"Uh, thank you for your high praise..."
Aizen had already offered words of encouragement, so what else could Luca say?
He had to maintain his smile, acting the part of the clueless but obedient student.
But internally, he was thinking...
Shut up and leave already! You living calamity! I wouldn't join the 5th Division even if you paid me!
While Aizen was undoubtedly one of the top scientists in the entire Bleach universe...
Luca had zero intention of mixing with a schemer like him.
With his current half-baked understanding of Spirit Particle technology, working under Aizen would likely result in him becoming cannon fodder or experimental material.
Unless...
If push comes to shove, I could just switch to spoiler mode. With Aizen's arrogance, if I spoil his plans and pique his interest, he might actually keep me around to teach me something.
Hmm... that might actually be a viable path... maybe even get a glimpse of top-tier tech like the Hōgyoku.
Of course, Luca only entertained these thoughts briefly. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't choose that route.
After all, the only thing he could take from this world was knowledge. Improving his combat strength or participating in the plot was meaningless in the end.
Instead of getting entangled in chaotic events and wasting time, he'd rather stay low, live a few more years, and study hard.
Helping Aizen scheme might just get him killed in some crisis, ending this trip prematurely.
Perhaps sensing the perfunctory tone in Luca's voice, Aizen said a few more simple words before taking his leave with Gin Ichimaru.
Luca was left with the remaining two in the Dean's Office to continue the enrollment procedures.
However, after walking a short distance away, Aizen suddenly stopped and spoke gently to Gin beside him.
"That child seemed to know something about us, didn't he?"
Although phrased as a question, Aizen's tone carried an unspoken certainty.
Walking behind him, Gin wasn't surprised by his captain's sudden remark. He kept his eyes narrowed in a smile and replied:
"With your status, Captain, it's not strange for a new student to know about you beforehand, is it?"
"Is that so? However, his enrollment talent of Sixth Class Spiritual Power reminds me a bit of you back then, Gin. I wonder if he is as outstanding in other aspects."
As he spoke, Aizen resumed walking. But Gin suddenly threw out a comment from behind.
"Actually, I think he resembles you more, Captain Aizen."
Hearing this, Aizen recalled Luca's chestnut hair, glasses, and smiling face.
He couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.
"Then let us wait and see. Geniuses always attract more attention, don't they?"
Running into Aizen was just a "minor interlude" and didn't affect Luca's enrollment.
In fact, possibly due to his Spiritual Power level and Aizen's favorable impression, he was exempted from the subsequent combat and written exams.
Finally, Luca got his wish and became a first-year student at the Shin'ō Academy, placed in Class 1, the elite class.
Among his classmates were Renji Abarai, Izuru Kira, and Momo Hinamori—three outstanding Soul Reapers who would all become lieutenants in the future.
And in Class 2, the regular class, there was Rukia Kuchiki, the future Captain of the 13th Division.
This batch of students was truly brimming with talent.
However, regardless of their future achievements, right now, Luca was the most eye-catching student in the academy.
Kidō Class.
In the Shin'ō Academy curriculum, aside from basic theory and regulations, the most important subjects were Zanjutsu (Swordsmanship), Hakuda (Hand-to-Hand Combat), Kidō (Demon Arts), and Hohō (Agility).
Among these four, Luca's favorites were Kidō and Hohō—magic and flash steps.
He had no choice. In his previous battles, he mostly relied on raw stats to crush enemies.
You want a sword fight? I'll bring a 40-meter lightsaber!
Hand-to-hand combat? Come, taste this fully charged, Solar Furnace-driven Thunder Punch from a Gundam!
In reality, aside from when he wore the [Tuxedo] which automated combat, Luca's fighting skills were amateur at best. His swordsmanship was non-existent.
Or rather, instead of spending time learning those, he'd be better off coding a combat algorithm.
But Kidō and Shunpo were different.
Thanks to his increasing mastery over spiritual energy, even without the Mind Stone or the [Quincy Cross], Luca's control was top-tier.
For example...
"Kidō is different from other courses. Even without training, you know how to throw a punch or swing a sword!"
"But using Kidō requires precise control of your own Reiryoku! The slightest carelessness can hurt you instead!"
"Now, repeat after me. O way of destruction! The shadows that travel in the dark! One jump, one breath! Hadō #1, Shō!"
In the open field, the Kidō instructor was endlessly explaining the basic principles and demonstrating the incantation as slowly as possible.
Honestly, Luca listened very carefully.
When Ipei taught him to use Hex energy for ninjutsu, he only learned a half-baked version. Later, trying to learn magic from the Kamar-Taj sorcerers, he found that most spells required drawing power from specific dimensions to work effectively.
In the end, Luca had to figure out spells suitable for Hex energy on his own. Now, with Kidō providing a theoretical basis for spell-like abilities, he naturally wouldn't miss it.
However, watching the instructor release Hadō #1: Shō.
Luca looked down at his own finger.
He didn't bother chanting. He just raised his hand and pointed forward.
The next moment.
A translucent, cone-shaped energy bullet about the size of a fist instantly formed at his fingertip. With a whoosh, it flew into the distance.
BOOM—
A massive explosion roared.
The wall of a building in the distance, hit by the energy bullet, was instantly blasted open, leaving a huge hole.
Amidst the dissipating dust, the students of Class 2 next door, who were in the middle of a theory class, looked dumbfounded through the newly opened "window."
Meanwhile, all the students of Class 1, along with the lecturing instructor, stared slack-jawed at Luca, who was awkwardly retracting his finger.
"Uh... well... Teacher, I didn't chant just now..."