A Wheel Of Captains

The special six-colored slash created by Saikyō surged toward Hirako Shinji.

As soon as this slash appeared, there was an uproar!

"How much strength is he still hiding?"

Looking at the approaching slash, Hirako Shinji's smile froze instantly.

After a brief shock, he stopped holding back, releasing his Reiatsu and readying his Zanpakutō.

Shine—

Accompanied by a sharp clashing sound, Saikyō's slash struck hard against the back of Hirako's Zanpakutō, creating bright sparks.

What was even more striking was that, as the slash exploded, the Reiatsu hidden within transformed into various elements—flames, strong winds, lightning, flying sand, water, and even white space-time fluctuations. Six different attributes burst forth at once, creating a powerful visual effect.

The sheer power left everyone in awe.

"No way…"

"His Reiatsu actually contains six different attributes?"

Hirako Shinji frowned, carefully sensing Saikyō's Reiatsu. He soon recognized its uniqueness.

Normally, since a soul is linked to a Zanpakutō, the attributes of one's Reiatsu are related to the nature of the Zanpakutō. For instance, Tōshirō Hitsugaya's Reiatsu had a coldness to it even before Hyōrinmaru fully awakened, nearly freezing his grandmother to death. Similarly, even when Captain Yamamoto doesn't release the power of Ryūjin Jakka, his Reiatsu carries the intense heat of a blazing flame, containing terrifying burning power.

Now, due to the awakening of the "multi-attribute affinity" talent, Saikyō's Reiatsu had a similar effect. The key difference was that the attributes were perfectly compatible, creating an even more astonishing display!

Outside the boundary barrier, the captains all wore expressions of shock. Saikyō's slash created an even greater impact than his earlier afterimage technique.

As captains and vice-captains, Hiyori and the others were far more experienced than the average Shinigami. Yet, even they had never seen anything like Saikyō's unique slash before.

Love Aikawa was the first to recover, giving a thumbs up toward the barrier. "Hiyori, you really found a gem. Brother Saikyō's talent is incredible."

"I think so too..." Hiyori, who had intended to say much more, could only manage this simple sentence.

Originally, she had planned to train Saikyō by having her companions help him improve in all areas. But things had taken an unexpected turn. What was meant to be training had turned into Saikyō's personal showcase!

"The special training has just begun, and Saikyō's performance is already amazing. I can't wait to see what other surprises he'll bring in the future," Yadoumaru Lisa said, adjusting her gold-rimmed glasses. If one looked closely, there was a certain spark in her eyes—a deepening affection.

"As expected, this handsome little brother is impressive in strength too. No wonder he's hailed as the greatest genius of the Soul Society," Kuna Mashiro said with a smile.

"Alright, calm down, this is not the time to get all starry-eyed," Muguruma Kensei rolled his eyes in disdain.

"Captain Kensei, are you perhaps jealous of Saikyō?" Kuna Mashiro teased with a mischievous grin.

"Don't be ridiculous, I'm not jealous of some kid," Muguruma Kensei replied coldly, turning his back on his lieutenant.

But in the next moment, his gaze, almost imperceptibly, lingered on Saikyō. There was clearly a different look in his eyes. Saikyō's remarkable display had caught the attention of even the brawniest of captains.

---

Time flew by. An hour passed in the blink of an eye, and the first round of special training concluded successfully.

Hirako Shinji stepped out of the barrier.

"Hirako, you must have gone easy on him, right? Why does it seem like you couldn't get the upper hand?" Hiyori was the first to confront him.

"Hahaha... If you think so, then go ahead and believe it," Hirako Shinji responded with a bitter smile.

To outsiders, it seemed like Hirako had held back, but in reality, he had genuinely struggled during the training session!

Initially, he intended to take it easy and have some fun sparring with Saikyō. But by the end, it almost felt like the fight had spiraled out of his control. If not for the difference in their raw strength, Saikyō might have actually defeated him!

"Hirako, that's not like you at all. I can hardly believe a Shinigami captain was thrown off his game," Love Aikawa commented, as he prepared to enter the barrier for the next round of training.

"Lou, be careful. Don't underestimate Saikyō!" Hirako Shinji warned earnestly.

He could already envision Love Aikawa's reaction after his own session—he was sure it wouldn't go any smoother than his own!

---

"Damn it! This kid's a real menace!"

An hour later, Love Aikawa emerged from the barrier, looking disheveled. His captain's haori was torn, and his Shinigami uniform was covered in dust. It was clear that he had struggled during his training with Saikyō.

"Lou, I told you—if you take him lightly, you'll definitely suffer in front of that kid," Hirako Shinji said with a smug smile from his perch.

"Hirako, I finally understand how you feel. Brother Saikyō is no ordinary kid. You can't treat him with common sense!" Love Aikawa cast a complicated glance back toward the barrier.

In the last hour, Love Aikawa had sparred with Saikyō, who had displayed extraordinary strength in all aspects of combat—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpō, and Kidō. Saikyō had caught Love Aikawa off guard, leading to his current messy state.

"Interesting. If even Hirako and you struggled, this kid must really be something," Muguruma Kensei remarked, warming up as he prepared to enter the barrier. Unlike his previous companions, Kensei was taking this very seriously. He wasn't going to underestimate Saikyō.

Zanjutsu, Kidō, Shunpō—Saikyō had already demonstrated his prowess in all of these areas. But there was one thing left—Hakuda, or hand-to-hand combat. And Hakuda was what Muguruma Kensei excelled in.

Within the barrier, Kensei clenched his fists, his eyes locked onto Saikyō. "Do you have the guts to seal your Zanpakutō and face me in Hakuda?" he taunted.

"Hakuda, huh?" Saikyō calmly nodded. He sheathed his Zanpakutō and rolled up his sleeves.

"Captain Kensei, I was thinking the same thing."

Saikyō's words were filled with confidence. Recently, he had leveled up his Hakuda skills and was eager to test his newfound power. Kensei was the perfect opponent to help him do just that!