All Martial Arts, This Is

All Martial Arts, This Is...

Spiritual Might was a standard used to measure Spiritual Power. It was ranked upward from Class Twenty, with each tier having an extremely distinct division.

Ordinary Squad Members generally hovered around Class Twenty. Those who could become seated officers ranked above Class Ten.

By the same logic, Vice-Captains were usually concentrated between Class Five and Class Four.

Class Three and above were Captains.

This seemingly crude and straightforward classification was somewhat broad, but it could roughly divide and categorize known combat strength.

The strong remained strong, and as time passed, they accumulated strength until they burst forth and entered the next stage.

The weak would not remain in the lower ranks either. Once the right opportunity came, they would fight to catch up, climbing to the summit until they saw entirely different scenery.

And as a Vice-Captain, Ōmaeda Marechiyo being classified as Class Five essentially revealed one thing.

"My strength does not rank particularly high among the many Vice-Captains."

It sounded like modesty at first, but upon closer consideration, one could feel the pressure behind those words.

Countless people were more troublesome than this guy.

Defeat one, and another would appear... Could one truly see the end of the path of cultivation's peaks? Arima Shizuya found his answer within his heart.

Without a second thought, the boy broke into an incomparably delighted smile.

"Wouldn't that just make it even more exciting!"

He clenched his fists and drew in a long breath.

As everyone knew, the amount of spiritual pressure one possessed was, in essence, a manifestation of soul density.

A powerful soul could possess strength that made others hesitate to approach. But for Arima Shizuya, that strength had an entirely different explanation.

The Four Basic Skills were the very foundation of Arima Shizuya's soul! Zan: 40 Fist: 25 Step: 12 Kido: 15

Compared to before, half a month of training had not only further improved his Kendo, but also expanded his Hakuda.

Tutoring from Ise Nanao and Kotetsu Isane had allowed his Kido to come from behind and overtake the rest, rising to 15 points.

Now, he fused them all together, just as Aizen had taught him before...

Using the sense of peril at death's door as a guide, like the fuse to a bundle of explosives, he ignited it all at this moment—detonating it!

Come. This was a battle for survival.

BOOM!!! A torrent visible to the naked eye.

It was a ribbon of azure blue light.

It coiled around Arima Shizuya, giving off a profound yet luminous glow. Those hazy wisps distorted the light, even making Arima Shizuya's figure begin to blur.

Pfft...

The raging wind snapped the ribbon binding his hair. His bright ponytail came loose, turning into wildly dancing strands.

His spiritual pressure was skyrocketing.

Unlike conventional methods of control, this eruption of spiritual pressure, born from the desire to survive, possessed an overwhelming sense of presence and displayed an almost inhuman charm.

His Spiritual Might climbed tier by tier.

Class Twenty, Class Fifteen, Class Nine...

Class Seven!

It finally stabilized at a level that would not make people's jaws drop. Even so, everyone present was astonished by the boy before them.

Because this was an ability displayed by a new academy student, one that fully revealed his talent.

Tōsen Kaname excitedly rose to his feet.

Ise Nanao could only gape, at a complete loss for what to do.

Kotetsu Isane, standing beside Aizen, stared blankly at the figure on the stage.

Was this flamboyant, unrestrained back really still the man she remembered? "Oh!"

Having witnessed everything, Yoruichi revealed a very pleased expression.

"Just as I thought. I knew this brat had been holding something back... Hey, Aizen! Is this the person you taught? He's pretty capable~"

She drove an elbow into Aizen's side. He did not dodge, and for once, he wore an almost blank expression.

As though unable to understand the situation, he stared at the figure on the stage, his gaze narrowing slightly.

Arima Shizuya was indeed his student.

But this rate of growth had far exceeded his expectations.

Behind those gleaming lenses, no one knew what Aizen was thinking.

The Faces of Life below the stage had no way of knowing, while on the stage, Ōmaeda could not help revealing a shocked expression as he faced Arima Shizuya.

"Arima Shizuya, you..."

There was too much he wanted to say, but unfortunately, his opponent had no intention of listening.

Before his words had even finished.

Arima Shizuya had already rushed forward, slipping directly into Ōmaeda's guard.

He had been allowed to get this close so easily?! This was the sort of mistake that made even Yoruichi Shihouin frown.

She wanted to offer a warning, but the thought had barely surfaced before she suppressed it.

What a joke. He was the Vice-Captain of the Second Division, after all. Even with the help of his ancestors and surname, Marechiyo was absolutely no worthless fool.

Though he was not carrying his Zanpakuto, would it not be shameful to lose to a new student for that reason? Yet Arima Shizuya showed no reaction whatsoever to his own "advantage."

After all, he had 12 points in Shunpo.

Even among seated officers, that was barely enough to earn him a place.

"Because your attention was all on the spiritual pressure I released, you instinctively overlooked everything else?"

He could understand it.

But for a Vice-Captain, that was truly unqualified.

Inhale, exhale.

A cycle surged through his body. His heart became a pressure pump, driving power throughout his limbs.

He raised his leg, extended it, and stomped down hard.

With a BOOM, even the floor caved in beneath his foot! Arima Shizuya clenched his right hand, his eyes narrowing. His fist roared forward, striking Ōmaeda squarely in the chest! Of all martial arts, this was One Bone.

BANG!!! Amid that suffocating roar, Ōmaeda was sent flying backward, his eyes bulging uncontrollably.

"Guh..."

Though miserable.

He had not been completely defeated.

Ōmaeda was shoved back three whole meters, his feet grinding against the floor until his tabi were completely torn apart.

Bluish smoke like steam rose from his chest. Though he could barely breathe, Ōmaeda wore an almost exhilarated grin.

It had been difficult, but he had still blocked it! Making me lose face before so many people, brat—just wait and see how I'll make you...

"ŌMAEDA!!!"

Yoruichi Shihouin's furious shout rang beside him. Ōmaeda Marechiyo's expression froze for an instant, then rapidly changed before finally becoming one of near terror.

No, something's wrong. I made a huge mistake...

Before Marechiyo could act, Arima Shizuya closed in again, charging into his vision with the same overwhelming momentum as before.

Turbulent currents that refused to disperse swirled around him, the lingering traces of spiritual pressure floating around his hands. The boy's smile was wild and flamboyant.

"Do you think you blocked it?"

"Of course I did, because..."

"I wasn't even using my full strength yet."

That had merely been a feint. This was the killing blow.

This was Double Bone.

He drew in breath and stepped forward.

Both hands clenched into fists, swinging together at a speed too fast for the naked eye to catch.

They struck Marechiyo in the chest.