Miyano Kaede circled slowly between the two combatants.
He had watched every match so far.
Without a doubt, Kyoraku Shimo and Renji Abarai were the most outstanding swordsmen among this year's incoming students.
But who deserved the title of Top Newcomer in Swordsmanship?
That was still up for debate.
After all, the opponents they had faced until now had been far too weak to bring out their full potential.
Now, it was time for a clash of the strongest.
Only this would reveal who was truly number one.
Unaware of Miyano's thoughts, Shimo kept his attention on his opponent.
Unlike those who had come before, Renji's eyes gleamed with an almost beast-like hunger for combat.
His grip on the wooden sword was so tight that his veins bulged, joints creaking with pressure.
It was clear—he sensed danger from Shimo.
Shimo mirrored Renji's stance. His blade tilted slightly upward, tip angled diagonally, calm and ready.
In contrast to Renji's aggressive glare, Shimo's gaze was still and composed.
There was no spiritual pressure allowed in these matches.
This was a battle of pure technique and willpower.
Even so, the space around them grew increasingly tense.
This duel would test more than sword skills—it would test patience and mental fortitude.
And those… weren't exactly Renji's strengths.
"This match is mine!"
Renji roared, raising his wooden sword and slashing down with full force.
"That's not guaranteed."
Shimo countered, lifting his sword to meet the strike.
Boom! The impact was heavy—brutal, even.
Renji didn't feel like a student from Rukongai.
In that moment, Shimo sensed something far more primal—like a feral beast on the attack.
The explosive power Renji unleashed was far beyond the average new recruit.
Unfortunately… he lacked formal swordsmanship training.
Shimo's eyes sharpened. In a fluid motion, he twisted his wrist and slashed at an impossible angle.
Caught off guard by the sudden counterattack, Renji staggered backward, scrambling to recover.
His reflexes were fast—barely enough to stabilize his stance—but by the time he found his footing again, the entire atmosphere of the training field had changed.
"No way…!"
"Is this the talent of a noble?!"
"He's already adept at sword—and he just enrolled!"
"That's terrifying…"
Among the onlookers were no shortage of well-informed students.
Class One had a higher proportion of nobles compared to commoners from the outer districts.
They immediately recognized the shift in Shimo's aura—his sword intent had awakened.
Gritting his teeth, Renji's eyes burned with defiance. He wasn't going to give up that easily.
"So what if you've awakened sword intent?!"
"I won't lose!"
He charged forward again, shouting, reckless but determined.
Shimo, still wearing a gentle smile, shifted his footing, turned his wrist, and lunged forward with a precise thrust.
His blade moved with deadly grace, wrapped in invisible pressure.
Despite the lack of spiritual energy, a faint sword pressure radiated from the wooden blade, sharp and focused.
Clack!
Their swords collided with a crisp crack.
Shimo's blade halted for just a moment—then sliced cleanly through Renji's wooden sword.
The concentrated sword pressure surged forward, striking directly toward Renji's vital point.
Cold sweat slid down Renji's cheek.
What hovered just before his throat didn't feel like wood.
It felt like a real blade, honed to the edge of death.
"It seems… the outcome is clear."
Miyano Kaede's calm voice cut through the air, bringing the match to an end.
Shimo withdrew his wooden sword and nodded slightly.
Renji, only now released from the trance of Shimo's sword intent, felt his entire uniform soaked in sweat.
"…Thanks."
His voice was low, but sincere.
He had felt the gulf between them—clearly and painfully.
If Shimo hadn't held back… he would've been seriously injured.
But Renji didn't wallow in defeat.
Instead, the battle had lit a fire in him—an even stronger drive to become better.
After a brief moment of frustration, he raised his head and looked at Shimo seriously.
"I'll defeat you one day."
Shimo chuckled lightly and offered him a word of advice.
"You might want to pick a more realistic goal."
"Even if I give you time to catch up, those I've defeated tend to fall further and further behind."
Renji said nothing, but the determination in his eyes didn't waver.
He silently picked up the two broken pieces of his sword and returned to the student ranks.
"Excellent swordsmanship."
Miyano Kaede clearly appreciated talented students.
"You're one of the rare few I've seen to grasp sword intent so soon after enrolling."
Hearing such praise directly from the instructor caused a new wave of murmuring to ripple through the class.
"So it was sword intent…"
"Is this the gap that raw talent creates?"
"Could he be from the Kuchiki clan?"
"Idiot. Didn't you hear his name? Kyoraku Shimo. He's a high-ranking noble."
"I heard the 8th Division Captain is from the Kyoraku family too. Could Shimo be his heir or something?"
Among Shinigami, mastering sword intent was no small feat.
Amid the rising chatter and admiration, Shimo quietly returned to the group.
And just then, the familiar system voice echoed in his mind:
[Check-in complete. Reward distributing…]
[Congratulations—You've obtained: Divine Dream — Ichitō-ryū (One-Strike Style)!]