Growth

Turning the time back slightly.

Almost before many captains met their respective opponents... Shunsui Kyōraku, the current Captain-Commander, was also attacked.

Bang bang bang bang bang!!!

Continuous echoes kept coming from the end of an alley in Seireitei.

Nanao Ise, the current First Division Lieutenant, stood nervously near the edge, anxiously placing her hands on her chest.

Literally "worried."

Because at this moment, the "Captain-Commander" was also facing the predicament of being attacked.

Two figures kept crossing and colliding.

The roar produced by gun mechanisms and the hissing of swinging and falling blades intertwined, making it impossible to see clearly what was happening.

"..."

Shielding her face with her hand, with gusts of strong wind blowing her way, Nanao felt an incredibly exaggerated pressure just standing in place.

Regarding her own strength, she certainly had a corresponding self-awareness.

But...

She couldn't just watch Shunsui fight alone in danger!

Emotions kept surging in her heart, and driven by concern and anxiety, Nanao unconsciously took half a step forward.

The balanced scale instantly tilted.

Bang!!!

In this fierce collision where silhouettes couldn't be seen clearly, a tricky bullet explored like a poisonous snake, baring its sharp fangs at Nanao.

The person hadn't even been able to make any reaction.

A figure had already flashed forward, standing squarely in front of Nanao.

The dual blades in his hands crossed and swung.

The silver bullet was silently cut in half, splitting into two whistling sounds tearing through the wind, cutting through the air and piercing into the stone floor.

"Targeting a child in a spare moment? This person really doesn't play fair~"

Seeing Shunsui slightly bowing his body in front of her, Nanao belatedly realized.

It seemed she had caused trouble for her captain again...

"Th-that... Captain..."

"Sorry, Nanao, could you please step back a bit more at this time?"

Although his tone was still that flat and playful undertone, Shunsui didn't even turn his head around at this moment.

—If the goal was to make people convinced and feel at ease, Shunsui could obviously choose a more peaceful way.

But this was already the "limit."

After all, the person in front was not someone he could deal with while being distracted.

As for the opponent...

Robert Accutrone.

Even among the Sternritter, a group filled with inhuman beings, he could still be called an elder, and was now calmly observing everything in front of him.

"You criticize ambush tactics? I thought the Captain-Commander was someone like me."

Result-oriented.

By any means necessary.

Bang!!!

With lightning speed that couldn't be avoided, his suddenly raised right hand fired another bullet.

Wrapped in rich spiritual energy, the bullet, glowing entirely bright blue, gushed out, heading straight for Nanao's face.

"..."

Shunsui silently raised his dual blades.

The two fierce weapons heavily clashed together, sparks flying and tearing sounds continuing...

Using the posture of blocking and swinging, Shunsui tilted the bullet's trajectory until it turned towards the high wall behind.

The spinning bullet pierced through the wall, like a poisonous needle nailed into flesh, instantly penetrating the complex spirit particle construction.

The high wall collapsed softly, turning into a pile of ruins before Nanao's shocked gaze.

"Don't dodge..."

Robert's gaze was calm, and the gesture of holding his gun exuded a strong inhuman aura.

"Otherwise it won't hit, will it?"

"Since you're already standing here, I can also understand it as... you've completely accepted the situation and want to participate in this battle, right?"

"Then you shouldn't have any complaints about being hit, it can't be helped, this is the way of survival you've chosen."

Becoming a burden dragging down Shunsui, a tool making him distracted.

Robert's perception and positioning of such people was quite clear.

Just a fledgling who hasn't prepared mentally, hastily stepping onto the battlefield... too well-protected, to the extent of forgetting pain.

Such a mediocre person, yet holding the position of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads' formal First Division Lieutenant.

That really is...

"Bringing such a person here, Captain-Commander... it seems your judgment is only so-so."

Bang!

Nanao wanted to dodge, but obviously... the other wouldn't give that level of "opportunity."

Hitting someone when they're down is also a simple and brutal absolute fighting method.

Once gaining the upper hand, one should follow up the victory, completely suppressing the opponent until finally winning.

Bang bang bang bang bang!!!

Continuous bullets gushed out, the Captain-Commander's figure flickered, dual blades dancing in his hands like butterflies fluttering among flowers.

Block, chop, uppercut!

In terms of technique alone, it was already refined to a point worthy of admiration.

But at the same time, it was also very regrettable.

Guh...

A torn eyebrow, a wound, with red blood rolling and flowing from it.

It vividly displayed the confrontation situation, making even Nanao, as an onlooker, understand the current state.

Shunsui had been forced into a disadvantage... because of her.

"Nanao-chan..."

Under a slightly panting tone, though Shunsui had no intention of blame, the person concerned had almost forgotten to breathe.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

Not contributing even a bit, always only being a burden to Shunsui until now.

Other lieutenants could shoulder responsibilities, and even if they couldn't fight alongside their captains, they could at least share some responsibilities.

But she seemed to have made no progress from beginning to end.

Was it because she lacked ambition? Or was it that she, without a "Zanpakutō," had no qualifications to step onto such a battlefield?

Shame coiled like a nightmare, gripping Nanao's heart tightly, making her tremble and tear up uncontrollably.

"..."

Without turning back.

But he could clearly feel the sign of that emotion called "shame" surging behind him.

The Captain-Commander, who always maintained that playful, cynical appearance, now lowered his gaze... showing a thoughtful expression.

Had he protected her too well?

He always felt... this child should be able to become stronger.

But this was also inevitable, after all, without her own Zanpakutō, this congenitally deficient situation...

was a result that no one with high pride could accept.

Need to find an opportunity to restore her confidence—thoughts couldn't settle.

A somewhat hoarse yet crisp voice was coming from behind Shunsui.

"Hadō 63: Raikōhō!"

The howling yellow lightning exploded with thunder-like humming, following the "bridge" built by air, shooting towards the opponent's direction.

The thundering lightning crashed heavily on the ground, shattering bricks and tiles, grinding them to powder, returning to chaos.

Robert's figure also disappeared, as if completely swallowed in such an exaggerated manner.

"...?"

Shunsui rarely showed a slightly surprised expression.

Holding up his dual blades, he half-turned his head... to see the disheveled Nanao behind him.

Her sweat-soaked hair clung limply to her forehead, indicating the immense mental pressure she was under.

But even so.

Those eyes hidden behind thick glasses still maintained an outline called "stubborn."

Without showing any sign of wanting to give up, Nanao now seemed to have broken through the fear in her heart, choosing to bravely stand behind Shunsui.

—Just watching won't change anything, and in the end, one would only continuously lose.

And her former self had done similar things...

She shouldn't just stand behind others. If she had thoughts, intentions, she should speak them out loudly, even if it meant resisting authority, even if it meant standing in opposition to everyone.

Nanao had been awakened from nightmares in the middle of the night more than once. The scene of that man being executed kept circling in her mind...

If she could have been a bit braver.

If she could have expressed herself more firmly.

Even if she couldn't save Seiya, perhaps she could have made him die less lonely...

Current facts had already proven that Seiya's judgment was correct, in other words, the entire Soul Society was the perpetrator.

The Thirteen Court Guard Squads, self-proclaimed as justice, looking down from above, decided the life and death of a good person.

And she just watched, now even comfortably sitting in the position of First Division Lieutenant.

You must be kidding...

This is not right at all!

Nanao's breathing became heavier, her body began to tremble uncontrollably, but she could still stubbornly maintain a standing posture.

Not wanting to turn a blind eye to any more unreasonable things, not wanting to hide behind others anymore...

Even if I'm this weak.

I also have things I need to protect!

"Captain, don't... don't just stand there!"

A smile like autumn water rippled across Shunsui's face, he found that he might have underestimated this "niece."

In fact, she was no worse than others.

Fledglings will also have times when they soar high, and before that... they just need patience.

"Feeling a bit gratified, Nanao-chan~"

"What are you saying at a time like this... wait, be careful!"

Robert's figure flashed like a specter, he hadn't been hit by Nanao's Kidō, and now he had found a "suitable" attack opportunity.

Like a poisonous snake, he directly rushed to Shunsui's side.

Emerald-colored spirit particle-like matter appeared on his body, with wing-like decorations looking quite strange, and at the same time, bright ring-like objects at his hands and feet.

Vollständig State - God's Step.

With enhanced speed and extraordinary mobility, Robert's ambush ability was top-notch even among the Sternritter!

(Although he was directly killed by Yhwach, this guy knew what sanctity meant, a veteran, and also the one who actively approached Shunsui)

An extremely tricky angle, bullets that couldn't be defended against.

Even if he couldn't take his life, he should at least be able to collect some "spoils of war."

But, something unexpected happened.

The bullet easily broke through Shunsui's defense, completely tearing through his dual blades, clothes, chest...!

An unexpected gain? No.

It was like an illusion of flowers in a mirror and the moon in water.

"Did you think I would be completely unprepared?"

Robert's shadow began to distort, a long blade shot out from it like lightning, thrusting toward Robert's back.

"...!"

Sidestep, shift shoulder.

The crisp and agile steps were definitely at a level that only someone seasoned in battlefields could achieve.

What should have been a fatal attack was dodged by the other with such a bizarre posture... in the end, only able to cut an inch of flesh at the shoulder.

Shunsui, slowly emerging from the shadows, slightly tilted his head, showing a thoughtful expression.

"You... are actually very strong, right?"

"I don't have a habit of praising opponents, and what I say is always practical."

"You should know that although I'm not some very powerful guy, for first encounters... Katen Kyōkotsu's little tricks are quite easy to make people fall for."

But you, on the other hand, could react so quickly, and even escaped the "shadow demon's" attack by paying just a tiny price.

Not simple~

The Captain-Commander's words were quite humble.

However, Robert didn't respond immediately.

"..."

He just silently looked at the wound on his shoulder, lips pressed into a line.

"How, did you know my ability?"

God's Step.

Without prior preparation, Robert was confident that this move could even catch the royal guard off guard.

The speed-centered ability itself was a specialized result, yet the other not only hadn't fallen for it but had even prepared ambush tactics in advance...

Information leak?

Is there a traitor in the Sternritter?

Things seemed to become complicated in an instant, but even so, Robert didn't show the slightest panicked expression.

After all, regardless of the situation here, it was only a "side bet" anyway.

The purpose of this attack, in the end, was for a certain iconic figure not far away...

Here it comes.

Boom!!!

Accompanied by a spiritual pressure rising to the sky, a visible torrent came like mountains calling and seas roaring, like a dam breaking, washing the heat waves, filling the entire Soul Society!

No matter how tense the confrontation was, at this moment, everyone would unanimously put down what they were doing and involuntarily look in that direction.

That intense presence was impossible to ignore.

Shunsui slightly raised his head, a smile appearing on his face.

"The old man is also going to take action? That's really..."

Robert cast a sideways glance at him, but his tone became somewhat mocking.

"Is that your reliance? Indeed very powerful, even more terrifying than a thousand years ago... but, that's as far as it goes."

Before he could continue, Shunsui sighed lightly, half-turning his head.

"Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto will surely die today... isn't that what you were going to say?"

He said with a grin.

"Took the bait, whether it's you."

Or that guy called Yhwach.

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Powerstones?

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