True Blade Trial.
Just from the name, one could tell what it meant—a match fought with real swords. Injuries were common and expected.
That said, this was still an internal contest within the Shin'ō Academy, so the intensity was carefully controlled. Not only were seated officers from the Gotei 13 present as referees, but Soul Reapers proficient in healing arts were stationed around the field as well.
The chance of death was low.
And precisely because of that, Ling Qing had little interest in True Blade Trials.
He wasn't worried about getting hurt, nor did he fear damage to his reputation. To him, this kind of match felt no different from children playing at sword fights.
True Blade Trials emphasized the use of the sword. For Soul Reapers, that naturally meant combat centered on the Zanpakutō.
However, the weapons students carried were merely asauchi—temporary blades loaned by the academy. Only after officially becoming Soul Reapers would they be granted their own Zanpakutō.
At this stage, those "real swords" could only be used for basic slashing.
It wasn't that Ling Qing neglected sword fundamentals. In fact, he trained harder than most in that area. The real reason was simple: at the current level, the sword's importance in a trial was so low that he would rather invest his time in Kidō.
Among Zanpakutō, Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kidō, Kidō was the most suitable discipline during one's student years.
The more imposing title, Shinigami Central Institute, had never truly caught on. Instead, Shin'ō Academy—built upon the foundations of ancient scholarly schools—became the standard name. The emphasis on "spiritual arts" was unmistakable.
Mikazuki Munenori's thinking was straightforward.
It was true that Ling Qing edged him out academically. But when it came to actual combat strength, the comparison was far less clear.
Ling Qing's swordsmanship foundation was inferior to Mikazuki's, who had trained within his noble family since childhood. And coming from Rukongai, Ling Qing's physical condition was weaker than that of Mikazuki, who had grown up in comfort.
The only area where Ling Qing clearly surpassed him was Kidō.
Yet relying on Kidō alone, Ling Qing had caught up to—and even surpassed—Mikazuki's other strengths. Resentment was inevitable. Being perpetually second place, always chasing someone else's back, was something no one endured easily.
Under normal circumstances, Mikazuki wouldn't have acted so impulsively. But today was different.
Ling Qing had noticed the girl standing behind Mikazuki.
Her name was Suzu Izumi. She was petite, cute, and sweet-spoken—very popular among their peers, especially the boys.
Unfortunately, Ling Qing had no interest in cloying flattery or performative sweetness.
After publicly rejecting her confession with a clean, academic-first excuse, Suzu Izumi had developed more than a little resentment toward him. This included—but was not limited to—leveraging her social circle to steer opinion against him.
To be fair, her efforts had contributed significantly to Ling Qing's less-than-stellar reputation.
Still, none of that truly bothered him.
Otherwise, with a mind as sharp and narrow as his eyes suggested, he would never have shown mercy when it mattered. Long before Suzu Izumi's confession, Ling Qing had already known about her bet with her close friends over how long it would take to "win him over."
Now, several minor inconveniences had converged into one.
On the training field earlier, Suzu Izumi had been among the students whose performance was disrupted by Ling Qing's White Lightning. And as her newly established boyfriend, Mikazuki Munenori naturally felt obligated to stand up for her.
Each had their own agenda.
One wanted to secure a noble partner.
The other wanted to push through a long-planned personal objective.
Either way, since they had set their sights on him, Ling Qing decided it was time to teach them a small lesson.
Mutsuki Shōkaku pinched the empty sleeve of her uniform.
When Ling Qing proposed the True Blade Trial, her first instinct had been to stop him.
For someone about to take charge of Sixth Year Class One, a match between Ling Qing and Mikazuki promised nothing but trouble.
Especially for Ling Qing.
No matter the outcome, the coming year—perhaps even life after graduation—would become far more difficult for him.
If he lost, the blow to his confidence could be devastating. Mutsuki knew her student well. Though easygoing on the surface, Ling Qing was deeply proud. At that age, such a setback could crush someone entirely. She had seen gifted students fade into mediocrity for far less.
If he won…
In truth, win or lose, the Mikazuki family would not let the matter rest. Only the methods would differ.
The best solution Mutsuki could imagine was for Ling Qing to join a noble family and receive a surname. As an outstanding academy graduate, even a nameless soul from Rukongai qualified for that—at least in theory.
Her own Mutsuki family, for instance, still carried the title of a mid-tier noble house, despite its decline.
That thought made her cheeks warm. Noble bestowal was never simple. And the only realistic option she could think of involved marriage… and the pool of eligible women in the Mutsuki family was—
"Cough."
Mutsuki cleared her throat sharply, banishing the impractical thought and pulling her gaze away from Ling Qing.
He wasn't particularly handsome—plenty of students at the academy looked better—but that quiet confidence she usually found irritating was strangely appealing on him. No wonder so many girls were interested.
Beyond that, his options were limited: either be taken in by a major noble house, or join the Fifth Division like she had. Given her captain's temperament, Ling Qing would be protected from noble pressure there.
Both paths required him to achieve something remarkable during his remaining time at the academy.
But neither the Kuchiki family nor the Fifth Division would take interest based on his current performance alone. Serving merely as a household retainer or ordinary officer wouldn't even warrant a glance.
Mutsuki herself had entered the Fifth Division directly as an Eighth Seat.
Ling Qing's Kidō talent was undeniable, but the spell numbers he specialized in were far too low. From her experience, students needed a broad grasp of Kidō types to adapt to varied combat situations—not premature specialization.
True specialization came only after hitting a bottleneck. Mutsuki didn't even believe she had reached that point yet.
So—
For Ling Qing, the True Blade Trial was a rare opportunity.
If he seized it and delivered a brilliant match, then even if his graduation scores fell slightly short, he would still leave a strong impression on the high-ranking figures observing the academy.
"Very well."
Ignoring the many gazes turned toward her, Mutsuki Shōkaku confirmed that Mikazuki had no intention of backing down.
"I approve."
The Grand Training Field of Shin'ō Academy.
Adjacent to the Grand Auditorium, this area was designated for True Blade Trials. Since such events had not occurred for years, it was being used today for the sixth-year Hakuda graduation assessment.
Both graduation exams and job selection were completed in a single day.
As a warm-up before the crucial Kidō exams, the Hakuda assessment required little exertion. Students merely followed prescribed movements. True techniques involving spiritual pressure infusion were not part of it.
Even so, this assessment—normally boasting a pass rate above ninety-nine percent—became a nightmare for a few students whose graduation prospects hung by a thread.
"Clang!"
A bell rang sharply through the field, startling several students into breaking form.
"Grade C."
"Grade C. Failed."
The referee announced the results without mercy.
It wasn't cruelty. With the Grand Auditorium so close, any lapse in judgment would be witnessed by captains, vice-captains, and fellow instructors alike. No one would miss such a chance to criticize.
And so—
"No!"
"Please, give me another chance!"
Despite the wails, the ruling stood firm.
Before graduation exams, the academy ranked students based on their performance during soul burial internships, mainly to streamline recruitment by the Gotei 13 and the Kidō Corps. The Stealth Force's selection had largely merged with the Second Division in recent years.
The students on this field belonged to the second-to-last batch.
Even if leniency were shown in Hakuda, their Kidō results were unlikely to improve, and their long-term prospects were limited.
For the referee, the choice was obvious.
Still, though he appeared composed, the sudden bell had startled him.
When he turned toward the field entrance—
"Those two…"
He searched his memory.
"The Mikazuki kid shouldn't be capable of something like this. And Ling Qing, while talented, shouldn't be graduating yet."
He clearly recognized both students.
But his guess was slightly off.
"Early graduation—"
"Wait."
As the pair approached, the tension between them became unmistakable.
"A True Blade Trial?"
Early graduation happened occasionally among nobles, though usually discreetly. But a True Blade Trial was different.
By the academy's founding decree, such matches were open to all faculty and students, to emphasize their seriousness.
It was even possible that captains or vice-captains in the nearby auditorium might wander over out of curiosity.
"Sixth Seat mitarashi."
While the referee hesitated, Mutsuki Shōkaku stepped forward.
"Ah… Seventh Seat Mutsuki."
mitarashi, also of the Fifth Division and ranked higher than her, nonetheless adopted a respectful tone.
Mutsuki's noble status surpassed his commoner origins. She was also far younger—and far stronger. Though she kept it hidden, mitarashi's sharp eye had long sensed her true capability.
Such deference was only natural.
"This True Blade Trial…"
Mutsuki spoke with rare seriousness.
"May I serve as the referee?"
As the students' instructor, it was appropriate. But since this field was designated for graduation exams—and she would be replacing a senior colleague—she asked formally.
"…Of course."
mitarashi agreed without hesitation.
"Thank you, Senior."
Seeing his easy acceptance, Mutsuki relaxed slightly.
"No trouble at all."
"If needed, I can handle the healing support as well."
A True Blade Trial required a Soul Reaper skilled in healing arts. In that regard, mitarashi was more than qualified. As a Sixth Seat of the Fifth Division and supervisor of graduation exams, this was well within his capability.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"Gladly."