Naturally, Yoruichi Shihōin couldn't possibly know Kaiser's current condition.
Let alone her, who was no longer in Soul Society—even those still in Soul Society didn't know how far Kaiser had progressed in his abilities.
Yet Kaiser's words still delivered a small blow to Yoruichi.
Training for decades, and if he didn't reach this level, he'd be disappointed in himself…?
Seriously—who in the world trains Shunpo for a few decades and ends up dominating all of Soul Society in the art?
To Yoruichi Shihōin, who had spent hundreds of years earning the title of "Flash Goddess" only to now be utterly outclassed in a tenth of the time—it was an unbearably Versailles-level humblebrag!
And that was just comparing to herself. Compared to other Shinigami who had trained Shunpo for hundreds of years and still hadn't mastered it—shouldn't they be ashamed to death?
Oh wait, they're Shinigami—they're already dead…
Never mind then!
"As expected of the greatest genius in a thousand years. No wonder even Genryūsai Shigekuni-sama couldn't help but want to promote you."
The light tone on Yoruichi Shihōin's face had disappeared, replaced by a bit of seriousness.
"Since I'm your senior, could you let me pass and take that boy with me?"
That line meant she had admitted—admitted that she couldn't easily take Kurosaki Ichigo away from under Kaiser's nose.
Kaiser didn't mind letting the two go, but he didn't think the pressure he'd applied was enough yet.
"Don't be so quick to give up, senpai," Kaiser humbly suggested. "Why don't you try again? Maybe next time you'll succeed?"
Try again… your ass!
This brat was clearly pretending to be clueless—intentionally teasing her!
"Huff…"
Realizing she couldn't bluff her way through, Yoruichi exhaled softly and relaxed her body.
"Shun!"
In the next instant, she suddenly vanished—her presence gone.
And in that moment Yoruichi vanished, Kaiser also disappeared.
"Boom!"
A muffled impact followed, and both their figures appeared in another direction, violently colliding.
"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"…
Kaiser and Yoruichi's forms became countless afterimages, each one attacking and defending, with fierce collision sounds echoing out.
Both had entered a high-speed movement state, battling at a speed others couldn't even begin to follow—impossible to see, impossible to trace.
"Boom boom boom…!"
While using Shunpo to its limits in this high-speed movement state, Yoruichi flashed through space and kicked at Kaiser, who suddenly appeared before her. A flurry of kicks landed on his raised arm with dull thuds, forcing him backward.
"Shun!"
After pushing him back, she used Shunpo again, rushing toward Kurosaki Ichigo's direction—only to suddenly feel a warning in her heart and fling a barrage of kunai behind her.
"Clang clang clang…!"
Kaiser appeared behind Yoruichi, holding his sheathed Zanpakutō. He didn't even draw it, simply swinging it—sheath and all—to knock the incoming kunai aside one by one.
But the kunai deflected by Kaiser began to orbit him, surrounding him as if to trap him, making him feel restrained.
"This is…?"
Only now did Kaiser realize that the ends of those kunai were connected by fine, thread-like wires—almost like piano strings.
Before he knew it, his body had been wrapped by these fine wires, rendering him unable to move.
"I advise you not to move."
Yoruichi's smug voice entered his ears.
"These are special wire-bound kunai made by the Shihōin Clan. Not only can they stretch and contract at will according to my intent, moving freely—they're also highly offensive. Their cutting power is tremendous—even Captain-level Reiatsu can be sliced and torn."
As the "Divine Armaments House," even though she had defected from Soul Society, Yoruichi still carried many divine tools on her person.
With her exceptional physical skills combined with these divine armaments, she often produced miraculous effects.
In terms of power, Yoruichi wasn't weak among Captains, but not overwhelming either. Yet with the aid of her bizarre and powerful gear, this former Commander of the Onmitsukidō was still bold enough to stand before final-boss-level foes in the original story and even ambush them occasionally. As a surprise fighter, she was far more valuable than her base combat stats.
That's why, even though she was a former Captain of Division 2, who should've long since mastered Bankai, Yoruichi never once used her Zanpakutō in the original series—not even a hint of its presence was ever shown.
For someone like her, with so many bizarre weapons, if her Zanpakutō wasn't exceptional, then abandoning it made sense.
Under these conditions, Kaiser inevitably fell into her trap.
But he didn't panic at all.
"Boom!"
A burst of terrifying heat exploded from his body. It was as if a purple-black demonic sword manifested around him, cutting through the wires in an instant.
"Shnk!"
Those wire-bound kunai that could even tear through Captain-level Reiatsu were easily burned and sliced apart by that violet-black energy.
"What?"
Yoruichi's expression shifted.
Those kunai were custom-made divine tools by the Shihōin Clan. Even a Captain slashing at them with a Zanpakutō would only spark off metal—but they'd just been severed?
Not even Ryūjin Jakka could do that so easily, could it?
"What did you do?"
Yoruichi retrieved the severed kunai, wearing a look of disbelief as she questioned him.
"You guess?"
Kaiser replied with a counter-question.
The power that had just flared up on him, of course, came from the Ser-Veresta.
Though he had been focusing on Shunpo and Kidō for decades, he hadn't neglected his personal weapons.
Even though he had already mastered their powers, and didn't need to keep refining them, his growing strength meant those weapons were also evolving. Occasionally, he'd draw them out and re-familiarize himself with their powers.
Then, one day, he discovered that he could use part of their power without even summoning them.
Just now, Kaiser had used the power of the Ser-Veresta to burn and cut through Yoruichi's wire traps.
Of course, this wasn't something he would reveal to anyone.
"My turn now."
Without giving Yoruichi a chance to ask more, Kaiser extended his hand.
"Bakudō #30: Shitotsu Sansen."
Three massive beak-shaped energy blasts formed in front of his moving palm in a triangular formation and launched at Yoruichi like three glowing spears.
The beams were aimed at her hands and waist—if they landed, they'd directly immobilize her, sealing her movement. It had a similar effect to Rikujōkōrō, essentially a lower-level variant.
Yoruichi dared not take Kaiser's Kidō lightly.
Her intel clearly stated that among Zankensōki, Kaiser's weakest was Hakuda, and his strongest were Shunpo and Kidō.
As for Zanjutsu, since Kaiser rarely clashed with blades and had never released his Zanpakutō, even after decades no one knew how strong his swordsmanship really was.
In carrying out Division 3 duties—subjugating various targets—he mostly relied on Shunpo and Kidō. Few ever forced him to draw his sword, leaving a huge gap in intel.
Now, seeing him effortlessly cast a #30 Bakudō, even though it was low-tier, Yoruichi didn't dare take the hit and vanished using Shunpo.
"Bakudō #73: Tōzanshō."
Just a split-second before Yoruichi vanished, Kaiser cast another spell, releasing a surge of Reiryoku like a gushing spring.
The surging energy formed a reverse triangular barrier around him, like a blue fortress, separating inside from out.
"Wha…?!"
Yoruichi appeared inside the barrier, and her face shifted as she saw her surroundings locked down.
Tōzanshō was originally used for defense—allowing allies to enter for healing or protection.
But Kaiser used it as a prison, trapping Yoruichi inside so she couldn't freely use Shunpo.
"Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō."
"Bakudō #62: Hyapporankan."
"Bakudō #63: Sajō Sabaku."
After sealing Yoruichi's movement, Kaiser immediately cast three more high-level Bakudō from outside the barrier.
Six flat beams formed inside and shot out—striking Yoruichi's waist and binding her.
Then, a rod of light and a massive snake-like chain materialized. The light split into countless rods and pinned her limbs like a rack, while the snake chain coiled tightly around her body.
"Oh ruler! Mask of flesh and blood, all things—spread wings—he who bears the crowned name! Carve the twin lotus upon the wall of blue flame and await the abyss of flames from the far heavens!"
Having fully restrained Yoruichi, Kaiser began chanting the incantation for a Hadō, releasing Reiryoku like a volcanic eruption.
"Hadō #73: Sōren Sōkatsui."
The terrifying energy gathered in his palm, condensing into a pale-blue lotus that slowly began to bloom.
An even more terrifying heat spread, as azure flames flickered across the lotus.
"You're… serious?"
Yoruichi's face twitched, sweat beading on her brow despite being tightly bound.
"Don't worry. At this level of Hadō, someone like Lady Yoruichi shouldn't die."
Kaiser, holding the blue lotus in his hand, smiled innocently—and Yoruichi's heart clenched.
"W-wait! I think we should sit down and talk this out!"
Yoruichi raised her voice in panic.
"Let's talk after you eat this first!"
Kaiser, merciless like an executioner, ignored her cries and raised his hand, ready to throw the fire lotus into the barrier.
This blast probably wouldn't kill a Captain-level Shinigami outright, but it would definitely leave them skinned and charred.
Yoruichi could already see her fate.
Even Kaiser didn't think she could escape it unscathed.
Only one person couldn't stand by and do nothing.
In the instant before Kaiser launched the lotus, that person suddenly opened his eyes.
Within them, blue Reiatsu flashed brilliantly, almost becoming solid light.
"BOOM!"
With a thunderous roar, terrifying Reiatsu surged skyward, like a pillar of light—vaporizing rubble and debris.
"———!"
At that moment, all the Shinigami in Seireitei with keen spiritual senses turned toward the source with shock.
Even Kaiser and Yoruichi were stunned, sharply turning to look.
"Ichigo!"
Yoruichi cried out in surprise.
Kaiser's eyes lit up, and he smiled.
From the rising blue Reiatsu, the orange-haired Shinigami holding a massive sword slowly stood up from the rubble.
Blood covered his body.
Wounds riddled his frame.
But his gaze was unwavering, and blue spiritual light flickered in his eyes. His Shihakushō billowed under the tremendous Reiatsu.
That pressure was no longer third or fourth-seat level, nor Vice-Captain level—it was true Captain-class Reiatsu. Vast and terrifying!
"Boom!"
His body surging with tangible blue Reiatsu, Kurosaki Ichigo shattered the ground beneath his feet and charged at Kaiser.
He didn't use Shunpo—or rather, he didn't know how—but his speed rivaled that of Captains using Shunpo, so fast the very air screamed.
Kaiser stopped paying attention to Yoruichi, focusing instead on Ichigo's approach. The fire lotus dispersed from his hand, and he reached down—gripping the hilt of the Zanpakutō once again tied at his waist.
"CLANG!!!"
Moments later, Ichigo reached Kaiser like a falling meteor, slashing down with his oversized blade—clashing with Kaiser's swiftly drawn Zanpakutō, erupting in a bell-like chime.
The violent force from blade-on-blade collision tore through the atmosphere in a shockwave, bursting in midair.
With glowing blue eyes, Ichigo stared silently at Kaiser and swung his giant blade again.
"CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—"
Though Kaiser parried each strike, the blade returned again and again—no tricks, no feints, just raw power. Each strike struck his guard with such weight and force that Kaiser was pushed backward.
Kurosaki Ichigo had displayed power strong enough to force Kaiser back.
That power was immense and overwhelming.