Chapter 422: Kaidō's System, Six-Star Dirty Light
A relentless rumble echoed as buildings crumbled.
The Shinigami spectators on the battlefield stared in shock at the upright, bull-headed creature radiating green light.
How could this be? Did Captain Pivitt got defeated?
With a single blow, the creature had sent Pivitt soaring, crashing through multiple structures.
Unshō, watching with a mix of surprise and relief, looked at the gaping holes in the buildings with a pang of distress. But realizing he was no longer the captain of the Fifth Division, he relaxed, grateful to be free of such burdens.
He glanced at Aizen beside him with a hint of schadenfreude.
"Well, well, Captain Aizen! Pivitt's been knocked flat. Can he even stand after that?" A burly man with small white wings on his back rubbed his bald head, and asked in a tone tinged with shock. This was Sorahō, the acting captain of the Ninth Division. In his past life as a Sky Islander, he had clashed with a legendary pirate and his crew, only to be overwhelmed. He was a straightforward, honest man.
"It shouldn't be that bad," A man with refined features and short blond hair, with a solemn expression onbhis face said. "I can still sense Captain Pivitt's Reiatsu—it's stable. That blow was fierce, but it hasn't taken him down."
This was Wingaras, captain of the Thirteenth Division. In his previous life, he possessed an innate Observation Haki, able to hear distant sounds. His natural mental prowess had grown stronger with age, but a terminal illness common in his world had claimed him before he reached forty.
"Is that so? Still, that monster is terrifying," Sorahō replied, flexing his muscular frame with curiosity. "I wonder if I could withstand it."
Wingaras shook his head at Sorahō's antics and turned his attention back to the battlefield.
The monstrous figure had dissipated.
Deep within the ruins, where rows of buildings bore massive holes, Pivitt was embedded in a stone wall. With effort, he pried himself free, staggering and coughing up blood.
He glanced toward Kai with lingering fear.
He had been careless, failing to dodge. Or perhaps dodging was impossible. The attack had been too swift, too powerful.
His body felt as if it was falling apart. That single blow had left him severely injured.
He had been outmaneuvered by his teacher.
If he had known, he would have revealed his trump card sooner.
But it wasn't too late.
Footsteps echoed slowly from the battlefield's far side, where a large hole marred the wall. Pivitt's figure emerged, his exterior betraying little damage.
In truth, his injuries had improved significantly. While in the ruins, he had used Kaidō to stabilize his condition, ensuring he could continue fighting.
In Kai's previous life, Kaidō in the original Shinigami world was understated and simplistic. But in this Soul Society, Kaidō formed a comprehensive system, comparable to Hadō and Bakudō.
Previously, Kai had assisted Unohana Retsu in unifying Hadō, Bakudō, and Kaidō into a single Kidō discipline. Originally, Unohana's panels were separate, but they later merged into one S-level Kidō system.
Kai had then used reputation points to increase Unohana Retsu's Kido to SS-level.
Through discussions with Unohana and others, the Kaidō system was further refined, with the highest disclosed technique reaching number ninety-nine. While Kaidō No. 1 had a low entry threshold, joining the Fourth Division now required mastery of Kaidō No. 60.
Pivitt had used Kaidō No. 60, Six-Star Dirty Light, in the ruins. Centered on the heart, it formed connection points at the head, hands, and feet, creating five rays linked to the heart for comprehensive healing.
Pivitt approached Kai, his steps slightly unsteady.
The watching Shinigami pitied him, noting his awkward gait. While he lingered in the ruins, Kai's floating panel had added another card, and he had placed three more in the slots.
Discerning onlookers recognized the cards as the battle's crux. A single card had sent Pivitt flying. A few more could be catastrophic.
Unaware of their concerns, Pivitt noticed the tauren's absence and felt puzzled.
The explanation was simple. The tauren's innate skill was a high-stakes move, expending itself after one use. Its card now rested in the graveyard on the panel's right side.
"No need to look, little Pivitt," Kai said in a gentle tone, as if soothing a child. "The tauren has fulfilled its purpose and vanished."
Pivitt felt a pang of frustration at Kai's patronizing words, despite the severity of his actions.
"Teacher, I'm getting serious now," Pivitt declared, taking a deep breath, his voice resolute. "Let me show you my growth!"
Kai smiled at Pivitt's determination. "I'm watching."
Pivitt's excitement surged, like a child eager to prove himself to a parent.
"Bankai!"
"Disaster Tornado!"
A relentless gale roared through the arena, wreaking havoc. Hurricane-like tornadoes stretched skyward, encircling a dragon formed of calamitous winds, a natural disaster capable of obliterating everything.
The Shinigami spectators' clothes fluttered as they shielded themselves from the fierce winds, their faces reflecting awe at the spectacle.
"That guy Pivitt learned Bankai!" Simifu exclaimed, clutching her wind-tousled white hair, her expression was full of disbelief.
"There's nothing surprising about that," Unshō remarked in a light tone. "It's normal for an acting captain or even a vice-captain to learn Bankai, isn't it?"
Simifu rolled her eyes. She knew that, but being surpassed by Pivitt stung. She resolved to train harder. How could she, the support club president, be outdone by the short vice-president?
Unaware that she was barely taller than Pivitt, Simifu fumed.
"Still," Unshō added with admiration, "Captain Pivitt's Zanpakutō lives up to its title as the strongest wind-type. This magnificent display after Bankai suits its reputation. Now, this will be interesting."
He wondered how Vice-Captain Kai would respond.
On the battlefield, Pivitt called out, "Teacher, be careful!"
With a wave of his blade, a sky-reaching tornado surged toward Kai—a test attack.
Kai, unprepared and outside his one-minute turn, reached out to touch the approaching tornado.
As his hand grazed its edge, a card in the second row of his panel activated.
A circular light shield enveloped Kai, and a throne-like structure appeared behind him. He sat upon it, ready to watch Pivitt's performance.
From the spectators' perspective, behind Kai, the throne bore crookedly written characters: "Haven!!"
( End of this chapter )