Chapter 332: Get Yourself Involved!

·"For example, Kidō("Demon Arts)?"

 Ace muttered thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on Yoruichi.

It seemed that the wheel of history hadn't veered far from its original trajectory—Yoruichi was still pursuing this path.

Zanpakutō wasn't the only way to maintain and amplify Reiatsu outside the body. Kidō could achieve this as well.

 This was why the chief and deputy chief of the Kidō Corps were able to elevate their combat power to a level comparable to a captain's—without relying on a Zanpakutō, relying solely on Kidō instead.

Kidō, when mastered, was immensely powerful. High-level Kidō could even rival the Bankai of most Zanpakutō. But it came with significant drawbacks. The first was the time it took to cast; the higher the level of Kidō, the longer the chant required. The second was its demanding nature—it required an extraordinary level of talent to master.

The number of Shinigami who could release Kidō above level 90 without incantation, even across the entirety of Seireitei, was fewer than a thousand.

 And just being able to recite a chant didn't guarantee success in releasing the corresponding Kidō. Talent was everything.

Historically, only two Shinigami had ever reached the rank of captain through mastery of Kidō alone, making it far more difficult than achieving Bankai.

"Exactly!"

Yoruichi clapped her hands and exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. "Ace, sometimes you're unreliable, but you really get me!"

"My idea is this!"

 Yoruichi spun in a circle in front of him, her energy overflowing as she explained.

"Through Kidō, Reiatsu can be increased and maintained around the body. At the same time, it compensates for the weakness of Kidō—like its slow casting speed and how easily it's interrupted in close combat. But... it's still not perfect. I'll need to think about it some more."

Yoruichi's idea was essentially the foundation of Shunkai(*Momentary Release)—a comprehensive combat style that combined Hakuda and Kidō.

 At this point, though, it was still in the theoretical stage. Even the theory itself wasn't fully developed.

Of course, Ace understood the concept of Shunkai. Having become a Shinigami himself, he now had a more refined understanding of its potential.

Just as Yoruichi described, Kidō could address the power deficit, while the agility and flexibility of Hakuda reduced the risk of Kidō being interrupted during combat. Together, the synergy significantly enhanced its threat level.

In terms of defense, it was just as potent. By using Kidō to create a layer of Reiatsu around the body, incoming Kidō attacks could be neutralized with matching spiritual energy, solving one of the biggest issues faced by those who specialized in Hakuda.

"No, seriously, can you stop spinning? You're making me dizzy! If you've got something to say, just sit down and talk to me," Ace said, rubbing his temple with a helpless sigh.

"Oh! You're still here? I almost forgot!" Yoruichi replied with a mischievous grin.

Ace rolled his eyes. "Great. One second I'm the one you need to listen to, and the next you forget I exist. Women!" He chuckled to himself.

Yoruichi ignored his commentary entirely, crouching in front of him and gripping his shoulders with both hands. Her golden eyes locked on his, suddenly serious.

"Do you know where my inspiration for this idea came from?"

Ace tilted his head. "No idea."

How could he? His past life didn't include the events that shaped Yoruichi's insight into this advanced combat style.

"It was Master Omen!" Yoruichi said firmly. "His fighting style inspired me. Precise judgment, releasing the right Kidō at the right time, neutralizing attacks with counterattacks—it's perfect!"

She paused, her eyes gleaming with realization.

"That's it! What I'm missing is accurate judgment!"

"..."

Ace's lips twitched when he heard the news.

Yoruichi's inspiration came from him? Was he the one who set the wheel of history in motion?

What Yoruichi described was essentially the fighting style Ace was most familiar with. His original goal had been to maximize his control over Reiatsu and resolve battles with overwhelming power. He hadn't anticipated that his approach would end up inspiring Yoruichi.

"Do you think you can get Master Omen to design a new Kidō for me? One that can automatically detect an opponent's Reiatsu and release a countermeasure to neutralize it?"

"You're dreaming."

Ace instinctively responded as he snapped out of his thoughts. Noticing the sour look on Yoruichi's face, he quickly added, "I mean, how could such a Kidō even be developed? It's not that I wouldn't help you!"

"Just because you can't do it doesn't mean Master Omen can't!" Yoruichi shot back, her tone resolute.

Ace sighed inwardly. Who are you looking down on? The Master Omen youth babbling and I are literally the same person!

Of course, he couldn't say that. Ace tried to reason with her instead.

 "Yoruichi, isn't a self-regulating Kidō essentially self-aware? Do you really think that's something a Shinigami could create?"

Yoruichi's pout deepened as she plopped onto the ground, her lips pressed into a sulky line. She knew deep down that what she was asking for was outrageous, but it had been worth a try. Even someone as skilled as Master Omen couldn't surpass the limits of a Shinigami.

"You!" Yoruichi suddenly pointed at Ace. "Take me to see Master Omen! I want to be his apprentice!"

"W-What?!" Ace blinked in shock. "Why?"

"I want to learn Kidō from him!" she declared with fiery determination. "If I master it, I can combine Kidō with Hakuda and create something entirely new!"

Ace felt a mix of pride and exasperation. Not only had he inadvertently started the wheel of history, but now it seemed he'd thrown himself into its gears as well.

He thought of telling Yoruichi that she could achieve her vision of Shunkai on her own without needing a master. But seeing the fierce resolve in her eyes, he wisely held his tongue.

The idea of Omen becoming Yoruichi's teacher did have its merits. With that identity, Ace could openly collaborate with her under the guise of mentorship.

 But the longer he considered it, the more impractical it seemed. Yoruichi's sharp instincts and their close relationship made it far too likely that she would uncover his secret.

In the end, the development of Shunkai would have to rely on Yoruichi herself. She needed to refine her ideas and ensure they were feasible before moving forward. 

Ace's role would be to support her as a sparring partner, helping her iron out any flaws in the process.

With that goal in mind, the two parted ways to focus on their respective tasks. For Yoruichi, this meant immersing herself in research and experimentation.

Ace hadn't seen her since their last trip to the hot spring. He knew the process would be arduous and time-consuming, and Yoruichi wouldn't resurface for a while. Even Urahara had vanished, likely absorbed in his own secretive projects.

Despite the sudden disappearance of his friends, Ace wasn't bored. He had his own matters to attend to.

In Soul Society, the effort to eradicate Quincy was ongoing. The campaign was thorough and merciless. When Yamamoto had vowed to "cut the grass and pull out the roots," he hadn't been speaking figuratively. For the Shinigami, the complete annihilation of Quincy was only a matter of time.