The arena built earlier had been completely destroyed by Sajin Komamura.
The instructors from the Kidō Department were quickly constructing a new one.
"It's the final match. Both students are your disciples, Professor Katori," Jūshirō Ukitake remarked after glancing at their files. "Isshin Shiba and Sōsuke Aizen have both mastered Shikai. Truly impressive!"
"Isshin Shiba..." Kenpachi Kuruyashiki scratched his head; he seemed to have heard the name. "Oh, right. Isn't he that junior the Shiba clan is heavily investing in?"
"He's from a branch family of the Shiba. He'll likely be the next head of that branch," Ginrei Kuchiki, as head of the Kuchiki clan, was quite familiar with the affairs of the Shiba, another of the five great noble families.
Kyōraku Shunsui slipped his hand into the spirit particle pocket of his robe.
He was craving a drink and wanted to pull out a bottle, but then he remembered Old Man Yama was there and discreetly put it back.
Drinking in the guest seats would surely earn him a lecture.
"Sigh... I wonder which of them is stronger," Kyōraku sighed.
"You're their professor; you must be very familiar with their strength. Who is stronger?" Jūshirō Ukitake asked Katori Sora.
"You will all see their performance shortly," Sora replied, avoiding a direct answer.
"This year's Shinken Taiketsu champion should be Isshin Shiba," Ginrei Kuchiki analyzed slowly, looking at Sōsuke Aizen's file. "As a key junior being developed by the Shiba clan, he not only has Deputy Director Katori's guidance but also enjoys the clan's resources. It's only natural for him to take the championship."
As one of the five great noble families, Ginrei Kuchiki knew the Shiba clan's current situation well.
The clan hadn't had a captain-level powerhouse in decades.
They were desperate to produce one.
With the emergence of a highly talented junior like Isshin Shiba, the Shiba clan would undoubtedly pour all its resources into making him a captain-level powerhouse.
Sōsuke Aizen, on the other hand, was from the Rukongai. Their starting points were worlds apart.
Beside them, Yoruichi Shihōin looked like she wanted to speak but kept her mouth shut after seeing her professor's noncommittal answer.
As a fellow disciple, Yoruichi was well aware of Sōsuke Aizen's impressive strength.
She even had a feeling that Sōsuke Aizen had never revealed his full capabilities.
Kyōraku Shunsui noticed Yoruichi's hesitation.
He stroked his chin, an amusing thought seemingly crossing his mind, and turned to the 10th Division Lieutenant sitting on the other side.
"Lieutenant Shiba, what are your thoughts?"
"Captain Kuchiki is absolutely right. Thanks to Deputy Director Katori's guidance, Isshin has grown quickly," Lieutenant Shiba said with a light smile. "He should be the champion of this Shinken Taiketsu."
Isshin Shiba was indeed very strong, and he had great confidence in this outstanding junior.
The previous winners were skilled, but Isshin Shiba was the future star the Shiba clan was pouring all its efforts into. He ought to be a cut above the others.
"Lieutenant Shiba, since this is the final match, how about a little wager? Let's bet on which of them wins, and the loser buys drinks later!" Kyōraku Shunsui said with a grin.
He and the Lieutenant were drinking buddies. After noticing Yoruichi's expression, he saw a chance to get his friend to pay for some drinks.
"It has been a while since we drank together. A bet's a bet," Lieutenant Shiba nodded. "But I'm still banking on Isshin!"
"Then I'll take Sōsuke Aizen," Kyōraku feigned reluctance.
"Well, thank you in advance!" Lieutenant Shiba laughed heartily.
He thought Kyōraku just wanted an excuse to treat him to drinks.
After some effort from the Kidō Department instructors, the arena was finally repaired.
Isshin Shiba and Sōsuke Aizen stepped onto the stage at the same time.
"Sajin's techniques were astonishing, but we can't fall behind. We can't let him steal the whole show!" Isshin Shiba said, looking seriously at his opponent.
Sōsuke Aizen was very strong.
But he was not weak, either.
He felt their skills were evenly matched.
During their usual sparring sessions, he always lost by a hair, by a single move or half a move.
This time, he had to win!
"Let's begin," Isshin Shiba said, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Clang—
The two on the stage drew their swords almost simultaneously.
In an instant, two streaks of light collided, creating a piercing sound.
CLANG—!!!
"If this is all you have, it's not enough to defeat me," Sōsuke Aizen chuckled.
"Such fast reflexes..." Isshin had hoped to catch Aizen off guard. "Then let me show you my true power!"
"Burn, Engetsu!" Isshin released his Zanpakutō directly.
A massive amount of Spiritual Pressure erupted from Isshin's body, converging on the blade.
A fiery coat now enveloped the Zanpakutō 'Engetsu'.
"Same type as Old Man Yama!" Kyōraku let the name slip.
The next moment, he felt a terrifying killing intent from beside him.
"Ahem—a Zanpakutō of the same type as Captain-Commander Yamamoto," Kyōraku quickly corrected, not wanting to get beaten up.
"Isshin's 'Engetsu' is a fire-type Zanpakutō, with extremely high destructive power," Lieutenant Shiba said with a smile.
Perhaps because Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's Zanpakutō was also fire-type.
The fire-type was currently acknowledged in Soul Society as the most powerful Zanpakutō type.
At this moment, Sōsuke Aizen also released his Zanpakutō:
"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."
After its release, the blade showed no change.
Sōsuke Aizen glanced subtly at the guest seats.
The captains seated there detected nothing unusual.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Sōsuke Aizen's lips.
This was his greatest gain from participating in the Academy's Shinken Taiketsu.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and the other captains were all in the guest seats.
They had all witnessed the release of Kyōka Suigetsu.
Although he wasn't confident he could place a powerhouse like Yamamoto under complete hypnosis just yet.
Yamamoto's Spiritual Pressure was too immense, and the gap between them was too large. If he used Kyōka Suigetsu's ability on him now, Yamamoto would likely notice a flaw.
But not being able to now didn't mean he never could.
Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis had no time limit.
As long as someone had seen its release, he could hypnotize them at any time, manipulating their senses.
For now, hypnotizing Yamamoto and the other captains was not immediately useful, but it was better to be prepared. It might be useful someday.
Sōsuke Aizen actually felt very insecure.
His professor's laboratory held many secrets that could not be made public.
Whether it was the research on Hollow Reigai, Shinigami Reigai, or the Soul King fragments, revealing any of them would invite huge trouble.
He was now deeply bound to his professor. If something happened to the lab, he couldn't escape.
So when Aizen heard he had a chance to release 'Kyōka Suigetsu' in front of captains and nobles, he agreed to participate without hesitation.
Otherwise, with his personality, he wouldn't be inclined to participate in such a high-profile event.
In the guest seats, everyone was curious about Sōsuke Aizen's Zanpakutō ability.
"His sword hasn't changed," Lieutenant Shiba mused, guessing at its ability.
"Sōsuke's 'Kyōka Suigetsu' is a water-type Zanpakutō," Yoruichi Shihōin stated.
"A water-type? That's quite a counter to a fire-type!" Kyōraku clapped the Lieutenant's shoulder and laughed. "Looks like my odds of winning are higher!"
"Countering is relative. 'Ryūjin Jakka' is also a fire-type, but no water-type Zanpakutō would dare claim it can counter 'Ryūjin Jakka'!" Lieutenant Shiba smoothly flattered.
Isshin Shiba thought so, too.
"Don't think a water-type Zanpakutō can counter my 'Engetsu'!"
Isshin swung his Zanpakutō, its flames flaring as a torrent of fire rushed toward Aizen.
Sōsuke Aizen swung his own blade, and an endless stream of water gushed from 'Kyōka Suigetsu'.
The water formed a massive, crashing wave that surged toward the flames.
From everyone else's perspective.
Isshin, like the audience, believed the water was released by 'Kyōka Suigetsu'.
But Sora knew the truth about 'Kyōka Suigetsu's' ability. He knew it wasn't a water-type Zanpakutō at all.
This water was released by Sōsuke Aizen using the sword technique 'Haran'!
"As expected of you, Sōsuke... to use 'Haran' so skillfully," Sora thought to himself.
The giant wave of water crashed into the flames, the intense heat vaporizing a large amount of water, instantly filling the arena with steam.
It wasn't just a giant wave that was unleashed with 'Haran'.
The spray from the crashing wave formed into blades, instantly cutting through the raging flames and slashing toward Isshin.
The waves surged endlessly, blades hidden within, making it difficult to distinguish between illusion and reality!
Clang, clang, clang!!!
Isshin reacted quickly, his Zanpakutō a blur of motion.
A dense flurry of sword strikes blocked each of the incoming blades.
Just then, a soft voice spoke from behind him.
"Hadō #63: Raikōhō."
Isshin's pupils contracted, and he dove forward.
A bolt of lightning grazed past him from above.
The lightning shot past the arena's boundary and struck the spirit particle barrier maintained by the Kidō Department instructors, exploding with a roar.
BOOM—!!!
"This is bad! Such a powerful Kidō! We need more people to maintain the barrier!"
Cracks appeared in the barrier, and several instructors broke out in a sweat.
The spectating students were right behind them!
If this barrier failed, it would be a major disaster!
At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared beside the instructors.
"It's Deputy Director Katori!"
Seeing the situation was getting dangerous, Katori Sora had come down.
"Thank goodness! Please help us maintain the barrier; his Kidō is too powerful!" an instructor pleaded.
"My disciple doesn't know his own strength. My apologies for the trouble," Sora said with a sigh.
"Not at all... we are honored to have such a talented student!" the instructor laughed.
Sora raised his hand, supplying Spiritual Pressure to reinforce the barrier.
The battle on the stage continued.
Isshin, having dodged the attack from behind, quickly rolled on the ground to reposition himself.
"Bakudō #62: Hyapporankan."
Sōsuke Aizen's voice sounded again.
Spirit particles condensed into several bars of light that shot toward Isshin.
Isshin leaped back continuously, dodging several of the light bars.
"Hah!"
He swung his sword to cut down the last bar he couldn't evade.
"Just your incantationless Kidō is already overwhelming... I really can't fight a war of attrition with you, Sōsuke!" Isshin swung his Zanpakutō. "Sekichō: Getsuga Tenshō!"
Isshin unleashed his ultimate move.
The principle of 'Getsuga Tenshō' was similar to 'Ryūkō', both being slashes of highly compressed Spiritual Pressure, but with a wider impact and greater Spiritual Pressure cost.
A terrifying aura emanated from him, distorting the very air with its heat.
Firelight gathered on the edge of his blade as a large amount of Spiritual Pressure flowed into the Zanpakutō through his hands.
At this moment, the air on the stage felt as if it was being sucked dry by the fire.
Even the Kidō instructors maintaining the barrier found it hard to breathe.
Spiritual Pressure and firelight intertwined, forming a crimson blade of light that erupted from the sword's edge.
The crimson slash sped rapidly toward Sōsuke Aizen.
"Bakudō #81. Dankū." Aizen raised his hand, and a translucent wall of spirit particles appeared before him.
Using the post-incantation aria technique, Aizen used one of the strongest defensive Kidō, 'Dankū'!
The crimson slash landed on the spirit particle wall and instantly exploded.
BOOM—!!!
The explosion once again completely destroyed the arena the instructors had just rebuilt.
"What an amazing technique!" an instructor exclaimed. "If Deputy Director Katori weren't here, the barrier definitely wouldn't have held!"
The other instructors felt a wave of relief that Sora had come down; otherwise, the barrier would have been torn apart by the explosion's shockwave.
"Sōsuke Aizen lost, right? There's no way he could have withstood such a powerful move."
Due to the terrifying slash, the Spiritual Pressure on the stage was chaotic, and no one could sense what was happening inside.
"Sōsuke won't lose that easily," Sora chuckled.
"I think so too. Don't forget what Aizen just did!"
"Oh right, he used 'Dankū'!"
The lingering smoke and dust on the stage gradually settled.
It revealed a grim-faced Isshin Shiba.
Standing opposite him, Sōsuke Aizen was completely unharmed.
"A good move. It requires more compressed Spiritual Pressure than 'Ryūkō' and has greater explosive power, but it lacks some of the sharpness of the more focused 'Ryūkō'," Sōsuke Aizen commented slowly.
"However..." Aizen stepped forward. "This is not enough to defeat me."
He had to keep moving forward.
The nobles would only arrive to watch after the semifinals.
I will take this victory, Isshin Shiba!
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