CHAPTER 41

With Kurosaki Ichigo's fall, an eerie silence filled the battlefield.

The few survivors lay sprawled on the ground, their battered bodies barely moving as they stared at Akira in utter despair.

"Is this... the true power of a captain-level opponent?"

Ichigo gritted his teeth, his body wracked with pain, his mind clouded.

Too strong... this power is beyond imagination!

He hadn't even been able to force out his opponent's legendary Bankai. His side had been utterly overwhelmed—Akira had wiped them out effortlessly.

"Damn it, just how many abilities does he have?!"

Yoruichi Shihouin watched in shock. The battle had spiraled far beyond her expectations.

At first, she had hesitated to intervene, wary that unleashing her Reiatsu would attract other captains. She had planned to let Ichigo and the others hold their ground, just long enough for them to regroup and escape.

But that moment of hesitation had cost them dearly.

What was worse, in her feline form, she had no clothing upon reverting to her human body—something she personally didn't mind, but in battle, it meant a lack of even basic protection.

And now, it was already too late.

"How could anyone call this a 'half-baked Shikai'?" Yoruichi recalled Akira's words, her expression darkening. "This level of power... this is easily among the strongest Zanpakutō Shikai I've ever seen."

She had initially held back because she believed Ichigo and the others—who had all grown much stronger—could handle the situation.

After all, Ichigo alone had reached the level of a seated officer, perhaps even a vice-captain.

A normal captain shouldn't have been able to wipe them out so easily.

"Kurosaki-san—!"

Inoue Orihime's desperate cry jolted Yoruichi back to reality.

She turned just in time to see Akira flash-step past them with ease. With a single swing of his blade, he shattered Orihime's Santen Kesshun barrier, halting her desperate attempt to heal Chad.

"Stop!"

Realizing she could no longer hesitate, Yoruichi moved.

In an instant, she shifted back into her human form, preparing to intercept Akira's next strike.

But—

"I suggest you don't move."

A chilling voice whispered from behind her.

A cold dread crept over Yoruichi.

What?!

Her golden eyes widened in shock, her pupils shrinking to pinpoints.

The Akira she had been about to attack was gone.

Instead, the suffocating presence of a killing intent loomed behind her.

"When... did he move!?"

Her body refused to react.

As the undisputed master of Shunpo, the "Flash Goddess" of the Soul Society, she should have at least seen something. But this—

This was unlike anything she had ever faced.

This isn't just speed—this is something else entirely!

Even her legendary footwork was meaningless against Akira's ability, which allowed him to teleport instantaneously through his electric field.

Yoruichi forced herself to suppress the fear creeping into her mind.

"Your strength... it surpasses a normal captain's level, doesn't it?" she asked, struggling to keep her voice steady. "What exactly are you after?"

To her surprise, Akira simply sheathed his Zanpakutō.

Then, without another word, he turned and began walking toward the west gate.

"Huh?"

Yoruichi blinked, momentarily thrown off by the abrupt retreat.

"What the hell does that mean?!"

Akira paused and glanced back at Shihouin Yoruichi.

"After this battle, you must have felt the pressure, right? Don't think that just Shikai alone is enough to fight me. Come back when you're stronger."

He had already made up his mind—it was better to let Kurosaki Ichigo live for now. In other words, he was cultivating Ichigo like a blade, sharpening his hatred and determination, waiting for him to grow stronger. Akira saw no downside to this approach. He didn't have to invest anything, yet he would reap the benefits of an even more powerful adversary.

Would they one day surpass his control? He wasn't worried in the slightest. Not only was he well aware of Ichigo's evolving strength, but Akira's own rate of growth ensured he would always stay ahead.

"What a strange man..."

Yoruichi watched as Akira disappeared into the depths of the Seireitei. She exhaled, realizing how tense she had been. Running a hand over her back, she found her clothes soaked with cold sweat.

"Damn it… In the end, I still can't beat him."

Meanwhile, Kurosaki Ichigo, unconscious, let out a groan of frustration. Even in his current state, Yoruichi could tell—Akira had left a deep scar in Ichigo's heart, a shadow of overwhelming despair.

"Hopefully, he can push through. Looks like we'll need to accelerate his Bankai training."

With a sigh, Yoruichi instructed Inoue Orihime to begin healing as they swiftly retreated with the wounded.

As Akira contemplated his abilities, he realized something remarkable—his Zanpakutō was still an incomplete Shikai, yet it had already surpassed the Shikai of most Shinigami.

Typical Zanpakutō, even among captains, tended to have straightforward abilities—like Abarai Renji's Zabimaru or Kuchiki Byakuya's Senbonzakura. The battles might look different, but in the end, they were just variations of simple techniques.

But Akira's Shikai, Mirror, had already demonstrated at least three distinct abilities:

Distorting the trajectory of enemy attacks.

Physically reversing the direction of enemy strikes.

Using reflected light and shadows to create illusions, confusing opponents.

Each of these was powerful in its own right, and together, they made his Shikai far more versatile than most.

What new abilities will emerge once it fully awakens?

The thought sent a thrill of anticipation through Akira as he reflected on the battle.

Suddenly, a voice rang through the Seireitei, amplified by Kidō:

"All captains, assemble in the First Division immediately for an emergency meeting!"

The message echoed through Akira's courtyard, breaking his train of thought. He paused, considering the possible reasons.

"Is this about Kurosaki Ichigo's invasion? The Seireitei's response was fast…"

"Or could it be that Tousen Kaname's prolonged disappearance is finally under investigation?"

…Or perhaps both?

Whatever the case, Akira needed to find out. Without hesitation, he set off toward the First Division's headquarters.

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