Chapter 54: Shikai easily crushes Bankai, Uehara Shiroha's shocking strength

The air around him pulsed with a dangerous aura as he gripped the hilt of his Zanpakutō. With a calm but commanding voice, Ichimaru Gin uttered, "Shoot to kill, Shinsō."

A flash of silver light streaked across the battlefield as his dagger-like Zanpakutō elongated in an instant, shooting forward like lightning to pierce his opponent.

Clang!

The sharp tip of the blade came to an abrupt stop—halted effortlessly by a single raised finger.

Ichimaru Gin's narrowed eyes reflected his surprise as he watched Uehara Shiroha stand there, unfazed. The long, extended form of Shinsō gleamed under the arena lights, its tip pressed against Uehara's fingertip as though it had struck an unbreakable wall.

"He almost pierced my throat..." Uehara mused lightly, his voice calm, as though evaluating an interesting experiment rather than facing a lethal attack.

The captains watching the fight had barely processed what had happened before the remnants of destruction followed.

A moment later, tiny fragments of rock drifted downward—the aftershock of the devastating force Shinsō had unleashed. The cutting wind had already stripped layers off the stone arena, the sheer speed of the attack leaving its marks only after the fact.

Several captains nodded in silent approval.

"His Shikai's attack speed and force are formidable."

Even Zaraki Kenpachi, who rarely acknowledged others' strength, let out a sharp grin and remarked, "Not bad."

However, what had truly shaken the onlookers wasn't Gin's strength—it was Uehara Shiroha's reaction. He had stopped the sacred spear with only a single finger.

That was no ordinary feat.

A wave of realization settled over the assembled captains.

Uehara Shiroha hadn't lost his power. If anything, his strength had become even more unfathomable.

"Is he a genius? Or a monster?"

Shiba Isshin folded his arms, his expression intrigued. "Vice-Captain Ichimaru's Shikai is indeed remarkable—both in force and speed, it surpasses the standard of most Vice-Captains." He then glanced at Uehara Shiroha, his eyes flickering with admiration. "But to stop that attack with just one finger... That level of reaction speed and spiritual pressure is beyond reasoning."

Kurotsuchi Mayuri, who had been watching in silence, let out a derisive snort. "Hmph. I expected this match to be a mindless brawl, but it appears to be somewhat interesting after all."

Though he claimed to be uninterested in mere physical fights, he couldn't deny the curiosity creeping in. Both combatants displayed extraordinary abilities. However, what intrigued him most was Uehara Shiroha's Zanpakutō—it was unusual, unique. He had tried analyzing it before but had come up with nothing. Perhaps this time, he would uncover something valuable.

Aizen, his hands folded behind his back, observed the battle with a faint, thoughtful smile.

"Neither Uehara nor Gin is revealing their full power. More importantly, they're both exceptionally skilled at hiding their spiritual pressure."

To the untrained eye, it might seem as though the two were simply exchanging swift attacks. But Aizen knew better. There was no fluctuation in their reiryoku, no wasted energy—an ability only a select few could master.

In the center of the arena, Ichimaru Gin remained still, his fox-like grin slightly subdued.

He hadn't expected his Shikai to be enough to defeat Uehara, but to have it stopped so easily... that was something else entirely.

"Not even a scratch, huh?"

Uehara Shiroha let out a small chuckle. "Your technique is flashy, but the strength is lacking."

Gin's ever-present smile twitched. "Is that so?"

Without another word, he retracted Shinsō, taking a step back.

Then, he raised his right hand, fingers gripping the hilt of his sword as he whispered:

"Bankai—Kamishini no Yari [God-Killing Spear]."

A suffocating wave of spiritual pressure erupted from his body, crashing into the surroundings like a tidal wave. The very air seemed to shudder under its weight.

Several captains tensed in response, their expressions shifting.

"A true Bankai-level pressure..."

"He's fully mastered it at such a young age... A genius indeed."

"And this Bankai..."

Before they could finish their thoughts, Gin moved.

With a single sweep of his blade, the stone pillars at the edge of the arena were sliced clean through. The cuts were impossibly smooth, the pillars shattering into countless fragments as they were sent flying.

The sheer destructive power was undeniable. Compared to its Shikai, the Bankai God-Killing Spear had magnified its speed and force dozens of times over.

Even Soifon, who prided herself on her speed, found her pupils constricting in shock. "Captain Komamura, did you see it?"

Komamura Sajin, his large frame standing firm beside her, slowly shook his head. "No... I couldn't."

It was one thing for a sword to extend at lightning speed—but for an experienced captain to fail to even perceive the motion was another matter entirely.

The realization sent a ripple through the crowd.

Gin's Kamishini no Yari—also known as the God Killing Spear—had always been regarded as a title rather than an actual representation of his power. But now, seeing his Bankai in action, the captains finally understood why the name had meaning.

Amidst the lingering pressure of his spiritual energy, Ichimaru Gin stood with his blade pointed forward, his smirk sharper than ever.

"Now, let's see how you handle this, Uehara-taichou."

Yet, despite the tremendous force, despite the overwhelming power that had left seasoned captains shaken—

Uehara Shiroha remained utterly calm.

Seeing Uehara Shiroha's calm and almost dismissive expression, Ichimaru Gin offered a "kind" explanation, his usual fox-like grin remaining in place.

"When I use Shikai, my sacred spear can extend as far as a hundred swords in length. But with Bankai, it stretches even farther—a full 13 km." His voice was light, conversational, as if they were discussing the weather rather than a battle. "So, no matter how fast you are, escaping my attack won't be so easy."

Uehara Shiroha tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable.

"Hmm! Hmm! So amazing!" He feigned interest, nodding along as if absorbing the information carefully.

But in truth, he ignored Ichimaru Gin's explanation entirely. He didn't need to hear it.

He already knew the true terror of Kamishini no Yari.

Most believed its most fearsome attribute to be its reach or impact, but that was far from the truth. The real danger lay in its speed.

Shinsō's Shikai already possessed lightning-fast strikes and deadly lethality. But Bankai God-Killing Spear was something else entirely.

Its most terrifying ability wasn't just an extension of its physical length—it was its unseen attack mechanism.

[Kamishini no Yari doesn't simply extend and retract like a normal blade. Instead, much like Matsumoto Rangiku's Haineko, it disintegrates into countless microscopic fragments, spreading across the entire battlefield before instantly reforming and striking. Its speed was akin to space teleportation—a truly absolute-class weapon.]

[In a close-range sneak attack, even a top-tier captain might fail to react. Even Aizen, after fusing with the Hōgyoku—he was struck down by this technique. If not for the Hōgyoku's regenerative abilities, he would have died instantly. To some extent, this power functioned like a law-bound ability, a true one-hit kill.]

Gin's grip tightened around his blade. His stance lowered slightly.

"Butō"

With those words, he shrank back slightly, then struck.

In an instant, the dagger-like Kamishini no Yari shot forward, the blade piercing toward Uehara Shiroha's head at lightning speed.

But—

Uehara Shiroha was already gone.

Before the spear could reach him, he had vanished.

Gin's expression didn't change. Without hesitation, he launched his next technique.

"Butō: Renjin!"

A terrifying force erupted from his blade as he repeatedly executed No-Step, turning the battlefield into a storm of countless piercing attacks.

Kamishini no Yari moved so fast that even the captains could barely follow it. The light of the extended blade flickered across the entire battlefield, each strike sharp enough to pierce through anything in its path.

The moment the attack was unleashed, the battlefield was no longer recognizable.

Stone pillars that had stood for centuries were severed in an instant, their surfaces sliced so smoothly they looked polished. The sheer force of the attack shattered them into pieces, scattering debris across the arena.

A dense cloud of dust rose, concealing the battlefield in a thick haze.

From the spectator's area, Suì-Fēng's eyes widened in shock.

"This level of large-scale high-speed piercing... Even with my mastery of Shunpō, dodging that would be nearly impossible."

Her first instinct was that, if she were in the fight, the best way to counter it would be to close the distance immediately before Gin could gain momentum.

The other captains also nodded in agreement. Ichimaru Gin had fully mastered Bankai at such a young age—he had more than proven himself worthy of his captaincy.

Aizen, watching the scene unfold, put on a concerned expression. "Gin, why did you take it too far? I hope Commander Uehara is alright."

Kyoraku Shunsui, however, remained relaxed beneath his hat. "No need to worry, Captain Aizen. Brother Shiroha will be fine."

Tōsen Kaname, who had been quietly observing, furrowed his brows. "What a powerful Shunpo"

The captains' attention immediately shifted back to the battlefield.

And that's when they noticed—

Uehara Shiroha was already out of Gin's attack range.

Not only had he dodged the initial strike, but he had also managed to evade every subsequent attack with almost unnatural ease.

Gin's Kamishini no Yari struck again—blindingly fast, its blade extending toward him like a cannonball.

Yet, Uehara Shiroha dodged again.

Effortlessly.

And the strangest part?

His movements didn't even seem fast.

The captains watching could clearly see his actions. Compared to the god-like speed of Gin's attacks, Uehara Shiroha's dodging appeared almost slow—as if he was moving at a normal pace, simply stepping out of harm's way.

At first glance, it almost looked as though Gin was deliberately missing—as if they were putting on a choreographed show.

But every captain present knew that was impossible.

Gin's God-Killing Spear moved at such speeds that even seeing its movements should have been impossible.

Yet, here was Uehara Shiroha, dodging with such casual precision that it made Gin's devastating Bankai look ineffective.

The captains were stunned.

Suì-Fēng clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening. "Uehara Shiroha... is still as terrifying as ever."

Komamura Sajin turned to his close friend, Tōsen Kaname. "Tōsen, could you avoid those strikes?"

Tōsen, despite his advanced spiritual perception, shook his head without hesitation. "Not a chance. My senses might allow me to track the trajectory, but that doesn't mean I could dodge them. The God-Killing Spear is nearly undetectable, and yet—Uehara Shiroha is dodging it like it's nothing."

That was what made it so unnerving.

Gin's blade was faster than sight, and yet Uehara Shiroha wasn't relying on speed to dodge.

He was doing something far more terrifying.

His movements seemed slow—but they were perfect. Perfectly timed, perfectly placed, perfectly calculated.

A Shunpō so flawless that even if you saw it coming, you wouldn't be able to counter it.

Kyoraku Shunsui exhaled slowly. "You just keep surprising us, don't you, Brother Shiroha?"

As the captains continued watching in stunned silence, one of them did notice something.

Aizen.

Though his expression remained composed, his eyes glowed with sudden interest.

At the edge of the arena, Byakuya Kuchiki and Zaraki Kenpachi stood side by side, their eyes fixed on Uehara Shiroha as he moved effortlessly across the stage.

Both captains, though vastly different in temperament, shared a similar expression—excitement and anticipation.

Meanwhile, Uehara Shiroha remained unconcerned.

With the Universal Barrier as a safeguard, even if he were to be struck by Kamishini no Yari, it wouldn't matter.

Of course, he had no intention of being hit in the first place.

Even if Ichimaru Gin's ultimate technique functioned similarly to a space-based ability, it would be useless against him.

Because Shunkyō was a true spatial defense technique.

It allowed him to completely nullify any so-called "instant-kill" attacks without suffering a scratch.

Besides, after mastering Bankai, his spatial perception had increased exponentially.

It wasn't just about reacting to attacks head-on—even a surprise strike from behind would be rendered completely ineffective.

Then, the moment came.

Ichimaru Gin thrust forward, his God-Killing Spear extending at terrifying speed—aiming straight for Uehara Shiroha's head.

The blade pierced through, the impact seemingly decisive.

For a moment, silence.

Gin's ever-present smirk faltered slightly, his eyes widening as he sighed. "Ah... I was careless."

Then, without hesitation, he raised both hands in surrender. "I give up! Sorry, Captain Aizen, I really tried my best!"

But before anyone could react—

"Passed."

A voice came from behind him.

Gin barely had time to turn before Uehara Shiroha's fist—now fully retracted—came into view.

If he had reacted a second slower, he would have been hit squarely in the back.

At the same moment, the "Uehara Shiroha" who had supposedly been struck in the head collapsed to the ground—shattering into countless crystalline shards.

It wasn't a body.

It was a lifelike ice sculpture.

The captains watching the match fell into stunned silence.

Suì-Fēng's lips parted slightly, but she said nothing.

Kuchiki Byakuya's sharp gaze lingered on Uehara Shiroha's Zanpakutō, a flicker of realization in his expression. "Is this the Eternal Shikai Zanpakutō...?"

Shiba Isshin, standing nearby, whistled in amazement. "I've heard the rumors, but seeing it firsthand is something else."

Kyoraku Shunsui, who had been watching closely, suddenly let out a half-exasperated laugh. "Wait a second... Did he seriously carve a dog's head into the ice sculpture's clothes?"

The other captains, only now noticing the absurd detail, turned silent again.

Gin Ichimaru was undeniably strong. A fully realized Bankai, unparalleled attack speed, and deadly precision—he was more than qualified for captaincy.

The only reason he had lost so soundly was because Uehara Shiroha was simply too strong.

The strongest genius in Soul Society—the title was no exaggeration.

And at that moment, the old man, who had been "pretending to sleep" the entire time, finally opened his eyes and tapped his cane against the ground.

"Then, as Commander-in-Chief, I hereby declare the results of the assessment."

His deep voice carried authority, silencing the entire arena.

"I formally promote Gin Ichimaru, Vice-Captain of the Fifth Division, to Captain of the Third Division!"

The announcement brought the captains out of their momentary shock.

Aizen, standing at the forefront, smiled warmly—his expression the very picture of encouragement. "Congratulations, Gin. I always knew you could do it."

His words carried a sincerity that made him seem like the perfect mentor, like a figure bathed in warm sunlight.

Komamura Sajin and Kyoraku Shunsui both nodded at Gin in acknowledgment.

However, not all the captains shared their sentiments.

Many remained silent, their faces dark, offering no congratulations.

Yet Gin, ever unbothered, smiled brightly. "Thank you, Captain Aizen." Then, he turned to Uehara Shiroha and grinned. "And thank you, Uehara-taichou. That was a fun match."

Uehara Shiroha chuckled lightly, brushing off the praise. "No problem. It was interesting."

==============================================

Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.

==============================================