"Hahahahaha!"
"This joke of yours—really not funny."
"Did that sword earlier make you arrogant? You think the captains of the Gotei 13 are only at that level?"
Hirako Shinji, caught off guard at first, laughed out loud—more from disbelief than amusement.
How long had it been...How long since someone dared to underestimate him this openly?
"The captains of the Gotei 13—I can't say for all of them."
"But you, Captain Shinji... You're just that. Nothing more."
Ran Yan's voice was calm, dispassionate. His tone wasn't laced with mockery. That made it sting even more.
"Alright, you can leave now. Treasure your final 27 days."
"After all, they'll be the last days you serve as Captain of the Fifth Division."
"Take time to savor the experience while it lasts—it'll be a memory worth reflecting on after you retire."
"Graduate in one month. Master Bankai in one month. Challenge a Gotei captain in one month."
"Fine!"
"I'll wait for you, then. Let's see if you can bring a Bankai to face me."
Hirako's expression flickered for a moment, then twisted into a grin.
"It's just Bankai. How hard can it be?"
Ran Yan's voice cut through the air like a blade:
"I don't need Bankai... to defeat you."
Every word was slow, firm, and left no room for doubt.There was something in his tone—an aura—that made people instinctively believe it.
"Alright," Shinji smirked. "I'll wait for you in the Fifth Division. The couch will be swept clean."
"I just hope you're not the kind of guy who talks big and delivers small."
"It'd be a shame to waste my expectations."
His smile faded as he turned and walked away without another word.
"Ran Yan, are you serious?""You're actually planning to graduate early and challenge Shinji?"
Shiba Isshin looked solemn. This wasn't a joke.
"Let's set aside the challenge part—graduating early is hard enough."
"The Academy has different graduation criteria for each class."
"For third-class students, mastering the basics of Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō is enough—even without achieving Shikai."
"Second-class students must master those basics and demonstrate Kidō under level 40, plus attain Shikai."
"But the first-class class—where you are—has the toughest standard."
"On top of all that, you must demonstrate mastery of Kidō up to level 80—fully chanted."
Isshin's tone was serious. Everyone listening now realized how steep the requirement was.
"That's not too hard for Ran Yan," Shihouin Yoruichi said suddenly.
"Captain Isshin, maybe you didn't notice—but just earlier, Ran Yan cast Bakudō #81: Dankū without even chanting."
"He used it to block Shinji's sword pressure… and saved Aizen."
The crowd gasped.
Only now did it sink in—Ran Yan had already met all the graduation criteria…in just three days.
"Wait," Isshin said, narrowing his eyes. "I said up to level 80, not just Bakudō. That includes Hadō."
"And you've all studied Kidō—you should know this."
"Bakudō is way easier to control than Hadō of the same level. Just because you can abandon chant for a Bakudō doesn't mean you can fully chant a Hadō at that level."
He turned to Ran Yan."Can you do it?"
[Your Kidō is extremely offended by Shiba Isshin's doubt. Didn't he know you've already mastered the full chant of "Hadō #88: Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō" just last night?]
Ran Yan smirked inwardly.
He didn't even need to respond. His system had already delivered the answer.
In just a few days, he had progressed beyond what any normal student could dream of.He didn't need to prove anything with words.
"Ran Yan—where are you going?"
Isshin blinked in confusion as Ran Yan turned without a word and walked out of the Kendo hall.
"Ran Yan!"
Even Yoruichi called after him—but there was no response.
"Yoruichi, Isshin-sensei..." Aizen smiled faintly. "Don't worry."
"You'll get your answer soon."
Understanding what his brother was about to do, Aizen followed without hesitation.
The others trailed behind, curiosity and awe driving their steps.
Soon, the group arrived at the Kidō Training Grounds.
Inside, students were practicing beginner spells under the guidance of an instructor.
"Captain Isshin?" the Kidō teacher said, surprised. "You're here during kendo hours?"
"I'm leading a student here," Isshin replied, scratching his head. "He just needs to borrow the field for a bit. Won't take long."
"Of course!" the teacher said, nodding with respect.
"Everyone, clear the field immediately."
The students hurriedly stepped aside.
They murmured among themselves, shocked to see the chief student of the Academy appear out of nowhere.
"That's Ran Yan, isn't it?"
"The strongest freshman in two thousand years!"
"What's he doing at the Kidō ground?"
"Is he... going to cast a spell?"
"Sensei Isshin," Ran Yan asked, eyes scanning the field, "if I break that Kidō dummy—am I expected to compensate for it?"
Isshin raised an eyebrow.
"Break it?"
"Ran Yan, don't be fooled—it only looks like wood. That thing was made by the Technology Development Bureau."
"It's embedded with seki-seki stone, absorbs Reiatsu, and was designed by none other than Shutara Senjumaru herself."
"Unless a captain-level Shinigami casts a high-tier Hadō—fully chanted—you won't even leave a scratch on it."
Isshin laughed.
"Asking if you'd have to pay for breaking it is like asking if the Central 46 would punish you for accidentally killing Yamamoto Genryūsai."
"Relax, it's not happening."
Ran Yan just smiled.
And stepped forward.