Shūhei's Black Sun

As Gaoyu passed a small tavern, he stopped.

It was because he suddenly sensed a Soul Ability.

Great Replenishing Pill!

Isn't that Rangiku's ability?

Gaoyu thought back to what he had said to Rangiku before. They had originally promised to have a drink together when they had time, and he hadn't expected to run into her so soon.

Gaoyu walked over and found that Rangiku was indeed drinking inside, and Shūhei, whom he was looking for, was also there besides Rangiku.

He took a look at Shūhei's Soul Ability, and his pupils immediately dilated.

'Black Sun: Stores Reiatsu from normal times, and transforms it into a black sun to release and attack when necessary.'

This ability... is quite interesting.

Is this ability related to Shūhei's future Bankai?

Shūhei's Bankai is 'Wind Death Binding Rope', which connects him and the opponent, linking their states. If one person gets hurt, it absorbs the other person's ability to recover, a mutually destructive killing move.

The manifestation of this ability is to bind oneself and the enemy with chains, and then create a black sun above them.

The black sun absorbs both parties' Reiatsu through the chains, achieving 'shared life'.

Of course, Gaoyu couldn't directly obtain the opponent's Bankai ability. Soul Abilities and Bankai are very different.

Soul Ability·Black Sun is a purely offensive skill. According to the description, he can normally inject spiritual power into the Black Sun and store it, releasing the Black Sun when needed.

This way, the Black Sun will release all the spiritual power he has accumulated in an instant, turning into a black sun to attack the enemy.

This ability...

is also very good!

He could gain another offensive skill!

Gaoyu had now acquired a one-time 'Black Sun' because Hizaki Shūhei's favorability towards him was already above sixty.

Having obtained the Black Sun ability, Gaoyu greeted Rangiku and Shūhei in a good mood.

"Miss Rangiku, Shūhei, what a coincidence, are you guys drinking here too?"

Rangiku and Shūhei, who were drinking, looked over. Rangiku's eyes lit up.

"Gaoyu! Come on, come on, didn't you say you didn't have time these days?"

Gaoyu walked over naturally, sat down, and said, "I didn't have time because I had to patrol, but I still had to come back at night. I originally wanted to sleep, but I couldn't fall asleep, so I thought I'd come out for a drink."

Shūhei looked at their conversation with some surprise and said, "Gaoyu, do you know Miss Rangiku?"

Matsumoto Rangiku immediately tapped his head.

"What? Only you are allowed to know Gaoyu? By the way, how do you two know each other?"

Shūhei winced in pain, while Gaoyu replied, "Shūhei and I are old classmates. We graduated in the same year."

"Eh? You're both from the 2061 class? You're both younger than me." Rangiku said with some surprise.

"It would be abnormal if you were older!" Shūhei widened his eyes and said, "Where on earth did you get the impression that Gaoyu was older than you?"

"Gaoyu looks much more reliable than you."

"If you say that, I'll be sad."

Shūhei looked at Gaoyu and said, "Gaoyu, I remember you're currently in... the Fifth Division, right?"

"Yeah." Gaoyu said with some melancholy, "I'm still just a small grunt in the Fifth Division, can't compare to you, a Lieutenant of the Ninth Division."

"That kind of thing isn't important. With your strength, you'll definitely become a Lieutenant sooner or later."

There was nothing wrong with this statement. Although Gaoyu couldn't compare to those outstanding talents, it was still very possible for him to become a Lieutenant.

"Forget it, we'll talk about this later." Gaoyu picked up the wine bottle, poured a full glass for himself, and drank it in one gulp.

"Ah~ comfortable."

Gaoyu had a pretty good tolerance for alcohol. The alcohol content was quite high, but he didn't feel much after drinking it.

"By the way... Gaoyu, are you taking that kid to the Shino Academy tomorrow?" Rangiku snatched the wine bottle from Gaoyu's hand, poured herself a drink, and then asked.

"Yes, although that kid didn't agree immediately, I'm sure he'll be waiting for me at the White Road Gate tomorrow."

"Ehehe." Rangiku rubbed her chin with a teasing look on her face. "What do you think would happen if I went to pick up that kid beforehand? I'm quite optimistic about him joining my squad."

"Go, go, go, don't steal my credit." Gaoyu said, "Even if he's going to the Tenth Division, he should at least spend some time in our Fifth Division first!"

"Hmm?" Shūhei on the side didn't know what they were talking about, so he couldn't help but ask, "Are you talking about something I don't know?"

"Gaoyu discovered a super genius, but he wants to keep him all to himself!" Rangiku immediately complained.

"Shūhei, if you get Gaoyu drunk today, I'll bring that kid to Seireitei tomorrow, and then let him stay in your Ninth Division for a while, and the rest of the time in our Tenth Division!"

"Hey, hey, hey, don't come to me for this kind of thing." Shūhei quickly waved his hands.

"Besides, I've seen plenty of geniuses."

Gaoyu smiled slightly upon hearing this. Tōshirō wasn't just any genius, but of course, he wouldn't say that out loud.

He had originally intended to catch up with Shūhei and then leave, but he didn't expect Shūhei and Rangiku to be drinking together. Gaoyu simply joined them.

Rangiku was a seasoned drinker and a master of skipping out on the bill. Once she saw they had drunk enough, Rangiku used the restroom as an excuse and vanished.

Seeing Rangiku didn't return for a long time, Shūhei knew she had run off again and immediately got angry, saying, "Damn it, Miss Rangiku is at it again!"

Gaoyu also twitched his lips. Rangiku, as a Lieutenant of the Tenth Division, earned more than both him and Shūhei combined. Yet, she skipped out on the bill?!

Gaoyu's current monthly salary was just under 200,000. It was enough to support himself, but not a family.

Fortunately, Gaoyu lived alone, and since he was previously a minor noble with some savings, he wasn't particularly short on money.

Rangiku, as a Lieutenant, earned 700,000 a month. He wondered where all her money went each month.

Did she spend it all on drinks? How much would she have to drink?

Hmm, women also buy clothes, and the cost of living in Seireitei is indeed quite high. If she bought pretty clothes and drank every day, 700,000 might not be enough.

"Ah, forget it."

Gaoyu stood up and said, "I was just crashing your meal anyway. I'll pay for this one."

Shūhei's pupils dilated, and he said with a touched expression, "Gaoyu... you're the best to me!"

Shūhei had only joined the Gotei 13 not too long ago. Although he was a Lieutenant, he spent a lot of money each month.

As he was also a guitar and motorcycle enthusiast, most of his salary was gone shortly after he received it.