"You're next, Hat-and-Clogs."
Entetsu Kumoi's gaze was sharp as a hawk's as he swept his eyes across the area.
At this point, there were very few people still standing.
Aside from the former Chief and Vice-Chief of the Kidō Corps, only Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi, who was still in her black cat form, remained.
Urahara had just been about to move when Tessai Tsukabishi and Hachigen Ushōda had already taken their Kidō stances, preparing to attack.
However, Entetsu stared at them, the corner of his mouth lifting into a disdainful smile.
"I'd advise the two of you to stay obediently on the side and watch. Whether it's Hakuda or Zanjutsu, the Kidō Corps can't compare to the Gotei 13! Besides, with your physical condition, I doubt either of you could withstand even one strike from my mace."
'As expected. This man is a Shinigami from Soul Society. I just don't know exactly where he came from…'
Urahara thought silently.
Judging from the current situation, although this bald man had beaten Shinji and the others until they lost the ability to move, he had not actually dealt killing blows.
And the moment he identified Tessai and Hachigen as members of the Kidō Corps, Urahara immediately understood that this person had to be a Shinigami from Soul Society.
What puzzled him, however, was that he had once served as a captain in Soul Society and had even spent some time in the Onmitsukidō.
How could he have never seen such a powerful bald man before?
Could he have come from somewhere else?
After figuring this much out, the tension in Urahara's heart gradually faded.
A confident smile appeared on his face as he said to Tessai and the others behind him, "Everyone, step back a little. It seems this gentleman is also a Shinigami, so he shouldn't truly harm us. Right, Shinigami-san?"
Hearing Urahara's words, Entetsu laughed.
The sound was still rather chilling.
He looked at Urahara with appreciation and nodded.
"Hahaha! Kid, your insight is quite good. You actually managed to infer the right answer so quickly from such small details. That's right, I am indeed a Shinigami. The only reason I attacked you was to test your strength."
After receiving the answer he wanted, Urahara finally felt the heavy stone in his heart settle, and he let out a long breath.
"Kid, don't think you can relax just because I won't kill you! My iron mace doesn't recognize people."
Entetsu's eyes turned fierce as he gripped the short mace in his hand, looking as if he truly intended to beat Urahara to death.
As soon as he finished speaking, Entetsu swung the mace straight toward Urahara's face.
The blow carried a sharp, terrifying force that could make anyone's heart tremble.
However, Urahara was not frightened.
He quickly shifted sideways, avoiding the strike, then raised Benihime and blocked Entetsu's attack while smiling cheerfully at him.
"Of course I know that, Shinigami-san. But please don't underestimate me either. I do have a little bit of skill."
His voice was full of teasing.
With that, he swung Benihime and launched an attack on Entetsu.
His movements were extremely agile, and every slash landed precisely enough to meet the opponent's strikes.
Entetsu's expression grew more serious. He swung his short mace and entered a fierce exchange with Urahara.
The two of them went back and forth, neither giving an inch, and for a time, they were locked in a difficult struggle.
Shinji and the others, still lying on the ground, widened their eyes and watched the battle nervously.
They had originally thought Urahara was simply smarter than most people and that his strength should only be at the level of an ordinary captain.
But now, it seemed they had been completely wrong.
That bastard had definitely been hiding his strength all this time!
Urahara displayed astonishing ability.
Not only could he fight Entetsu head-on, he could even find openings in Entetsu's attacks and counterstrike.
A look of surprise appeared on Entetsu's face. He had not expected Urahara to be this difficult to deal with.
"Not bad, not bad. You're much stronger than them. Keep going!"
Entetsu shouted and launched another fierce attack.
Urahara smiled faintly.
He could feel just how powerful Entetsu was.
He decided to go all out, at least so that his loss would not look too ugly.
As time passed, their battle grew increasingly intense. Every exchange was filled with danger, making those watching hold their breath.
Urahara constantly searched for Entetsu's openings, trying to land a cut on him.
Finally, the opportunity came.
Urahara's eyes suddenly lit up as he keenly caught a tiny flaw in Entetsu's attack.
Without the slightest hesitation, he swung his blade, cutting toward Entetsu with fierce momentum.
Urahara's blade struck Entetsu hard across the chest, carving open a savage wound as blood sprayed out.
Entetsu let out a muffled grunt and involuntarily took several steps back.
Surprise flashed through his eyes, clearly because he had not expected Urahara to seize that chance and counterattack.
Urahara panted heavily, but a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
He looked at Entetsu with a grin and said provocatively, "Well? Shinigami-san, I'm not bad, am I?"
Entetsu nodded and praised him. "Mm, you're very good."
However, his gaze shifted toward Yoruichi nearby, as though he was considering how to deal with this junior from the Shihōin Clan.
Just then, a sly look suddenly flashed through Urahara's eyes.
He abruptly swung his blade and attacked Entetsu again.
This time, his movements were fast and fierce, without the slightest trace of the exhaustion he had shown earlier.
Entetsu's heart jolted.
He quickly dodged to the side and struck Urahara across the back with a backhand swing of his mace.
Inwardly, he was relieved he had kept his guard up just now. Otherwise, he really would have taken another solid slash.
Looking at Urahara lying face-down on the ground, Entetsu smacked his lips.
"No wonder they said you're a scheming brat. You really are slippery! If I'd been careless for even a second, you would've cut me again."
Urahara, still sprawled on the ground, decisively pretended to be unconscious.
He was already lying down.
Surely this big bald man would not hit him again, right?
Just as Entetsu turned his gaze toward the only one left, Yoruichi, a figure suddenly rushed out of the building, grabbed Yoruichi by the tail, and mercilessly threw her away.
Immediately afterward, that figure shot after her like lightning in the direction she had been flung.
The person who had rushed out was none other than Chika Shihōin.
From upstairs, he had personally watched how Entetsu had tested these juniors, and he had thought to himself.
'I don't want Yoruichi taking a few hits from that mace. She's a descendant of the Shihōin Clan, after all. This is something I should handle myself. Isn't Yoruichi known as the "Flash Goddess"? Then let me test just how fast her Shunpo really is!'
Seeing this sudden change, Entetsu could not help freezing for a moment, but he quickly let out a scoff.
However, he did not chase after them.
Instead, he turned around and kicked Urahara, who was lying on the ground pretending to be unconscious.
"Kid, stop pretending. Your reiatsu isn't unstable at all! You're clearly perfectly fine. Hurry up and crawl back up so we can keep fighting!"
Entetsu roared.
Even after taking that kick, Urahara still showed no reaction, as though he had truly lost consciousness.
But when Entetsu's heavy mace came smashing down toward him, he immediately sprang up from the ground at shocking speed and rapidly retreated.