When Hinamori Momo's turn came, the twin-tailed girl confidently gathered her Reiatsu and chanted:
"O King's Landing!
The mask of flesh and blood, Vientiane, flapping its wings, who bears the name of man!
Burning heat and riots, isolating the raging waves, and marching to the south!
Hadō #31 — Shakkahō!"
Her eyes were sharp, her focus unwavering. The incantation rolled off her tongue with practiced rhythm, and the crimson sphere she conjured burst forward, striking the target squarely.
Though her attack lacked full power and her timing still showed signs of inexperience, her form carried the unmistakable spark of a future Kidō master.
Amidst the murmurs of admiration, Hinamori skipped back to her position, beaming when she caught sight of Lu Yu giving her a thumbs-up. Her smile was as bright as her spell.
Beside her, a white-haired boy craned his neck, eyes gleaming with envy and yearning. The arts of the Shinigami — Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō — each carried their own allure, but for the uninitiated, nothing shone brighter than the fiery elegance of Kidō.
"Kidō isn't that hard. You just have to do it," Lu Yu remarked casually.
He wasn't speaking without reason.
With his transcendent soul body and innate power to command all things, he could already emulate Kidō for brief periods. Through quiet observation and relentless study, he had discerned the essence of the craft: using a Shinigami's spiritual force to shape and command the flow of spirit particles.
Yet mastering it required not just control, but the proper spiritual pathways — and, above all, raw power.
Lu Yu had begun analyzing the composition of spiritual energy across levels.
The average soul's Reiryoku was like smoke — light, scattered, collapsing under the slightest touch.
The first-year students of Shinō Academy possessed denser energy, like quicksilver — liquid, malleable, but not yet solid. It was sufficient to generate Reiatsu in its most basic sense.
At the officer level, Reiatsu solidified into something like brick — dense and defensive, far beyond the reach of trainees.
And then there were monsters like Zaraki Kenpachi. His Reiatsu, even when suppressed, leaked like molten steel. The air around him itself was a blade.
From this, Lu Yu concluded that even a low-level Kidō demanded spiritual power at least as solid as brick.
If one's Reiryoku lacked density, the only option was to compensate with incantation — the mantra acting as a stabilizer, amplifying control and force. Those with exceptional mastery or specialized tools, such as Kidō-type Zanpakutō, could leap past their limits.
Ultimately, the stronger the Reiatsu, the mightier the Kidō. When Reiatsu itself crushed all opposition, even an abandoned chant could shatter an enemy's spell.
He remembered Captain Aizen's Kurohitsugi — the sheer elegance and overwhelming dread of it. Once, Lu Yu had only admired it. Now, he dreamed of surpassing it.
That confidence came from his extraordinary "Dominion System," the power to command and understand all things.
Even his sealed Zanpakutō defied convention. At a glance, it appeared as a blade with two mirrored edges — unlike any standard Zanpakutō. The sealed form alone granted him a faint amplification of control, heightening his grasp over Reiatsu and spiritual technique.
His power of Dominion manifested in two primary ways:
First, it accelerated his understanding and mastery of every skill and force.
Second, it allowed him to forcibly manipulate non-living objects or familiar energies.
In his sealed state, the first ability shone brightest — his learning efficiency unmatched. What took others months, he could comprehend in mere hours.
Such was the tyranny of his gift.
"I really don't know whether to laugh or pity you, Rukongai trash daring to boast like that."
The words came from a sneering noble student, unable to contain his disdain after hearing Lu Yu's offhand remark.
"Bastard!"
Before anyone could react, Hitsugaya Tōshirō's small frame blurred forward. His wooden practice blade stopped just short of the noble's neck.
Hitsugaya had never been the type to lash out, but disrespecting Lu Yu was unforgivable. Were the insult aimed at him, he might have endured it — but toward Lu Yu? Never.
"You…" The noble's face flushed with humiliation, his voice trembling with fury.
Hitsugaya hadn't even used Reiatsu; his strike had been light, but the insult landed deep.
A tall, cold-eyed student — another noble — stepped forward.
"Yoshikawa, don't stoop to the level of these savages. Unlike certain beasts, we nobles still uphold dignity and etiquette." He glared at Hitsugaya. "This is your last warning, boy. Disgrace us again, and you'll regret it."
"Humph." Hitsugaya turned away, fists still clenched. He wasn't the type to escalate, but his anger simmered quietly.
Lu Yu's gaze lingered on the two nobles — calm, assessing. He marked them silently: yellow card first. Red card means death.
Just then, the Kidō drills concluded.
Without hesitation, Hitsugaya stepped forward, lifting his hand to the practice field. He began reciting the same incantation Hinamori had used, his voice trembling but determined.
Watching him, Hinamori pressed her hands together anxiously, while the instructor gave a small nod of encouragement. Two prodigies in one class — he couldn't help but feel proud.
Renji, Kira, and the other students exchanged curious glances. None were convinced Hitsugaya could actually pull it off.
The nobles laughed outright.
"Rukongai trash pretending to be gifted — what a joke."
"Spare us the shame and crawl back where you belong."
"Don't embarrass yourself further, commoner."
Their words cut deep. Distracted, Hitsugaya's focus faltered. The forming Kidō sputtered and dissolved midair.
The instructor sighed softly, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Don't worry. You're still young, and that was a good effort."
The nobles sneered again.
"Trash is still trash."
"Can't even hold a simple Hadō."
"Rukongai rats will never belong in Seireitei."
Lu Yu exhaled slowly — a single, cold snort.
The sound was soft, but the nobles froze as if struck by lightning. Their faces turned ashen, sweat pouring down their temples. In that instant, they felt the suffocating weight of something vast and ancient — like prey caught beneath a predator's gaze.
For a heartbeat, they thought they'd glimpsed a Hollow in human form.
The classroom fell silent.
Lu Yu stepped forward, his figure flickering beside Hitsugaya. Resting a hand on the boy's shoulder, he said quietly, "Watch closely. Feel the flow — and follow my Reiatsu."