Amamiya Miyako saw no reason to hold back against Kurosaki Ichigo. From the very start, he released his full reiryoku.
The air trembled as the surge of spiritual pressure swept outward, pressing down on everyone nearby. The spectators instinctively struggled to breathe under the weight. Only Yoruichi-san and Shiba Kūkaku remained composed, unaffected by the crushing pressure.
"Oi, Yoruichi," Kūkaku said, her arms folded, "are you sure it's okay to let these two go at it?"
Yoruichi smirked. "On the contrary, this is perfect. The goal is to rescue Rukia-chan, not to clash head-on with Captains and Vice-Captains. If they don't understand the gap in power, they'll rush into the Seireitei blindly. Better for them to learn it now."
"But still… where did this Amamiya Miyako kid even come from? Kisuke-san mentioned him, but I didn't expect his reiatsu to be this overwhelming," Yoruichi muttered.
"All I know," Kūkaku replied, "is that he's Vice-Captain under Ukitake-taichō. He hasn't held the position long, but clearly, he's not someone ordinary."
Ichigo gripped Zangetsu tightly, sweat forming at his brow as he faced Miyako's overwhelming pressure. His throat felt dry, and he swallowed hard.
"Ichigo," Miyako said calmly, his gaze sharp, "remember this. Vice-Captains and Captains suppress their reiatsu when they come to the Human World to avoid disturbing the balance. Kuchiki Byakuya—Captain of the Sixth Division—will be far stronger in Soul Society than when you faced him before. If you intend to save Rukia-chan, he is the obstacle you must overcome."
Ichigo's expression tightened. If even Renji from before would be stronger in Soul Society, then facing Byakuya would be nearly impossible.
"Tch… doesn't matter. I'll find a way."
Miyako's lips curved into a faint smile. "We'll see. Here I come."
With that, he drew his twin blades and disappeared from sight.
"So fast!" Ichigo's eyes darted around wildly, but before he could react, a sharp sting ran across his back. He spun instinctively, blocking with Zangetsu just as Miyako's crossed swords came down with crushing force.
Sparks flew. Miyako's pressure pressed down relentlessly, forcing Ichigo to grit his teeth and push back.
"Kuh…!" Ichigo staggered, but Miyako vaulted gracefully, landing behind him and delivering a powerful kick to his back.
Caught off guard, Ichigo was sent flying. He rolled and forced himself back up, eyes scanning for Miyako—only to find him already charging in again.
Steel clashed as Miyako unleashed a storm of strikes with his dual blades, each swing swift and merciless. Ichigo struggled to keep pace, sweat dripping from his chin.
"What's wrong, Ichigo?" Miyako mocked, his tone sharp. "Is your resolve this fragile? In Seireitei, there are dozens stronger than me. With power like this, do you really believe you can save Rukia-chan?"
"Damn it… don't you dare underestimate me!" Ichigo roared, swinging Zangetsu with all his strength and knocking Miyako back.
The Vice-Captain landed lightly, eyes narrowing as he felt Ichigo's spiritual pressure beginning to rise.
'As expected,' Miyako thought. 'He grows stronger the longer he fights. Just like before… his reiatsu evolves in battle.'
Glancing at his twin blades, Miyako exhaled softly and raised them high. "Yare yare… I guess I'll show you my true strength. Sever the cycle—Shinya Zetsunen!"
The twin swords dissolved into streams of reishi, reshaping into a radiant bow of light. Miyako drew back, condensing a shimmering arrow of pure spirit energy. With a snap, he loosed it.
The arrow tore through the air toward Ichigo.
"Not good!" Ichigo's eyes widened. He remembered all too well the destructive force Miyako's arrows carried. Blocking was out of the question—he leapt aside just in time, the arrow piercing the ground where he stood.
"That's… a bow and arrow?!" Ishida Uryū exclaimed from the sidelines, his eyes narrowing. "Is that Reishi Manipulation—Reishi Kōyō?!"
"No," Yoruichi corrected, her golden eyes sharp. "Look closer, Uryū. He's not gathering reishi from the atmosphere like a Quincy. He's shaping arrows directly from his own spiritual power. That's his Shikai's ability."
Still, Ishida couldn't shake the uncanny familiarity. Miyako's stance, his precision, the sheer aura he carried—it was all reminiscent of a Quincy archer.
"You won't even try to stop my arrows?" Miyako smirked coldly. "Fine, then dodge this."
He released another shot. The arrow struck at Ichigo's feet, embedding itself in the ground.
Before Ichigo could question it, Miyako raised his hand and began to chant. His voice carried power, each word dripping with sharp intent.
"Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself with horror, then claw out your own throat!"
The arrow at Ichigo's feet shuddered, shifting into glowing chains that burst upward and wrapped around him.
To ensure maximum binding power, Miyako recited the incantation in full. The reishi arrow at Ichigo's feet morphed into glowing crimson chains that shot upward, constraining his body in an instant.
"Damn it! When did he set this trap…?" Ichigo gritted his teeth, assuming Miyako had prepared it beforehand.
Before he could break free, another arrow shot toward him. Ichigo twisted his body to dodge, but Miyako's arrow shifted form mid-flight.
"Hadō #20: Shō!"
The arrow erupted into a white flash at point-blank range. Ichigo's vision was momentarily stolen by the burst of reishi.
By the time he managed to rip apart the glowing chains binding him, Miyako had already drawn his bow again. The string glowed with reishi, an arrow aimed directly at Ichigo's chest.
"Chikusho…!" Ichigo stumbled back quickly, retreating to avoid being pierced at close range. But then, Miyako calmly lowered his weapon. His zanpakutō materialized back into its sealed state, the twin blades sliding neatly into place.
"Oi, what's with that? Don't tell me you're done already! I haven't lost yet!" Ichigo shouted defiantly. Even if he had been toyed with again and again by Miyako's strange techniques, his body was still unscathed. He wasn't about to give up.
Miyako gave him a calm look. "As much as I'd like to keep sparring, time's running out."
He pulled out his Soul Pager. The small device glowed faintly, displaying a newly issued order from Soul Society.
"Soul Society is convening an emergency meeting. All Captains and Vice-Captains are required to attend."
Turning back to Ichigo, Miyako's voice softened slightly. "Ichigo, you must've realized it by now… There are many in Soul Society stronger than me. And even more with abilities far stranger than mine. When you set foot inside Seireitei, don't underestimate anyone. Ever."
Ichigo fell silent at those words, his fists clenched. He finally began to grasp just how deep the world of Soul Society went.
"…But I won't give up!" he said firmly, his eyes blazing with determination.
Miyako gave him the faintest smile before turning toward Shiba Kūkaku. "Shiba-san, I'll leave the rest in your hands."
"Hmph, what a bunch of troublesome kids…" Kūkaku muttered, waving her pipe with irritation. But despite her words, there was a trace of fondness in her tone.
"One more thing," Miyako added, his expression sharpening. "Inside Seireitei, we are enemies. Do not mention me to anyone."
Without another word, he turned and hurried off toward Seireitei. Since Jidanbō's arm had been cut off and the West Gate couldn't be opened, he would have to enter through another path.
....
At the entrance of the Thirteenth Division, Jūshirō Ukitake stood waiting anxiously, his white haori fluttering in the breeze.
"Amamiya… you're finally here… cough, cough…" His chronic illness had flared up again, and Kiyone Kotetsu was at his side, desperately using Kaidō to ease his pain.
"Rukia is about to be taken to the Senzaikyū… cough, cough," Ukitake forced out between wheezes.
"Captain, please, you should rest," Kiyone begged, worry written on her face.
But Ukitake shook his head and waved her off. "Amamiya… Captain-Commander Yamamoto will soon summon an emergency Captains' meeting. I've already informed him—you will attend in my place. Represent the Thirteenth Division for me."
Miyako bowed his head respectfully. "Understood, Captain Ukitake. Please focus on your recovery. I'll handle the rest."
"I know you will…" Ukitake managed a faint smile. "Sentarō, Kiyone… support him well."
"Yes, Captain!" Sentarō Kotsubaki barked out, fists clenched in determination.
Kiyone nodded, still looking worried, and carefully led Ukitake back toward his office.
As his captain's figure retreated inside, Miyako's expression hardened. He turned toward Sentarō. "Come on. Let's go. First, we'll escort Rukia to the Senzaikyū."
Outside the gates of the Thirteenth Division, a unit of white-clad guards had already gathered, waiting to transfer Kuchiki Rukia to the place of execution.
But before that, Miyako had something else to take care of—one final instruction from Kisuke Urahara. And in Miyako's eyes… this was the perfect time to act.