Chapter 35 ⥤ On the Art of Acting
〈 Obtained Zanjutsu Level +1! 〉
〈 Zanjutsu Level increased! Currently at Level 64! 〉
〈 Obtained Reiatsu Level +3! 〉
〈 Reiatsu Level increased! Currently at Level 52! 〉
〈 Obtained Exclusive Trait: Kidō Mastery! 〉
〈 Kidō Mastery: A proper Shinigami shouldn't just swing around a mere sword at enemies. A true Shinigami should be — Elegant! The epitome of elegance, overwhelming foes with firepower amid casual conversation, drowning your enemies in endless Kidō! Kidō consumption reduced by 50% and power increased by 100%! 〉
Boom!
The breakthrough in Reiatsu intensified Akira's assault to new heights.
Flamboyant Reiatsu coiled like tentacles around his body while sharp blades scattered in all directions, each strike precisely aimed at vital points. His body flowed like water between the Reishi blade lights, graceful as a swallow.
A fierce, cold aura erupted uncontrollably, like bottled rage finally finding release.
Sōya furrowed his brow at this unusual state, regret flickering across his mind. Perhaps using the Sakahone District to provoke this youth had been too heavy-handed.
"The gap cannot be bridged by technique alone." Sōya said calmly, his expression serene, "Between our Reiatsu levels lies an insurmountable chasm. Akira-kun, you cannot stop me from doing anything."
⤫ Tenrin Senpuu ⥤ Celestial Whirlwind Cut! ⤬
The response came as a slash of extreme ferocity, as if attempting to cleave the very air. As the blade fell, a sharp shattering sound rang out.
Merciful Death Blade!
The Zanjutsu stolen from Unohana blazed brilliantly in Akira's hands. The deceptive blade trajectories even caused Sōya, master of all Reishi in the execution ground, to reveal a momentary flaw.
Reishi blade lights intersected to form a heaven-and-earth net that descended, making the air tremble and groan under the strain.
In a moment of epiphany, Akira's movements transformed. His eyes became terribly void of emotion as his sword, craving blood, embraced the darkness.
⤫ Jigoku Yami Setsudan ⥤ Hellish Darkness Severance! ⤬
Blade lights crossed, reflecting his cold countenance. The night became a massive curtain, and in the moonlit execution ground thick with bloodlust, the sword style of the first Kenpachi made its spectacular entrance!
The Death Slayer descended like an invisible hand sweeping all away, its scattered blade lights dissolving into countless Reishi particles as bone-chilling cold rushed straight at Sōya's face!
Most terrifying of all, an instinctive fear gripped the Captain as the Reishi around him conjured a strange illusion: the dark face of a terrifying woman superimposed over Akira's emotionless visage!
Clang!
The sound of clashing metal echoed through the execution ground.
An invisible barrier stood firm, unmoved despite the tremendous power and Reiatsu unleashed against it.
The difference was clear as day!
Looking at the scene before him, Akira tilted his head back, his gaze ice-cold, his parched lips parting:
⤫ Hadō #33: Sōkatsui ⥤ Blue Fire, Crash Down! ⤬
Sōya's eyes widened, his pupils contracting.
It wasn't Akira's knowledge of Kidō that surprised him — it was the fact that releasing the Hadō #33 at such close range would maximize its power while engulfing them both!
A brilliant azure flame erupted from the blade, illuminating the execution ground with searing heat. The flames licked outward, instantly melting a strand of hanging hair.
When Sōya realized the youth before him had no intention of holding back, he activated his ability. The Reishi chaos transformed into an ultimate storm, raging through the execution ground until the blazing azure flame was completely extinguished.
The solid ground collapsed with a roar, transforming into surging waves that rolled layer upon layer, reaching dozens of meters high like a living thing as it sealed and imprisoned the youth within.
"Though it's somewhat discourteous, please forgive my use of such crude methods." Sōya, having ended the battle in an instant, spoke as if he had done something trivial. He walked slowly to Akira's front, explaining apologetically, "After meeting my sister, I changed my perspective. Eliminating Hollows is the duty of Shinigami, not the residents of Rukongai. By placing non-existent burdens on them, I perhaps became the very thing I once despised most — those nobles who look down on us with contempt and disdain..."
{T/N: And that, my friends, is the same thing the MC talked about before.}
Akira's expression changed slightly, clearly caught off guard by this turn of events.
"And those words I spoke earlier." Sōya sighed, "Were merely to understand your thoughts."
Akira's brows furrowed, his violent aura subsiding slightly as he asked suspiciously, "So you were just provoking me earlier? Then, were you desperately wanting to get beaten up?"
Hearing this, Sōya hesitated. The logic made sense, but why did these words sound strange?
"Please forgive me." He sighed, lowering his stance.
He was a man of strong principles. The other party had allowed him to meet his sister, yet he had tested them in such an offensive way — this had already violated his principles to some extent.
But for the future of Soul Society and the Shinigami, Sōya was willing to bear others' misunderstandings.
Though their time together had been brief, Akira's various performances had already surpassed any genius from the past hundred years. If such a person were to go astray, the destruction would far exceed his own.
Yet after this test, Sōya believed that with such steadfast convictions, even if the future path twisted, it wouldn't go too far wrong.
Perhaps in the near future, the name 'Akira Kisaragi' would spread throughout all of Soul Society!
Sōya looked at the youth imprisoned by the raised ground, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
"After my promotion to Captain of the Eleventh Division, all of the Azashiro family's assets were returned, even more than before. To thank you for everything you've done tonight, if you don't mind, please accept these material possessions."
Hearing this, Akira's eyes brightened. Getting such an unexpected pleasant surprise — this Kenpachi fellow was decent!
First offering trust, then property. After such operations, tonight's acting efforts weren't in vain.
"It's getting late, time to head back." Sōya glanced at the brightening sky's edge, raising his hand to release Akira's imprisonment, "Someone will visit the Shin'ō Academy later to discuss these matters with you. Farewell, you two."
As the words fell, his figure shattered directly, dispersing into countless Reishi in the air.
Just as Akira was feeling self-satisfied, thinking he had fooled everyone, a calm and familiar voice sounded by his ear.
"Akira, you've worked hard." Aizen walked slowly to his front, the corners of his mouth curling in a playful smile, "Such superb acting skills — you must have practiced quite a bit, haven't you? So let's guess... The one you frequently deceive with these acting skills, it wouldn't be me, would it?"
At these words, Akira's heart skipped a beat. Looking at the gentle smile before him, he felt cold sweat running down his back...
⤫⤬⤫
T/N: Just a brief explanation about the new move he used:
The moves I created for him, as mentioned before, follow the principle of his Trait, Heart of a God, and therefore contain the word "Celestial" in all movements.
But at the same time, I realized that the MC would start using the other Trait, Merciful Death Blade, as a base for other techniques.
That's why he will use two sword styles, depending on the context: Celestial Reaper Style and Death Slayer Style.
While one is based on Celestial, with illuminated strikes for common fights — intense but in a clearer context — the other is based on Hell, where the intention is purely to kill and destroy, a fight with no escape and the pure pleasure of elimination.
I hope you understood!
Happy reading!
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