At the Kido Corps training ground, Hasumi Ren stood in a corner, his palm facing upward as his spiritual pressure slowly gathered.
Forgoing the incantation, he lightly raised his hand. A blast of Raikohō shot from his palm, exploding against a distant target and leaving behind a scorched mark. Though its power wasn't as destructive as a fully incanted spell, it was incredibly swift—more than enough to catch an opponent off guard.
Standing not far away, Tsukabishi Tessai held a clipboard, but his gaze had long since drifted from the paperwork. His full attention was locked onto the young man in the corner.
Raikohō, Hado #63.
Setting aside the high level of the Hado itself, just looking at his incantation abandonment, his execution was already exceptionally proficient. When he had last taught it to Ren, the boy had barely scratched the surface.
'To progress to this level in such a short amount of time...'
Tessai set down his clipboard and walked over at a leisurely pace. Ren noticed his approach and paused his practice.
"Grand Kido Chief."
Tessai nodded, his eyes falling on the lingering traces of spiritual pressure that hadn't entirely dissipated from Ren's palm.
"Your incantation abandonment is already quite advanced. But this Raikohō... how long have you been practicing it?"
Ren shook his head modestly.
"I'm still far from it. Raikohō was taught to me a few days ago by a senior who is well-versed in Kido."
'A few days ago...'
Tessai didn't say anything, simply staring at him. He had been with the Kido Corps for many years, witnessing countless geniuses and teaching innumerable disciples. Those who could master an incantation-abandoned Raikohō to this degree within a few days could be counted on one hand.
"Speaking of which, Grand Kido Chief, is it possible to use dual incantation and incantation abandonment at the same time?"
Tessai froze for a moment upon hearing this.
"Dual incantation combined with incantation abandonment? Do you mean casting two Kido spells instantaneously?"
Ren nodded.
"The difficulty of that is far too high. Even I wouldn't dare claim I could pull it off. Why? Do you want to try?"
Ren fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
[SYSTEM: Dual Incantation - Perfect] [SYSTEM: Incantation Abandonment - Proficient (5%)]
Within his system panel, his proficiency for Dual Incantation had already reached Perfect, and Incantation Abandonment had also risen to the Proficient level. Ren felt that if it were lower-level Kido spells, he might actually be able to cast them simultaneously without incantations.
He took a deep breath and raised his hands. The spiritual pressure of Raikohō gathered in his left palm, while Sokatsui formed in his right. These were his two most practiced Hado spells. The two streams of spiritual pressure condensed simultaneously, circulating and stabilizing.
Then, they dissipated in his hands.
'The difficulty is indeed immense, but it doesn't seem entirely impossible.'
After a moment of contemplation, Tessai joined in. He walked over to Ren's side, personally helping him adjust the flow of his spiritual pressure. He broke down the points of conflict when releasing two Kido spells at once, pointing out micro-deviations that were nearly impossible to detect.
He taught with absolute precision, and Ren learned just as fast.
From a distance, the Kido Corps members watched their Grand Kido Chief personally instructing this young man from an outside division, their expressions growing increasingly complex. Yet, not a single one dared to utter a word.
Time slipped away as the residual glow of the setting sun cast long shadows over the courtyard walls. After dozens of attempts, Ren finally succeeded in consolidating his spiritual pressure.
Raikohō and Sokatsui erupted simultaneously from his left and right hands, striking the target one after the other and bursting into two blinding spheres of light.
The Kido Corps members who were practicing all halted their movements, their gazes converging on the scene. Everyone stood frozen in place, staring at the obliterated target, then looking back at the calm young man who was lowering his hands.
Tessai remained silent. He simply stood there, watching Ren. Within those deep eyes, something was churning. It wasn't just surprise, but a far more complicated emotion—as if he had confirmed something, or perhaps was re-evaluating the youth before him.
"Do it again." His voice was flat, betraying no emotion.
Without hesitation, Ren raised his hands, condensed his power, and released it. This time, it flowed even more seamlessly than before.
Standing to the side, Tessai watched him and suddenly spoke.
"Your talent for Kido is the highest of anyone I have ever seen."
Ren shook his head.
"You praise me too highly, Grand Kido Chief."
"No." Tessai's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable certainty. "I am merely stating a fact."
He paused, his gaze drifting toward the darkening sky in the distance. It wasn't just Ren; Tessai himself needed a moment to process everything.
"That will be all for today. Go back and get some rest."
Ren nodded, gathered his things, and headed toward the exit of the Kido Corps headquarters. As he reached the gates, his footsteps faltered slightly.
Within his perception, he caught a faint anomaly. A gaze was fixed on him from the shadows of the corridor across the training ground. It was incredibly covert and restrained; had his senses not far exceeded those of ordinary people, it would have been entirely imperceptible.
Ren didn't look back or pause. He simply kept walking forward with steady steps and an unbothered expression, acting as though he had noticed nothing at all. Behind him, that gaze trailed his every move until he finally stepped through the main gates of the Kido Corps.
Night fell upon the Kido Corps barracks.
Tessai sat in his room, today's training logs spread out before him. His eyes lingered on Ren's data for a long time before he finally closed the ledger.
Right then, footsteps echoed from outside the door, and the voice of a Kido Corps member rang out.
"Grand Kido Chief, Central 46 requests your presence."
Tessai's brows furrowed slightly. 'Central 46... summoning me at this hour?'
Without asking any questions, he stood up, donned his outer robe, and walked out.
The chambers of Central 46 were brightly lit. The high-and-mighty sages sat in their respective tiers, their faces concealed behind the numbered wooden screens before them. Their gazes fell upon Tessai as he walked in, heavy with scrutiny and detachment.
Tessai walked to the center, came to a halt, and bowed slightly.
"May I ask what business brings the esteemed sages to summon me so late at night?"
A brief silence ensued, and then an aged voice echoed from above.
"Tsukabishi Tessai. Has the roster of the Kido Corps become somewhat bloated recently?"
Tessai's brow twitched slightly.
"The roster of the Kido Corps has always strictly adhered to the regulations issued by Central 46. There is no issue of bloating."
Another voice rang out, remarkably piercing and far more aggressive.
"Is that so? Then why have we heard that certain individuals who do not belong have slipped into the Kido Corps? A Soul Reaper named Hasumi Ren, the Fourth Seat of the Fourth Division. According to our information, he holds no official position within the Kido Corps, yet he frequents the grounds and consumes your training resources. Furthermore, you have even dedicated a significant amount of time to personally instructing him."
Tessai's expression darkened as he answered in a low voice.
"Hasumi Ren is studying within the Kido Corps as an unofficial trainee. This was done with my explicit approval. His talent is extraordinary, and his mastery over Kido is progressing at a breakneck pace. Retaining such an individual within the Kido Corps is a benefit to the entire Seireitei."
"A benefit?" The voice scoffed. "Tsukabishi Tessai, have you forgotten your place?"