"Well, to be honest, I want to know everything."
Kyoraku released his grip on Koga's hand and withdrew his hand into his sleeve. "But I also know it's impossible to make you tell me everything."
"So, how about this, third seat Kuchiki."
"Why don't you just tell me whatever you feel you can share?"
"After all, even though Kuchiki-san left the Seireitei with you, Captain Kuchiki is still Kuchiki-san's father and your father-in-law."
"You wouldn't want everything Captain Kyoya has done to plunge the Kuchiki Clan into an abyss, would you..."
The subsequent battle between Zaraki and Yamamoto, as well as Kyoraku's move to intercept Koga at the Kuchiki Clan's estate, naturally did not escape Kyoya's perception.
However, Kyoya wasn't particularly concerned about either event.
Yamamoto would never truly kill Zaraki, and at most, he would severely injure him.
And with Unohana around, no matter how badly injured Zaraki was, he wouldn't die.
On the contrary, once he recovered, the Reiatsu he had subconsciously suppressed would be partially unleashed, allowing Zaraki to exhibit even greater combat strength.
As for the situation with Koga, Kyoya wasn't worried either.
Kyoraku is an intelligent man.
Having been recommended to become the Captain of the 1st Division after the death of Yamamoto, Kyoraku is top-tier in both strength and wisdom.
Intelligent people tend to overthink.
Until he figures out what Kyoya truly intends to do and whether it poses a threat to the Seireitei, Kyoraku will, at most, focus on gathering information about Kyoya and won't take any action against Koga.
Kyoraku wouldn't do anything that would provoke Kyoya into a rage.
After all, Kyoraku is someone who would even spare the lives of intruders during the Ryoka Invasion.
He maintains a skeptical attitude toward everything he doesn't understand.
Of course, once he confirms a threat, Kyoraku also possesses the will to fight to the death with unwavering determination.
Right now, Kyoya's attention is on Borsalino, who is closely following him.
"What, after witnessing my battle with Captain-Commander Yamamoto, you still refuse to admit defeat?"
Seeing that Borsalino showed no intention of returning to the Inner World, Kyoya raised an eyebrow and asked curiously.
Borsalino adjusted his glasses.
Before Kyoya's battle with Yamamoto, it was Borsalino who held off him.
However, unlike Kyoya, who could suppress Yamamoto, Borsalino could only rely on his speed to avoid damage in his fight against Yamamoto.
"Kyoya-sama, you haven't forgotten our agreement, have you?"
"If we're talking about absolute strength, I indeed stand no chance against Kyoya-sama."
"But what we're comparing isn't overall strength, but the development and use of the Pika Pika no Mi's abilities."
"Of course, if Kyoya-sama wishes to break the agreement, there's nothing I can do about it..."
Hearing Borsalino say this, Kyoya shook his head.
Compared to others, as Kyoya's Zanpakuto, Borsalino has a deeper understanding of Kyoya.
An invincible physique, powerful bloodline, top-tier Haki, swordsmanship on par with the world's greatest swordsman… these alone are enough to place Kyoya at the pinnacle of the One Piece World.
Not to mention, the Reiatsu from the Bleach World can also provide Kyoya with enhancements no less significant than Haki.
Compared to these, the power of the Pika Pika no Mi didn't seem particularly important to Kyoya.
The exposure of Koga's ability was part of the plan between Borsalino and Kyoya.
The revelation of Muramasa's ability would subject Koga to a series of targeted actions.
Kyoya didn't want Koga to end up with the same resentful, distrustful mindset toward everything in the world, including Zanpakuto, as in his memories.
Therefore, having Borsalino stay by Koga's side would allow him to prevent Koga from making wrong decisions before he spiraled out of control.
Humans are strange creatures.
Especially those who have received a good education.
Before crossing that line, they will persist in their adherence to principles.
But once they cross it, their steadfastness vanishes, becoming the norm.
As Kyoya expected, after he personally intervened to stop Koga, who intended to control the Zanpakuto of the Gotei 13's members and cause chaos, Koga never again considered venting his grievances on ordinary Shinigami.
Secondly, Borsalino felt that he might not be very important to Kyoya. He also wanted to leave Kyoya to see what he would become without Kyoya, and what Kyoya would become without him.
After three months, nothing seemed to have changed.
Without him, Kyoya was still Kyoya.
Without Kyoya, after Borsalino's Bankai, he could only barely preserve his life against Yamamoto.
If he didn't escape before his Reiatsu was exhausted, he would likely be dealt with by Yamamoto.
This competition with Kyoya over the application and utilization of the Pika Pika no Mi's abilities is also Borsalino's final act of stubbornness.
If he couldn't surpass Kyoya in the area he was most skilled in, then after returning to Kyoya's Inner World, Borsalino would completely abandon his sense of self and hand over all control of the Pika Pika no Mi's abilities to Kyoya.
Because, in Kyoya, he could no longer find a reason for his existence.
"Alright."
Kyoya was slightly surprised by Borsalino's persistence.
However, since he had made a commitment to Borsalino earlier, Kyoya had no intention of breaking it.
"Do you want to fight me outside or in the Inner World?"
"Right here."
Borsalino stopped moving.
He had already considered this battle with Kyoya his final battle.
Since that was the case, let him be selfish one last time and leave some trace of his existence in this world!
"No problem."
A golden light radiated as Kyoya instantly completed his Zanpakuto's release.
"Then, I'll begin!"
Since this was a contest about the application and development of the Pika Pika no Mi's abilities, Kyoya naturally wouldn't use anything beyond those abilities.
This included, but was not limited to, Haki, swordsmanship, etc.
Even the intensity of his Reiatsu was suppressed to a level equivalent to Borsalino's.
"Laser-"
Golden light gathered at his fingertips and instantly shot toward Borsalino.
"Laser-"
On the other side, Borsalino responded to Kyoya with the same move.
Laser is the fastest initiating attack of the Pika Pika no Mi's Abilities.
Generally speaking, if one fails to evade before the laser beam is fired, it is basically impossible to dodge.
Boom!
The two identical laser beams collided, producing a violent explosion.
Although both were lasers, Kyoya's laser beam and Borsalino's laser beam were not exactly the same identical.
Kyoya focused more on the intensity of the attack, so the laser beam he emitted had extremely strong penetrative power.
Borsalino's laser beam was pierced through by Kyoya's laser beam upon collision.
However, unlike Kyoya's laser, Borsalino's laser, while less penetrative, consisted of unstable light waves.
Once its stability was disrupted, the energy within the laser would instantly detonate, causing large-scale explosive damage.
After Kyoya's laser beam pierced through Borsalino's laser beam, Borsalino's laser beam immediately exploded, consuming the energy of Kyoya's laser beam in the process.
One after another, laser beams shot forth from the hands of Kyoya and Borsalino, colliding and creating violent explosions in the air, their roaring echoes resounding across the sky of the Seireitei.
From the scene, the range of the explosions was closer to Borsalino's side.
It seemed that Kyoya's laser beams were slightly stronger than Borsalino's.
But this could only be considered a difference in their focus.
With just laser beams, neither Kyoya nor Borsalino could overcome the other.
At this moment, Borsalino was the first to change his tactics.
His body radiating a golden light, Borsalino transformed into several beams of light, weaving through Kyoya's laser attacks and instantly reappearing behind Kyoya, his body reforming.
"Ama no Murakumo!"
His hands held empty, golden light condensed into a sword of light in Borsalino's hands, slashing down towards Kyoya.
Kyoya waved his hand, golden Reiatsu forming a shield of light that blocked Borsalino's attack.
Then, the golden light condensed into three golden chains that, under Kyoya's will, shot towards Borsalino in front of him, attempting to bind him.
"Is this... Sajo Sabaku?"
In an instant, Borsalino recognized that this move of Kyoya's was derived from Bakudo #63, Sajo Sabaku.
A thought flashed through his mind.
Seven or eight golden orbs of light instantly scattered from Borsalino's body, each condensing into a perfect replica of himself.
"Elemental Clones!"
"Clang! Clang! Clang! -"
Three of the clones brandished their own Ama no Murakumo, shattering the chains Kyoya had sent towards them.
"Clones, huh?"
Kyoya raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Borsalino to use this move so quickly.
'It seems Borsalino places great importance on the outcome of this battle...'
As this thought crossed his mind, Kyoya opened his right hand, intending to form an Ama no Murakumo to destroy Borsalino's clones.
However, just as it was about to form, Kyoya suddenly realized that if he summoned the Ama no Murakumo, he would inevitably use swordsmanship at the [World's Greatest Swordsman]-level.
This would definitely violate the rules he had set for himself.
So, Kyoya dispersed the Ama no Murakumo, instead channeling that Reiatsu into forming a golden whip of light.
"Golden Rope Bind!"
Kyoya swung his right hand, and the light whip swiftly shot out, binding one of Borsalino's clones.
This move was inspired by Bakudo #4, Hainawa.
Compared to Hainawa, Kyoya's Golden Rope was far superior in both toughness and binding power.
Hence, Kyoya named this move [Golden Rope Bind]!
However, including Borsalino's main body, there were eight Borsalinos.
Even though three clones were busy destroying the golden chains, four others were still attacking Kyoya.
Even with one clone bound by Kyoya's Golden Rope, two others were still slashing down with their Ama no Murakumo.
Two intersecting, rotating rings of light materialized beside Kyoya and were then detonated by him-
The force from the violent explosion directly repelled the three Borsalinos near Kyoya, including the main body.
Thus, Borsalino's attack naturally posed no threat to Kyoya.
"Repulsion Halo!"
Borsalino's expression darkened.
He hadn't expected Kyoya to develop such a technique while also training in other paths.
As a Light-Human, due to the convenience of Elementalization and confidence in his own speed, Borsalino had never developed any defensive measures.
In this aspect alone, he was inferior to Kyoya.
But the more this was the case, the more Borsalino needed to know whether he truly fell short of Kyoya in the development and use of the Pika Pika no Mi's abilities.
And whether there was still a need for his existence!
"Whoosh-"
The other clones surrounded Kyoya again, continuing their assault.
Borsalino himself flew into the sky, crossed his arms in front of his chest, his thumbs and middle fingers interlocked.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Instantly, countless golden orbs of light condensed behind Borsalino, and then under his control, they rained down upon Kyoya.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom-
"What level of battle is this?"
"Such terrifying power!"
The battle between Kyoya and Borsalino was different from the few fights that had occurred earlier tonight.
Combat between Logia-type Devil Fruit Users inherently affects the weather.
As the pinnacle of light-based abilities, the battle between Kyoya and Borsalino turned the sky for several kilometers around into a golden hue.
Even those ordinary people who lacked the ability to sense the colliding Reiatsus of Kyoya and Borsalino's battle could tell, from the golden laser lights and the constant roaring in the sky, that two powerful figures of the Seireitei were fighting.
Of course, it wasn't just them… even some Shinigami probably didn't know that it was the Captain of the 11th Division fighting in the sky.
However, high-ranking officers with 4th-Class Reiatsu and above, Lieutenants, and Captains could sense the colliding Reiatsus and recognize that it was Kyoya.
Yet, even the Captains familiar with Kyoya had significant doubts in their hearts.
'Why was Captain Kyoya's fighting style today so different from before?'
In their impressions, Kyoya's battles almost always involved drawing his sword, swinging it… those despair-inducing slashes had almost become his signature move in combat.
After all, throughout the entire Gotei 13, no… it should be said, whether among Shinigami, Hollows, Quincies, or any other beings, the slashes Kyoya delivered were unique.
Well, perhaps the [Yourself] ability of Loyd Lloyd and Royd Lloyd, the twin brothers of the Wandenreich's Sternritter, could imitate a fraction of Kyoya's power.
The elder brother's ability allowed him to acquire the opponent's combat skills and strength, while the younger brother could even obtain the opponent's memories and psyche.