Chapter 89 ⥤ Crash Down!
A rumbling laugh like an engine's roar escaped him, as if he'd heard something absurd.
"I never thought Shin'ō Academy brats had become so arrogant. Who gave you such confidence? Yamamoto? Ridiculous!"
As he spoke, his muscles expanded gradually until they burst through the shackles — their Kidō spell reinforcement now gone — releasing a Reiatsu that surged like a tidal wave.
His power was unmistakably at Lieutenant level, just shy of Captain class. The malevolent chill within his Reiatsu was palpable to anyone who faced him.
Had this monster not been imprisoned, he likely would have become a Shinigami Captain by now.
Even now, he radiated danger to Akira.
The opponent proved more formidable than the previous Adjuchas Hollow — not just in Reiatsu, but in raw strength. Akira's survival instincts had warned him of this threat from the start.
"A brat like you knows nothing of true warriors. Captain Kuruyashiki, whom I once served, could kill lower-class Hollows instantly, capture mid-class ones with ease, and strike such fear into upper-class Hollows that they fled into their Garganta." Shiraki, his imprisonment perhaps loosening his tongue, continued, "Hah! Later, when I led missions, I encountered those same Hollows. And you know what? Those so-called terrors proved pathetically weak."
He lowered his head as intense heat radiated from his massive frame, his overwhelming pressure filling the training ground.
"That Hollow? I tore it apart with my bare hands!"
Akira ignored the boasting, focusing instead on basic warm-up movements like an athlete preparing for competition. He stretched his joints and loosened his muscles.
Then he raised his head slightly, met the monster's gaze, and smiled.
"Finished? Let's get down to business."
Surprise flickered across Shiraki's eyes.
Despite his brutish appearance, he possessed keen perception. Even after decades of imprisonment, he maintained peak awareness.
Though facing a seemingly weaker opponent, he remained cautious. His earlier speech had been calculated to instill fear and diminish his opponent's fighting spirit.
The Academy textbook was clear: "Hollows require utmost caution and should be handled exclusively by the Royal Guard, Division Zero."
Most Academy students trembled at the mere mention of Hollows. Yet this youth, talented or not, remained unnaturally calm after hearing such tales — as if they meant nothing.
Had no one taught him to fear Hollows?
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Shiraki fixed his bloodshot eyes on Akira. Madness and chaos sparked within their depths.
His massive, fan-like hand shot downward, clearly aiming to crush Akira's head like a melon. The air split with a thunderous boom, as if compressed air had exploded!
The ferocious attack made the watching students catch their breath, terror filling their eyes.
The sight of that violent, massive figure sent chills through their hearts. Fear paralyzed their limbs, crushing any thought of resistance.
Yet in that moment, Akira's eyes gleamed. Far from showing fear at the sudden attack, excitement lit his youthful face.
He understood Genryūsai's purpose.
Shiraki was clearly like him — born with a powerful Spiritual Body. The old man wanted him to learn how similar fighters battled.
This wasn't merely a graduation exam — it was vital training.
Understanding this, Akira advanced instead of retreating, his exposed muscles rippling like waves as he unleashed his extreme power and unrestrained Reiatsu.
Rank 9 Spirit Class, Mid-Seated Officer level!
Sensing the young man's Reiatsu level, bewilderment crossed Shiraki's fierce face.
Had the world gone mad? This brat wasn't even at upper-Seated Officer level, yet dared to face him in direct combat?
Akira's right hand splayed open then clenched instantly, his muscles vibrating with a sound like a drawn bowstring!
⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Atsuryoku Sōsai ⥤ Origin Style: Crushing Pressure! ⤬
"Truly a genius — he's mastered your technique in such a short time, sensei." Jūshirō exclaimed, "What a shame that I still can't learn these techniques, and Shunsui doesn't like this fighting style."
Surprise flickered in Genryūsai's half-closed eyes.
He had never taught Akira the Atsuryoku Sōsai.
Who would have thought that after just a few beatings, this youth had not only grasped the technique's key points but mastered its execution?
'Though it's slightly different, as if he's made it his own...' The corner of the old man's mouth curved up imperceptibly, 'Genshiki-ryū, eh? Hmm, truly promising talent. My special attention hasn't been wasted.'
Boom!
Their fists collided — large against small — sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The impact tore through the atmosphere, visible ripples spreading outward from the point of contact.
Shiraki's pupils contracted, shock overtaking his fierce features.
Wild power surged up his arm and coursed through his entire body. The impact was so tremendous it nearly threw him off balance.
Akira, too, felt the strain — his opponent's Spiritual Body strength and power far surpassed an ordinary Lieutenant's.
After their brief clash, both fighters used Shunpo to leap backward. When their eyes met again, their gazes held equal gravity.
Beyond the Kidō barrier, the observation area erupted in commotion. The Shinigami Officers who knew Shiraki stood dumbfounded, unable to trust their eyes.
"That youth emerged unscathed?!"
"The world moves too fast — I can't keep up. I thought the previous one showed talent, but here's yet another expert!"
Not even graduated, yet trading blows with a veteran Lieutenant. They could scarcely imagine how bright a future awaited the youth in the training ground.
"You're quite good." Shiraki said seriously, "Perhaps in a few years, I won't be your match anymore. Unfortunately, some people have lost their minds and made very wrong decisions."
As he spoke, his already massive body began to expand further, muscles bulging like intertwined branches beneath his skin. His loose white prison uniform stretched and tore, revealing his grotesque form.
His muscles coiled like steel cables as his frame grew even larger, the solid floor cracking under his terrible weight.
Looking at the transformed man before him, Akira was reminded of a familiar figure.
Toguro Ototo. Though the similarity was only superficial.
{T/N: Yu Yu Hakusho, the one who took 450 episodes to transform…}
"The real battle is just beginning." Shiraki let out a low growl. His foot crashed into the ground, leaving afterimages as he charged toward Akira.
Wreathed in massive Reiatsu, his body took on a steel-like blackish tint. His fan-like hand opened wide, swooping down to strike.
The air shuddered with a piercing whoosh as destructive force burst forth. A ferocious smile crossed Shiraki's face as he imagined crushing the young man with a single blow.
The burst of speed caught Akira off guard — his opponent materialized before him in an instant.
The blackened palm struck with deadly accuracy. The size difference was stark — Shiraki's hand dwarfed his entire head.
An overwhelming force followed, and after a brief struggle, Akira's body went flying across half the training ground, nearly hitting the Kidō barrier.
Shiraki's grin turned malicious as his materialized Reiatsu surged around him like wild flames.
"Kid, you think you can kill me? How naive!"
Before his words faded, he vanished, reappearing behind Akira.
"The gap in our strength isn't something mere talent can bridge!"
Bang!
A heavy boom echoed through the training ground!
But…
Shiraki froze, staring down in shock at the sight of a seemingly frail hand, wreathed in purple flames, firmly catching his attack.
An impossible scene unfolded. Without releasing his Zanpakutō or chanting any incantations, his opponent had somehow unleashed a Kidō-like attack.
Outside the Kidō barrier, Hachigen's eyes widened as he studied the young man in the training ground, straining to analyze the mysterious Kidō.
"Magnificent, absolutely magnificent. He perfectly merged two similar types of Kidō — Shakkahō and Sōkatsui — something even Master Tsukabishi couldn't accomplish, yet Kisaragi has done it. What incredible Kidō talent!" He muttered to himself, "No wonder Master Tsukabishi favors him so much. It would be a great loss to all of Soul Society if such talent didn't join the Kidō Corps..."
Just as his words fell, white lightning began coiling around Akira's legs, tearing his pants while continuously activating his muscles.
He looked up at Shiraki, who towered over him by more than half. A brutal aggression burst forth from his calm eyes as he grinned, his once-gentle smile turning sinister.
"When did you get—"
⤫ Kaen Bakuha ⥤ Flame Burst! ⤬
With a delighted laugh, Akira unleashed a super-powered flame burst around him, almost merging with his surging Reiatsu, his body taut like a drawn bowstring, his clenched hand erupting with thunder-like roaring.
"The delusion that you could beat me?"
Under the shocked and bewildered gaze, the flame-wreathed youth swung his fist in a fierce strike!
⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Moeru, Atsuryoku Sōsai! Origin Style: Ignite, Crushing Pressure!⤬
BANG!!
The impact struck Shiraki's abdomen, unleashing an irresistible force that sent him flying back. Like a baseball hit by a bat, his entire body was knocked away, crossing from one end of the training ground to the other!
He crashed heavily into the Kidō barrier, creating rippling waves!
As that monstrous body slid down from the barrier, the Shinigami and academy students in the observation seats felt their scalps go numb and their mouths go dry.
The fear and oppression that Shiraki's entrance had given them earlier transformed into awe of the burning youth. They couldn't comprehend how that seemingly frail body could unleash such terrifying power!
Even more astounding was how Akira could ignore such a huge difference in Reiatsu and forcefully dominate a powerful Lieutenant-class Shinigami.
Just what kind of monster was this youth?
Shiraki struggled to his feet, his convulsing abdominal skin covered in blood, large sunken areas looking grotesque and terrible.
Never mind the spectators outside — even the victim himself didn't understand. He now seriously suspected a Hollow lurked under his opponent's skin.
In his several hundred years of life, this was the first time he'd encountered a Shinigami who could attack others by self-combusting.
"Appearances truly are deceiving." Shiraki stood up straight, narrowing his eyes as he stared intently at the youth before him.
Just as he was about to speak again, his pupils contracted, his right hand clenching into a fist as he instinctively struck forward.
⤫ Kaen Shunpo ⥤ Flame Flash Steps ⤬
In an instant, the burning figure crossed dozens of meters, and Akira appeared directly in front of Shiraki.
Under the sonic boom.
⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Kaen Hōsha ⥤ Origin Style: Flame Discharge! ⤬
Countless fist shadows burst forth on the training ground, whistling endlessly, overlapping with each other, making it impossible for most spectators to follow the interweaving patterns.
Akira seemed limitless as he laughed madly while throwing punch after punch, pummeling his opponent.
He couldn't experience this kind of joy when fighting Genryūsai. The huge gap between them had meant he could only take hits.
Despite Shiraki's superior Reiatsu, his physical body was merely average, and his technique left him vulnerable to domination. His reliance on pure Hakuda made him an ideal opponent.
Such a perfectly matched adversary was rare indeed.
Shiraki's face cycled through expressions — from composure to shock, then terror, and finally pure fear. Before he could even plead for mercy, the flaming fists silenced him.
Akira's seemingly frail frame moved like an unstoppable force, unleashing endless combinations.
His fist, wreathed in purple flames, became a concentrated weapon. Akira's muscles and fascia quivered as he channeled every ounce of power through his body. The energy converged into a single point between his tensed fingers, culminating in the battle's ultimate strike.
⤫ Genso Ryū: Atsuryoku Sōsai ⥤ Elemental Style: Crushing Pressure! ⤬
His strike shattered through Shiraki's massive fist and plunged directly into the chest cavity.
A dull boom resonated from the muscular giant as he stared vacantly at Akira, his mouth moving soundlessly.
Shiraki's bones wailed in agony as his Reiatsu began to fade. The searing power tore through his body, destroying his vitality like a tempest through withered trees.
Before the countless stunned onlookers, that monster-like body—
Crashed down!
The youth stood triumphant in the training ground's center, a slight smirk on his blood-flecked face, like a demon freshly emerged from hell...
⤫⤬⤫
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