Feeling the sword intent emanating from Shunsui Kyoraku's wooden blade, Shigure Segawa couldn't help but grin.
So this was the power of a top-tier captain!
Even with just pure swordsmanship, it felt as though the very space itself was being affected.
Shigure raised his wooden blade as well, gripping it with both hands. He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.
Then, he opened his eyes. A blue aura began to swirl around the wooden blade.
Shunsui Kyoraku raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled.
"Oh, not bad. Infusing concentrated Kidō into your swordsmanship to enhance your power, huh?"
Shigure chuckled softly but didn't reply. Instead, he took a step forward and charged straight at Shunsui Kyoraku.
In moments of concentrated swordsmanship like this, using Shunpo was not advisable. Direct attacks were the best approach.
When he was about two meters away from Shunsui Kyoraku, Shigure suddenly swung his blade.
The concentrated Kidō particles exploded at that moment, sending out a crescent-shaped shockwave.
This was an attack that combined both swordsmanship and Kidō.
Shunsui Kyoraku placed his twin blades in front of him and suddenly stepped forward. With just a slight sidestep, he easily dodged the shockwave.
He spun around, swinging both blades horizontally in an arc. Shigure tapped the ground with his foot, leaping into the air and using Shunpo to quickly appear behind Shunsui Kyoraku, slashing downward.
But it seemed as though Shunsui Kyoraku had anticipated this move. Without even turning his head, he swung one of his blades backward.
Clang!
The two wooden swords collided, creating a massive gust of wind.
The shockwave spread instantly, causing the canvas around the training ground to flutter wildly. Even the robes of the elders seated on the high platform were blown up.
Shunsui Kyoraku raised his eyes slightly and said,
"Not bad."
With that, his twin blades launched another round of attacks.
The two began exchanging blows back and forth in the training ground.
The four elders watching from the sidelines were utterly stunned.
"This is incredible! To think someone could fight Captain Kyoraku to this extent!"
"Even if Captain Kyoraku is holding back, this Shigure Segawa is still terrifying…"
Once again, Shigure gathered Kidō into his wooden blade and sent out another spiritual particle shockwave slash.
But this time, Shunsui Kyoraku didn't dodge. Instead, he positioned his twin blades in front of him.
With a smile, he said,
"How about experiencing a true Kidō Blade?"
With those words, he swung his twin blades.
Swish!
A white energy blade shot out horizontally in an instant.
"Hado no Nanajūhachi: Zanhawarai (Way of Destruction #78: Severing Bloom Wheel)."
This was a powerful Kidō Blade technique derived from swordsmanship, boasting immense destructive power.
Boom!
The Severing Bloom Wheel collided with the spiritual particle shockwave, shattering it instantly before continuing its trajectory toward Shigure.
Yet, Shigure remained calm. He raised his hand and softly parted his lips.
"Bakudō no Hachijūichi…"
"What?" Shunsui Kyoraku froze, thinking he had misheard.
But Shigure, still smiling, gently uttered two more words:
"Danku."
Boom!
As soon as the words left his mouth, a massive sky-blue barrier appeared, separating Shigure and Shunsui Kyoraku.
The Severing Bloom Wheel struck the barrier but had no effect!
It was as if it had submerged into water—the energy blade vanished into the barrier without a trace.
At that moment, not only was Shunsui Kyoraku stunned, but the four elders on the platform were also completely dumbfounded.
"Bakudō no Hachijūichi: Danku (Way of Binding #81: Splitting Void)."
A high-level binding spell!
And it had been cast without incantation!
The elders stared wide-eyed, nearly in a daze.
As for Shunsui Kyoraku, he too stood frozen for a long moment. Even after the barrier disappeared, his expression remained blank.
Danku, the 81st-ranked defensive Bakudō, could completely nullify any Kidō attack ranked 89 or below!
Its powerful effect also signified its extreme difficulty.
Shunsui Kyoraku chuckled wryly.
"It seems using Kidō in front of you is like showing off in front of a master craftsman…"
Previously, Shunsui Kyoraku had known that Shigure's Kidō skills were impressive—definitely at a captain's level.
But now, it was clear that his Kidō proficiency far exceeded that of an ordinary captain!
The incantations for these advanced spells could be found in the archives of the Shinō Academy. However, without sufficient spiritual pressure and mastery, they were impossible to cast.
Even with the capability, countless hours of practice would be required to achieve incantation-less casting.
Yet Shigure Segawa had only been enrolled for two weeks.
How did he manage this?
Despite the many questions swirling in his mind, Shunsui Kyoraku chose not to press further.
In the Soul Society, power was everything.
If Shigure Segawa possessed such power, he had the right to bypass the usual rules and conventions.
As long as the Central 46 didn't intervene, no one could force him to reveal his secrets.
"Captain Kyoraku, shall we continue?" Shigure twirled the wooden blade in his hand and smiled.
But Shunsui Kyoraku suddenly lowered his hands, letting the sword intent around him dissipate. He spread his arms and smiled wryly.
"Don't you think if we keep going, we'll end up destroying this examination hall?"
He pointed to the ground as he spoke.
Shigure looked down and noticed that the Danku spell had left a noticeable trench on the floor of the hall.
Realizing this, Shigure turned to Shunsui Kyoraku and asked,
"So, what do you suggest?"
Shunsui Kyoraku pressed a hand to his forehead, smiling in mild exasperation.
"I originally wanted to see the extent of your power, but it seems… it's still an unknown quantity."
He paused, glanced at the four elders on the platform, and then smiled at Shigure.
"Congratulations, Shigure Segawa… You pass."
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