotei 13, such individuals can become Seated Officers.

In past entrance exams, any person with a Spiritual Pressure above ten immediately became a sought-after talent.

But such individuals are far too rare—sometimes several classes go by without one appearing.

However, today, the history of Shin'ō Academy was destined to be etched with a heavy mark.

“Zing——”

When a blinding light akin to a burst of radiance appeared on one of the devices used to measure Spiritual Pressure, the entire crowd instantly fell into shock and silence.

A young man who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen stood before the device, with one hand placed upon it, bathed in that dazzling light.

Beside him, a white-robed Shin'ō Academy staff member was so stunned by the intense light that he was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he stammered out:

“Sp-Spiritual Pressure... Level Two!”

Level Two Spiritual Pressure!

This phrase exploded in the minds of everyone present, leaving them dizzy.

After a long while, an uproar erupted, followed by a massive commotion.

……

Soul Society, Seireitei.

As the center and key stronghold of Soul Society, this place was a completely different world compared to Rukongai.

It was vast, with an area of approximately 418,327 square Reishi miles, and a radius of about 365 Reishi miles. It was laid out in a circular formation composed of massive streets—walking around it on foot would take about forty days.

The environment within Seireitei was also extremely beautiful, with large grasslands and low, rolling mountains. Most buildings were made of stone, with tiled roofs and pleasing appearances.

Compared to this, Rukongai was completely like a slum.

The surrounding walls of Seireitei were built from Sekkiseki, which could block Reiryoku. These Sekkiseki released waves that decomposed Reiryoku, forming a spherical protective barrier that extended from the sky to underground, safeguarding Seireitei. Souls with ordinary Reiryoku simply could not breach it, marking an exceptionally clear separation between classes and commoners—an extreme manifestation of hierarchical structure.

But today, many voices in Seireitei were discussing residents of Rukongai.

“Did you hear? This year at Shin'ō Academy, a student appeared with Level Two Spiritual Pressure!”

“Apparently from Rukongai? And from one of the outermost districts...”

“No way? Level Two Spiritual Pressure?”

“Isn’t that Captain-level Reiatsu?!”

“How could such a genius come from a place like Rukongai?”

“Level Two Spiritual Pressure... that’s a level not even some Captains have reached. A commoner from Rukongai actually possessed more Reiatsu upon entry than some Captains?”

“That has to be a joke, right?”

“It’s true. I heard even the Captains of various Squads have been alarmed. Many in the Squad Barracks are discussing it.”

“They say even the Captain Commander has been disturbed.”

“This really is...”

One by one, Shinigami wearing black kimono and carrying Zanpakutō at their waists were either walking through the streets or appearing in buildings, gathering in small groups and all discussing the same topic.

Many were surprised by this incident—more were outright shocked.

No helping it—Level Two Spiritual Pressure was simply too terrifying.

One must understand, within the Gotei 13—tasked with protecting Seireitei’s safety and maintaining order in Soul Society and the World of the Living—Shinigami capable of reaching Level Two Spiritual Pressure were extremely few.

The Gotei 13, as the name suggests, consists of thirteen Squads, with all members being Shinigami and ranks strictly defined.

Each Squad has one Captain, one Lieutenant, and multiple Seated Officers. The Seated Officers are usually ranked by strength, with lower seats assisting higher ones.

The Lieutenant assists the Captain; the Third Seat assists the Lieutenant; the Fourth Seat assists the Third, and so on. Each Squad typically has over 200 Squad Members at the base level.

Among these many Shinigami, the ordinary Squad Members typically have around Level Twenty Spiritual Pressure. Level Ten and above qualifies one to be a Seated Officer. The Lieutenants usually have Level Four or Five, and even Captains generally possess only Level Three.

Level Two Spiritual Pressure?

What does that mean?

And from a newly enrolled student?

What does that mean?

In short, the entire Seireitei was in an uproar—even the high-and-mighty nobles were alarmed. All factions began verifying the authenticity of this news. Some even left their residences to head for Shin'ō Academy.

And in the Squad 1 barracks of Seireitei, inside the Captain Commander’s room of the Gotei 13, an old man sat there.

He was a dignified and solemn old man, with a hint of kindness in his demeanor.

The old man was bald, his face heavily wrinkled, with protruding cheekbones and a cross-shaped scar on the right side of his forehead. He had long eyebrows and beard, a silver-white beard tied with a purple cord that hung to his waist. His body was sturdy, and he wore a deep purple Haori.

At that moment, on the document before the old man lay the information of a certain individual.

“Kaiser...”

Gazing at the name on the document, the old man fell into thought.

Chapter 183: The Boss of North Rukongai

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Captain of Squad 1 of the Gotei 13 and the Captain Commander of all thirteen Squads, is not only the oldest and most ancient individual in the current Gotei 13, but also the strongest combat force in Soul Society in the open. He is a Shinigami whose fame has resounded throughout the Three Worlds for more than two thousand years.

Shin'ō Academy was also established by him—he was the first headmaster.

Without him, Rukongai would not have had so many people who rose to prominence, became Shinigami, and moved into Seireitei. The current Gotei 13’s excellent personnel would not even be half of what it is today, and such a grand situation would have been impossible.

It can be said that without Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, there would be no Soul Society as it is today, no Gotei 13 as it is now, and even Shin'ō Academy would not exist. His connection to Shin'ō Academy runs incredibly deep, so when a commotion occurred over there, he received the news at once.

At this moment, while outsiders were still discussing this matter and verifying its truth, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had already dispatched someone to investigate the background of the subject in question.

“Kaiser. Seventeen years old before death. After approximately two months post-mortem, he was sent to Soul Society, entered Rukongai, and has lived there for a very short time—still under three months in total.”

A middle-aged man with white hair and golden eyes, a thin black mustache, brownish skin, and a distinctly Western appearance, wearing a black kimono with a white Jinbaori, and a white high-collared shirt underneath, with a Squad 1 Lieutenant's Badge on his left arm, was holding a file and reporting to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

“He lived in Zaraki, North Rukongai. Although he lived there for less than three months, he experienced multiple deadly battles.”

Hearing this, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto narrowed his eyes slightly.

Zaraki in North Rukongai—that was one of the four District 80s farthest from Seireitei.

The environment there is extremely poor, practically barren, plagued by famine, where even survival becomes a problem. It is a hell that even Shinigami are unwilling to step into.

The souls living there mostly determine who survives through mutual slaughter. Due to a severe shortage of food and water, people fight every day, constantly seizing food from one another, resulting in countless bloody tragedies.

Therefore, Yamamoto was not surprised to hear that someone had experienced multiple deadly battles there—what surprised him was that the person turned out to be a resident of that place.

One must know that the current Captain of Squad 11 of the Gotei 13 also originated from that district.

He didn’t expect that another super-genius with Spiritual Pressure Level Two would emerge from that place now...

The Squad 1 Lieutenant standing before Yamamoto did not notice the Captain Commander’s expression—or rather, even if he did, he was unsurprised, since he too knew about the current Squad 11 Captain’s origin in Zaraki.

At first, he had been shocked as well, but now he only wished to report what he had discovered.

“Perhaps because his Reiryoku was naturally very strong, this person had high demands for food and water. During his time in Zaraki, he actively engaged in battles, relying on a single sword he seized from someone else to slay 137 notorious criminals, securing enough food and water for survival.”

Generally speaking, the souls arriving in Soul Society are not much different from how they were in the World of the Living—only hindered slightly by differing eras.

However, ordinary souls in Soul Society do not need to eat. They can survive by absorbing Reishi from the atmosphere and consuming a small amount of water.

Most souls do not have Reiryoku and do not experience hunger, so most regions of Rukongai lack edible provisions, leading to a constant food shortage.

This is quite unbearable for souls that do need to eat.

Souls with higher Reiryoku may find that absorbing Reishi from the air is insufficient for survival, resulting in hunger. Prolonged hunger can cause physical weakness, or even death in serious cases.

Because of this, souls with high Reiryoku must fight with others for food and water—fighting, robbing, stealing—doing whatever it takes.

Especially in areas far from Seireitei, where food scarcity is extreme—this is a primary reason why public order in those areas remains poor.

Someone with Spiritual Pressure Level Two clearly has incredibly strong Reiryoku and would indeed need a lot of food. Thus, engaging in frequent battles was perfectly normal.

What was abnormal was that this person had only just arrived in Soul Society, was so young before death, and yet after coming here, already possessed the strength to slay so many criminals—truly astonishing.

“After acquiring enough food and water, this person left Zaraki and journeyed toward Seireitei. He finally arrived yesterday, registered at Shin'ō Academy, took the entrance exam, and was measured to have Spiritual Pressure Level Two—with the potential to become a Captain-level existence.”

Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe of Squad 1 concluded his report here, closing the gathered documents and looking toward Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

“Detecting Spiritual Pressure Level Two during the entrance exam—this is the first occurrence since Shin'ō Academy was founded a thousand years ago.”

“Even by graduation, no one has ever reached Level Two. Let alone upon admission.”

“This is a once-in-a-century... no, it should be said, once-in-a-millennium super-genius.”

Chōjirō Sasakibe made a fair and impartial evaluation, free of any personal bias.

“The appearance of such a super-genius has already stirred great interest among the major Noble Clans in Seireitei. Even among the Four Great Noble Clans, someone has shown intense interest and is preparing to make direct contact with the individual.”

“Captain Commander, should we also take action?”

To this inquiry, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto responded only with a long silence.

This strongest Shinigami of the last thousand years closed his eyes, holding a wooden cane. Though silent, a heavy atmosphere emanated from him.

After a moment, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto reopened his eyes.

“Relay a message to the entire Gotei 13 and the Noble Clans—tell them they are not to interfere in the academy life of the Spiritual Pressure Level Two holder,” Genryūsai said calmly. “Just say this is my will. If anyone doesn’t want to listen, that’s fine—but I won’t mind having a little talk with them afterward.”

“Yes,” Chōjirō Sasakibe answered first, then asked, “Are we really not going to make contact with the Spiritual Pressure Level Two holder?”

“Not for now.” Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto shook his head and said, “He came from Zaraki, has repeatedly engaged in killing, and his malice is too strong. If he becomes another Kenpachi Zaraki, that would be a headache.”

“Since he wishes to study at Shin'ō Academy, let him calm his malice through a peaceful academic life.”

“Such a young person with Level Two Spiritual Pressure has limitless potential. We can’t let this promising talent become another combat maniac like those in Squad 11.”

Upon hearing this, Chōjirō Sasakibe nodded, gave a respectful bow, and withdrew.

Only Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto remained, gazing at the file on the desk, his thoughts unknown.

At the same time, his orders were carried out by Chōjirō Sasakibe and delivered to the various Squads, as well as to the major Noble Clans.

After receiving the warning, many began to curb their restless thoughts, not daring to openly go against Genryūsai’s wishes.

But there were also those who didn’t care in the slightest.

For example, certain lawless nobles.

For example, the battle maniacs of Squad 11.

And for example, some who agreed on the surface but were secretly preparing to act.

Under such circumstances, Seireitei still did not quiet down—it remained just as lively, and just as full of discussion...

……

At the same time, at Shin'ō Academy.

At this moment, Kaiser—the very person Genryūsai had labeled “too full of malice” in his heart—was leisurely lounging on a tree he had found, having jumped onto its branches, basking in the sun with a lazy demeanor.

He was dressed in plain white robes, looking just like any ordinary student of Shin'ō Academy. There was no sign that he was the bearer of Level Two Spiritual Pressure who had shocked the entire Seireitei and even all of Soul Society.

“Finally got into Shin'ō Academy. From now on, I probably don’t need to fight others every day just to get a bite to eat, right?”

While enjoying the peaceful afternoon, Kaiser couldn’t help but complain.

“Seriously, I never would’ve thought the start of this life experience would be so miserable. The first thing I had to do in this world was fight over food—who am I even supposed to blame for that?”

Just as Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had discovered, when Kaiser arrived in this world, he had been dead for less than two months.

At that time, he was just an ordinary soul and hadn’t had the chance to use his Inherent Authority to convert his power system. He got bopped on the head by a passing Shinigami and was sent to Soul Society.

Even that would have been fine—but what Kaiser hadn’t expected was that after being sent to Soul Society, he ended up in the worst area: Zaraki, the 80th District of North Rukongai.

The moment he converted his power system, turning his Aura into massive Reiryoku stored within his body, he immediately felt intense hunger in his belly, forcing him to find food.

So, he fought for several months in Zaraki, storing food and water. Once he had enough, he left Zaraki, journeyed south, and finally arrived in Seireitei, where he found Shin'ō Academy’s registration site.

“Now that I’m enrolled, I don’t need to worry about food or drink anymore. I just need to think about what I can learn here.”

“The Four Basic Techniques of the Shinigami—Zan, Ken, Sō, Ki—I’m quite looking forward to them.”

“And also... Zanpakutō...”

Kaiser’s thoughts began to wander.

Chapter 184: Zan, Ken, Sō, Ki

Today’s weather was very pleasant. The sky was clear and cloudless, making the sunlight that shone down on the earth unusually warm and gentle.

Kaiser walked down one of the corridors of Shin'ō Academy’s school building, his expression composed, and his steps calm and steady, drawing frequent glances from the surrounding Academy Students.

“That’s the one with Spiritual Pressure Level Two, right?”

“He looks so young...”

“I heard his actual age is also very young, not even twenty yet.”

“Not even twenty and already has Spiritual Pressure Level Two?”

“Isn’t that a bit too freakish?”

The Academy Students didn’t dare to casually approach Kaiser. They simply watched him from a distance, whispering among themselves, and were especially shocked upon learning his true age.

In Soul Society, souls also age as time passes—just very slowly.

So although the Academy Students at Shin'ō Academy all appeared to be young people, many were actually souls who had lived for forty to fifty years, and some had even lived for nearly a hundred years.

Compared to them, the age set by the background of Kaiser’s current life experience was indeed extremely young. He might even be the youngest person in all of Shin'ō Academy.

To these students who had lived for at least forty or fifty years, the fact that a new student not even half their age had just enrolled with Spiritual Pressure Level Two—surpassing even some Captains of the Gotei 13—was an absolutely astonishing matter.

As a result, even though not much time had passed, Kaiser had already become a legend within the academy, regarded as the most talented Academy Student since its founding.

Unfortunately, Kaiser was long used to the stares of others, as well as their murmuring.

If he had never studied at Seidoukan Academy, he might still feel uncomfortable. But after studying at Seidoukan Academy, taking the top rank, and even winning the Phoenix Festa championship, stares like these had become far too common. Whether he liked it or not, Kaiser had grown used to them.

And so, Kaiser ignored all the gazes around him and, bathed in eyes filled with awe, curiosity, envy, and jealousy, walked up to the front of a classroom.

“First-Year Class One.”

After confirming this was his destination, Kaiser stepped inside.

“————”

Immediately, the once slightly noisy classroom fell completely silent.

The new students who had been chatting and getting to know each other all lowered their voices at once the moment they saw Kaiser, as if by instinct and mutual agreement.

“...That’s him, isn’t it?”

“...Yeah, that’s him.”

The new students began whispering secretly, making the atmosphere in the classroom quite subtle.

Paying them no mind, Kaiser walked to the very corner and back of the classroom and sat down.

The other students continued sneaking glances at him while whispering among themselves, not daring to raise their voices.

Not long after, the instructor entered the classroom and stepped onto the podium.

“Nice to meet you all, First-Year Class One.”

The instructor seemed to glance in Kaiser’s direction, then addressed everyone in a stern tone.

“All of you here have passed the entrance exam and officially become outstanding students of Shin'ō Academy.”

“By successfully sitting here, it means you are no longer just ordinary souls. You are now reserves for the Shinigami, and if you graduate, you will become one.”

“For the next six years, barring any accidents, all of you will remain here and study together.”

Shin'ō Academy follows a six-year system. Normally, after completing six years of study, one can successfully graduate and become an official Shinigami.

Of course, students with particularly outstanding performance may also skip grades and strive to graduate in a shorter time. However, very few can achieve this, and those who do are usually renowned figures in the Gotei 13—some even Captain-level.

“As students of Class One, I don’t expect you to be so excellent as to graduate early, but I do hope you will always lead ahead of others and successfully join the ranks in six years.”

Each grade’s Class One consists of the most outstanding group of students. Therefore, Class One is also known as the elite class or special advancement class and is a priority focus group for training.

“Now then, let me briefly introduce to you all what you will be learning in your future academy life.”

The instructor picked up a piece of chalk and wrote four large characters on the blackboard.

Those four characters were: Zan, Ken, Sō, Ki.

“Shin'ō Academy has many courses—from teaching and training the most basic Shinigami combat techniques to field Konsō practice in the World of the Living. Though not excessively burdensome, they’re by no means easy either.”

“We’ll set aside field Konsō practice for now. Today, we’ll focus on the four basic combat techniques of the Shinigami—Zan, Ken, Sō, Ki.”

The instructor pointed at the character “Zan.”

“Zan refers to Kendō and Zanjutsu. It is the most commonly used combat technique for Shinigami. Because a Shinigami’s primary weapon is the Zanpakutō, swordsmanship is something every Shinigami must master. Unless you absolutely lack talent, no Shinigami can completely avoid training in sword techniques.”

The instructor pointed to the character “Ken.”

“Ken refers to Hakuda. Hakuda is unarmed combat techniques—what you’d usually consider barehanded fighting. Even though a Shinigami’s weapon is the Zanpakutō, unarmed combat is still something you must learn. You can’t guarantee you’ll have talent for swordsmanship, nor can you guarantee you won’t lose your weapon in battle. In such situations, Hakuda becomes critically important.”

The instructor then pointed to the character “Sō.”

“Sō refers to Shunpo. It is a skill that allows instant high-speed movement, letting you move faster than the opponent can perceive. It is an extremely advanced footwork technique. Shinigami who master Shunpo gain a tremendous advantage in battle. Even simply moving quickly to strike your opponent can become a lethal threat.”

Finally, the instructor pointed to the character “Ki.”

“Ki refers to Kidō. It’s the art of casting various mystical spells through Incantations. Shinigami who are skilled in Kidō will be highly valued by the Kidō Corps and carry great responsibility. It’s a required subject not only for combat, but also for displaying value and effectiveness across various domains.”

Having said this, the instructor looked at the students with a serious expression.

“Zan, Ken, Sō, Ki—these four techniques are the four basic combat techniques of Shinigami and the means by which you, as Reitai and Souls, can flexibly and fully utilize your excellent Reiryoku.”

“During your time studying at Shin'ō Academy, these will be your main learning content. Though called basic techniques, these are the very skills all Shinigami have always used—even Captains of the Gotei 13 constantly seek to refine them further.”

“As long as you are a Shinigami, or wish to become one, it is absolutely impossible for you not to learn these four techniques. At the very least, you must master one or two of them before you are qualified to step onto the battlefield and call yourself a Shinigami.”

Next, the instructor gave a rough overview of the learning process and announced the related courses.

Where to study Zanjutsu, where to study Shunpo, when to learn, and when each course begins—these were the main points of this lesson.

“I hope you all take this seriously and do not slack off during training. If you perform well enough, you should be able to receive your own Zanpakutō soon.”

The instructor told everyone this.

“By the way, elite Shinigami from the Gotei 13 sometimes visit Shin'ō Academy for inspections. If you’re lucky, you might even get a Captain of one of the Thirteen Squads to personally teach you a lesson.”

“If you perform well enough in front of a Captain, there’s even a chance you’ll be recruited early and invited to join the Gotei 13.”

Hearing this, all the new students’ eyes lit up, and many became excited.

Among them, quite a few once again looked toward Kaiser, seated quietly in the back corner, murmuring in their hearts.

“He’s probably the one who’ll get recruited early, right?”

Many of them thought this, including the instructor.

In their eyes, Kaiser—who had entered the academy as a new student with Captain-level Spiritual Pressure—was definitely not going to stay at the academy for six years.

There’s no way the Gotei 13 wouldn’t covet such a super-genius. In fact, if Kaiser performed well in the Kidō courses, even the Kidō Corps would be unable to resist trying to recruit him.

As for the Onmitsukidō, that’s not something you can join based on academic performance. It requires performing many unseen tasks. Without strong mind and body, even a genius would be ruined there.

“Well then, that concludes my brief introduction.”

The instructor glanced at the time and then said,

“Soon, your first Kidō class will begin. You may now head to the training field to begin your Kidō lessons.”

Leaving those words behind, the instructor departed alone.

The group of new students all stood up, walking out of the classroom while chatting with eager anticipation.

“Kidō, huh... I wonder what it’s like?”

“Spells that use Reiryoku—it sounds pretty awesome.”

“I prefer Zanjutsu. After all, a Shinigami’s weapon is ultimately the Zanpakutō.”

“By the way, when will we get our Zanpakutō?”

Everyone’s attention had been drawn to the new course about to start, and no one was paying attention to Kaiser anymore.

Kaiser was naturally pleased to have some peace. He blended in with the crowd and slowly made his way toward the training field.

Before long, the students of First-Year Class One arrived together at a training field lined with numerous targets. There, they met their Kidō instructor.

Chapter 185: The Advanced Spells of the Shinigami

“Kidō—advanced spells that only Shinigami can use.”

As the students of First-Year Class One sat in orderly rows on the wooden floor, the Kidō class instructor began the formal lecture.

“This is a form of technique that uses Reiryoku to achieve the purposes of offense, defense, restraint, support, and even healing. Through the act of ‘Incantation,’ a Shinigami’s Reiryoku undergoes a special transformation and circulation, thereby forming power and triggering certain phenomena.”

The Kidō instructor spoke confidently and fluently.

“Kidō is generally divided into three types.”

“Those used for attacking, destroying, and harming are called Hadō.”

“Those used for defense, capturing, and tracking are called Bakudō.”

“Those used for healing, recovery, and restoration are called Kaidō.”

“Among them, Hadō and Bakudō have corresponding numbers. The higher the number, the greater the power—but also the greater the difficulty in using it.”

The Kidō instructor stood in front of the students, facing a row of targets.

“To cast Hadō or Bakudō, one must accurately recite the name and even the full chant of the corresponding numbered spell. This step is known as Incantation.”

“Except for Kaidō and certain special Kidō, almost all Hadō and Bakudō require Incantation. Only Shinigami with sufficiently strong abilities can forgo the Incantation and directly release Kidō.”

“Like this.”

Saying so, the Kidō instructor extended a finger toward one of the targets.

“Hadō #1: Shō.”

As the chant was spoken, from the fingertip of the extended hand, a surge of Reiryoku abruptly transformed into a shockwave and shot out.

“Bang!”

The shockwave accurately struck the target, piercing it on the spot.

“Whoa!”

The students who had been listening intently were first startled by the scene, then began chattering noisily.

“That was the most basic Hadō—Hadō #1.”

The Kidō instructor smiled faintly and continued.

“What you just saw was a chantless casting of Hadō #1. As you all saw, its power wasn’t particularly strong, because omitting the chant will reduce the effectiveness of the spell based on the caster’s Kidō aptitude and the spell’s inherent difficulty.”

“Hadō #1 is the most basic and weakest Hadō to begin with. After omitting the chant, its power becomes even weaker—naturally, it won’t be very impactful.”

“If you want to unleash the full power of a Kidō, then a full Incantation is a necessary step.”

That said, in the rapidly changing conditions of battle, having the time and opportunity to chant Kidō is undoubtedly difficult.

Especially with high-numbered, advanced Kidō, the Incantations can be quite long. To fully chant and unleash a powerful advanced Kidō in intense combat is extremely difficult.

Thus, even though chantless casting lowers a spell’s power, it makes it more practical in battle.

Unfortunately, it’s not easy to cast without chanting. If the caster’s strength and Reiryoku aren’t sufficient, chantless casting is simply impossible.

“You are all elites of the special advancement class. Your Spiritual Pressure is far above that of ordinary students. Even as beginners, for a low-level Kidō like Hadō #1, you should be able to cast it without chanting.”

After explaining the method of using Hadō #1 in detail, the instructor began calling names.

“Now then, each of you will come up in groups to practice casting Hadō #1.”

“First group, step forward.”

At the instructor’s call, the students in the front row stood up, stepped out of formation, and walked to a row of targets.

“Hadō #1: Shō!”

“Hadō #1: Shō!”

“Hadō #1: Shō!”

Following the instructor’s teaching, they extended their fingers, aimed at the targets, and began casting Hadō #1—some nervously, some uneasily, some with calm focus.

“Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!”...

In the Kidō training field, the sound of targets being pierced rang out one after another.

The students all successfully cast Hadō #1—and without chanting. Almost no one failed.

“Excellent.”

Seeing this, the Kidō instructor nodded in satisfaction.

One could only say that Class One lived up to its reputation. Every student was excellent. Even as beginners, they could successfully cast Hadō #1 in a single attempt.

The students in the following groups also succeeded, one after another. Even if someone slipped and failed, they would quickly succeed after one or two tries. Only one red-haired male student failed four or five times, but on the sixth attempt, he finally succeeded—proving that at least in terms of Reiryoku, the students of Class One were not weak.

“...That guy looks kind of familiar.”

In the back row, Kaiser looked at the red-haired male student—who had failed four or five times, was flushed red from anxiety, and finally let out a huge sigh of relief after succeeding on the sixth try—and felt the guy looked extremely familiar.

There was also a blond-haired boy and a black-haired girl. When Kaiser looked at them, they also seemed very familiar, like people he had seen many times before—though with details that didn’t quite match.

As Kaiser was thinking about this, the Kidō instructor called out the final group.

“Last group—step forward.”

Kaiser immediately came back to his senses, stopped thinking, stood up with the rest of his group, and walked out.

Seeing him appear, the students who had just been happy about learning Hadō #1 all turned their attention to him.

Even the Kidō instructor did the same.

Kaiser stood at a slight distance from the target, looked at the target in front of him, and extended a finger.

Truth be told, he was quite excited.

Strictly speaking, this was the first time he was seriously studying how to use a supernatural ability.

During his time in the world of Asterisk War, although he attended Seidoukan Academy, the school didn’t actually teach combat. All of Kaiser’s combat techniques came from the effects of Authority. He didn’t need to study or train—just hold a weapon and he could naturally use it.

His use of Prana was also rudimentary—mostly used instinctively for defense. Its main use was as fuel for Ser-Veresta or Gravisheath. Even the process of absorbing Manadyte or Urm-Manadyte to grow stronger was handled by Ser-Veresta. He only had to absorb and keep the power from going out of control.

As for the world of High School DxD, there was even less to say. He didn’t go through harsh training like others. His entire Touki came from converting Prana via Authority. Sacred Gears were also directly mastered via Authority—no study, no honing.

Therefore, up to now, the only self-driven effort Kaiser had made in “getting stronger” was some early-morning self-training while enrolled at Seidoukan Academy and the simulated and coordinated practice with Kirin Toudou when they were teamed up.

Other than that, there was nothing.

This was also why Kaiser often mocked himself as a cheat character. Originally just an ordinary person, the fact that he gained his current level of combat power with almost no effort was downright absurd.

Now, at last, he was seriously starting to study how to acquire supernatural powers.

With that thought in mind, Kaiser recalled the method the instructor had taught and began casting the Kidō.

“Hadō #1: Shō!”

Compared to the other students, there was nothing different about Kaiser’s casting.

However, just as he successfully cast the Kidō, an unexpected event occurred.

“Buzz...”

A surge of astonishing Reiryoku suddenly poured from Kaiser’s fingertip, like floodwaters breaking through a dam.

The Reiryoku transformed into a shockwave, letting out a sharp screech as it cut through the air and struck the target directly.

“BOOM!!!”

With an explosive sound, the shockwave didn’t just pierce the target like the others—it blasted the entire target surface to pieces like a mortar shell, utterly shattering it.

“Uh...”

Kaiser was stunned.

“Ahem...!”

The Kidō instructor nearly choked.

“————”

All the students present stared with wide eyes, shock written across their faces.

The scene instantly fell silent—without a single sound remaining.

“...Sensei?”

After a long silence, Kaiser turned to the Kidō instructor and called out tentatively.

The instructor looked at Kaiser as if looking at a divine being.

“As expected of a Spiritual Pressure Level Two holder... Even the most basic Hadō #1 can be this powerful,” the instructor said with a wry smile, kindly addressing Kaiser. “Don’t worry, you just didn’t regulate your Reiryoku output properly.”

“For something like Hadō #1, there’s no need to pour in so much Reiryoku.”

“Try it again using about one-tenth of what you just used.”

The Kidō instructor patiently guided him, and Kaiser nodded.

“Hadō #1: Shō!”

Following the advice, Kaiser only used about one-tenth the Reiryoku, launching another shockwave.

“Bang!”

This time, the target wasn’t blown apart. Instead, the bullseye was merely pierced.

Even so, the power of Kaiser’s Hadō #1 still exceeded that of the others. Cracks spread outward from the bullseye, looking rather shocking.

The surrounding students’ expressions changed immediately.

He only used one-tenth of his Reiryoku—and his Hadō #1 was stronger than their full-power versions?

This is Spiritual Pressure Level Two?

Little did they know, this was already Kaiser holding back.

Reiryoku is energy drawn from the spirit body. Aura is the fundamental wave of life.

One comes from the soul, the other from life. They are essentially equivalent in scale. Therefore, after converting Aura into Reiryoku, the amount Kaiser gained was in no way inferior to what he had before.

If he had truly gone all out, who knows what would’ve happened?

“All right, let’s move on.”

The Kidō instructor cleared his throat and shifted everyone’s attention.

“Next, I’ll teach you higher-level Kidō. Pay attention. Study well.”

“Yes!”

[End of Chapter]
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Author's Note: We’re backkkk—finally! Sorry for the delay. I’ve been diving into the Bleach universe and doing a lot of research to get things right. There might be a few slip-ups here and there. If you catch any mistakes or inconsistencies, please let me know. Thank you so much for your support—love you all!