Watching the lively students full of youthful energy on campus, Gaoyu had now more or less completely figured out Star Chaser's ability after parting ways with Renji Abarai.
Star Chaser was an ability that could advance his standing. Once he used it, his status would rise by a certain amount.
For example, if he was currently an ordinary squad member, using it would make him a seated officer.
But his strength wouldn't change. Even if he became a Captain, his strength would still be no greater than it was now.
Of course, Star Chaser also had the ability to let him surpass his limits, but those limits were far beyond his reach.
He was still just an ordinary little Soul Reaper. His limits were nothing he could think about at the moment.
For example, Yamamoto and Aizen had both reached the limits of a Soul Reaper.
Their strength could no longer improve. Even after hundreds or thousands of years, it would still be just as it was now.
That was why Aizen wanted the Hogyoku. It could let him break through the limits of a Soul Reaper and become an existence beyond them.
But for Gaoyu, the moment he gained Star Chaser, the limits of a Soul Reaper ceased to exist, because he could surpass them!
In other words, as long as he kept training, he could continue to grow stronger, even if it took him a very long time. He could easily break through the limits of a Soul Reaper and might even become stronger than the Soul King.
Of course, that might take a very, very long time.
With his talent, he didn't even know how long it would take him to become a Captain-level Soul Reaper.
And after arriving at Shino Academy, Gaoyu also discovered something.
Not everyone had an ability of their own. In fact, the vast majority of people had none at all!
Only those with distinctive personalities and powerful Spiritual Power had a unique trait of their own, which gave rise to a special ability.
The named characters who appeared in the original story naturally all had distinctive personalities. Even if they were weak, people like that could still have special abilities.
As for ordinary background characters, they needed powerful Spiritual Power to help them develop one.
With that thought, he entered the Class 1 office.
Inside was a bald man wearing glasses. This was Dainaihara Gen'ichirō, the instructor of Class 1.
The instructor had once been a seated officer in the Thirteenth Division, so he naturally had an ability of his own.
"Strict Teacher, Talented Student: You will become an excellent teacher, and your students will make progress more easily under your instruction."
Well, it was a pretty good ability, but he couldn't obtain it just yet.
Dainaihara Gen'ichirō's favorability toward him hadn't reached sixty.
What surprised Gaoyu was that although it hadn't reached sixty, it was already as high as fifty-four.
Back when Gaoyu had attended Shino Academy, he often went to this famous teacher for lessons. He hadn't been one of his students, but the two of them had still gotten along quite well.
Gaoyu wasn't particularly talented, but Dainaihara Gen'ichirō admired his perseverance.
Gaoyu's eyes lit up, and he smiled at him.
"Teacher, Renji did an excellent job on his field assignment. It looks like you'll be teaching another genius student."
Dainaihara Gen'ichirō was pleased to hear Gaoyu say that. After all, teachers loved hearing others praise their students.
The instructors at Shino Academy had originally all been seated officers in their respective divisions. They had transferred to the academy for personal reasons or because the organization needed them there.
They had left the battlefield, but hoped their students could take their place and protect the Seireitei on the front lines.
He nodded. "Gaoyu, how far do you think Renji can go?"
"Well..." Gaoyu answered modestly. "I'm just an ordinary Soul Reaper, so I don't know much about Captain-level Soul Reapers. But I think Renji Abarai could become a high-ranking seated officer in no more than forty years."
"And beyond that, even becoming a Vice-Captain is possible."
"That's a bit of an exaggeration," Dainaihara Gen'ichirō said, shaking his head. "Reaching Captain level isn't easy, let alone within forty years."
"Still, he's a talent that even Captain Aizen values. Becoming a high-ranking seated officer is certainly possible."
"To be honest, if it weren't for Captain Aizen, I wouldn't have let my student go on a field assignment in his fifth year."
What could Gaoyu say? He could only nod and smile. "You're right, Teacher."
Under normal circumstances, academy students were assigned to the various divisions only after graduating. In their first year, they would train alongside senior squad members and learn the work Soul Reapers had to handle.
Of course, rules were rules, and exceptions could always arise in practice.
Like this one.
After they finished talking about Renji, Gaoyu hurriedly asked Dainaihara Gen'ichirō for advice on a few matters related to Kidō, putting on a humble, eager-to-learn attitude.
Dainaihara Gen'ichirō's favorability toward Gaoyu had already reached fifty-four. Seeing him act this way made it rise a little further, bringing it to exactly sixty.
Gaoyu successfully obtained the "Strict Teacher, Talented Student" skill.
After gaining the ability, he discussed a few more Kidō techniques with Dainaihara Gen'ichirō before leaving the office.
Once outside, he didn't hurry back to the Fifth Division. Instead, he looked around the school to see if there was anyone else with an ability.
Before long, he spotted Izuru Kira with Renji Abarai, as well as Momo Hinamori nearby.
Of course, both of them had abilities.
Izuru Kira's ability was "Bird Killer."
"Bird Killer: When facing an enemy with wings, your strength will increase tremendously while this ability is active."
No wonder he was called the Chicken Slayer. Kira's ability was pretty useful, too. After all, plenty of Hollows had wings, and Hollows were the Soul Reapers' main enemies at this stage.
Later, when the Quincies entered their Schrift forms, they also had wings of light. It was hard to say whether those illusory wings of light counted, but regardless of whether they did, the giant bird in X Schrift Form: Second Stage definitely did.
Come to think of it, Aizen also had wings later on when he entered his Hogyoku state. Did that make him a "bird"?
Momo Hinamori's ability was "Strongest Defense."
"Strongest Defense: Your defense will increase tremendously while this ability is active."
Excellent. No wonder she was the strongest tank, the Peach God.
Seeing this, Gaoyu knew he was determined to become friends with them!
His favorability with Renji had reached sixty or higher, but he wasn't nearly as familiar with Kira and Hinamori.
Since he hadn't spoken much with Kira or Hinamori, his favorability with them was a pitiful twenty.
He had to make friends with them!
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