In the following days, Satoru surprisingly didn't wander around aimlessly. Instead, he requested a private training hall from Teacher Kinoshita.
With his status as the Captain-Commander's disciple, his application faced no obstacles and was approved in less than half an hour.
The training hall was located at the foot of the mountain behind the Shin'ō Academy, an old facility that could still be used after some cleaning.
In this hall, Satoru devoted himself to practicing "Sōkotsu."
On the third day after teaching "Sōkotsu" to Aizen, Aizen had already mastered the technique.
Naturally, Satoru also learned how to use Sōkotsu through the system's synchronization.
Standing still in the solitary training hall, Satoru resembled a sturdy pine tree.
He had removed his upper uniform and tied it around his waist.
Though still young, his exposed upper body already displayed well-defined muscle lines.
Beads of sweat glistened on his body from the intense training.
If this were filmed and posted online in his previous life, talent scouts would probably be breaking down his door by the next day.
With his eyes closed, Satoru quietly focused on the flow of power within him.
In his mind's eye, his entire body seemed to become translucent, with only the movement of his spiritual pressure remaining clearly visible.
With each heartbeat, the spiritual pressure coursed through his limbs like blood, flowing ceaselessly.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.
Clenching both fists, he threw them forward simultaneously!
BOOM!!!!
A terrifying force erupted from his fists, surging forward in an instant.
On the other side of the room, the impact-resistant material reinforced with multiple layers of Kidō creaked violently, bending into an unnatural shape.
The protective Kidō barriers shattered with a brilliant flash of light!
Several windows around the room were blown out simultaneously, the rushing air blasting through the openings and creating a small storm outside.
After a few seconds, Satoru slowly lowered his hands.
Rather than celebrating the impressive punch he'd just delivered, he frowned and stroked his chin thoughtfully.
From the first time he'd used "Ikotsu," he'd felt something peculiar.
If he could synchronize the timing of releasing his spiritual pressure with his punch, achieving a certain balance, it seemed like he could produce a miraculous effect.
In Satoru's mind, this power was somewhat similar to Black Flash from "Jujutsu Kaisen."
Black Flash was a special spatial distortion that occurred when the timing between a physical strike and cursed energy impact was within 0.000001 seconds, resulting in tremendous force.
However, this could only serve as a reference at best—after all, the two worlds operated on different principles, and the key techniques would naturally differ.
Satoru had a premonition that if he could truly grasp this concept, he would gain an incredibly formidable skill.
He'd shared this idea with both Yamamoto and Aizen.
Both had tried it a few times as he suggested, ultimately concluding that he was overthinking it.
Hearing this from two of Soul Society's greatest geniuses had almost made Satoru give up.
Yet, every time he used "Ikotsu," that peculiar stirring deep in his soul felt undeniably real.
In the end, he decided to keep practicing.
Even if it didn't yield results, simply honing his Ikotsu technique was worthwhile.
After training for most of the afternoon, he was finally exhausted.
After a shower, Satoru sat cross-legged, placing his Asauchi across his lap to meditate on his sword.
Ever since Aizen had awakened Kyoka Suigetsu, Satoru couldn't help but wonder what ability his own Zanpakuto possessed.
This feeling was like watching a friend pull an SSR in a 10-pull gacha—seeing it with his own eyes, craving it in his heart, yet never having enough tickets for his own 10-pull.
It was downright maddening.
After two hours of meditation, he'd gained absolutely nothing.
If Yamamoto himself hadn't confirmed that his Asauchi was genuine, Satoru might have suspected he'd been given a fake sword.
Carrying his silent Asauchi, Satoru left the dojo, stretched, and headed to the cafeteria.
Aizen and Seinosuke Yamada were both eating there.
No sooner had Satoru sat down with his tray than Seinosuke's eyes lit up as he looked over.
"Satoru, I heard you're graduating early?"
Satoru blinked. "How did you know?"
Seinosuke grinned.
He stuck out his thumb and pointed at himself: "Let me introduce myself. Yours truly, Seinosuke Yamada, just applied for early graduation too!"
"After confirming I wasn't joking, Kinoshita-sensei told me that you and Aizen had also applied for early graduation."
He looked at the two of them: "Well, well, you two. Planning to graduate early without making a sound, huh?"
"Satoru's case is understandable - his abilities are already far beyond standards. But Aizen, why are you following his crazy example?"
Aizen slowly chewed the food in his mouth, waiting until he had swallowed before replying calmly: "My abilities are already sufficient too."
Seinosuke was slightly taken aback.
In his impression, Aizen had always been the type who prioritized keeping a low profile.
He never expected to hear such "domineering" words from him.
It was a bit of an image collapse.
Just as Satoru was about to say something, he suddenly realized something was off.
He turned to Seinosuke in surprise, "You're also applying for early graduation?"
"Mm." Seinosuke tilted his head slightly, wearing a smug smile.
"Complete Guide to Kaidō, Complete Collection of Seireitei Medical Journals, Kirinji Medical Records, Shinigami Spiritual Body Analysis..."
Under Satoru's gaze, Yamada Kiyonosuke rattled off book titles like reciting a menu, continuing nonstop for over a minute.
"...I've memorized every single one of these books!!"
"Right now, in the field of medical treatment, I am invincible!"
Hearing the complete list of books Seinosuke had recited, Satoru's eyes widened, momentarily feeling like he was witnessing something divine.
Even Aizen couldn't help but glance up at him.
The power of admiration is truly terrifying.
Then, Aizen suddenly realized this was actually a good thing.
If only he and Satoru applied for early graduation, the focus would be too concentrated.
But with Seinosuke added to the mix, the effect would be much better.
Thinking this, Aizen found Seinosuke slightly more agreeable.
That night, after using the restroom, Satoru returned to his room ready to sleep.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, he looked toward Aizen's bed.
Now, he didn't even need to touch it to confirm the figure in the bed was a dummy.
Scratching his head, he showed a helpless expression.
This Sōsuke guy, is he really in such a hurry to get stronger?
After all my repeated warnings, why is he still going out to seek death?
After a few seconds of thought, he made up his mind...
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