"Captain Kazuma, why exactly did you trespass into the Soul King Palace?"
Tenjirō regarded Kazuma with a grave expression.
As a member of Squad Zero, protecting the Soul King Palace was his sworn duty.
He might not be able to defeat Kazuma, but that didn't mean he could simply abandon his responsibilities.
"It's nothing particularly serious."
Kazuma frowned slightly and answered as though discussing some minor inconvenience.
"One of the youngsters in the Gotei 13 nearly had his Zanpakutō destroyed while it was in Bankai. I came here to ask Ōetsu to repair it."
"What did you just say?!"
Tenjirō stared at him in disbelief before exploding in anger.
"You recklessly forced your way into the Soul King Palace over something so trivial?!"
This was the Soul King Palace, the most sacred and heavily guarded place in Soul Society.
It wasn't somewhere people could casually enter whenever they pleased.
"Trivial?"
Kazuma's eyes turned cold.
"You call that trivial? Do you have any idea what losing a Zanpakutō means to a Shinigami?"
His voice grew steadily hotter.
For any Shinigami, their Zanpakutō was practically another life.
Yet this member of Squad Zero had dismissed its destruction as a minor issue.
It was enough to make Kazuma's blood boil.
He remembered how Squad Zero had behaved when they descended into the Seireitei in the original course of events.
Rather than showing concern for the Gotei 13 after it had suffered devastating losses, they'd immediately begun criticizing and lecturing everyone.
After spending so long above the Seireitei, Squad Zero's members had apparently begun believing themselves superior to ordinary Shinigami.
Their power was undeniable, but strength didn't grant them the right to treat everyone beneath them with contempt.
No matter where they lived or how powerful they became, they were still Shinigami.
There was no fundamental difference between them and those serving below.
"So you've made up your mind to block my path?"
Kazuma's expression darkened like the sky before a violent storm.
His right hand settled once more on the hilt of his Zanpakutō, ready to draw at any moment.
Tenjirō immediately sensed the killing intent pouring off him.
However, he still didn't understand how deeply his careless words had angered Kazuma.
In Tenjirō's mind, he'd merely stated an objective fact.
Why had this man suddenly become ready to kill him?
"Hey! What exactly are you trying to do?"
Tenjirō raised his guard and dropped into a defensive stance.
Kazuma's expression made it perfectly clear that he intended to draw his sword again.
"If you insist on standing in my way, don't blame me for what happens next."
Kazuma's killing intent intensified.
"Today, I'll let you experience death for yourself!"
His figure blurred.
The Zanpakutō flashed from its sheath, carrying a vicious, unstoppable edge as it slashed toward Tenjirō.
Death wasn't especially frightening for Squad Zero's members.
As long as their respective palaces remained intact, they could be revived over and over.
Kazuma therefore had no objection to letting Tenjirō die for a while.
"Flash from Illuminating Heavens, Kinpika!"
Tenjirō didn't dare take the attack lightly.
He swiftly removed the wooden scabbard and gripped the long-handled Zanpakutō beneath it, whose unusual shape resembled a large paddle.
Brilliant golden light erupted from the weapon like a newborn sun.
To force Kazuma back, Tenjirō immediately released his Shikai.
The radiance intensified until it completely enveloped him, turning his body into something like a human flash grenade.
The light was so dazzling that an ordinary person wouldn't have been able to keep their eyes open.
Yet it had no effect whatsoever on Kazuma.
His blade continued straight toward Tenjirō.
"Hmm? He dodged?"
Just as Kazuma thought the strike was certain to land, Tenjirō twisted aside at an almost unbelievable speed and narrowly avoided the fatal slash.
After releasing Kinpika, his movement speed had doubled, making him as elusive as a phantom.
"Hahaha! Now that's a little more interesting."
Kazuma grinned.
"You really do deserve the name Lightning-Fast Tenjirō. You've got a few tricks after all."
His smile sharpened.
"But that's all."
Tenjirō had barely escaped the first strike.
There were plenty more where that came from.
"You think you're fast?"
Kazuma vanished as Shunshin activated.
"Let's see whether you're faster than me."
In the blink of an eye, he caught up with Tenjirō while the man was still moving.
'Is this bastard always so vicious?!'
Kazuma's second slash came immediately.
Tenjirō hurriedly raised Kinpika to block.
The impact launched him through the air.
Although he barely stopped the blade, the long handle of his Zanpakutō was severed cleanly in two.
His body flew an enormous distance before crashing through several structures belonging to Kirinden.
He hadn't even gotten the chance to show Kinpika's real abilities before Kazuma reduced him to this state with two strikes.
If word got out, Squad Zero would never let him live it down.
"You've made me angry!"
Tenjirō slowly climbed from the rubble, his body covered in dust and debris.
Fury burned in his eyes.
He was a member of the Royal Guard. When had anyone ever humiliated him like this?
"Lightning Flash Slash!"
With an enraged roar, Tenjirō gripped the broken half of Kinpika in both hands and swung it with all his strength.
A brilliant bolt of golden lightning erupted from the blade like a dragon surging from the sea.
Carrying enough destructive force to tear through everything in its path, it shot straight toward Kazuma's face.
Kazuma stayed perfectly calm.
He merely tilted his head, letting the furious bolt flash harmlessly past his cheek.
The deadly attack might as well have been a light breeze.
"Lightning?"
Kazuma's lips curved into a mocking smile.
"So that's why they call you Lightning-Fast Tenjirō."
In his eyes, Tenjirō trying to wield lightning was no different from showing off amateur swordsmanship before a master.
When it came to thunder, Kazuma was practically one of its ancestors.
"Raijin no Sabaki!"
Kazuma raised his Zanpakutō high overhead.
An enormous bolt of lightning instantly formed above the Soul King Palace.
Its terrifying aura made the surrounding space tremble as though the heavens themselves were preparing to deliver punishment.
Tenjirō hadn't yet recovered from the shock of his previous attack missing when the thunderbolt crashed directly onto him.
Boom!
His entire body was instantly charred black.
Even his signature pompadour was blasted into an enormous frizzy mess.
The powerful current tore through every part of his body, making his muscles contract uncontrollably.
Tenjirō twitched and convulsed where he stood, shaking like a man in the middle of the world's most violent seizure.
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