"Rumble rumble rumble...!"
Amid thunderous explosions, the golden Sword Pressure continuously slammed against the heavy transparent barrier, sending wave after wave of golden ripples surging outwards, destroying everything in their path.
The battlefield, already reduced to rubble, began collapsing once more under the terrifying impact, triggering a second collapse.
The buildings were all gone, the ground had no intact spot left, and even the debris, shattered stones, and ruined walls were gradually evaporating in the Reiatsu intense enough to burn away Reishi, disappearing without a trace.
"Crack crack crack crack..."
Before long, cracks began to appear on the thick transparent barrier, spiderwebbing across its surface.
"No good! It can't hold anymore!"
The laziness on Shunsui Kyōraku's face vanished, and he shouted with some urgency.
"His Reiatsu is too strong!"
Suì-Fēng had already started sweating.
Kaname Tōsen, Gin Ichimaru, and Sajin Komamura all looked extremely grim, their hearts trembling.
They knew Kaiser was strong—so strong that he was unfathomable.
Decades ago, before even graduating from the Shin'ō Academy, he was already able to single-handedly slay Adjuchas-class Menos Grande, and could even face Kenpachi Zaraki head-on and emerge victorious, proving he had Captain-level power.
Now, decades later, he had grown even stronger. His Shunpo alone had surpassed everyone, and in other areas, he had surely improved drastically as well—otherwise, he wouldn't be worthy of being called the strongest genius in a thousand years.
So, the gathered Captains never underestimated Kaiser. They had already cast aside unnecessary pride and teamed up to take him down.
But even after teaming up, their opponent was still able to display such overwhelming power—it was deeply shocking and left many shaken.
"His Reiatsu is much stronger than it was decades ago. Even a fully unsealed Kenpachi Zaraki probably can't match him now."
Such thoughts surfaced in the minds of the Captains.
Precisely because his Reiatsu had grown so much stronger, Kaiser's full-power Sword Pressure was nearly able to shatter Dankū, a Bakudō that could perfectly block all Hadō below number 90.
"Move!"
Seeing that the transparent barrier was about to be completely shattered, Suì-Fēng shouted loudly.
"Ukitake!"
Shunsui Kyōraku shouted in turn.
"Shff!"
Jūshirō Ukitake instantly flashed in front of everyone, stepping between them and the incoming Sword Pressure.
He reached both hands into his Captain's haori and suddenly drew his Zanpakutō.
"All waves, become my shield!"
"All lightning, become my blade!"
Ukitake held the hilts of his blades with both hands and slowly crossed them.
His Zanpakutō split into two. One in each hand, the blades gradually changed shape into something resembling fish fins. The hilts were connected by a red cord adorned with five plaques, which chimed as the blades swayed.
"Sōgyo no Kotowari!"
With his Zanpakutō released, Ukitake raised the blade in his left hand to meet the descending Sword Pressure that had broken through Dankū.
"Bzz!"
The tip of his Zanpakutō met the incoming Sword Pressure and actually absorbed the energy that could have shattered Bakudō #81.
"Buzz!" "Buzz!" "Buzz!" "Buzz!" "Buzz!"
As the Sword Pressure was absorbed by Ukitake's left sword, the energy seemed to flow through the connecting red cord to the right blade. The five plaques on the cord lit up and vibrated one after another.
Then, Ukitake raised the blade in his right hand and released the accumulated Sword Pressure in the direction of Kaiser.
"Boom!"
The golden Sword Pressure, now like a massive beam of light, shot across the sky and launched toward Kaiser.
"Shff!"
Kaiser unhesitatingly activated Shunpo, flashing away from his original position.
The beam of Sword Pressure passed through where he had just been and continued up toward the sky, dispersing the clouds above.
Kaiser reappeared on the other side, gazing at the dissipating clouds and at Ukitake below with both blades raised. His eyes began to shimmer.
"So that's one of the only two dual-blade Zanpakutō currently in Soul Society...?"
As everyone knew, a Shinigami normally only had one Zanpakutō. At first, it would appear in the standard katana form, only changing after its Shikai.
But in the past millennium, two Zanpakutō had split into dual forms during Shikai.
Their wielders were none other than Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake.
If you looked closely, you'd notice that Kyōraku had two Zanpakutō at his waist—one long, one short. One was easy to spot, while the other was hidden beneath his haori.
The blade Kyōraku drew earlier to cast Hadō #78 was the long one. The short one was still sheathed.
Meanwhile, Ukitake's Zanpakutō only split into two upon Shikai.
Its name was Sōgyo no Kotowari, and its ability was the absorption and release of energy. The left blade absorbed, the right blade released. The red cord and five plaques connecting them could regulate the speed and intensity of energy transfer, making it the nemesis of all energy-based attacks.
Whether it was Kidō, Cero, Sword Pressure, or even Getsuga Tenshō, all of them could be absorbed and reflected by Sōgyo no Kotowari, catching the enemy completely off guard.
With those blades in hand, Kaiser's Sword Pressure and Kidō attacks were effectively nullified. Using them would only result in them being reflected back.
"This ability is even more troublesome than I imagined..."
As Kaiser thought this, Shunsui Kyōraku also stepped forward.
He drew the short blade hidden under his haori—one hand now held a long blade, the other a short one. Then, he softly chanted:
"Winds of flowers scatter, the god of flowers weeps."
"Winds of heaven scatter, the demon of heaven laughs."
Kyōraku's twin swords began to change form as well, transforming into one long and one short large curved blade.
The blade bodies were black, the edges white, and the guards rectangular with clipped corners and floral designs. The hilts were patterned, and the ends adorned with red tassels—powerful and beautiful.
"Katen Kyōkotsu!"
Shunsui Kyōraku released his Zanpakutō.
The two large curved blades were, like Sōgyo no Kotowari, one of only two dual Zanpakutō in all of Soul Society.
"Bushōgoma!"
Kyōraku spun his body and raised both swords horizontally, each releasing a spinning wind like a top. As he twirled, the two winds merged into one, forming a massive tangible gust that howled toward Kaiser.
"Shff!" "Shff!" "Shff!"...
Kaiser stepped with Shunpo, retreating rapidly to widen the gap, but Kyōraku didn't let up—continuing to spin and slash, sending wave after wave of wind at him.
"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!"
Kaiser raised his hand and released a blast of blue flames at the incoming whirlwind.
But as soon as he cast the spell, Ukitake arrived with Shunpo.
"Buzz!"
As the Reiryoku vibrated, the blue flames were absorbed by Ukitake's left blade, passed through the red cord and plaques, and were quickly transferred to the right blade—then released back at Kaiser.
"Shff!"
Kaiser instantly used Shunpo to dodge, leaving behind a residual image that was obliterated by the blue flames. He landed back on the ruined ground.
"Suzumushi!"
"Tenken!"
"Shinsō!"
The other Captains finally reacted, activating their Zanpakutō abilities. Countless blades rained from the sky, a massive arm slashed downward with a great sword, and dazzling blade light streaked through the air—all targeting Kaiser from different directions.
Seeing this, Kaiser was just about to respond when a voice stopped him.
"Bakudō #30: Shitotsu Sansen!"
Suì-Fēng had appeared in the air at some point, tracing a triangle with her hand, forming three giant beak-shaped light projectiles at each corner.
The beams shot forth and struck Kaiser's arms and waist, pinning him in place.
"Boom!"
Without hesitation, Kaiser released his full Reiatsu, causing golden spiritual pressure to erupt and burn away the binding light.
But by then, he could no longer evade the incoming attacks from three Captain-class Zanpakutō.
"Boom!"
The massive arm and sword descended first, shattering the ground where Kaiser stood. Countless blades rained down and pierced the shattered earth, while blade light slashed through the area with the sound of ripping flesh, and a flash of blood appeared in the dust.
The six Captains had successfully cornered Kaiser and completed their combined assault.
His volcanic Reiatsu suddenly faltered and began weakening rapidly.
"Did we get him?"
The Captains gathered, sensing the weakened Reiatsu, and the same thought flashed through their minds.
"Could he be dead?"
Gin Ichimaru smiled as he spoke, causing Kyōraku and Ukitake's brows to furrow.
"He's not someone who would die so easily."
Suì-Fēng coldly responded, prompting Komamura and Tōsen to tighten their grips on their Zanpakutō.
The six silently watched the area, trying to see through the dispersing dust.
As it cleared, the scene within was revealed.
"What?!"
All the Captains' expressions changed.
Because the area they had bombarded was now completely empty—not a soul in sight.
"Shff!" "Shff!" "Shff!" "Shff!"...
The Captains instantly used Shunpo, appearing in the blast zone.
Then, they saw it—there was a hole in the ground.
"This is..."
"A sewer entrance?"
"He went into the sewers?"
"After him!"
Suì-Fēng, Komamura, Tōsen, and even Ukitake all reacted instantly and dove in without hesitation.
"Still chasing? Captain Kyōraku?"
Gin Ichimaru asked reluctantly with a bitter smile.
"This is... so troublesome."
Kyōraku sighed, but still jumped in after them.
"...Give me a break."
Gin's bitter smile deepened, but he too followed, disappearing underground.
The six Captains all entered the sewers in pursuit of Kaiser.
None of them noticed a figure appearing high above the ground.
With inorganic white light wings on his back, like a meteor, Kaiser soared into the sky and arrived at this spot.
"Drip... drip..."
Drops of fresh blood fell from his left hand, dripping from the clouds—proof he wasn't entirely unscathed.
"I overdid it..."
Flicking the blood from his hand, Kaiser muttered to himself with a hint of helplessness as he retracted the pure white wings.
"Sure enough, trying to face six Captains without releasing my Zanpakutō or using other special weapons was pushing it too far."
And that was considering the enemy had only used Shikai.
If Kyōraku and the others had unleashed their Bankai, he likely wouldn't have remained so composed.
"I'd like to keep fighting, but if I keep going, I won't be able to wrap this up."
Kaiser clearly sensed it—the scorching Reiatsu from Division 1 was already approaching.
That person was the truly troublesome one, no less dangerous than Sōsuke Aizen.
Though Kaiser wasn't afraid, there was no need to go all-out here.
After all, his true enemy was still Aizen.
"Shff!"
Kaiser retracted his wings and sheathed his Zanpakutō.
"Buzz buzz buzz..."
The Zanpakutō at his waist began to tremble, as if conveying its dissatisfaction and rage, nearly causing the Reiatsu he had painstakingly suppressed to leak out.
Kaiser, of course, knew what it was upset about.
"Don't worry."
He placed a hand on the hilt and said softly.
"The battle where you'll show your true power is coming very soon."
As he soothed his Zanpakutō and felt that scorching Reiatsu approaching, Kaiser had a hunch—the climax of this entire farce was about to begin.
Ichigo Kurosaki had likely begun training for Bankai. When he emerged, it would be time for the real storm to hit.
"Before that... can I find Aizen?"
Kaiser wasn't too sure.
So, he wanted to meet someone first.
"What are you going to do, Renji Abarai...?"