Talents Are Always Attracted to Each Other

"Fine, fine, fine. So that's how you want to play it."

Kisaragi Akira laughed in sheer exasperation. "I'll give you a perfect score for that display of arrogance."

He had been effortlessly outclassed by Aizen, yet there was absolutely nothing he could say about it.

If anyone else had spoken those words, he could have scoffed at them with total disdain.

But the person who said it happened to be Aizen.

Aizen ignored Kisaragi Akira's outburst and began to explain the intricate details of the Kido patterns.

Because of his profound mastery of calligraphy, even his casual strokes revealed a unique charm within the lines.

Electric arcs danced, crackling as they snapped through the air.

The noisy shrieking of the electricity harmonized with the curvature of the patterns, highlighting the true essence of Byakurai.

Since it was only a level four Hado, the Kido pattern was not overly complex, and with Kisaragi Akira's talent, he could master it quickly.

A moment passed, and Aizen asked, "Have you memorized it?"

Kisaragi Akira nodded.

"Write it out in the form of Byakurai."

Just to be safe, Aizen decided to have the guy demonstrate it first.

He had suffered too many setbacks of this nature because of him; it was better to be cautious.

Kisaragi Akira did not suspect a thing and immediately let electric light shine from his fingertips, tracing the Kido pattern in an instant.

It was slightly inferior to the previous one, but there were no errors in the overall structure or the details.

Seeing this, Aizen felt relieved and prepared to move on to the third step.

"The next step is of vital importance."

"Although the power of Byakurai is limited, when the output of Reiatsu reaches a certain threshold, it still erupts with immense destructive force."

"Therefore, you must be extremely careful."

After repeated warnings, Aizen began to teach Kisaragi Akira the results of his research during this period.

Ever since he discovered the abnormal changes in this guy's spiritual body, he had begun to conduct deep-level analyses on him, occasionally drawing a bit of blood or plucking a few hairs.

To Aizen's surprise, when he made similar requests to Kisaragi Akira, the guy didn't even ask why; he simply extended his arm and let him do as he pleased.

When he asked for the reason, Kisaragi Akira just grinned and said candidly:

"We're friends, aren't we!"

"Although we can't call it a bond of life and death, we are at least close friends."

At the time, Aizen had looked at the youth before him very seriously, trying to find any trace of acting in his eyes.

Regrettably, he failed.

Kisaragi Akira was a very pure guy, so pure it was hard to believe.

"The inscription of Kido patterns is not as simple as just tracing the corresponding marks on the body."

Aizen's voice deepened, his attitude serious. "Others have attempted similar research, but without exception, they all failed."

"The spiritual bodies of ordinary Shinigami have a carrying limit."

"If you discard Reiatsu defense, even an ordinary slash can cause them damage."

"Let alone Kido."

"To inscribe a Kido pattern, the first thing you must achieve is for the spiritual body to be able to withstand the power of its destruction..."

He tried his best to discard the technical jargon and describe the essence of this method of becoming stronger in the simplest terms possible.

However, Aizen still overestimated Kisaragi Akira's patience.

Or rather, he underestimated the trust the other party had in him.

"None of that is important."

Kisaragi Akira waved his hand, signaling, "You just need to tell me what to do."

Hearing this, Aizen sighed helplessly; he knew things would turn out this way.

Did this guy have a grudge against his own brain? Why was he too lazy to even think?

"The method is simple."

"It is to imprint the Kido pattern into your flesh and blood."

"Let the Reishi within your spiritual body flow and circulate according to the trajectory of the pattern."

Aizen stated the specific method.

"In this process, you must be cautious and careful, because..."

However, before he could finish his sentence, Kisaragi Akira began to attempt it.

Active, flickering electric arcs darted and surged across the surface of his body, and a stinging pain instantly spread throughout his flesh, causing his frame to reflexively curl and twist.

However, Kisaragi Akira soon overcame this process with a firm will.

Although he lacked many virtues, his early struggles for survival in the Nikkotsu District had long since forged a will as tenacious as tempered steel.

Before long, a look of joy appeared on Kisaragi Akira's face:

"Ah, I did it!"

The moment the words left his lips, the shimmering electric glow receded, gradually merging into his body until it finally left a lightning-bolt mark on the little finger of his left hand.

This was the Kido pattern of Byakurai.

"Are there any changes?"

There seemed to be a trace of imperceptible tension in Aizen's tone.

Kisaragi Akira moved his body, sensing the changes in detail.

Soon, he skillfully demonstrated a set of Young Eagle Takes Flight.

"My overall attributes have improved a little."

"And then, there's this!"

He splayed his five fingers, and white electric arcs instantly flickered to life, crisscrossing and arranging themselves into various patterns.

Under the manipulation of Kisaragi Akira's will, the lightning bolts shifted, forming a youth in overalls one moment and a chest-puffing chick the next.

Just as he attempted to combine the two, he was suddenly interrupted by Aizen.

"Perfect control over Byakurai, to the point of instinct?"

Kisaragi Akira was stunned, then nodded.

"What about the consumption?"

"The same as usual."

Hearing this answer, Aizen fell into deep thought.

Kisaragi Akira's success was within expectations; Byakurai had limited power, and his current spiritual body could easily withstand it.

He wouldn't even suffer serious injuries if hit head-on by someone else's Byakurai.

However, the results achieved were still somewhat surprising.

One had to realize that Byakurai was merely Hado #4; in terms of raw power, it wasn't even in the same league as double-digit Kido, let alone the high-level ones.

If simply imprinting Byakurai could yield such excellent results, what if he imprinted Shakkaho as well?

Or even Raikuho, Soren Sokatsui, Hiryu Gekizoku Shinten Raiho, Kurohitsugi...

Soon, Aizen regained his usual composure.

He looked at Kisaragi Akira, who was attempting to integrate the properties of Byakurai into his Kendo, Hakuda, and even Shunpo, and the corners of his mouth curled up as he reminded him:

"Byakurai is just the beginning; what follows is the main event of our day."

"You should have mastered the Shakkaho that Hikifune Tessai taught recently, right?"

Kisaragi Akira nodded in response.

Then followed a skillful demonstration.

"This is the Kido pattern for Shakkaho."

Aizen once again traced a brand-new mark in the air with his finger.

"When did you even..."

Kisaragi Akira started to speak, but as if suddenly remembering something, he promptly shut his mouth.

"Forget it, pretend I didn't ask."

He chose not to give Aizen another chance to show off.

Soon.

After mastering the Kido pattern for Shakkaho, Kisaragi Akira began to attempt it again.

However, both he and Aizen had underestimated the difficulty of imprinting Shakkaho.

The moment he began, Kisaragi Akira's expression shifted; a rush of blood surged to his head, and his entire face turned crimson in an instant.

Seeing this, Aizen's expression changed abruptly, and just as he was about to intervene, a surging wave of heat erupted from Kisaragi Akira's body. Crimson flames bloomed in the dojo once more, immediately drawing countless gazes.

Hikifune Tessai, who had just returned to the dojo, stood with a blank expression, staring toward the source of the sweltering heat, and muttered in a daze:

"What a talent..."