Bankai—Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon: Gandharva

As soon as Seiya finished speaking, no further explanation was necessary.

The booklets, which had been printed and prepared in advance, were already being distributed by Chōjirō Sasakibe to everyone present.

The contents were simple—straightforward and comprehensive, with no difficulty in understanding.

Flipping through the pages, the details of the new Kido techniques came into view.

There were a total of eight classifications.

They covered offensive Kido, healing-based Kaidō, and restraining Bakudō…

The effectiveness of these techniques was, in every sense, complete. And alongside them were evaluations written in meticulous detail.

Some notes compared them to existing high-level Kido, with comments like:

—"The power is on par with Hado #73: Sōren Sōkatsui."

At first glance, the phrasing might have seemed comically exaggerated…

But after seeing the signature at the bottom, everyone fell silent.

—The evaluation had been written by Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni himself.

In other words…

These eight Kido techniques had undergone rigorous evaluation by the First Division and had been personally approved by the Head-Captain.

This was the highest form of official endorsement.

Once that fact was established, the reactions around the room varied.

For those aligned with Aizen, this was expected—they did not react strongly.

Among the remaining Captains, the veterans maintained their composure, showing no signs of being particularly shaken.

However…

One figure, large and imposing, broad-shouldered like a mighty guardian statue, voiced his doubts.

"Did you really create all of this… on your own?"

Komamura Sajin's skepticism was understandable.

His social circle was small, and his knowledge of such matters was fairly rudimentary.

"For an advanced Kido system to be fully developed, it requires extensive discussion and evaluation."

"It also needs to be tested by the Kido Corps to ensure its stability and reliability…"

"Only after passing these rigorous examinations can it be officially recognized as a safe and viable method…"

At first, he was merely muttering to himself.

But with his massive stature and naturally loud voice, his words carried clearly across the room.

"Captain Komamura, are you concerned about the authority of those who made these judgments?"

Seiya, as the central figure of the discussion, addressed him directly.

"No… I did not intend to say anything so disrespectful."

He was simply voicing his doubts for the sake of discussion.

"Hmm, you do have a valid concern."

Kyōraku Shunsui interjected at just the right moment. He was flipping through the booklet casually, his eyes reflecting a subtle glimmer of interest.

"But since the old man himself signed off on it, that means the First Division must have conducted in-depth research on it as well… If they weren't confident in its validity, they wouldn't have published these statements."

After a brief pause, Kyōraku tilted his head back with a playful grin.

"Right, old man~?"

"…"

Yamamoto's silence was his confirmation.

"I see. It seems I was overthinking it."

Komamura, despite his imposing appearance, was someone who readily accepted reason.

Once he had his answer, he saw no need to press the issue further or make things difficult.

A good-natured person, through and through.

With the matter settled, even Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who had been waiting eagerly to object, held his tongue.

Despite being a mad scientist, he wasn't entirely reckless.

In fact, his ability to navigate rules and structures was far superior to most Captains.

Perhaps that was another facet of intelligence.

As for now…

He had originally hoped that Yamamoto would pressure Seiya into an interrogation, but it turned out that Seiya had already disclosed everything beforehand, preemptively securing approval.

This felt like punching into thin air—frustrating, yet impossible to argue against.

All he could do was send a meaningful glare in Seiya's direction, which sent a chill down Seiya's spine…

Breaking the tense atmosphere was Ukitake Jūshirō.

Holding the booklet in his hands, he raised a hand slightly and spoke.

"About this Kido, Captain Arima… There are a few things I don't quite understand. Would you mind explaining?"

Seiya turned respectfully to face him.

"Of course, feel free to ask."

"Kido strength is usually tied directly to the user's Reiryoku output. That's why lower-ranked officers typically cannot use high-level Kido."

Rubbing his chin, Ukitake's expression grew focused. His tone was deliberate, as if organizing his thoughts as he spoke.

"But in your newly designed Kido, there are no warnings or restrictions on usage level…"

"So."

"Was that an oversight?"

Seeing Ukitake's cautious expression, Seiya fully understood his concerns and smiled.

"No, Captain Ukitake. My Kido techniques do not require a minimum level of Reiryoku to use… No, to be precise—"

There was a better way to explain it.

"As long as someone understands how to manipulate Reishi, they can use these eight Kido techniques with the proper incantations and guidance."

—Even though some had already suspected as much, hearing it directly still left Ukitake visibly stunned.

It wasn't just shocking—it defied conventional knowledge.

Seiya's design overturned everything known about Kido, and the fact that Yamamoto had approved it only made it more perplexing.

Ukitake furrowed his brow.

"But… is something like that even possible?"

The one who responded was Kyōraku.

Although he was equally surprised, the Captain of the Eighth Division was not one to outwardly display shock.

He hummed thoughtfully, trying to piece it together.

"Even though this sounds impossible and makes no sense… If we go by the description, the logic behind it can be understood."

"Everyone, turn to the last page of the booklet."

"I think we'll find our answer there."

—As expected of someone with a background in intelligence gathering. His sharpness was no joke.

After taking a moment to admire Kyōraku's insight, Seiya flipped to the final page of the booklet as well.

The contents were just as simple—additional notes and clarifications provided by Seiya himself.

And now, on this page, a seemingly minor detail was written:

"This new Kido can only be used within the inner district of Seireitei."

Reading the statement aloud, Kyōraku paused.

Then, as he partially lifted his hat, he lowered his head slightly.

"Captain Arima, is there something you're not telling us?"

Faced with this direct question, Seiya did not hesitate.

He gave a straightforward answer.

"No, nothing is being withheld."

"It's actually a very simple matter."

"This new Kido can only function within the range of my Bankai's ability."

…

What?

The confusion in the room was palpable.

Seiya wasn't trying to be cryptic—he simply stepped aside and revealed his Zanpakutō at his waist.

—Drawing one's sword during a Captain's Meeting was strictly forbidden.

Because such actions were considered highly inappropriate, some Captains even chose to leave their swords with their Vice-Captains before attending meetings.

As soon as Seiya took hold of his Zanpakutō, many Captains instinctively turned to Yamamoto.

Old man, he's pulling this stunt in front of you… Are you really going to let this slide?

But the Head-Captain remained silent.

It was clear that some level of understanding had already been reached between them.

"Everyone, in order to properly explain this, I have no choice but to do something a little improper."

With a quiet murmur, Seiya unsheathed his blade and turned its tip downward.

"But rest assured."

With a moment of focus, Seiya relaxed his grip.

"In the name of the Fifth Division, I guarantee that my actions are in service of the Court Guard Squads."

He let go.

Gravity took hold, and the blade fell straight down.

But the moment it touched the wooden table, it was as if it had sunk into water.

Ripples spread outward, distorting the surface like a pond disturbed by a falling stone.

"Bankai—Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon: Gandharva."

In that instant, every single person in the room felt an overwhelming presence rush through them—like a sudden storm blasting past.

The sensation was so swift and powerful, it was like radiation surging through their bodies.

Then, just as quickly as it came… it was gone.

Sui-Feng nearly jumped in alarm.

"What did you just do?!"

"It was just a demonstration, no need to be so tense."

Simple reassurances weren't enough to calm the Second Division Captain.

So Seiya continued his explanation.

"As you all know, my Bankai exists in a completely unique form."

"And depending on its released state, the abilities it grants also differ significantly."

"For decades, I have been refining my techniques. And now, I finally have something to show for it."

Like Tenbu, this form—Gandharva—was another extension of his power.

"More of your cursed nonsense!"

From the way Sui-Feng clenched her teeth, it was clear she had suffered enough firsthand from Seiya's antics…

But no matter.

"This ability does not have offensive properties. In fact, it is purely meant to enhance others."

To put it simply—

"Gandharva's ability is to disperse my Reiryoku outward."

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