The Greatest Talent for Kidō!
What was he trying to do?
Was he going to catch the blade barehanded?
Everyone stared in astonishment.
Byakuya Kuchiki, however, looked perfectly calm.
Though he did not know what Kyōsuke intended to do, he trusted that Kyōsuke was not reckless. Since he had made his move, he must have a way to deal with it.
"Accept defeat, young master Kuchiki."
Gin Ichimaru lowered his eyes and unconsciously eased the force of his attack.
Sure enough, I still have many shortcomings. I can't perfectly control my own state of mind or this Zanpakuto that kills without a trace.
I used a little too much force just now. I hope young master Kyōsuke is all right.
But just then, an unusual golden light appeared!
Kyōsuke Kuchiki's slender fingers blurred as they danced through the air at tremendous speed.
A string of arcane characters, full of mysteries, took shape in an instant!
The next moment, the arcane characters turned into golden light and burst forth in the air!
The explosive golden light formed a translucent barrier that completely enclosed Kyōsuke Kuchiki.
Clang!
The silver spear struck true, yet it could not break through the barrier. It could not even shake it in the slightest.
"What?!"
Gin Ichimaru's lowered eyes opened again, his blue-green pupils full of shock.
The barrier before him was an impregnable fortress, standing unshaken against his attack without so much as a tremor!
He was not the only one. Everyone else looked just as shocked.
"Was that Kidō?"
"No, that can't be right. I've never seen Kidō like that!"
Everyone in the stands turned to look at a well-built figure.
"Grand Kidō Chief, what was that?"
Hearing them call on him, Tessai Tsukabishi pushed up his glasses, looking utterly helpless.
It was not that he was keeping anything to himself. It was just that, after all his years studying Kidō...
He truly had never seen the Kidō before him!
He had never even heard of that method of using it!
What were those characters in the air? Were they the incantation?
But how come he could not understand a single one? In that instant, a cold sweat broke out on Tessai Tsukabishi's back.
He felt as though all his years as Grand Kidō Chief had been for nothing.
In the end, he could only brace himself and speak.
"I've never seen this kind of Kidō either."
"Perhaps young master Kuchiki created it himself!"
Self-created Kidō?
Everyone froze at the words.
Having Captain-level Reiatsu at such a young age was one thing, but this guy could also casually use a Kidō he had created himself?
For a moment, cold sweat appeared on the foreheads of several captains. They had clearly been frightened.
The Kuchiki Clan had not produced a genius. They had produced a monster!
Since Kidō was first created in Soul Society, countless brilliant geniuses had appeared.
Yet even now, there were only a little over a hundred numbered Kidō, and even the lowest-numbered ones had never changed.
That showed just how incredible it was to create a new Kidō.
And yet the boy before them had created a Kidō of his very own at such an age!
What terrifying talent!
Everyone's faces paled a little, and they could not help looking at Byakuya Kuchiki.
"Young master Kuchiki... young master Kyōsuke's talent really is extraordinary!"
Unfortunately, Byakuya's expression remained calm. He merely straightened his back considerably and replied mildly.
"Thank you for the compliment."
No sooner had he spoken than another change on the field drew everyone's attention back.
Having lost the advantage of the first move, Gin Ichimaru immediately withdrew his long spear. He intended to use Shunpo to move behind Kyōsuke Kuchiki and launch a sneak attack with Shinsō.
But the boy before him had already raised his hand again and begun writing lightly and swiftly in the air.
Vast amounts of spiritual power poured out, and before Gin Ichimaru could react, a brand-new ancient character appeared before Kyōsuke Kuchiki.
The boy's even voice reached his ears, as light as a breeze.
"Bombard and resound, Dijiang."
Shikai passive: tenfold amplification!
"Tenfold Thunder Path."
The next second, fierce lightning exploded in the air. With a savage force that threatened to devour heaven and earth, it turned into a storm of thunderbolts and hurtled toward Gin Ichimaru!
"This is...?"
What terrifying Kidō!
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai could no longer maintain his calm expression. A glint flashed through his eyes.
There had clearly been no incantation, yet even he, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, could sense a trace of danger from the golden light flashing ever closer!
If it could threaten him, then an ordinary Soul Reaper, even a powerful lieutenant-level one, would surely vanish like smoke the instant that lightning struck them.
"This is bad. Stop him!"
As Grand Kidō Chief, Tessai Tsukabishi naturally sensed that something was wrong as well.
As his words fell, Shunsui Kyōraku and Retsu Unohana rose at the same time and used Shunpo to take Gin Ichimaru away.
But Kyōsuke Kuchiki had already completed his Kidō and could not take it back!
The lightning kept striking forward in a blaze of sparks, heading straight for the Sekkiseki at the edge of the arena!
Boom!
After the tremendous crash...
Retsu Unohana and Tessai Tsukabishi had already used defensive Kidō, shielding themselves and Gin Ichimaru together.
Before them...
A deep gouge had been blasted into the Sekkiseki, which could completely block Reishi and Reiatsu.
Countless fragments rained down from the sky.
Behind them...
The wall of Shin'ō Academy had been blasted through, leaving an enormous breach!
The ordinary bricks and tiles were not as sturdy as the Sekkiseki. They had already been reduced to nothing, without even dust or rubble left behind!
At the sight, everyone fell silent.
Today, if two captains had not stepped in to help...
Gin Ichimaru would probably have vanished from the world entirely!
But just then, everyone paused in surprise.
A mysterious ancient character stood before Gin Ichimaru and the other two, and a barrier flashing with golden light completely enclosed them.
Even if Retsu Unohana and Shunsui Kyōraku had not intervened, Gin Ichimaru would not have been hurt at all.
"Gin Ichimaru, you're already outside the arena."
"It seems I've won."
Kyōsuke Kuchiki reached out and brushed his hand lightly through the air, and the mysterious ancient characters before him vanished.
His gaze swept over the crowd as he said calmly:
"Does anyone else want to challenge me?"
"..."
Not a sound could be heard.
Everyone lowered their heads as one, avoiding Kyōsuke Kuchiki's gaze.
You've got to be kidding...
He had not even drawn his Zanpakuto, yet he had casually defeated Gin Ichimaru, who had the strength of a Seated Officer, with a single Kidō!
A monster like that belonged to a completely different world from theirs.
Why was he entering the seating competition when he was already so strong?
Chapter 13: The Greatest Talent for Kidō!
"It looks like no one else wants to challenge me."
Seeing the silence that had fallen over the venue, Kyōsuke Kuchiki shrugged.
He noticed the mess beneath his feet, and his expression faltered.
"Sorry, I couldn't hold back for a moment there."
"Maybe the Sekkiseki here has been sitting around too long. It's a little brittle."
"..."
What was this guy talking about?
What did he mean, a little brittle?
Sekkiseki could completely block Reishi and Reiatsu. Even someone named Kyōsuke Kuchiki could not possibly do anything to it, could he?
The ordinary spectators had not seen the Sekkiseki in the distance that had been struck and cracked, nor could they imagine a Soul Reaper capable of damaging such a thing.
Then they saw the layers of broken Sekkiseki on the arena floor, and everyone fell silent.
Even after Kyōsuke Kuchiki left, the atmosphere at the venue had yet to return to normal.
After sending Gin Ichimaru away, Tessai Tsukabishi and Retsu Unohana returned to their places.
As soon as they sat down, Jūshirō Ukitake coughed a few times and leaned over.
"Grand Kidō Chief, the Kidō that boy used just now..."
"Captain Ukitake, I'm sorry, but I couldn't identify it either."
Tessai Tsukabishi rubbed his hands together awkwardly, his face full of helplessness.
"I've never even heard of that kind of Kidō."
"That young master Kuchiki..."
"His talent for Kidō is extraordinary."
"..."
Had he really created that Kidō himself?
Tessai Tsukabishi's words left everyone even more astonished.
There were plenty of Kidō experts among the Soul Reapers, and the Kidō Corps had a great many members.
They usually specialized in tasks such as opening passages, erecting barriers, and sealing. They were tightly organized, with a clear division of labor and a diverse range of skills.