Pinching his fingers!
Sidestepping!
Even in the dark, abyssal deep sea, Shunsui Kyōraku moved with grace, his flowing figure darting past.
Guided by his fingertips, the white threads in the sea wove around Lille Barro's angelic form, encircling his neck layer by layer.
As this sequence completed, in the Abyss of Breathlessness, all bubbles burst simultaneously, and Karamatsu Shinjū's symphony reached its final act!
"Pure-blood Quincy…"
"There's no such thing as a 'god' in this world, and your Schrift powers aren't invincible! So… face death calmly. It's only a moment…"
With his back to Lille Barro, Shunsui joined two fingers and… lightly slashed!
Rip—!!!
With a sharp cutting sound, Lille Barro, coughing blood and barely coherent, already on the brink of death, didn't even get to speak his final words before his lifeline was severed!
Throat Drenched in Blood!
This marked the perfect curtain call of the final act!
---
Second Division
"This is so cool!!!"
"Captain Kyōraku, truly worthy of being the longest-serving captain after the Captain-Commander! He didn't disappoint!!!"
Shedding his earlier cowardice, Ōmaeda Marechiyo, like a man injected with adrenaline, shouted excitedly before the screen.
Though Shunsui was the one acting, Ōmaeda fully immersed himself, imagining he was Shunsui, instantly killing a Quincy before everyone's eyes.
So damn cool!
"No doubt, four acts of drama, each a different killing move! Captain Kyōraku's Bankai is outrageously strong…"
Even the prideful Soi Fon, after watching the battle, was utterly convinced.
Though Shunsui returned to his carefree demeanor by the end, looking relaxed, Soi Fon knew that without the "outsider" perspective, few could've done better in that situation!
After all, in Karamatsu Shinjū's four-act requiem, failing to handle the Quincy in any act would've doomed Shunsui to an abyss of no return!
For such a life-or-death battle, Soi Fon had no objections and fully acknowledged Shunsui's ranking!
---
Thirteenth Division, Office
"Phew… not bad luck. Looks like my future self didn't die…" Patting his chest, Shunsui Kyōraku breathed a sigh of relief.
Since this round began, his nerves had been on edge.
His casual discussions with Ukitake were just a mask for his tension.
After all… no one wants to see their own death.
Shunsui was no exception!
"Shunsui, you can finally relax! Congratulations!"
Ukitake laughed heartily, refilling his friend's teacup, then chuckled, "But now, all your trump cards are exposed. In future battles, you'll start at a disadvantage!"
The video revealed Katen Kyōkotsu's Shikai and Bankai abilities, essentially stripping Shunsui bare!
"Eh, what's the big deal…" Waving dismissively, Shunsui said calmly, "I'm not one for fighting anyway. I'd rather spend my time in a tavern with a couple of courtesans…"
He leaned back, hands behind his head, gazing at the sky outside, sighing, "But, if I'm being honest…"
"If possible, I'd like to change the future and stop that war from happening!"
---
Living World, Urahara Shop
"Isshin, Tessai…"
"Did you hear that? Shunsui Kyōraku mentioned 'Schrift powers'?" Unlike his companions, though equally impressed by Karamatsu Shinjū's power, the sharp-minded Urahara Kisuke caught a key clue!
Yes!
The never-before-heard "Schrift powers"!
"Uh… Shunsui did mention that." Isshin scratched his head, asking, "What, got a new lead?"
Shaking his head, Urahara admitted honestly, "Not really…"
"But…"
Pausing, he speculated, "That unknown Quincy's angelic form is likely tied to these 'Schrift powers'!"
"Oh?"
Isshin raised a brow, intrigued, "How so?"
"Isshin… you know I'm on good terms with Ryūken Ishida!"
"Once, with his permission, I visited the Ishida family's archive and gathered a lot of data on pure-blood Quincy!"
Urahara explained methodically.
"So, watching this battle jogged some memories?" Isshin asked curiously.
"Exactly!"
Snapping his fingers, Urahara grinned, "If I'm not mistaken, that angelic form is likely an enhanced version of the Quincy's ultimate power!"
"And these so-called Schrift powers probably grant different abilities to pure-blood Quincy. This one's ability is likely tied to 'marksmanship'!"
He sighed regretfully, "Too bad there's so little to analyze! Otherwise, I'd crack the Sternritter's abilities in no time!"
Similar deductions were made in different places—one at Urahara's shop, the other at the Technical Development Bureau.
Through this single video, Urahara Kisuke and Mayuri Kurotsuchi, two scientists, used their intellect to unravel the Sternritter's secrets!
Wisdom, technology, and cunning were subtly reshaping the future!
---
Silver Frame City
The vast palace was deathly silent.
The relaxed atmosphere from earlier rounds was replaced by heavy oppression.
Except for Haschwalth on the high platform, everyone—thirty Sternritter and hundreds of guards—kept their heads down, silent.
An invisible gloom hung over them!
"Everyone… do you believe the video's authenticity?"
Scanning the room, Haschwalth broke the silence, his voice cold.
This was his true question!
After all, the Lille Barro whose throat was cut wasn't just anyone!
He was the Schutzstaffel captain!
The last man granted the Schrift "X," the power of The X-Axis!
In theory, in his Vollständig state, with his eyes open and The X-Axis at full power, he should be immune to all physical damage!
But this battle broke that logic.
The bloody scene of Throat Drenched in Blood meant The X-Axis had failed entirely!
That was Haschwalth's greatest fear!
"…"
No one answered.
The palace remained silent!
Even Lille Barro himself and the usually boastful Valkyrie were shaken into silence.
Shunsui Kyōraku's heroic display slapped every Quincy in the face, making them doubt their millennium-long invasion plan!
After all… a random Shinigami captain could defeat a Schutzstaffel captain.
How could they fight?
Invading the Soul Society would be sending themselves to die!
Of course, since the video cut off, the Wandenreich didn't know there was still a reversal to come!
---
Fourth Division Barracks
"Great, seeing Captain Kyōraku safe puts me at ease…" Kotetsu Isane sighed in relief, genuinely happy.
Before this, her own brief appearance was lackluster, watching Kensei and Rose die before her.
If Shunsui died too, it would've been a nightmare for her!
"Indeed…"
Unohana nodded, "The Sternritter aren't invincible. At least Captain Kenpachi and Captain Kyōraku proved that by defeating them alone!"
"Right! Speaking of them… Captain, who do you think the next showcased figure will be?" Isane shifted topics.
Kenpachi Zaraki represented the ultimate in flat slashes.
Shunsui Kyōraku perfectly demonstrated the power of rule-based Zanpakutō.
So… who could outshine them?
Her eyes sparkling, Unohana smiled, "No idea… this world is full of hidden talents. Anyone could make the list!"
"What about you, Captain? With your medical skills, you're powerful in your own way. You must have a spot in the top ten!"
Isane said with genuine admiration.
"Isane, you're overthinking. This list ranks strength, and I'm just a doctor. What qualifies me to be on it?"
Unohana smiled gently, brushing off Isane's words.
However—
As her words fell, the screen reappeared with new subtitles:
[Special Showcase]
[Legendary Figure, The First Kenpachi]
"…"
Seeing "First Kenpachi," Unohana's face changed, her gentle, elegant demeanor replaced by a flash of panic.
"Why… is this being revealed?"
Overwhelmed, she forgot the showcase video's omniscience.
In contrast, Isane frowned, her gaze fixed on "First Kenpachi," murmuring, "First Kenpachi… the first captain of the Eleventh Division?"
"My goodness! That's someone from the Captain-Commander's era—a true legend!"
Excited, she speculated, "But…"
"The Eleventh Division is the combat division! As the First Kenpachi, this legendary figure must be as ferocious as Captain Kenpachi, right?"
Savage, brutal, beastly terrifying…
That was Isane's first impression!
She didn't notice that as she rambled, Unohana's face grew so dark it could drip water!
--------------------------------------------
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