Dual Slash

After a short while.

In the center of the training base, thick mist rose from the hot spring, and a large amount of water vapor floated in the air.

Saikyō held a special katana in his hand, swinging it tirelessly as sweat poured down his face, repeating the same movements over and over.

"Your posture is quite standard, but your sword swings are a bit stiff. I suppose Captain Yoruichi never taught you slashing techniques beforehand?" Urahara Kisuke's voice echoed from the stone stairs nearby.

He had been watching Saikyō's training the entire time.

However, to the shopkeeper's disappointment, Saikyō seemed like a blank slate when it came to slashing techniques, having yet to master many skills.

This was likely related to the unique nature of the Shihōin family.

Yoruichi, after all, was famous for her speed and special techniques. In the original story, although Yoruichi had a short-blade Zanpakutō, she rarely used it, and its name and abilities remained a mystery.

Thinking of this, Urahara Kisuke soon felt relieved.

Swish—

After a vigorous swing, Saikyō finally stopped his training.

At that moment, Urahara Kisuke's voice came from across the room.

"Saikyō, how do you feel about the katana? Can you manage it?"

"Mr. Urahara, after using it for a while, I'm starting to get used to the feel of the sword, but I still need to better control the strength of my slashes," Saikyō admitted.

"Very good. The first step is complete, and it's time to move on to the next stage," Urahara Kisuke said with a chuckle as he descended the stone stairs toward Saikyō.

"What do I need to do now?" Saikyō asked.

"Saikyō, there's something important you need to understand."

Urahara Kisuke raised his voice and said seriously, "A battle between Shinigami is essentially a clash of Reiatsu. The strength of Reiatsu affects not just Kidō but also the power of your slashes."

He continued, "Next, try injecting some of your Reiatsu into the katana, and you'll see a notable effect."

"I understand!"

Saikyō took a deep breath, gripped the handle with both hands, and began pouring his Reiatsu into the sword as instructed.

Zzzzzzt—

Accompanied by a sharp crackling sound, something surprising happened.

After injecting his Reiatsu, the previously ordinary katana became enveloped in arcs of electricity, as though it had been imbued with the power of lightning.

"This is..." Saikyō's eyes widened in amazement as he watched the arcs of lightning dance across the blade. "Could it be that a Zanpakutō with a lightning attribute would produce such an effect?"

"Saikyō, I'm truly amazed. Your Reiatsu is different from the norm!" Urahara Kisuke exclaimed, his face filled with surprise.

Although he had speculated beforehand, seeing it firsthand was far more impactful.

The scene before him confirmed one thing—once Saikyō reaches his sealed state, he would undoubtedly awaken a Zanpakutō with lightning-based abilities!

This realization thrilled Urahara Kisuke.

A Zanpakutō with lightning attributes was a rarity in the history of the Soul Society.

If Saikyō truly awakened such a power, it would elevate him significantly, with no question that he would become a rising star!

"Mr. Urahara, shall I test its power?" Saikyō asked eagerly, gripping the katana, excited by the power he felt within.

Though he wasn't yet proficient in slashing, Saikyō could clearly sense that the lightning-imbued Reiatsu had enhanced the quality of his slashes.

"See that large tree over there? Aim for it and strike with all your might!" Urahara Kisuke instructed, pointing at a towering tree in the distance.

"No problem."

Saikyō raised his katana, pointed the tip at the tree, and swung the blade with precision.

Swish—

The blade cut through the air, a slash infused with the power of lightning coursing through it, striking the tree trunk at incredible speed.

Boom!

A deafening explosion followed as the enormous tree came crashing down, shattered branches and sawdust scattering everywhere.

The scene was in complete disarray.

"Well done!" Urahara Kisuke couldn't help but praise.

The power behind Saikyō's slash was far greater than he'd anticipated, leaving the shopkeeper pleasantly surprised.

"Mr. Urahara, this katana is perfectly compatible with my Reiatsu," Saikyō said, gripping the sword tightly with a delighted expression.

Though it was just a replica, anything created by Urahara was guaranteed to be of high quality.

With this katana, Saikyō had fully harnessed the unique nature of his Reiatsu.

More importantly...

This was only his first attempt.

It wasn't hard to imagine that with time and experience, the power of his slashes would only continue to grow!

"Saikyō, remember, the tools are only supplementary. What truly matters is your own ability," Urahara Kisuke said with a satisfied smile.

For the first time, assuming the role of mentor and teaching such a talented student was immensely rewarding.

"By the way, you also possess fire-attribute Reiatsu, don't you?" Urahara Kisuke asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Let me give it a try!"

Saikyō nodded confidently.

The lightning-imbued Reiatsu had greatly enhanced his slashing ability, but what about fire-attribute Reiatsu? What kind of effect would that produce?

Saikyō was eager to find out!

Without hesitation, he repeated the process, choosing another large tree as his target, and swung the blade with full force.

As if rewinding a film, a slash entwined with flames shot through the air at tremendous speed, striking the tree's trunk with precision.

Boom!

The thunderous impact echoed once more as the towering tree toppled, branches and sawdust flying in all directions.

Crackle, crackle—

The temperature in the area soared, and the moisture in the air rapidly evaporated.

Flames spread across the ground, creating a raging inferno that intensified the heat in the air.

Just like the previous slash, Saikyō's second attack carried a distinct, fiery power!

"Such incredible strength! The fire-attribute Reiatsu has boosted the slashing power as well," Urahara Kisuke said in awe, his shock intensifying as he watched the flames dance.

The dual-attribute Reiatsu brought such significant enhancements, even Urahara himself couldn't contain his excitement!

"Mr. Urahara, I can clearly feel that the two types of Reiatsu are merging, and they're being perfectly infused into the slashes," Saikyō said confidently.

Much like Kidō, when someone awakens a specific talent, it's not difficult to merge multiple attributes of Reiatsu.

Saikyō was filled with confidence!

"..."

Urahara Kisuke remained silent for a moment.

Whether it was the enhanced version of Kidō, the dual-attribute Reiatsu, or the improved slashes, Saikyō had truly surpassed all his expectations!