Kido energy wrapped tightly around Hōbe Shōrei's body, her frame wreathed in terrifying spiritual pressure. Her speed and power surged dramatically, her movements now sharper, swifter, more lethal.
In that instant, the petite Shōrei looked like a spirit of the wind itself—graceful, mysterious, and deadly.
"Careful," she warned.
With that, her figure vanished.
"So fast?!"
Kuyashiki Kenpachi hadn't expected such a sudden leap in speed. Suppressing his strength on purpose, even he struggled to keep up.
"Tell me, who was it you looked down on just now?"
Her cold whisper brushed his ear. Before he could react, her slender legs clamped tight around his neck, and her delicate arms locked his head in place. It was an assassination technique handed down by the Executioner clans—one designed to snap a man's neck instantly. Against anyone else, this move would already have ended the fight.
"Terrifying…!"
"Her appearance doesn't match her killing style at all!"
"But… I admit it. I underestimated you. In that case, I'll show you a glimpse of my real strength."
But Kuyashiki Kenpachi was no ordinary man. Even as her limbs constricted around him, he had no intention of surrendering.
"Vacuum!"
Spiritual pressure erupted violently from his body, whipping the air into a cyclone. The storm tossed Shōrei from his shoulders, hurling her through the air.
"Such overwhelming reiatsu!"
Spinning in midair, Shōrei steadied herself, landing light as a swallow on the wooden floor of the training hall. Beads of sweat trickled down her brow as she stared, wide-eyed, at the blazing aura surrounding Kenpachi. His reiatsu was visible to the naked eye, searing her skin just by standing near him. This pressure was far beyond her image of an ordinary division member.
"Even in the Gotei 13, that level of reiatsu would rank among the very top…" she thought, her whole body trembling under the weight of his spirit.
"Hahahaha!"
"You have my respect—you're strong!"
Kenpachi's eyes burned with battle-lust as he drew his zanpakutō, torrents of sword pressure gathering around the blade.
"So strong!" Shōrei gritted her teeth. Her skin prickled under the onslaught of his reiatsu. She knew her own strength wasn't enough to withstand a direct strike. With no choice left, she released her zanpakutō.
"Sting all enemies to death—Suzumebachi!"
"Enough. That's far enough."
Before the clash could happen, Shihōin Yūshirō stepped between them, intercepting both.
"Yes, sir."
At once, Shōrei sealed her blade back to its normal form and slid it into its sheath without complaint.
"Ken-chan," Yūshirō said with a smile, "we agreed—no zanpakutō."
"Ah… I forgot."
Kenpachi blinked, then scratched his head. It had been so long since he'd felt this rush of battle that he lost himself in the heat of the moment.
"Ahahaha…" he laughed awkwardly, sheathing his blade and bowing in apology. "My bad!"
"No matter," Yūshirō waved it off casually. "As long as you learn."
"Yūshirō! Yūshirō! I want to play too!"
Lilynette shot up her hand like an eager child.
"This isn't play. It's training."
"If you want training, spar with Harribel," Yūshirō replied firmly.
"Great! Harribel, let's go!"
Without hesitation, Lilynette swung a punch at her.
"Calm down, Lilynette!" Harribel caught the blow midair, frowning.
"I refuse!" Lilynette snapped, launching another strike.
Within moments, the two were locked in a fierce close-range duel, their combined reiatsu surging far above captain-class.
"Yūshirō… these people's power—it's absurd."
Shōrei whispered the thought, shaken. She had always believed herself strong enough for a vice-captain's seat, even if she wasn't yet among the absolute elite. But here, in this "insignificant" sub-squad, she had suddenly realized she was the weakest.
Yūshirō chuckled. "That's only natural. There's no trash in our Forest Guard Squad. Only elites."
Shōrei opened her mouth, then closed it again. She couldn't argue. Somehow, his words felt true.
"Shōrei, you've got to keep pushing yourself," Yūshirō said seriously, patting her shoulder. "We're Squad Two's elite unit. Don't let us lose face."
"I—I understand!" Shōrei answered with renewed determination.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Seireitei, not everyone was so carefree.
In the research facilities left behind by Shutara Senjumaru after her promotion to Squad Zero, a strange man wearing a bizarre mask muttered to himself:
"Ahahaha… it's done! At last! This technique is nearly complete! Once I refine it further, I'll surpass that hateful old hag, Shutara!"
Kurotsuchi Mayuri smiled darkly at his creation. In his eyes, he was the reformer of the Shinigami. His technology would reshape Soul Society itself, reducing the casualties of war to their lowest point in history.
…
And thus began the next great ripple through Seireitei.