Chapter 117
Judging from what Chikane Iba said, she seemed to have served in the Fourth Division.
"That's why it's named 'Bone Strike'."
That's all for now.
Haruto is basically certain that the source of Chikane Iba's Bone Strike is Captain-Commander Yamamoto's signature Hakuda:
"Ikkotsu"
"Alright!"
Chikane Iba clapped his hands forcefully.
The sound, like the striking of a great bell, echoed throughout the entire training ground, making people wonder what her hands were made of.
"Before I teach you Bone Strike, let's do a test first."
Qian Tie rolled up his long sleeves at the shooting range.
The skin was slightly loose and dull. Although there were no age spots, it was not significantly different from that of an average grandmother.
"Kidō, Shunpo, Zanjutsu."
Chikane Iba extended his thin, bony fingers one by one.
"Whatever it is, attack me using your preferred fighting style."
"Let me first determine your basic level before deciding where to begin teaching."
"... I'm sorry to offend you."
Haruto didn't think that Chikane Iba was exaggerating.
Although she wasn't the captain, she was a veteran Soul Reaper with a history spanning over a century, and her Reiatsu Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure level.
Just as Chikane Iba himself said.
She had already reached the peak of the Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure. If it weren't for her talent limitations, reaching the Captain-level would be a piece of cake for her.
With an opponent of this caliber willing to provide training, Haruto can't afford to go all out.
――――
Volume 1: Chapter 73, Bone Strike
Haruto's strongest move is undoubtedly the Senju Kōten Taihō.
However, this place is the training ground within the Third Division. Using Kidō Senju Kōten Taihō level could cause quite a commotion.
Furthermore, while Haruto trusted Chikane Iba's abilities, the fact that he could Hadō #91 with his bare hands—
Even Captain-level wouldn't be this casual.
More likely, he was interrupted by Chikane Iba during the chanting, but that would defeat the purpose of the test.
As for the sneak attack...
Haruto didn't think his rudimentary Shunpo could catch up with his opponent; rather than thinking about tricky angles...
A direct, head-on attack is preferable to a more aggressive approach.
"Zheng!"
Haruto got into a charging stance.
He lowered his body, spread his legs, and kept his right hand firmly on the hilt of the knife.
The Reiatsu of the Zanpakuto was continuously poured into his palm, extending from the blade to the scabbard, and even the surrounding air began to tremble.
"Oh?"
Sensing the change in his surroundings, Chikane Iba's expression also changed for a moment.
"Seventy..."
"No, is it number eighty, the Hadō?"
In the details that no one notices.
Chikane Iba's palms began to tremble slightly, and the metallic blue-green color gradually replaced his original dark yellow skin.
Although she was supposed to let Haruto use his full strength, she couldn't let Haruto do whatever he wanted indefinitely; moreover, she had to accurately judge the power of Haruto's moves, and for those that could blow off rooftops, she definitely had to interrupt them in time.
"This kid..."
"They're quite good at seizing opportunities."
――――
Number 80, the Hadō?
Chikane Iba's guess was correct.
The power of this combination of Hadō can indeed be barely considered within the category of the 80th level.
While it's still far from being as powerful as Hyōga Seiran, in terms of single-target damage... Haruto is confident he can use it to kill any unsuspecting Vice-Captain-level.
This is because it's a combination of the Raikōhō and the Zanka no Tachi Kidō.
By replacing the originally attribute-less, high-concentration Reiatsu with the more destructive lightning-type Reiatsu, the Zanka no Tachi can unleash a higher level of destructive power.
This is Haruto's first attempt at using two new Hadō he had already mastered after developing the "Lightning Palm" modified version of the Raikōhō.
—I just learned this yesterday.
That's right.
Haruto had similar ideas before, but he always felt something was missing... Captain Seigen's experience and insights filled in the last piece of the puzzle.
Compared to the original No. 78 Zanka no Tachi, the power consumption of the lightning-type Zanka no Tachi did not increase much, but its attributes received a considerable boost—the speed of drawing the sword is faster, and the destructive power of the slash is also more powerful.
However, due to a lack of proficiency, he can only release Reiatsu from the blade at the beginning of learning the Zanka no Tachi.
The charging time is also a bit long.
Its melee combat ability has several drawbacks.
Considering the destructive power of this move, it will cause considerable damage to the caster as well as the opponent.
It has little practical significance.
So.
Upon hearing the request made by Chikane Iba, Haruto naturally brought this technique, which was still in the experimental stage, to the training ground.
"Hiss!"
A faint rumble of thunder echoed in the air.
As the lungs continue to expand, the Reiatsu stored during the Hakusui is being mobilized to the entire body to the maximum extent.
The speed of the sword draw slash is very fast, so the accompanying Shunpo must also be of high quality.
"Bite."
A dazzling light exploded in the training ground.
After that pinprick-like touch—
"Boom!!"
The burst of air slammed all the objects in the training ground against the wall.
The windows, which had been reinforced to protect against Kidō, shattered into countless dust particles in an instant.
Clang.
Amidst the chaotic crashing sounds.
"Tetsuzaemon, go outside and show your face. Tell them there's nothing unusual inside!"
"Yes, yes, Mother!"
Just as he poked his head out of the overturned cabinet, Tetsuzaemon heard his mother's command—he first took a deep look at the center of the training ground, then hurried towards the door.
"..."
"Good."
Chikane Iba withdrew his raised arm.
"Your talent as Soul Reaper far surpasses mine, and even that of Kotsubaki and the others."
"No..."
Haruto's reply was somewhat dazed.
He was still reeling from the shocking scene he had just witnessed.
Chikane Iba...
Chikane Iba pinched his Zanpakuto between two fingers!
Although Haruto had prepared for his opponent to be able to take the hit without taking any damage, the fact that he could take it so casually without a sword seemed a bit too exaggerated.
"You are the one..."
"It showed me that there are always mountains beyond mountains."
After defeating Satō Tsunayashiro with the Senju Kōten Taihō, Haruto initially thought that Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure was nothing special.
There was even a moment when non- Captain-level considered taking him down.
However.
The scene before his eyes completely jolted Haruto awake:
Just as he was able to defeat Satō Tsunayashiro, who was two levels higher, Rei'i Grade is not the only standard for measuring strength.
Even among those of the Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure, the difference between Soul Reaper is as vast as the difference between mud and swan.
"..."
"At your age, any insights you gain are invaluable treasures."
Chikane Iba returned to his rather loose posture from the beginning.
But!
Only she knew that in order to block Haruto's attack, she had almost used all her hidden strength—her Bone Strike, at her level, emphasized the unity of the whole body; the seemingly simple two-finger strike was actually no different from a full-force punch.
If she fails to disarm a blade barehanded, her arm will basically be useless... Of course, being able to get treatment from the Fourth Division is another matter entirely.
If Haruto's Reiatsu were any stronger, her right hand would have gripped the hilt of the sword immediately.
For Chikane Iba, her Zanpakuto was indeed an extension of her arm, and after releasing Zanpakuto Hakuda.
"Alright."
Chikane Iba secretly flicked his right hand, which was behind his back, twice.
I already have a good grasp of your fundamentals.
"Kotsubaki was right... To be able to precisely control this level of Hadō in close combat, your physical abilities are far superior to what I imagined."
Chikane Iba turned and glared at the doorway. The Soul Reapers, who had gathered out of curiosity, scattered like birds and beasts in an instant.
Tetsuzaemon, who failed to stop them, was also sent to guard outside the gate.
"Since that's the case."
"There's no need for me to hide it anymore."
"Bone Strike..."
"Then I will formally impart the teachings to you."
――――
Chikane Iba explained it very simply.
The Bone Strike techniques she taught were only a few pages long, even shorter than the sword-drawing manual given by Jin'emon Kotsubaki.
Haruto even wondered at one point if this really was just some common, mass-produced item circulating in the Third Division.
But.