"That's it... there we go. Yep, keep doing that," Renji said calmly, his eyes locked on his younger brother.
Ryju stood a few feet away, motionless, brow furrowed in deep concentration. He was trying to channel his spiritual force—specifically into his eyes. Sweat trickled down his cheek, but he didn't flinch.
"Keep going. Keep focusing," Renji encouraged.
Leaning against a nearby tree with his arms crossed, Kurosaki watched the scene unfold. A small grin curled at the edge of his mouth. "He's getting it," he muttered.
Renji's eyes lit up. "You did it."
Ryju blinked, confused. "I... I know something feels different in my eyes. Renji, how do you know?"
Renji smirked. "Because your eyes… they got a little brighter."
How…? How did he do that so quickly? Renji thought to himself, startled. It took me two whole weeks when I trained under Dad… and he figured it out in just two days.
Ryju clenched his fists, a determined smile spreading across his face. "Okay… come and battle me."
Renji's tone turned serious. "When you feel like there's a force behind your eyes—and you believe they can do anything—that's when you'll know they've fully awakened."
Ryju nodded firmly. "Got it!"
Renji chuckled. "After you awaken them completely… we'll go one-on-one."
Kurosaki gave a casual nod. "Okay."
"Ready?" Renji asked, raising his stance.
"You bet," Ryju replied, surging forward.
He struck with a punch—fast, direct—but Renji sidestepped with ease, countering with a clean blow to the stomach. Ryju gasped as the wind left his lungs. Renji followed up with a kick, sending him skidding across the dirt.
"Damn it…" Ryju groaned, getting back up.
He dashed in again, this time throwing a high kick. Renji caught his leg mid-air and slammed him to the ground. In one fluid motion, Renji unsheathed his sword and thrust downward—but Ryju rolled aside, leaping up and swinging a punch.
Renji caught it and, with a twist, hurled him skyward.
He's not using spiritual force, Ryju realized mid-air. I can't absorb anything... So what's he trying to teach me? Is this just raw hand-to-hand training?
Renji's voice rang out below. "See? I'm not using spiritual force on my sword. So tell me—how do you expect to win a battle if your opponent chooses not to use abilities?"
"That's literally never the case," Kurosaki deadpanned. "Everybody uses their spiritual force."
"Shut up," Renji snapped. "I'm teaching him hand-to-hand combat."
Kurosaki groaned. "You idiot."
Ryju landed and dashed back in, throwing a kick. Renji caught it again. Ryju tried a follow-up punch, but Renji blocked it and countered with a throw. This time, Ryju landed on his feet with grace.
I can't get hit. Not by Big Bro, he told himself. I need to be faster… I must be fast.
He shot forward like a bullet.
Renji raised an eyebrow. "Moving fast, huh?"
"I'm loading up a steady punch!" Ryju shouted, unleashing it with all his speed.
But Renji sidestepped and slammed Ryju's face into the dirt. He pulled him up and punched him back down. As he went for another strike, Ryju sprang up, catching Renji's fist in midair.
"He caught my punch…?" Renji blinked.
And Ryju struck back—square in the chest.
I hit him, Ryju thought, wide-eyed with excitement.
Renji staggered back slightly, then smirked.
"Solid punch," he admitted.
Ryju went for another hit, but Renji spun and kicked him—hard—straight into a tree.
"That had to hurt…" Kurosaki muttered.
But Ryju rose again, blood trailing from his lip. He dashed in. Renji threw a punch—Ryju leapt onto his arm and twisted into the air.
Then, Renji sent his sword flying toward Ryju's face with frightening speed.
"What's… going on?" Ryju whispered as time seemed to crawl. "It's like everything's slowing down…"
Still twisting in midair, Ryju watched the blade near his face in suspended motion.
I'm getting that feeling again…
A voice echoed in his head:
"When you feel like there's some spiritual force in your eyes—and you feel like your eyes can do anything—that's when you know it's fully awakened."
Got it, Ryju thought.
The sword drew closer. Inches from his forehead.
This feeling… it's like my eyes can bend time… see the unseen. Is this weird? It feels… good.
He stared straight into the oncoming blade.
It's right at my head. I need to move—switch—before it hits.
Blood began to appear.
I can do this. I CAN DO THIS!
Time snapped back to normal.
But when it did…
Ryju was on the ground.
And Renji—was in the air.
They had switched places.