Absolute Control

Inside the Kendo Hall, the Captain-Commander looked at Asano Kiyoshi. His gaze was stern yet kind, like that of a fatherly sun.

After receiving Asano Kiyoshi's affirmative answer, the Captain-Commander smiled and stroked his beard. Then he posed another question to Asano Kiyoshi, his voice much more casual and gentle than before:

"Then let me ask you this: where does your confidence to make me that promise come from? That strange Zanpakuto of yours? If so, it isn't enough. At its core, a Shinigami's battle is a battle of spiritual pressure. If I'm not mistaken, your spiritual pressure isn't particularly outstanding, is it?"

Listening to the Captain-Commander's question, Asano Kiyoshi roughly understood why he had asked it.

The Captain-Commander wanted him to demonstrate sufficient potential—the basic qualities necessary to complete this mission. However, judging from the fact that the Captain-Commander had already decided to teach him, as well as the tone in which he had raised the subject, it was clear that he already had an answer in mind. What he needed was Asano Kiyoshi's firm confirmation, and an implicit hint as well.

Old Man was hinting that the stake Asano Kiyoshi had offered before was not enough. A unique Zanpakuto alone could only make him see Asano Kiyoshi as someone with the potential to become a future senior captain. But to Head Captain Yamamoto, let alone a promising prospect, even a true senior captain would take only one or two strikes if he truly wanted to cut them down. Asano Kiyoshi needed to offer more, so that while Head Captain Yamamoto trained him and contended with the nobles, he would truly regard him as a successor!

Realizing this, Asano Kiyoshi did not waste any more words. He directly condensed a Reishi Sphere glowing Deep Blue in his hand, then slowly said to the Captain-Commander:

"Captain-Commander, do you remember what I told you before? My Zanpakuto can grant me a certain degree of enhanced control over Reishi."

Hearing Asano Kiyoshi's words, the Captain-Commander nodded but said nothing. Condensing a Reishi Sphere in one's hand was already quite impressive for a student, but as a stake, it was nowhere near enough!

Seeing no reaction from the Captain-Commander, Asano Kiyoshi was not disappointed. He merely looked at the Reishi Sphere in his hand and narrowed his eyes slightly. Then, with a gentle wave of his hand, the entire sphere underwent a tremendous transformation. As it changed, Asano Kiyoshi's voice reached the Captain-Commander's ears:

"The certain degree of enhancement I mentioned before was a conclusion I reached without having actually tested it. But afterward, I discovered... the amplification granted by my Zanpakuto is—one hundred percent! In other words, within a certain area, I can achieve absolute control over Reishi!"

The instant Asano Kiyoshi finished speaking, the spherical blue mass of Reishi in his hand transformed into a miniature statue of the Captain-Commander!

The statue was lifelike. Its hair, scars, and even the Captain-Commander's imposing bearing were rendered in exquisite detail. Without question, this level of Reishi control deserved the term absolute control!

Looking at that vivid Reishi statue, the Captain-Commander's ever-narrowed eyes opened for the first time, revealing eyes that held endless years and vicissitudes.

There was no amusement in them, only unfathomable silence, as though he were facing an ancient well that had existed for countless years. Asano Kiyoshi could read nothing from them. All he could feel was stillness.

Asano Kiyoshi's breathing began to quicken involuntarily, and a light sheen of sweat formed in his palms. As if noticing his nervousness, a trace of amusement appeared in those calm eyes, like a ray of golden light piercing through dark clouds, instantly dispersing the darkness in Asano Kiyoshi's heart.

The Captain-Commander spoke, his voice carrying faint praise and satisfaction:

"A very good promise. It is enough for me to believe in you. Then, let us begin your training."

Hearing the Captain-Commander's words, the boulder weighing on Asano Kiyoshi's heart finally fell away, and his tightly wound nerves relaxed considerably.

Seeing Asano Kiyoshi loosen up somewhat, the Captain-Commander said with a chuckle:

"Do not relax too soon. My training is not so easy."

Hearing Head Captain Yamamoto's words, Asano Kiyoshi scratched the back of his head and gave a sheepish grin.

Seeing Asano Kiyoshi like that, Head Captain Yamamoto shook his head helplessly. Then his face turned serious as he said to Asano Kiyoshi:

"The first part of your training is to draw out as much of your spiritual pressure as possible. You were born in Rukongai, so there is a strong chance that your spiritual pressure never developed fully. I need not tell you how important spiritual pressure is in a Shinigami's battle. As for the method of training, you will clean the Kendo Hall while enduring the pressure of my spiritual pressure!"

With that, Head Captain Yamamoto pointed at the rag and bucket beside them, smiling kindly at Asano Kiyoshi.

Before Asano Kiyoshi could even react, a spiritual pressure as deep and vast as an abyss and sea erupted from the old man before him!

What kind of power was that?!

That immense spiritual pressure seemed to come from another dimension. It compressed the air into a semi-solid state, wiped away the colors around him, and robbed Asano Kiyoshi of all his senses, leaving behind only an emotion called despair!

This was Asano Kiyoshi's first time experiencing what Divine Might Like a Prison and Divine Might Like the Sea truly meant!

There was almost no pause at all. From the moment Head Captain Yamamoto released his spiritual pressure to the moment Asano Kiyoshi was slammed onto the Kendo Hall floor by it, the entire process was unbelievably smooth.

Looking at Asano Kiyoshi lying on the ground, Head Captain Yamamoto said flatly:

"If you wish to fulfill your promise, then stand up! Even if you crush your teeth! Even if you grind your bones to dust! Even if your soul is ground into ash! Let me see just how far your resolve goes!"

Hearing Head Captain Yamamoto's words, Asano Kiyoshi did not speak. It was not that he did not want to, but that he simply could not. Right now, even remaining conscious required every ounce of his strength!

He clenched his teeth tightly, the grinding of enamel constantly sounding from his mouth. Strands of blood dripped from the corners of his lips, veins bulged across his body, and the tangled veins were like giant pythons coiling around him. His once handsome face had become savage and terrifying.

To be honest, Asano Kiyoshi did not know where his willpower came from. Perhaps it was an ordinary person's yearning for a better life. Perhaps it was a stray dog chasing the starry sky. Perhaps it was the upward gaze of someone trapped in a muddy ditch. Spiritual pressure surged throughout his body as the Scroll slowly circled around him, and a snarling, hideous Wrathful Ghost appeared upon it.

Asano Kiyoshi let out a furious roar from the depths of his throat, and slowly pushed himself up from the floor!

The sunlight remained beautiful, spilling across the Kendo Hall, over the old man with lowered eyes, and over the youth who raised his head and stared straight ahead.