Chapter 77 – 77 ⥤ Captain-Commander, What Are You Doing?

“When I close my eyes, the whole world goes dark. Sōsuke, tell me…” Akira tilted his head back, letting out a wistful sigh, “Could it be that I am the light of this world?”

Aizen, who was studying a cookbook intently, “…”

Ever since Aizen had told him about mastering his Shikai a few days ago, Akira had been in a state of delirium, constantly muttering nonsense.

Aizen was now somewhat regretting sharing this news.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Akira, but the boy had become rather annoying. He hadn’t even asked about the Shikai’s ability.

Akira had expressed that life held no hope; he had believed that through his relentless hard work and natural advantages, he would surpass Aizen and stand alone at the pinnacle.

Yet in less than half a year at the academy, while others still struggled to infuse their soul essence and establish spiritual communication, Aizen had effortlessly achieved Shikai.

Looking at his own progress, Akira found even basic Jinzen meditation difficult. It was giving him a headache.

Akira let out a wail, holding his Zanpakutō with both hands and examining it carefully for clues.

Unfortunately, when he attempted the Jinzen meditation taught by the Shin’ō Academy again, he still couldn’t achieve spiritual communication with his Zanpakutō, much less learn its true name.

“Sōsuke, do you really have no secret technique for achieving Shikai?” Akira turned toward his “friend”, the evil genius concentrating at his desk.

“No.” Aizen responded casually, “It’s actually very simple — just follow what the teacher taught. First Jinzen, then communication, and finally you’ll learn the true name. Once your Reiatsu meets the requirements, you can perform Shikai. What, do you want to see?”

As he finished speaking, he turned slightly, his brown eyes revealing a calm expression as they met his friend’s gaze.

Akira drew in a sharp breath, then smiled sheepishly.

“Maybe not… Things like Shikai are every Shinigami’s secret. Not just me, but if anyone asks about your Shikai in the future, you’d better find an excuse to brush them off. Don’t be like certain people who foolishly reveal their abilities to enemies.”

{T/N: Is he talking about himself?…}

Aizen nodded, not saying anything more.

“I can’t slack off anymore.” Akira suddenly got up from the bed and left the dormitory.

Looking through the window at his departing figure, thoughtfulness flickered in Aizen’s eyes.

Hasn’t anyone told him that this guy has already become ridiculously strong?

Based on his Reiatsu levels and skill at inscribing Kidō patterns, Akira had grown powerful enough to face that Adjuchas-class Hollow without help. With proper execution, he could even kill it, though not without cost.

And remarkably, he was still only a first-year student at the Shin’ō Academy.

Aizen shook his head and returned his focus to the cookbook before him.

This book was comprehensive, detailing specialized techniques and anatomical analyses that surpassed even the Academy’s healing textbooks in their thoroughness.

{T/N: Dude is studying how to strip some animals just for the fun.}

For Aizen’s current needs, this knowledge was invaluable.

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Finding a quiet place, Akira set up the offering table and incense. He completed his daily ritual, inquired about the Sakahone district, and had his usual conversation with Nanao Ise.

The young woman reported that while shrine attendance had decreased, it remained satisfactory. She reminded him to focus on his studies and take care of himself.

After their brief chat, he ended the communication. Akira placed his Zanpakutō back on the offering table, choosing the ritual method over Jinzen for communication.

Incense burned, bells rang, and the ritual wand swayed.

After a moment of haziness, his consciousness returned to the familiar environment.

His previous encounter with the thunder beast had prepared him to try something bold. Since reason and emotion had failed, perhaps force would succeed.

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Three minutes later.

Akira’s consciousness snapped back to his body. He stood there stunned, questioning everything.

Why were Zanpakutō so vastly different from one another?

In the shrine within his Zanpakutō’s Inner World, despite his powerful fists, he couldn’t locate the Zanpakutō Spirit anywhere.

All that passionate energy, wasted.

“Forget it.” He sighed, “If this path won’t work, I’ll stop dwelling on it. A Zanpakutō would just slow down my punching speed anyway.”

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1st Division barracks, Training Hall.

Two figures sat facing each other in silence, their gazes locked.

“You say you want to learn my Hakuda?” Genryūsai asked with puzzlement, “Why would you have such an idea? Someone like you should be focusing on spiritual communication with your Zanpakutō.”

Akira: “…”

He wanted to, but his Zanpakutō wasn’t giving him the chance. He hadn’t even seen its form, let alone learned its true name.

After briefly explaining his situation, he waited quietly for the old man’s response.

Looking at the well-behaved youth before him, Genryūsai’s brows furrowed.

It wasn’t Akira’s current behavior that troubled him, but rather the Zanpakutō issue.

As everyone knows, a Zanpakutō’s form, state, and abilities are forged from the Shinigami’s own soul as a prototype. The process involves accumulating refinement and writing one’s soul essence into the “Asauchi” to create one’s own Zanpakutō.

Generally speaking, only three types of people cannot release their Zanpakutō.

The first type lacks sufficient power to gain the Zanpakutō’s acknowledgment.

The second type faces interference from some other power.

The third type lacks sufficient self-awareness and cannot fully understand the power within their soul.

Based on Akira’s description, he was likely the third type — he had no grasp of his own situation.

Genryūsai nodded and said thoughtfully.

“Since this is your request, I will grant it. However, you cannot abandon Jinzen training. Communicating with your Zanpakutō is a gradual process — only through daily practice can you truly understand your nature and master the power within.”

Akira eagerly agreed.

“Very well.” Genryūsai nodded with satisfaction, “I’ve always taken special care in teaching willing students. Let’s begin.”

To Akira’s astonishment, the old man removed his Captain’s haori, hung it carefully on a coat rack, then loosened his Shihakushō and tied it at his waist.

“Captain-Commander, what are you doing?”

Genryūsai turned back, “Sparring, of course. How else can I assess your current level?”

Akira: “???”

{T/N: Dude’s cooked…}

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/mrblackwing

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep