join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for hundreds of additional chapters and over a dozen stories
"Next!"
In the backyard of the Yorozuya Tavern, which had been expanded again due to a second renovation, a large crowd of people was gathered.
In the center of the crowd stood a bald man holding a wooden sword. He didn't even glance at Oyama on the ground, but instead scanned his surroundings arrogantly: "Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong with you guys? No one's coming up? You bunch of cowards."
Seeing the bald man's arrogant demeanor, the surrounding villains all revealed fierce expressions.
"Me!"
"I'll go!"
"I'll kill you, bastard!"
The villains jostled and pushed each other, scrambling to get ahead. When they reached the center, they all raised their sharp weapons and charged at the bald man in the middle, who was holding a wooden sword.
One-on-one?
That doesn't exist. Let's hack this scumbag to death!!
Seeing this, the bald man's expression didn't show anger; instead, he revealed a similar sneer to the villains: "A bunch of good-for-nothings. Can't fight one-on-one, so you resort to a group brawl?" With that, he raised his wooden sword and met the charging villains.
The villains who hadn't joined the charge also showed a stirred expression.
As the saying goes...
A villain who doesn't love to fight isn't a good villain!
Seeing the intense fight in the arena, it would be a lie to say they weren't itching for a fight.
What's more...
This bald scoundrel was no stranger to any villain present who came from the South.
Ikkaku Madarame.
One of the villains who once roamed District 79 South. Like Nishijin Ori Boss, he was one of the survivors who challenged Kenpachi. However, unlike Nishijin Ori...
Upon hearing that Kenpachi had joined the Gotei 13, Ikkaku Madarame actively sought him out and joined Kenpachi's ranks.
Although they didn't like dealing with Shinigami, if it was an acquaintance, and especially an acquaintance with whom they had past grievances, that was a different story!!
There wasn't a single villain from the South who didn't want to hack this bald man to death. Although... they wanted to hack Kenpachi even more, the huge gap between them and Kenpachi made them completely lose the courage to challenge him.
But this guy in front of them was different. From the same era, both originating from District 79 South, and even having similar strength in the past, hacking this guy was clearly much more realistic than hacking Kenpachi.
However...
The bald man's strength in the arena far exceeded everyone's expectations. Ikkaku Madarame, whose strength was not much different from theirs a hundred years ago, was now strong enough to completely overwhelm all the villains present.
"Hahaha—"
In the center of the backyard, Ikkaku Madarame swung a wooden sword with fierce power, repelling the charging villains one by one. The wooden sword, covered in Reiatsu, was surprisingly tough; even when the villains unscrupulously used real swords, they couldn't destroy it, and were instead beaten into a panicked retreat.
"Not enough! Come on, more of you!!"
After shouting, Ikkaku Madarame raised his wooden sword and charged towards the observing villains, his fighting spirit growing even stronger.
Indeed...
Compared to staying in the rule-bound Seireitei, this kind of unrestrained fighting was far more exhilarating.
Before coming, Ikkaku Madarame thought that waiting for someone in a broken tavern would be a very boring task. But after arriving here, he discovered that...
This tavern, which he had never heard of, was actually full of familiar faces.
West, South...
Villains of some renown from both regions were all gathered here, and many of them were even his old rivals.
The only regret was that they were too weak!!
Compared to these people, he actually hoped that Nishijin Ori, who was lying dead in the corner of the tavern, would also join in. It was just a pity that he arrived a bit late; his Captain had already severely injured Nishijin Ori yesterday.
On the other side, Uzuki leaned against the back door frame and asked a young man with a strange hairstyle next to her: "Your companion is being ganged up on, aren't you going to join in?"
"What a joke."
The young man fiddled with the feather ornament near his right eye, looking at the dust raised by the fight in the arena with an expression of disgust: "How could such a beautiful me fight in such a dirty place?"
"Uzuki, ignore this annoying Shinigami."
Ganju stood protectively in front of Uzuki, his tone wary: "No Shinigami is good, especially those with strange hairstyles. Every single one of them is a scoundrel... Hmm... like what Ishikawa Boss said... right, a playboy. Guys who think they're handsome are all playboys."
"Handsome?"
Ayasegawa Yumichika showed a smile: "Hmph, to be able to see my beautiful and exquisite side, it seems you do have some taste, even if you are too ugly."
"Huh? I'm manly, unlike you, who looks effeminate!!"
"Heh heh, ugly people really like to use such words to cover up their ugliness."
"..."
Ignoring the bickering Ganju and the other, Uzuki frowned as she watched the fight in the backyard. She felt that the people coming to the Everything Store recently were getting stronger and stronger.
In the past, Oyama could usually handle troublesome customers. Even if he couldn't, Himura would help solve it...
But the people who came recently were ridiculously strong. Although she couldn't tell how strong they were, being able to easily defeat Nishijin Ori, who was the strongest in the tavern besides Ishikawa, she figured they must be very strong, right?
And for the one who came today, she had just asked Nishijin Ori, who said that his Reiatsu was not inferior to Nishijin Ori's, and even a bit stronger.
Uzuki sighed. This kind of commotion seriously affected her business, but unfortunately, she couldn't stop it. After all, both Himura and Oyama, Ishikawa's loyal subordinate, were now lying on the ground.
And that idiot Ganju, although he put on a 'I hate Shinigami' facade, he only yelled and didn't make a move...
It seemed she could only wait for Ishikawa to return and resolve it.
... ...
Ten-odd minutes later, all the villains were sprawled haphazardly on the ground. Ikkaku Madarame stood in the middle of them, holding his wooden sword, looking utterly refreshed.
"Who else!!"
The few villains who had been watching all took a step back in unison.
What a joke.
Kenpachi, that monster, was one thing, but this guy, who was supposedly only a Third Seat, was actually this strong.
Fighting a monster like this was truly insane!
Seeing this, Ikkaku Madarame swung his wooden sword with some disappointment. This level of fighting wasn't even a warm-up for him. A hundred years ago, fighting them was quite interesting, but now these people had become so weak.
However...
He was becoming more and more eager to meet the owner of this tavern.
Because he was once one of these people, he understood their mentality better than anyone. If the other party wasn't someone with formidable strength and immense charisma, it would be impossible to gain the recognition of a group of lawless villains.
Just like his former self!!
Ikkaku Madarame turned to Uzuki: "Hey, woman over there, when is your boss coming back?"
Before Uzuki could reply, Ganju stepped in front of her and said in a cold tone: "No comment!"
Unlike Uzuki, he had heard about the Shinigami's power from his elder brother since he was young, so even though he hated Shinigami to the extreme, he wouldn't deny this point.
If he couldn't contact Ishikawa, he would have wanted Ishikawa not to return for a while.
Even in front of those villains, Ganju always appeared fearless, but he also knew who he could provoke and who he couldn't.
Under no circumstances could he let the two meet Ishikawa.
Because once Ishikawa and these two met, a fight would inevitably break out. If he lost, it would be fine, just some superficial injuries.
But if Ishikawa won, then Zaraki Kenpachi, who had visited the tavern yesterday, would definitely come here again.
At that time...
It wouldn't be as simple as winning or losing!
That was a cruel monster who had once killed the previous Eleventh Division Captain. If Ishikawa fought him... he might die.
As the Boss, he had to prevent the situation from developing in the worst possible direction at all costs!
He had also thought about having Ishikawa intentionally lose to the two when he returned.
But that was impossible!
Normally, Ishikawa, although he gave off an impression of not caring about winning or losing in fights, was very approachable.
But once he enters combat mode, he completely transforms into another person: crazy, bloodthirsty, cruel, and…
He only seeks victory!
Ishikawa Katori had lost before, and on the surface, he seemed not to care, but Ganju, who had always trained with Ishikawa Katori, knew very well…
After every defeat, Ishikawa Katori would train frantically in Kukaku's training hall, with an intensity that could almost be described as 'self-mutilation'.
Though he doesn't actively seek trouble, if he finds a reason, or if the other party attacks first…
Ishikawa Katori will always choose to confront them head-on, rather than seeking other ways to avoid conflict.
This has been proven by Daimaru and Himura, as well as the villains from the South and Genji.
Not actively seeking trouble…
It's just a self-imposed restraint.
Although he is a lunatic, he is his best brother.
Ganju looked at Ikkaku Madarame and said, "If there's nothing else, please leave. We don't serve Shinigami here."
"Oh?"
Ikkaku Madarame looked at Ganju in surprise, seemingly unexpected that Ganju, who had been hiding behind him earlier, suddenly stepped forward.
However, upon seeing the expression on Ganju's face, the surprise in Ikkaku Madarame's eyes gradually faded.
"Though I don't know why you want us to leave."
Ikkaku Madarame rested his wooden sword on his shoulder, his expression also becoming extremely serious: "But until I defeat this tavern's boss, or am defeated by him, no one can make me leave, because this is an order from my boss."
"Then you might be disappointed."
Ganju chuckled, "The boss of this tavern isn't the person you think it is; it's me, Shiba Ganju."
"Shiba?"
Ayasegawa Yumichika, standing nearby, frowned. Just as he was about to say something, his pupils suddenly constricted.
"Boss, it's fine if you're interested in our signboard girl, but being interested in my tavern is a bit too much."
"What?"
The sudden interjection made everyone present change their expressions.
Ayasegawa Yumichika looked at the black-haired youth who suddenly appeared beside Ganju, and the hairs on his back instantly stood on end.
So close, yet he hadn't detected any presence.
Almost instinctively, he flashed out, placing one hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto at his waist.
And just then…
"Hey!!"
Buzz~
The air hummed, and a wooden sword suddenly arrived.
Ishikawa Katori raised his palm, Reiatsu surging, and directly gripped the wooden sword that was slashing down.
The collision of his palm and the wooden sword unleashed a violent impact that spread outwards. Ganju's expression changed, and he instinctively shielded Uzuki behind him.
But then he realized that the uncontrolled impact had not affected him or Uzuki in the slightest.
"Are you the one named Ishikawa?"
Ikkaku Madarame looked through the wood at Ishikawa Katori, who was gripping his wooden sword with one hand. His pupils gradually began to dilate, and the fighting spirit in his eyes almost materialized.
"As expected of the guy our Captain took an interest in."
Despite saying this, Ikkaku Madarame did not continue his attack, but instead drew his sword and retreated back into the courtyard.
"From the looks of it, you don't have a weapon on you, do you?"
Ikkaku Madarame used his foot to pick up a wooden sword and kicked it directly towards Ishikawa Katori: "For fairness, I won't use my Zanpakuto either."
Ishikawa Katori caught it casually.
"Ishikawa."
Seeing this, Ganju quickly stepped forward, wanting to stop this fight.
But before he could speak, Ishikawa Katori chuckled softly: "This customer, this establishment is not a fighting house, nor is it a venting house. If you want to hit people, please go find someone else."
Ikkaku Madarame said nothing, only staring intently at Ishikawa Katori, his eyes filled with an unrestrained fighting spirit that could erupt at any moment.
Seeing this, Ishikawa Katori frowned slightly, but the next second, his brow relaxed.
He was only trying it out anyway.
Ishikawa Katori had heard the conversation between Ikkaku Madarame and Ganju, and combining it with what the Eleventh Division members had said, how could he not understand that the unlucky guy they were talking about…
Was himself!!
Ishikawa Katori's eyelid twitched slightly. Don't let me find out who made that lunatic target me, otherwise I'll definitely let him know what the hell cruelty is!!
"You all go back into the tavern."
As soon as Ishikawa Katori's words fell, the villains lying in the backyard, groaning, endured the pain and helped each other up.
Even if they had to crawl, they had to crawl back into the tavern…
Putting aside that bald guy for now, if Ishikawa went crazy, he never cared about his own people.
The moment everyone left the center of the backyard.
Bang!
Without warning, a violent Reiatsu soared into the sky, directly sending the villains who hadn't yet retreated into the tavern flying, crashing heavily against the tavern's wall.
Under the fierce impact, lines of Spiritual Crests suddenly appeared on the surface of the tavern's wooden wall, blocking all the impact outside.
And in the center of the backyard, though two harmless wooden swords collided, the soil-paved ground of the backyard was instantly torn open, and endless dust rose into the sky.
"Can't you just leave?" Ishikawa's voice came through.
"Heh heh—"
Ikkaku Madarame let out a strange laugh: "Your expression doesn't look like you want me to leave."
The sky full of dust, with this sentence, suddenly swelled, and with a buzzing sound, it was all swept into the sky, revealing the two people in the center.
Almost the instant the dust cleared, the two figures in the field disappeared again.
What followed was…
A series of crisp clangs of metal, and sparks generated by the violent collision between wooden swords.
The people hiding in the tavern could only see two afterimages constantly colliding, separating, and colliding so frequently that it was dazzling.
Moreover…
All the villains couldn't help but show expressions of shock.
This was the first time they realized that even the collision between wooden swords could produce sparks.
Those ordinary wooden swords, under the enhancement of their own powerful Reiatsu, became incredibly hard. Unless one side's Reiatsu was completely crushed by the other, these two wooden swords would not break before breaking through the layer of Reiatsu covering their surface!
Bang—
With a muffled thud, one figure suddenly shot backward, while the other remained in place.
Seeing this, everyone quickly looked up into the backyard.
"Ishikawa Boss?"
Upon seeing the situation in the field, everyone's expressions changed, because the figure that was repelled was indeed Ishikawa.
"Are you kidding me?"
Ikkaku Madarame looked at Ishikawa Katori, who was clutching his abdomen, and swung the wooden sword in his hand: "Neither your attack power, nor your sword-wielding technique, nor even your Reiatsu intensity is weaker than mine, but what's with this inexplicable sense of unfamiliarity? Am I not worth you taking seriously?"
"Don't misunderstand."
Ishikawa Katori slowly moved his left hand away from his abdomen, dispelling the Kaido, and suddenly raised his head.
The moment Ikkaku Madarame saw Ishikawa Katori's expression, even he couldn't help but tremble deep down.
His eyes were wide open as if they would split, and the corners of his mouth were pulled back, making anyone who saw it worry if they would tear open. The fresh blood that had spurted from the severe blow to his abdomen earlier stained his teeth, yet it didn't give off the slightest sense of weakness; instead, he looked more like a wounded beast!
Those pupils… were filled with excited bloodshot veins, making one feel a chill just by looking at them!
"I am fighting with all my might."
Ishikawa Katori gripped the hilt, holding the wooden sword horizontally at his side: "But this is my first time fighting someone with a sword in actual combat. If it makes you feel unfamiliar…"
With a single step on the ground, Ishikawa Katori suddenly disappeared from his original spot.
Buzz~
Amidst the sound of air being torn, a wooden sword shimmering with Reiatsu light swung down.
"Then try to kill me!"
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence: 9 Reader for hundreds of additional chapters and over a dozen stories