"I have my own methods for that. Everyone, let's move quickly."
"What? What method?"
As Shiba Kūkaku and Ichigo's thoughts emerged, they witnessed Shimiya Takeru disappear from his original spot.
His figure faded, and rather than blending into the night, it was more like he merged with space. There was no trace of his aura or spiritual pressure, as if he had evaporated into thin air.
"?!"
Everyone was stunned and speechless, exchanging bewildered glances.
Even Rindo Yu, a man as calm as a monk, couldn't help but widen his eyes.
…
Time returned to the present.
The scorched earth ignited by Raikōhō emitted waves of heat, and in the distance, a raging fire turned the suburban night crimson.
Shiba Kūkaku used Shunpo to land in the center of the battlefield, standing shoulder to shoulder with Shimiya Takeru, who held a blood-dripping long blade.
"Excellent work! Was that move your Zanpakuto's ability? But I don't recall hearing you call out a release command. You couldn't have already learned Bankai, could you?"
"You think too highly of me."
Shimiya Takeru felt that Shiba Kūkaku had developed an overly high expectation of him.
"That was just a small trick."
"Is that so?"
Shiba Kūkaku didn't press further, reining in her curiosity.
After all, techniques are very private matters. Many Shinigami who work together for decades might not even know each other's Zanpakuto abilities.
The move just now wasn't a Zanpakuto ability, which only highlighted its extraordinary nature even more.
No incantation, no medium, no preparation needed to conceal one's form, then moving freely without a hint of detection…
If this were a teachable technique…
Not only would the Onmitsukidō be envious, but others would also be interested.
Her curiosity fully confirmed this point.
Shimiya Takeru appreciated Shiba Kūkaku's discretion. That technique was indeed not something he could casually show off at this stage without caring about others' opinions.
「Invisible Scale」.
A high-level magic of the Fairy Tale Dragon, which could also be called Kido.
But essentially, like a Hollow's Cero, an Arrancar's Hierro, and a Shinigami's Hado and Bakudo, it was the same type of racial ability.
It allowed him to make his form transparent and disappear, then silently shift his position without being noticed.
He would only "surface" when launching an attack.
…Of course, the undetectable aspect was not absolute.
Just as an Arrancar's Hierro was almost impenetrable, it could still be torn by stronger swords.
If it were an Arrancar with extremely excellent detection senses, there would be a certain chance of seeing through Shimiya Takeru's "invisible state."
However, Ckes Kukaburo was clearly not among them.
Shimiya Takeru had only recently thoroughly mastered the Kido fundamentals taught by Aizen, allowing him to unearth the power of the Fairy Tale Dragon's blood from deep within his soul.
That is 「Invisible Scale」.
As the time was short, he hadn't mastered it very skillfully yet.
Even so, it was enough to fool Ckes's perception, allowing him to get behind him and savagely stab him in the heart, laying the foundation for the subsequent decisive blow.
Not far away, Ichigo let out a heavy breath, looking at the bisected Menos Grande corpse. At least nothing went wrong.
"This counts as revenge for those two."
"Are you talking about those two stubborn brats?"
The sudden question not only froze Ichigo's expression but also made Hachihara, Ōmaeda, Shimiya Takeru, Shiba Kūkaku, who had run back from the forest, and Rindo Yu, who had just walked up to them, simultaneously feel a strange spiritual pressure continuously rising, almost as if… the dead were gradually resurrecting!
All eyes were instantly drawn to the source of the spiritual pressure.
Ckes's body, cut into two halves, rapidly regenerated flesh and blood, completing the remaining parts of his body, accompanied by a crimson spiritual pressure.
"What?!"
Ichigo's pupils contracted, greatly shocked.
But he didn't lose his composure.
He quickly noticed the difference.
"Your head…"
"Thanks to you all, one is missing."
Two identical Ckes spoke at the same time. Compared to his previous body with three heads, they now each had one head per body.
It looked normal, but this was the most abnormal thing.
Moreover, their injuries were all healed…
When Shimiya Takeru noticed this, he already had the answer in his mind.
And Ckes made no secret of it. To vent the fear of almost being killed, and wanting to see fear on his enemies' faces, he deliberately looked around, mockingly saying, "Truly remarkable. None of you are stronger than me, yet together you stole one of my lives."
"I'll break your necks, pry open your brains, and see how many more little tricks like that you have!"
With that, he attacked the nearest Ichigo.
Though Ichigo reacted quickly, raising his Zanpakuto to block, he couldn't withstand the combined assault of the two Ckes. He was sent flying with a single blow.
"Ichigo!?"
Shiba Kūkaku tried to rush to his aid, but one of the Ckes turned and blocked her, while the other Ckes continued to pursue.
It was clear that Ckes resented Ichigo, who delivered the final blow, more than Shimiya Takeru, who struck the first.
Let's call the Ckes who stopped Shiba Kūkaku 'Number Two', and the one pursuing Ichigo 'Number Three'.
Suddenly, a Shakkahō shot forth.
Number Two raised his arm to block, avoiding a direct hit to his face.
Seizing this opportunity, Shiba Kūkaku quickly bypassed him and rushed to support Ichigo.
"Damn it!"
Number Two, upon realizing this, was about to stop her when a sudden chill struck his heart.
With a ripping sound, a shallow sword wound appeared on his back.
Shimiya Takeru, the instigator, retreated to create distance, giving him no chance to counterattack.
"So that's it. Although the technique still works, your defense is much stronger than before after raising your spiritual pressure. I thought I could sever your spine… assuming you even have a spine."
Shimiya Takeru stood with his blade, the firelight coloring half his face, the other half hidden in shadow, seemingly contradictory yet highly unified, for his blade-like sharp face was so awe-inspiring.
Even the warm words he spoke were filled with soul-burning aggression.
"Shimiya—!"
Rindo Yu and Hachihara appeared by his side immediately. Although Ōmaeda seemed a bit reluctant, he also came.
"You guys go to Brother Kurosaki."
Without a Zanpakuto and with a severed arm, the pyrotechnician, who had long since retreated to the sidelines, would find it extremely difficult to defeat a formidable intermediate Menos Grande head-on. Therefore, assistance was needed, a consensus reached from the beginning.
Now, with the grotesque Ōmaeda assisting, plus an Ichigo who could burst with power at any moment.
Hachihara and Rindo Yu were not dead weight.
As long as Shiba Kūkaku utilized this lineup well, she wouldn't need to worry too much.
As for his side…
Hachihara also considered this point immediately.
"What about you?"
"I'll finish before you guys."
"…Alright!"
"Hey! Is it really okay to leave that kid alone?!"
Ōmaeda ran behind the two, unable to resist looking back at the two confronting sides.
"If Shimiya says he can handle it, then he can handle it."
At this point, there was no time for arguments. Coupled with Shimiya Takeru's accurate judgments throughout, Hachihara decided to continue trusting him.
Rindo Yu felt the same.
"Huh?"
That was an Adjuchas.
The Spirit Arts Academy textbooks clearly stated that they were best dealt with by Royal Guard operatives. Although it wasn't actually that exaggerated, there was a reason for it to be written that way.
Its strength was undeniable.
It was definitely not an opponent that mere Spirit Arts Academy students were qualified to challenge.
Let alone defeat!
Ōmaeda was about to question it, but then he remembered that they had killed one of the opponents' lives right off the bat. Moreover, the surging spiritual pressure clashes behind him clearly far exceeded the scope of a Spirit Arts Academy student, making even him feel a bit terrified, so he wisely shut his mouth.
"What's wrong? Not attacking? Are you waiting for my companions to get further away, too far to support, before you make your move?"
Shimiya Takeru flicked the blood from his blade, his eyes gleaming.
"No."
Number Two's dog-like head and nearly human body, perhaps with a cane, bore a striking resemblance to an Egyptian god of death.
But his appearance was secondary; the wisdom refined by years was the key.
"I'm thinking, are you foolish or wise?"
"How so?"
"You correctly recognized my power, which is why you gathered your companions and left yourself alone to hold me back. I understand all that. But your words displease me greatly."
"Are you referring to 'I'll finish before you guys'?"
"Precisely."
"I don't believe saying that is a sign of foolishness."
Shimiya Takeru was unconcerned.
Number Two laughed in anger, his terrifying face contorting. The spiritual pressure around him almost materialized, wrapping around his body. Gradually, his skin changed from white to dark gray.
"—That only means you've given up thinking and willingly become a fool!"
The next moment, Number Two charged at Shimiya Takeru with a force that shattered the air. His claws, drawn together like a hand-blade, aimed to pierce Shimiya Takeru's brain, intending to dig out his brain matter for research, an utterly brutal act.
Shimiya Takeru stepped back, dodging the attack, but the ensuing air current blew his slender figure backward.
He had no choice but to create a foothold in mid-air and perform continuous somersaults to stabilize himself.
Number Two's attacks followed one after another.
"Did you see it? Did you feel it? From the moment you lamented my improved defense, you've already made a huge mistake. You don't understand my limits, you don't understand my greatness—!"
Number Two's furious barrage of attacks was interspersed with sharp verbal barbs. It was clear that such attacks were still not his limit.
Shimiya Takeru, on the other hand, perfectly utilized his Spirit Arts Academy techniques to parry.
Clang!
The intense sound of metal clashing rang out.
Looking at Shimiya Takeru, who firmly parried an arm-hammer strike, Number Two said with a mix of mockery and praise, "But then again, to be able to match me in arm strength, you have reason to be proud."