Shunsui Kyōraku's eyes gleamed momentarily before he broke into a carefree smile.
"It seems my tactics are still a bit crude... Sealing your Shunpo is indeed a challenging task when facing a genius like you..."
He had already figured it out.
From this moment onward, the members of the Stealth Force had lost.
They had failed to notice Shigure Segawa's intentions in time, allowing him to exploit a gap and use Shunpo to escape their encirclement.
And now, with his mastery of Shunpo at such a refined level, dealing with these opponents would pose no difficulty for him.
As expected, Shigure swiftly executed consecutive Shunpo, paired with fierce Hakuda techniques.
He was like a storm, leaving no room for hesitation or inefficiency, directly defeating the remaining ten members.
The time? A mere twenty-nine seconds.
The elders seated above could no longer maintain their composure, their eyes widening in disbelief.
As seasoned examiners of past generations, they were well aware that the number of Stealth Force members today had doubled compared to usual.
Yet even so, Shigure Segawa's speed in securing victory far surpassed that of any student in previous years!
"Unbelievable!" exclaimed the elder on the right, his eyes wide with shock.
"This kid's Shunpo and Hakuda techniques... are undoubtedly at a captain's level!" remarked the elder on the left, his face showing a faint smile as he spoke slowly.
Below, after defeating all twelve opponents, Shigure faced the seated elders, waiting for their declaration.
The elder on the left quickly cleared his throat, then announced loudly, "Shigure Segawa, first assessment, passed!!"
The moment his voice fell, a group of medics rushed in, swiftly attending to the unconscious and injured members of the Stealth Force.
Many of them glanced at Shigure, their eyes filled with astonishment.
Shigure slightly bowed his head, awaiting the second assessment.
Moments later, the field was cleared, leaving Shigure alone once again.
"Ahem, the second assessment: Kidō!"
"Next, we, the examiners, will randomly call out Kidō sequence numbers. Shigure Segawa, you must cast them accurately and flawlessly," the elder on the left announced loudly.
"Understood," Shigure responded confidently.
This second assessment turned out to be simpler than Shigure had anticipated.
Even at the time of his enrollment, his Kidō skills were already at a proficient level. Since returning from Karakura Town, his mastery had unquestionably reached an exceptional standard.
Every Kidō spell was well within his grasp.
The elder on the left slightly nodded and said, "Captain Kyōraku, please begin."
"Hmm, me?" Shunsui Kyōraku paused, then smiled. "Alright, I'll start... How about Kaido?"
At these words, the other examiners froze for a moment.
Kidō, the advanced sorcery of the Soul Reapers, is divided into three categories based on their functions:
Hadō: Offensive and destructive spells.
Bakudō: Binding and restraining spells.
Kaido: Healing and restorative spells.
Among these, Hadō is the easiest to master, while Kaido is the most difficult.
This is why the Fourth Division, known as the medical unit, is highly revered among the Gotei 13.
Not only do they handle the healing duties for the Gotei 13, but many of their members have also mastered the challenging art of Kaido.
However, strictly speaking, due to the unique nature of Kaido, it is never classified by sequence numbers.
The variations in Kaido stem solely from each individual's proficiency in spellcasting.
Currently, the person with the most profound mastery of Kaido in the Soul Society is undoubtedly Captain Retsu Unohana of the Fourth Division.
Yet even she has not managed to systematize Kaido.
Therefore, the Kidō assessment at the Shinō Academy typically does not include Kaido.
But now, Shunsui Kyōraku had suddenly brought it up.
The elders exchanged glances, their expressions tinged with peculiarity.
They simultaneously realized that Captain Kyōraku seemed to be deliberately making things difficult for Shigure Segawa...
Below, upon hearing Shunsui Kyōraku's words, Shigure raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm..." Shunsui Kyōraku chuckled awkwardly. "Don't be nervous. I just want to see how well a genius like you has mastered Kaido spells."
Although Shigure found it odd, his face maintained its characteristic smile. "Then, please guide me."
With that, he extended his hands and began chanting the incantation.
A soft green glow immediately appeared in front of his palms, forming a translucent emerald barrier of spiritual particles.
This was the most basic form of Kaido.
In reality, Shigure, with his exceptional skills, could achieve a much more advanced display.
However, he decided to hold back a bit.
Seeing the spiritual barrier, Shunsui Kyōraku was momentarily stunned before shaking his head with a smile. "You passed, Shigure."
Shigure withdrew his hands and nodded slightly.
Following this, the other elders felt less inclined to make things difficult.
The highest sequence number they mentioned was a Bakudō No. 75: Gochūtekkan (Five-Pillared Iron Weights).
Once the Kidō assessment concluded, the elder on the left announced loudly, "Kidō assessment complete. Shigure Segawa, passed!!"
After saying this, the elders couldn't help but feel amazed.
Shigure's grasp of incantations and his level of proficiency far surpassed that of some members of the Kidō Corps. Truly astonishing.
"Ahem, next... the final assessment!"
The elder on the left spoke again, and Shigure's eyebrows rose slightly.
He noticed a change in the phrasing.
This assessment did not specifically mention "swordsmanship." Could it be a special test?
As Shigure pondered, Shunsui Kyōraku, seated on the high platform, suddenly stood up.
Shigure's pupils contracted instantly.
Before he could react, Shunsui Kyōraku used Shunpo to appear in the center of the field.
He looked at Shigure, his face still wearing a lazy smile.
"Well, Shigure, for the final assessment... your opponent is me."
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