Raizen Kō, seated cross-legged in the secluded cave, suddenly felt his Reiatsu drain rapidly, dropping to only half of its usual strength.
Simultaneously, in Soul Society, within the Eleventh Division barracks, Ito Makoto Fourth Seat of the Eleventh Division sat in his private room, cross-legged, as usual.
Abruptly, his eyes snapped open. Reiatsu surged violently through him.
In just a few breaths, Ito Makoto's power broke through the ceiling of his previous strength: from strong Vice-Captain level to Third-Class Reiatsu, equivalent to a Squad Captain!
In the Eleventh Division meeting room, Zaraki Kenpachi, sensing the sudden spike in Reiatsu, curled his lips into a faint smirk:
"So, you've gotten stronger again, Ito!"
A short while later, as Raizen Kō's aura in the Hueco Mundo cave began to stabilize, Ito Makoto's power returned to its original Vice-Captain peak, leaving him confident but controlled.
Raizen Kō slowly opened his eyes, a trace of pleased surprise visible beneath his mask.
This was the sole new ability Raizen Kō gained after his advancement to Adjuchas Reiatsu Sharing.
Through this ability, Raizen Kō could transfer Reiatsu between his main body and his Soul Society clone. The clone could borrow Reiatsu from Raizen Kō, and vice versa, temporarily boosting their combat effectiveness.
Moreover, the transferred Reiatsu automatically converted to match the recipient's nature Shinigami Reiatsu became compatible with the clone, and Hollow Reiatsu could integrate seamlessly with Soul Society constructs, avoiding interference or backlash.
After multiple trials, Raizen Kō discovered a limitation: he could lend a maximum of fifty percent of his Reiatsu, while Ito Makoto could receive only about thirty percent, likely due to the great distance.
Even so, thirty percent was sufficient to elevate Ito Makoto firmly to Squad Captain-level combat power.
Conversely, thirty percent of Ito Makoto's Vice-Captain-level Reiatsu had negligible impact on Raizen Kō maximizing the potential of this ability would require the Soul Society clone to grow stronger.
"For now, it's enough. With the clone capable of Captain-level power, my plan can begin."
Raizen Kō muttered to himself, recalling the situation in Hueco Mundo:
"Aizen has just entered Hueco Mundo… he will soon begin extensive Arrancar experiments. Las Noches is occupied, control of Hueco Mundo is contested, and my strength is sufficient to recruit more subordinates ideally, bringing all the Espada from the original story under my command."
His Soul Society clone had already gathered intelligence: the latest expeditionary forces had reached Hueco Mundo. Raizen Kō's plan was falling into place.
In Soul Society, Eleventh Division barracks, Ito Makoto's room.
"Am I getting a cheat?" Ito Makoto muttered, amused.
"No, this Reiatsu boost is too minor. A tiny cheat isn't really cheating," he thought, briefly envying a certain blond trickster.
Just then, Zaraki Kenpachi burst through the door, roughly shoving it open.
"Hey, little Ito! Ready to fight again?!"
Perched atop Kenpachi's shoulder, Kusajishi Yachiru chimed in, voice playful:
"Yo, hello, little Ito!"
Ito Makoto sighed. "Captain… we just fought two days ago. My injuries haven't healed.
Why not challenge Ikkaku-senpai instead?"
He had spent three years in the Eleventh Division, during which he had sparred countless times with Ikkaku and Kenpachi.
Though still Fourth Seat, two years prior he could fully suppress Ikkaku wielding Hozukimaru, without activating Shikai. Had he accepted promotion, he might now be Third Seat.
But Kenpachi was relentless. Every few days, he sought Ito Makoto out, leaving him battered. This time, the spike in Reiatsu had drawn him in once more.
"Tch, Ikkaku's training. Bankai practice, apparently. Nothing fun about that!" Kenpachi said carelessly.
"Better to just cut people!"
Ito Makoto merely twitched his lips, glancing at Yachiru, unsure of how to respond.
Ten minutes later, on the Eleventh Division Training Grounds, the two faced each other.
Unable to resist Kenpachi's insistence, Ito Makoto prepared himself.
"Go, Kenpachi! Go, little Ito!" Yachiru cheered.
"Captain, please instruct me!" Ito Makoto bowed.
Kenpachi grinned: "Always so wordy, it's annoying!" He slashed with his sword in a wild, uncontrolled motion.
The Asauchi, nicked and worn, blurred into an afterimage as Kenpachi struck with sheer force.
"Whoosh!"
Ito Makoto Shunpoed to evade.
"Why run like an eel? Stop dodging and fight properly!" Kenpachi snapped.
A faster, diagonal strike came. Ito Makoto barely blocked it, gripping his blade with both hands.
Clang! Sparks flew. The raw force transmitted through his hilt, cracking his tiger's mouth slightly.
Ito Makoto took a deep breath, regulating his hands, then activated his Shikai:
"Chimi Shinra, Moryo Bansho, Shoshin Zensei, Kaijin Tochi, Annihilation God!"
The Asauchi transformed into a slender, deep white bone blade.
"Annihilation God Style One: Tremor!"
A shockwave emanated from the blade.
Kenpachi felt his internal organs violently tugged but only slowed momentarily.
"Hmph. Used this many times already, Ito. I'm used to your tremors!"
Kenpachi advanced relentlessly.
Ito Makoto's headache grew; he circulated his Reiatsu, exchanging blows while relying on Tremor's force-dampening effect to withstand Kenpachi's raw strength.
"Annihilation God—Style Two: Rift Ban!"
Drawing a circle in the air, a grey mist emanated from his blade, rushing toward Kenpachi. Kenpachi neither dodged nor deflected, absorbing the strike chest-first.
Bang! The grey mist struck, a crisp impact sound echoing. The residual shockwave shattered the bluestone surface into spiderweb-like cracks.
"Pfft!" Kenpachi spat blood. "Ito… you weren't going all out, were you? As your Captain, I command you to fight at full power!"
Ito Makoto sighed. He had given Kenpachi enough for now.
Far away in Hueco Mundo, a faint smile appeared beneath Raizen Kō's mask.
"You want a fight? I'll grant it!"
At that moment, his Reiatsu dropped rapidly, halving once more.
Simultaneously, in Soul Society, Ito Makoto's Reiatsu surged, surpassing Vice-Captain limits and entering Third-Class Reiatsu!