I wasn't expecting much from myself.
I still remembered the stats.
Zanjutsu: F-
Hakuda: F
Reiryoku Control: E
Katsujinken Insight: 0%
Sword Talent: Unranked
No system boost. No flashy growth just yet.
So when Daigo came at me yesterday with that wide overhead swing, I thought I'd have to scramble just to survive.
But I didn't.
My feet moved before I told them to.
My shoulder shifted just enough to deflect without losing balance.
Even holding back, I could see his openings.
And that scared me more than if I'd been hit.
---
Today, we repeated the same exercise.
"Pair up. Zanjutsu drills. Five rotations. Controlled contact."
The instructor's voice was dry. Familiar now.
I partnered with a different student this time. Lean, fast, better technique than Daigo.
Still too easy.
I mirrored his stance exactly, copying the rhythm, the footwork. Matched his flow like a reflection in water. When he overcommitted on a rising slash, I could have slipped inside and stopped the blade an inch from his throat.
But I didn't.
Instead, I stepped back, blocked late, and let the hit land soft against my side.
I grunted. Winced. Made it look like I was struggling.
He gave me a smug nod.
"Not bad. You learn quick, for a C."
[Daily Training Complete – Stat Point +1]
That made 6 points total in reserve.
Still not enough to make a difference, not yet.
But something was changing.
---
Later that night, I stood alone in the training field after dark.
Everyone else had gone back. I wasn't supposed to be out here, but I was careful.
I picked up one of the wooden practice swords and ran through the same drills.
Diagonal cut. Horizontal block. Step. Counter.
I repeated the sequence a hundred times, slow at first, then gradually faster.
Each time, the blade felt a little less awkward. My stance, a little more balanced.
[Passive Skill Progress: Zanjutsu – F ➤ F+]
[New Trait Progress: Sword Learner – 13%]
I stared at the notification for a long moment.
Even with my low rank, I was improving faster than I should.
If I'd gone all out against Daigo…
If I'd used proper form instead of that textbook-ugly garbage…
I would've crushed him.
I knew it now.
He didn't win because he was better. He won because I let him.
And no one noticed.
Good.
---
The next morning came with news.
We were gathered before breakfast. All five first-year classes. Around seventy students total.
Some from Rukongai. Others from the minor noble houses. One or two with real prestige, though they kept their eyes ahead like the rest of us.
The head instructor stood at the front with his arms behind his back.
"You've all been here long enough to understand the basics," he said. "Now we begin the true path."
Behind him, two guards rolled out a long wooden rack.
Rows of identical black hilts. No guard. No blade.
Asauchi.
Unassigned Zanpakutō. Blank slates waiting for a soul to shape them.
"Step forward when called," the instructor said. "Take one. Bond with it. Carry it always. Your path as a Shinigami begins now."
---
My name was near the bottom of the list.
I didn't mind. That gave me more time to observe.
Most students held the Asauchi like it was precious.
Some fumbled. Some grinned. Some closed their eyes, expecting a revelation.
They got nothing.
And that told me something important.
The sword doesn't speak first. You have to become someone worth listening to.
[System Quest Updated – "Claim Your Blade"]
Objective: Acquire your Asauchi.
Bonus Objective: Make it resonate within one month.
Reward: +5 Stat Points, Passive Trait Unlock
When my name was called, I stepped forward slowly.
Took the hilt in both hands.
It was cool to the touch. Lighter than I expected. Nothing happened...
Just silence.
Good.
That meant I was still a ghost.
And ghosts, after all, are good at hiding.
---