Ishida panted heavily, staring at the figure slowly approaching him. If he could just fire one more arrow—no, even if he could just throw a single punch—that person would fall.
Unfortunately, he couldn't even manage a single twitch. It was truly a despair-inducing realization...
*I've never been this battered.* Kōe looked at his empty right hand, which was already going numb from the pain. His body was pitted and mangled, looking as though it had been chewed on by a dog. *Good thing I protected my face just now. A silver lining in this mess.*
And this was the result of extensive preparation. The Kidō he had combined with [Bakudō #62・Hyapporankan] earlier wasn't just [Bakudō #63・Sajō Sabaku] to restrict Ishida's movements, but also [Bakudō #12・Fushibi] to assist his perception, all to better judge the sheer power of Ishida's attack.
The subsequent Thunderclap Scatter had also been coordinated with the previous Kidō. Using the [Bakudō #62・Hyapporankan] rods on the ground as anchor points, he linked their chains to ensure the Thunderclap Scatter was distributed in a dense, multi-point formation, maximizing its interference with Ishida's arrow.
Even so, there were unexpected variables. According to Kōe's calculations, taking that arrow head-on should have only cost him a hand, allowing the subsequent explosion to leave some superficial wounds on his body.
But Ishida had left him with far too little reaction time. Without Kōki providing the most precise intelligence, there was always the risk of holding back a little too much.
"Brat..." The pungent stench of blood was suffocating. Kōe, looking like an Asura that would never fall, stared down at Ishida and asked, "Do you still feel you have your pride now?"
"I do!"
"That answer... I am very satisfied with."
To think he would give such an answer. Ishida looked up at Kōe's terrifying, blood-soaked face, feeling for the first time that the man wasn't just torturing him for the sake of it...
"I'm not very satisfied..." Ishida thought of a possibility, but before he could voice the question, a hand with faintly exposed bone struck his neck. Right before his eyes fluttered shut, he thought he heard a faint whisper: "Rukia will be fine, I promise..."
Watching Ishida slowly collapse at his feet, Kōe couldn't help but sigh. *Doesn't 'not very satisfied' also mean 'satisfied'?* He had been constantly dropping hints for Ishida to stop talking and actually take substantial action to threaten him. It was such a simple concept—was it really that hard to understand?!
*A dignified former Ninth Generation Kenpachi can't just fall over at the slightest touch, right? Even taking a dive requires some finesse so people don't notice. I'm holding back, not opening the floodgates!*
"Teacher Chōzuka!"
*Perfect timing.* Hearing the voice ring out behind him, Kōe's legs gave way, and he collapsed backward, looking for all the world like he truly couldn't hold on a second longer.
"Teacher Chōzuka!" Kira hurried forward to catch Kōe. Seeing the extent of his injuries, he immediately shouted, "Quickly, notify Squad 4 to prepare!"
"A-And that Ryoka. He definitely knows something. Through him, we can... can find out... the others..." Kōe's voice grew fainter and fainter until he passed out right in front of Kira.
"Lord Chōzuka!"
"Take him to Squad 4 immediately!" Kira yelled, hoisting the unconscious Kōe onto his back. He turned his head to look at the equally unconscious Ishida and gritted his teeth. "Bring him along too!"
"Yes, sir!"
"W-Where should we send the news about Lord Chōzuka?"
Kira froze for a moment. From Abarai to Teacher Chōzuka, he had to admit that panic was starting to set in.
If Renji's defeat was a dark storm cloud, then Teacher Chōzuka and a Ryoka mutually wounding each other was a violent hurricane for most members of the Gotei 13.
It meant that from this moment on, no one in the Gotei 13 was absolutely reliable. This was true for the lieutenants, and equally true for the captains...
"To the Head Captain, Captain Hitsugaya, and..." Kira paused, making a difficult decision. "And send the intelligence to the administrative office as well. There should be captains there."
*Not a bad arrangement,* Kōe silently praised Kira Izuru in his heart with his eyes closed. Among his first batch of students, this was the one he thought most highly of.
*The intelligence of my severe injuries and coma needs to be spread, but it can't be hastily disseminated by him, a lieutenant. Without measures that match the severity of the intelligence, it will only cause a period of panic, during which the Gotei 13's efficiency will be greatly reduced.*
*A captain-class individual actually ending up critically injured and near death in a one-on-one situation with a Ryoka. And I am not just an ordinary captain; I am the widely known former Ninth Generation Kenpachi, one of the most combat-proficient captains.*
*At the same time, the prestige I established at the Shin'ō Academy will now backfire. The effect of one plus one is far greater than two. Handled poorly, this kind of intelligence is just asking for trouble.*
*But if it's concealed, given the scattered state of the Ryoka, unnecessary casualties are very likely to occur. Kira's arrangement is rational but hasn't discarded his inner passion. He's very much like his captain—both are very good people.*
"Report! Lord Chōzuka engaged a Ryoka... both were severely wounded! He has been sent to Squad 4 for emergency treatment!"
Let alone girls like Hinamori Momo and Matsumoto Rangiku, even those who prided themselves on their toughness like Hisagi Shūhei and Iba Tetsuzaemon were left slack-jawed for a moment. Some of them had been taught by Kōe, and while others had less contact with him, his routine duels with Zaraki Kenpachi were no big secret.
How could such a person possibly end up mutually wounded with a Ryoka! How was it possible!!
Hitsugaya also fell into deep thought. Initially, he didn't believe it, but he had sensed the massive commotion earlier. He just assumed Teacher Chōzuka would be fine, so he came to check on Abarai's condition first.
If these Ryoka had the strength to threaten Teacher Chōzuka, why were they hiding so carefully, and why did they scatter?
"Is there any more detailed intelligence regarding the Ryoka?!"
"N-No!" the reporting Squad 3 member replied loudly. "Both of them have been sent to Squad 4 now. Lord Chōzuka said we need intelligence."
*Did Teacher realize it too?* Hitsugaya frowned and issued a temporary directive: "Notify all squads to halt the search for the Ryoka for now and secure the guards at all key locations. I'm going to see the Head Captain right now!"
Yamamoto had also received this latest intelligence at this moment, even a bit faster than Hitsugaya.
"What is the identity of that Ryoka?"
"He uses a bow and arrows. According to Lord Chōzuka, he is a Quincy."
A Quincy? Another faction added to the mix, or was this just a coincidence? Yamamoto didn't dwell on this direction and continued asking, "Was Shihouin Kōe carrying his Zanpakutō?"
"This..." The Onmitsukidō member who came to report hesitated. Realizing Yamamoto was staring at him, he immediately replied, "N-No. Lord Chōzuka, in accordance with regulations, d-did not carry his Zanpakutō."
"I only know he must abide by the sword ban. When was a rule added that forbids him from carrying his Zanpakutō? Hmm?!"
How could that member dare to say another word? Yamamoto didn't want to vent his anger on this insignificant subordinate either. He stood up and instructed Sasakibe beside him, "Convene an emergency captain's meeting immediately. With the exception of Squad 4 Captain Unohana Retsu and Squad 13 Captain Ukitake Jūshirō, all other captains must be present!"
However, Kōe's fall meant more than just that. As long as there is blood, it will bleed; as long as one is alive, it is possible to die...
"Captains, lieutenants, and all high-ranking seated officers are to carry their Zanpakutō at all times within the Seireitei, and are permitted to fully release them in combat! Furthermore, Shihouin Kōe's sword ban is completely lifted. Once he awakens, he may participate in the battle against the Ryoka as a temporary member of the Gotei 13."
Unohana nodded after listening to Sasakibe's words. Seeing that he had no intention of leaving, she continued to ask, "Is there anything else?"
"How is Kōe?"
"As you can see, he is still in a coma." Unohana glanced at the bed, where Kōe was bandaged like a mummy. "His severed right arm has been repaired with flesh-regenerating serum. Several of his wounds nearly reached his internal organs. When he was brought in, his Reiatsu was completely undetectable. I reckon any random squad member could have killed him at that moment..."
Sasakibe couldn't help but sigh. After all, this was a child he had watched grow up. If any real accident happened, Lord Genryūsai probably wouldn't be able to bear it either. After all, lifting Kōe's sword ban hadn't passed through the approval of Central 46.
"The Head Captain also said that the Ryoka Kōe captured this time will all be credited to him. Once the war is over, he will likely be able to return to Squad 1. Please pass this on to him, Captain Unohana."
*I had to fall. Only by falling this once can the invisible shackles binding the others in the Seireitei be broken—including my own.*
Only after Unohana and Sasakibe left his ward did Kōe open his eyes, gazing at the moonlight filtering through the curtains.
*Besides, tonight is truly far from peaceful. It's much safer to just pull the covers over my head and get a good sleep.*