It had been two days since Akira escaped from the General Infirmary.
While the previous genius was still recovering, Kisaragi Akira had already made a full recovery.
This was due not only to Aizen's decision to give him the highest standard of treatment, but also to the remarkable changes in his spirit body.
After all, no matter how exquisite Unohana Retsu's medical skills and Kaido were, severe internal and external burns still required time to heal.
Yet as soon as the treatment was over, Akira was free to move around.
After two days of rest, he had recovered completely.
As Aizen put it, people who didn't have a care in the world always healed the fastest.
During that time, Akira had also familiarized himself with the enhancements from having the Shakkaho pattern inscribed on him.
First, his Reiatsu had increased by one level, bringing him to lv53, spiritual pressure level eleven.
Frankly, that rate was already outrageous.
After all, Shinigami were long-lived beings with exceedingly long lifespans.
Thus, aside from a handful of monsters, increasing one's Reiatsu was always a gradual process.
Then there was the added trait of high heat.
Because the Shakkaho Kido pattern had not been fully inscribed, his spiritual body's physical qualities had not improved.
Even so, it was still an incredible result.
Although his Reiatsu was still hovering at the Seated Officer level, Akira was confident he could trade a few blows with certain disgraceful vice-captains without being outmatched.
With a little luck, he might even score a first kill.
So.
Let's see who the peerless Akira's opponent was.
Oh, it turned out to be the even more peerless Aizen Sosuke.
Never mind, then.
Time to wash up and go to bed.
At Hikifune Tessai's command, practical Kido training officially began.
Akira had no intention of holding back, and he didn't know the meaning of keeping a low profile. He was already famous throughout the Spiritual Arts Academy, so he might as well make an even bigger splash!
He opened with Hadō #31: Shakkahō, the very spell that had backfired on him just two days earlier.
Scalding flames condensed into a massive fireball, setting the air ablaze in an instant.
Scarlet flames erupted.
With a low rumble, a wave of searing heat abruptly spread outward, forming visible ripples that churned violently ahead.
Hikifune Tessai was stunned. He instinctively sucked in a breath of hot air and immediately felt the heat sear his lungs, a burning sensation spreading through his organs.
He had never imagined that Akira, who had managed to blow himself up, could unleash such a flawless Shakkahō.
Its power, casting speed, and every other aspect were beyond reproach.
Even if he himself cast the Shakkahō, it would only be a little more powerful.
"So how exactly did this kid manage to blow himself up?"
Hikifune Tessai fell into deep thought. "Could it be some kind of unspeakable fetish?"
Just then, the fireball barreled forward, carrying a violent wave of heat straight toward Aizen. The scorching temperature even warped the surrounding air.
Faced with an attack of this magnitude, Aizen stood calmly in place, utterly unruffled and composed.
"Bakudō #21: Sekienton."
His calm voice rang out at just the right moment. A vast cloud of crimson smoke burst from the ground beneath his feet, instantly blanketing the area where Aizen stood.
Shakkahō's remaining force was undiminished. It plunged straight into the smoke, and a towering wave of heat surged upward.
"I-is it over?"
One of the students asked blankly.
In their eyes, Akira's Shakkahō had been flawless.
If they had been standing across from him, they would have been blasted to bits in an instant and suffered a crushing defeat.
"Bakudō #4: Hainawa."
A calm voice came from within the red smoke. A faint cord of light lunged like a venomous snake striking its prey, crossing dozens of meters in an instant.
Akira naturally noticed the attack and instinctively prepared to use Shunpo to retreat.
But at that moment, Danger Instinct sounded an alarm.
His steps halted abruptly. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a brilliant flash of lightning flare up behind him to the right.
"You noticed?"
Aizen had somehow emerged from the smoke. His steady footsteps matched the beat of his heart, exuding an indescribable pressure.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai."
Though it was only a number-four Hadō, the timing and angle were so precise that it posed an immense threat to Akira.
Given Aizen's Reiatsu, even Byakurai alone could easily break through the defensive barrier around Akira.
So Akira chose to dodge once more.
The Shunpo speed boost from [Light as a Swallow] was enough for him to maneuver around the relatively confined space and evade the incoming attacks as best he could.
"Bakudō #9: Geki."
Aizen did not let up, instead putting even more pressure on Akira.
He knew his close friend's strength very well. This level of attack alone would not be enough to defeat him.
Sure enough, after Akira dodged the flying red cord once more, he landed and grinned.
"Sosuke, you really are something."
"But you still haven't grasped the true meaning of being a mage. Let me give you a demonstration myself."
"Watch closely and learn!"
As everyone stared in utter disbelief, one man simply chose to cheat.
"Destroy yourself, Black Dog of Rondanini! Upon a single reading, burn utterly, and cut your own throat!"
"Bakudō #9: Geki!"
Scarlet light burst forth from his fingertips, spreading straight ahead.
And this was only the beginning.
"...Entwine, crumble, shatter, sever."
"Hadō #11: Tsuzuri Raiden!"
"...Write once, burn to ash, and hang yourself by your own blade."
"Hadō #14: Zantetsu!"
"...Heat and strife, reverse the tide southward across the sea, and stride forth."
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō!"
"...Truth and restraint, know nothing of the dream-wall of sin; stand upon it alone!"
"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!"
One incantation after another rang out, seemingly without end, filling the entire Kido Barrier.
Reiatsu from the interwoven Hadō and Bakudō surged all around like waves.
Brilliant light burst forth in all its splendor, lashing the air like an iron whip and sending out shrill, piercing whistles.
Then came a series of deafening booms. Inside the barrier, it was as if someone were swearing an oath: thunder rumbled endlessly, one crash following another.
With the boost from the [Kido Mastery] trait, Akira became a magical machine gun, unleashing all kinds of Bakudō and Hadō without restraint.
Every Kido taught at the Spiritual Arts Academy—or even merely mentioned there—appeared one after another within the barrier.
That day, the students witnessed what it meant to—
Blanket the area with firepower!
By contrast, Aizen looked understated and elegant.
He used no dazzling Kido incantations, nor did he unleash any spectacular displays of Hadō.
Amid the dazzling light, he seized his opportunities, flickered through the gaps with Shunpo at just the right moment, and used Bakudō or Hadō to dismantle Akira's attacks.
Compared to Akira's blanket firepower, Aizen demonstrated perfectly what it meant to—
Strike with precision!
Before you continue