Star Chaser and Strict Teacher, Talented Student

Watching the lively, youthful students on campus, Gaoyu, now separated from Renji Abarai, had more or less fully figured out the ability of Star Chaser.

Star Chaser was an ability that allowed one to advance their rank. If he used it, his status would receive a certain boost.

For example, if he was currently a seated officer, using it would make him a lieutenant.

But his actual strength wouldn't change. Even if he became a captain, his power would still be what it was now.

Of course, Star Chaser also had another function—it could let him transcend his limits—but that limit was still far, far away from him.

Right now, he was just an ordinary, small-time Soul Reaper. Limits and such weren't something he could afford to think about yet.

To give an example, Yamamoto and Aizen had both reached the limit of a Soul Reaper.

Their strength could no longer improve. Even if another few hundred or thousand years passed, their power would remain exactly where it was.

That was why Aizen wanted the Hogyoku—because it could allow him to break through the Soul Reaper limit and become a transcendent being.

But for Gaoyu, after obtaining Star Chaser, the Soul Reaper limit no longer existed for him. Because he could transcend it!

In other words, as long as he kept training—though it would take a very long time—he could continuously grow stronger, easily break through the Soul Reaper limit, and even become more powerful than the Soul King.

Of course, that might take an extremely long time.

With his own talent, he didn't even know how long it would take to become a Captain-level Soul Reaper.

And after arriving at Shino Academy, Gaoyu had also discovered something else.

Not everyone had an ability. In fact, the vast majority of people had none at all!

Only those with distinctive traits and strong Spiritual Power possessed their own unique characteristics, giving birth to special supernatural abilities.

Characters with names and faces from the original story naturally belonged to that category. Even if they were weak, they could still have abilities.

As for ordinary background extras, they needed powerful Spiritual Power to even have a chance at developing one.

Thinking this over, he entered the Class 1 office.

Inside the office sat a bald man wearing glasses. This was Class 1's instructor, Dainaihara Gen'ichirō.

This instructor had once been a seated officer in the Thirteenth Division, so naturally, he also had his own ability.

"Strict Teacher, Talented Student: You will become an excellent teacher. Students under your guidance will find it easier to improve."

Well, it was a decent ability, but Gaoyu couldn't obtain it just yet.

Because Dainaihara Gen'ichirō's favorability toward him hadn't reached sixty.

But what surprised Gaoyu was that while it hadn't hit sixty, it was already at fifty-four.

Back when Gaoyu was at Shino Academy, he had often sought out this famous teacher for guidance. Even though he wasn't officially his student, the two had a good relationship.

Gaoyu's talent wasn't great, but Dainaihara Gen'ichirō admired his perseverance.

Gaoyu's heart stirred, and he smiled as he said:

"Teacher, Abarai's internship mission was completed excellently. Looks like you're about to produce another genius student."

Dainaihara Gen'ichirō was pleased to hear this. After all, teachers always liked hearing praise about their students.

The instructors at Shino Academy had originally been seated officers from various divisions, but due to personal reasons or organizational needs, they had transferred to the academy.

These people had left the battlefield, but they hoped their students could take their place and protect Seireitei.

He nodded and said, "Gaoyu, how far do you think Renji can go?"

"Well..." Gaoyu replied humbly, "I'm just an ordinary Soul Reaper. I don't know much about Captain-level matters, but I believe Abarai can become a high-ranking seated officer within at most forty years."

"Beyond that, even Vice-Captain is possible."

"You're exaggerating a bit," Dainaihara Gen'ichirō said, shaking his head. "Captain-level isn't so easy to reach, let alone within forty years."

"Still, since Captain Aizen himself values him, becoming a high-ranking seated officer is very likely."

"To be honest, if it weren't for Captain Aizen, I wouldn't have let my student go on an internship while still a Fifth-Year Student."

What could Gaoyu say? He could only nod and smile. "Teacher speaks the truth."

Under normal circumstances, students were assigned to divisions only after graduation, and their first year was spent shadowing senior members, learning the duties of a Soul Reaper.

Of course, rules were rules, but in practice, exceptions happened.

Like right now.

After finishing the topic about Renji, Gaoyu quickly asked Dainaihara Gen'ichirō for guidance on some Kidō techniques, putting on a humble and studious attitude.

Dainaihara Gen'ichirō's favorability toward Gaoyu was already at fifty-four. Seeing Gaoyu like this, it rose a bit more, just reaching sixty.

Gaoyu smoothly obtained the 'Strict Teacher, Talented Student' skill.

After acquiring the ability, he exchanged a few more Kidō techniques with Dainaihara Gen'ichirō before leaving the office.

Stepping out, he didn't rush back to the Fifth Division. Instead, he walked around the school to see if there were others with abilities.

Before long, he spotted Izuru Kira together with Renji Abarai, and Momo Hinamori nearby.

These two naturally had abilities too.

Izuru Kira's ability was 'Bird Killer'.

"Bird Killer: When activated against an enemy with wings, your strength receives a massive boost."

Truly worthy of the Chicken Slayer. Kira's ability is pretty useful too—after all, many Hollows have wings, and the Shinigami's main enemies right now are still those Hollows.

Later, when the Quincy enter their Schrift state, they also have those light-based wings of light. Not sure if those illusory wings count as real wings, but regardless, the big bird in X's second-stage Schrift definitely does.

Speaking of which, when Aizen enters his Hogyoku state, he also sprouts wings later. Does that make him a 'bird'?

As for Momo Hinamori's ability, it's 'Strongest Defense.'

"Strongest Defense: When activated, your defensive power receives a massive boost."

Great. Truly worthy of the ultimate tank, Peach God.

Seeing this, Gaoyu knew: these two are friends I have to make!

He and Renji had a bond level above sixty, but with Kira and Hinamori, he wasn't as familiar.

Since he'd barely spoken to Kira and Hinamori, their bond was a pitiful twenty.

He had to befriend them!