Chapter 28
3,199 Words
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"Desperate?"
"This overwhelming power, this feeling of helplessness, the inability to dodge even one slash of mine."
"A guy like you, what qualifications do you have to become a captain?"
Tōsen Kaname "stared" at Shinji intently as his blade swung down again and again.
Each slash sent Shinji stumbling, barely able to stand.
The sound of his labored breathing filled the air.
"Almost there."
Though Shinji's eyes appeared "panicked," his heart was calm, as still as water.
He estimated he had acted enough.
The next step was to find the perfect opportunity to "be defeated."
As long as he lost here, there would be no justification for him to take over the position of 10th Division Captain.
But... was Tōsen Kaname overdoing it with his posturing?
Shinji's expression turned slightly odd.
"Kuchiki Shinji, you truly disappoint me."
"I didn't expect you to be so weak, so insignificant, like an ant."
"This ends now."
Tōsen Kaname slowly closed the distance between them.
His voice was cold, tinged with hostility.
So this was the kind of trash Lord Aizen had placed his trust in?
He would prove, as Aizen-sama had proven before, that such trash was unworthy of being noticed by him.
"Your path ends here, Kuchiki Shinji."
The cold words transformed into a green slash that came crashing down!
Rumble!
As expected, Shinji was struck head-on by the slash without putting up any resistance.
The assessment was over.
"How boring."
Tōsen Kaname slowly sheathed his Zanpakutō, muttering indifferently as he turned to leave.
And then,
Boom!
A blue-purple Reiatsu erupted violently, as if the very world had collapsed.
An overwhelming pressure swept across the area.
Tōsen Kaname swayed, turning back in disbelief to stare at the center of the smoke-filled battlefield.
He was being suppressed by sheer Reiatsu!
The barrier, reinforced with countless layers, emitted cracking sounds, as though it would shatter at any moment.
The surrounding Shinigami, exposed to even the slightest hint of Reiatsu, collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
This was absolute Reiatsu dominance.
"This Reiatsu... Masaka..."
Tōsen Kaname looked utterly stunned.
Then, from within the smoke, Shinji's furious roar erupted:
"Kurotsuchi Mayuri, do you want to die!?"
Swish!
A bluish-purple slash cut through the smoke, crashing into the barrier.
Crack, crack!
The dense web of cracks rapidly spread, and then,
Shatter!
The barrier was destroyed!
The Sky split apart, and the ground was severed.
The blue-purple slash tore forward, unstoppable, heading straight for a figure in a captain's haori, who had been reaching toward a small figure.
"Nani?!"
Kurotsuchi Mayuri's eyes widened in terror.
That slash... could it truly have come from Kuchiki Shinji, the one who had just been overpowered by Tōsen Kaname?
How was this possible?!
The next moment, the slash slammed into Kurotsuchi Mayuri, hurling him hundreds of meters into the wall of the Spiritual Arts Academy.
The scene was in chaos!
"What just happened?"
"Is this Kuchiki Shinji's Reiatsu? What a monster!"
"Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri... he was sent flying!"
The students of the Spiritual Arts Academy and the Shinigami watching were frozen in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.
Was this really the same Kuchiki Shinji who had been beaten down moments ago?
Or had Kuchiki Shinji simply never been serious to begin with?
"Huh? What did Kurotsuchi Mayuri do just now? It looks like he provoked Shinji," Kyoraku Shunsui murmured, lowering his straw hat as he squinted at the scene.
But suddenly, his eyes snapped wide open.
"That's... an Arrancar?!!"
"It's okay, Nilu."
Now, Shinji stood beside Nilu, his face cold, Raikō clutched tightly in his hand.
Just moments earlier, Shinji had been prepared to throw the fight against Tōsen Kaname.
But at that critical moment, he noticed Kurotsuchi Mayuri hiding in the shadows, preparing to launch a sneak attack on Nilu.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri was still targeting her!
"Nilu's fine. Shinji doesn't need to worry," Nilu said softly, tugging on Shinji's sleeve.
But unnoticed by her, the hoodie she had been wearing to conceal her identity had slipped off, revealing the broken mask on her head.
Nilu's identity as an Arrancar had been exposed!
"What's with that girl? Why does she have a Hollow mask on her head?"
"Idiot, she's a Hollow!"
"That girl must at least be an Adjuchas-class Arrancar!"
"Everyone, move! A Menos Grande has infiltrated the Seireitei!"
The crowd descended into panic.
From afar, Abarai Renji and Rukia stared in disbelief.
Why was Shinji protecting an Arrancar?
And if they weren't mistaken...
Had Kuchiki Shinji just shielded the Arrancar girl from Kurotsuchi Mayuri's attack?
"Oh? I didn't see this coming."
A strange, mocking laugh echoed from the smoke.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri snapped his disjointed neck back into place with a sickening crack, then poured a vial of restorative fluid into his mouth.
His damaged body began regenerating rapidly.
Chunks of flesh burst apart, replaced by newly formed limbs.
Landing lightly beside Tōsen Kaname, he sneered:
"You stopped me from capturing an Adjuchas-class Arrancar infiltrating the Seireitei?
"Kuchiki Shinji, it seems you have a problem. Have you betrayed the Soul Society? Did you bring this Adjuchas-class Arrancar into the Seireitei yourself?"
His grin turned malicious.
"You'd better step aside. Otherwise, I have the authority to execute you immediately!"
Kurotsuchi Mayuri's voice dripped with venom, his eyes gleaming greedily as they fixated on Nilu.
He had been coveting this Adjuchas-class Arrancar as research material for a long time.
"Kuchiki Shinji, your actions constitute a grave crime against the Soul Society.
"Cease your resistance at once, or every move you make will be considered a rebellion against the Soul Society," Tōsen Kaname declared coldly, raising his Zanpakutō.
His meaning was clear, there was no escape.
Facing two captains, resistance was futile.
"Assessment? Trial?"
Shinji exhaled deeply, gripping his Zanpakutō tightly as killing intent flared in his eyes for the first time.
Assessment? Trial? None of that mattered anymore!
They dared to target those he cared about!
Shinji raised his head, his voice filled with fury.
"Kurotsuchi Mayuri, are you ready?!"
"Prepare yourself... to face my wrath!!!"
---
Become stronger, for what?
It is to live a safer life! To protect yourself and those around you!
For someone like Kurotsuchi Mayuri, who touches his own taboo, as long as he lives, he will inevitably endanger himself or those around him.
I Will just kill him.
"One Sword Style: Thunderbolt!"
A flash of purple lightning cut through the air!
Kurotsuchi Mayuri, experiencing the same pain Shiba Isshin once felt, was struck by a single sword slash. His blade cut through the air, but an electric current blasted into his chest. Stunned, he collapsed to the ground.
Boom!
The air seemed to be torn apart as a shockwave spread in all directions, accompanied by a raging gust of wind.
In the midst of the violent wind pressure, Shinji vanished with a single Shunpo.
"So fast!"
Tousen Kaname's expression shifted to one of shock. His hand tightened around his Zanpakutō.
Where?
Where did he move to?
In the pitch-black void, Shinji's Reiatsu seemed to have vanished completely, becoming utterly imperceptible.
And then...
A voice suddenly spoke from behind him.
"Captain Tousen,"
Shinji's whisper sent chills down his spine.
Zanpakutō was slowly being sheathed.
"What?"
Tousen Kaname stumbled back, startled.
Pooh!
His eyes widened in disbelief as wounds appeared all over his body. Blood splattered everywhere, staining the ground in crimson red.
"Hey... What's going on now? Why is Kuchiki Shinji suddenly fighting two captains?"
"Have the two captains been overpowered? What kind of monster is this guy?!"
"And that Arrancar… so cute."
"Huh??? Wait, something strange seems to have gotten mixed up in this crowd."
The Shinigami watching were in chaos.
"Is this Shinji's true strength? It's ridiculous, It's so over the top," muttered Abarai Renji in shock.
Next to him, Rukia looked worried, clutching her hands tightly to her chest.
"Correction," a mocking voice suddenly rang in their ears.
Kyōraku Shunsui's arms hung naturally at his sides, his eyes locked onto the center of the battlefield.
"Captain Kyōraku?"
Rukia exclaimed in shock.
"Ah, Rukia-chan," Kyōraku said with a lazy tone, "Neither side has even released their Zanpakutō yet. How can you call this their real strength?"
"Watch closely."
"What's coming next is a rare scene."
Battles between captains were not common occurrences.
Adjusting his bamboo hat slightly, Kyōraku's eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"Hey, Captain Tousen, let me ask you something."
"Why are you backing away?"
"If you want to subdue me, or kill me, shouldn't you attack me head-on? How else do you plan to accomplish it?"
Hearing this, Tousen Kaname's heart sank. He instinctively lowered his head, as if "looking" at himself.
Had he… backed away unconsciously?
Shinji tilted his head and continued, "Or are you worried that my attack will vanish from your perception in an instant and pierce your heart from behind?"
"Or perhaps," Shinji smirked, "it's because your eyes, oh, wait... I almost forgot. Captain Tousen is blind, isn't he?"
His words were sharp and humiliating. The same taunts Tousen had once used against Shinji now echoed back at him, harsh and unbearable.
"You said I couldn't keep up with your speed at all," Shinji mocked. "But now, Captain Tousen, doesn't it seem like you're the one who can't even touch the corner of my clothes?"
With a faint smile, Shinji raised his hand. In it was a small brass-colored decoration.
Tousen's expression shifted to pure shock.
"Wh-what?"
Reaching up unconsciously, Tousen felt the dreadlocks atop his head. Even though he couldn't see, he instantly recognized the source of the item in Shinji's hand.
Kuchiki Shinji had taken it from him in the split second when he struck!
How fast is this guy?!
Was Shinji holding back earlier?
Is this why Lord Aizen keeps such a close eye on him?
"Now," Shinji said with a grin, resting his Zanpakutō on his shoulder, "can you still claim there's a dimensional gap between you and me?"
"You!"
Tousen Kaname cursed, his face twitching in anger.
The physical pain wasn't the issue. The lingering numbness in his body from Shinji's strike was.
Was it the effect of his Zanpakutō?
Tousen's gaze focused on the blade in Shinji's hand, his mind racing.
"Damn brat... Go to hell!"
"Meat Bomb!"
Kurotsuchi Mayuri's frantic voice echoed.
Then, a deafening explosion erupted at Shinji's feet, sharp enough to pierce the ears.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri had detonated chunks of his own flesh.
Staring intently at the smoke, Tousen Kaname analyzed the attack in an instant, his countless battles sharpening his instincts.
"This kid from the Kuchiki family is not easy to deal with," Tousen muttered.
Moving his regenerated shoulder, Kurotsuchi Mayuri spoke in his usual strange tone:
"It seems we'll have to join forces to kill this sinner. Don't get in my way, Captain of the Ninth Division."
With that, he licked his lips and turned his greedy gaze toward Nelliel.
An Adjuchas-class Arrancar, and a suspected captain-level Shinigami in Kuchiki Shinji? What a fine harvest this is turning out to be!
"That goes for you as well."
Tousen Kaname shifted his focus to the smoke, his voice calm but resolute.
Was Shinji truly unharmed after such a close-range explosion?
From his perception, Shinji's Reiatsu hadn't diminished in the slightest, a clear indication he hadn't been harmed at all.
"Troublesome brat," Kurotsuchi Mayuri muttered, his expression darkening.
Unlike Tousen, who relied on perception, Kurotsuchi had his eyes to see clearly.
From the smoke, Shinji emerged. His figure was calm and unscathed, with faint traces of burning Reiatsu and gunpowder smoke gradually dissipating.
The explosion, capable of killing a vice-captain, had not even scratched his defenses!
"Just like that Quincy girl… disgusting abilities," Kurotsuchi grumbled, slowly drawing his Zanpakutō.
Suddenly, Shinji vanished with a step, the ground beneath him cracking under the force.
In an instant, Tousen Kaname felt a breeze in front of him. Then, with a sharp kick to his abdomen, his body bent like a shrimp as he was sent flying through the air.
Boom!
Another wall crumbled under the impact of Tousen's body.
"Die!"
Kurotsuchi Mayuri took the opportunity to slash down with his Zanpakutō.
The blade, engraved with bizarre purple patterns, was aimed at Shinji's chest. Kurotsuchi was confident it could cut through even the strongest steel.
But suddenly, his eyes widened in shock.
His blade had been stopped, by Shinji's fingers!
"What?! Nani?!"
Kurotsuchi Mayuri's face twisted in disbelief.
"Your speed is decent, but your Reiatsu is far too weak, Captain Kurotsuchi."
Shinji's calm voice sent chills through Kurotsuchi as he slashed effortlessly.
Slice!
An arm flew through the air.
Aware of Kurotsuchi Mayuri's ability to regenerate, Shinji grabbed his head and split him in half in one motion.
"Suzumushi: First Form!"
Tousen Kaname's voice suddenly rang out behind Shinji.
Without turning, Shinji pointed a finger behind him while continuing to cleave Kurotsuchi in two.
"Single Shield."
Boom!
Green Reiatsu collided with an invisible barrier, sending massive waves of wind and destruction through the area.
"What kind of technique is that?!"
"Is it the Zanpakutō's ability? Or… a self-created Kidō?"
Tousen Kaname, stunned by the failed attack, instinctively retreated several meters.
"Why the distance, Captain Tousen?" Shinji's voice was calm, mocking.
"If you wish to attack me, shouldn't you get closer? Or… are you worried you won't be able to dodge my attacks?"
Tousen's vigilance heightened as Shinji raised his hand slightly.
"Bakudō #99: Kin!"
"What?! Impossible!"
Tousen's shocked voice rang out as strips of white bandages and nails materialized from the void, binding his body and sealing him in place.
Bang!
Tousen's Reiatsu, completely suppressed, fell to the ground. His body, locked by the Bakudō, lay motionless.
The number ninety-nine Bakudō was almost impossible to break, even for a captain, unless immense time and effort were spent.
More so, the strength of the Bakudō depended on the user's Reiatsu, and Shinji's Reiatsu had completely overwhelmed Tousen.
"What just happened?!"
"Captain Tousen… was sealed?!"
"Kuchiki Shinji is a monster. How can he instantly cast such a high-level Bakudō after just a month since graduating?"
The Shinigami murmured in disbelief, their voices filled with shock and awe.
Even Kyōraku Shunsui couldn't hide his surprise. Holding his bamboo hat against the wind, he muttered to himself, his tone filled with astonishment:
"Instantly casting Bakudō #99… Just how far does Kuchiki Shinji's potential go?"
---
"One."
Shinji cast a blank glance at Tousen Kaname before turning his gaze away.
On the ground lay a mutilated lower limb.
At some point, Kurotsuchi Mayuri had disappeared.
"Such tenacious vitality. Even after being cut in half, he's still alive and kicking?"
Shinji squinted, his tone cold.
Plop!
The Hōgyoku pulsed like a beating heart.
An imperceptible, terrifying Reiatsu swept across the area in an instant.
Within moments, Shinji locked onto Kurotsuchi Mayuri's position.
"Found you."
Shinji's sharp gaze focused. At this moment, he had fully entered the "Beng Er fusion" state.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri thought he could block Shinji's perception and escape?
Impossible!
Boom!
A blue-purple wave of sword pressure tore through the earth like divine retribution.
The ground split open into a massive crack, shattering even the bedrock below.
At the center of the exposed fissure, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, his body reduced to a slime-like form, glared up at Shinji, who stood mid-air with calm detachment.
"The infamous Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri. you're just a coward who only preys on the weak, the old, women, and children?"
Shinji's voice carried a hint of mockery.
"Come on then, play with me for a little while."
Thunder rumbled above. From the clear sky, a bolt of lightning struck down, followed by repeated thunderclaps aimed directly at Kurotsuchi Mayuri.
Boom! Boom!
The ground burned red-hot from the intense plasma, turning molten and flowing like magma.
"Oh, oh, such terrifying destructive power! Is this the true ability of your Zanpakutō?"
Kurotsuchi Mayuri crouched atop a crumbling wall, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he watched the destruction below.
If such overwhelming power and heat reached him, even his monstrous regenerative abilities would be utterly useless.
"Why run away?"
Shinji raised his Zanpakutō, pointing it directly at Kurotsuchi Mayuri.
"Aren't Nilu and I just research materials in your eyes? If you want to experiment on us, shouldn't you try to kill me first?"
"Or should I just kill you instead?"
Kurotsuchi Mayuri's eyes darkened as he stared at Shinji. After a brief pause, he suddenly grinned.
"Oh, kid, how about we take a step back?"
"You really don't want to push me into fighting you. So, how about we settle this peacefully?"
Kurotsuchi Mayuri spread his hands and, for once, his tone seemed oddly sincere.
"If you let me go, I, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, promise not to bother you or that Arrancar ever again."
"What do you say?"
His words were calculated. His body had already been split in half, and he had overused his regeneration technique, developing a resistance to it. He was now extremely weak.
To continue fighting would be a poor choice.
Inwardly, Kurotsuchi Mayuri felt a growing unease.
This Kuchiki Shinji was far more terrifying than expected.
He had initially dismissed Shinji as weak, recalling the way Tousen Kaname had crushed him during the earlier assessment.
Even Shinji's earlier Reiatsu had seemed all flash, no substance.
Thus, Kurotsuchi had turned his attention to the Adjuchas Arrancar, Nelliel, thinking she would make a perfect research subject.
But things had gone horribly wrong.
Kuchiki Shinji was overwhelmingly strong, a monstrous force beyond comprehension.
Even Tousen Kaname, using Shikai, had been effortlessly sealed by Shinji's mastery of Bakudō #99.
Continuing to fight alone would only lead to disaster.
"Take a step back?"
Hearing Kurotsuchi Mayuri's plea, Shinji sneered, his expression cold.
"Let's talk about that after you're dead."
Kurotsuchi Mayuri was too dangerous to be left alive.
He wasn't someone whose promises could be trusted. Even if he apologized sincerely, he'd repeat his atrocities without hesitation.
This was who Kurotsuchi Mayuri was: a lunatic without remorse.
"I'm sorry. But You'll do it again anyway."
That perfectly summed up his mindset.
"You damned brat..."
The smile on Kurotsuchi Mayuri's face vanished, replaced by a sinister, ghost-like expression.
He knew full well how frightening Shinji's strength was.
Even now, after witnessing it firsthand, fear and dread had taken root in his heart.
But Shinji wasn't invincible.
Every Shinigami, no matter how powerful, had weaknesses.
For Kurotsuchi Mayuri, his incredible intellect and mastery of Kidō were his strengths, but his stamina, defense, and speed were among the weakest of all captains.
And as for Shinji...
Kurotsuchi Mayuri had already identified his weaknesses through data collected during their battle.
Indeed, Shinji's external defenses were near-impenetrable, beyond comprehension, even.
But his internal organs were a different story.
And Kurotsuchi Mayuri, a master of poisons, had countless tools at his disposal to exploit this weakness.
"You'll regret forcing my hand, Kuchiki brat."
Kurotsuchi Mayuri cast a glance at Kyōraku Shunsui, who was merely observing the fight, showing no signs of intervening.
Satisfied, Kurotsuchi Mayuri retrieved several small vials and bottles, twisting them open with a malicious grin.
"Kuchiki Shinji, you won't escape my grasp."
He revealed a superhuman drug specifically designed to counter Shinji and the Quincy girl.
The battle was far from over.