Although the Captains had initially come only to protect their own subordinates,
having received Kyoya's favor by bringing their division's members to witness this event, they didn't hesitate to offer some shelter to the members of the 11th Division within their capabilities.
Thanks to the Captains' intervention, the Shinigami of the 11th Division finally recovered from the suffocating pressure they had been under and turned their attention back to the battlefield.
After experiencing Zaraki's Reiatsu, many of the division's members couldn't help but feel a bit of concern for Captain Kyoya.
"Captain Kyoya..."
Compared to Zaraki, whose personality was still unknown, Kyoya, who took time out every month to guide them in Zanjutsu training, was clearly more respected and trusted by the 11th Division.
However, this was just how things worked in the 11th Division: the strong rose, and the weak fell.
So now, the squad members could only hope that Kyoya would defeat Zaraki and remain the Captain of the 11th Division.
Boom!
Seeing the Captains release their Reiatsu to shield the 11th Division from Zaraki's oppressive Reiatsu, Kyoya decided not to delay any longer.
Deactivating all the gravity devices on his body, Kyoya drew his Zanpakuto and unleashed his own golden Reiatsu, standing firm against Zaraki's.
After all, Zaraki was one of the [Five Special War Powers] marked by Yhwach. Kyoya hadn't yet reached his peak strength, so he didn't think he could afford to fight Zaraki while still under gravity suppression.
Both Zaraki and Kyoya's Reiatsu manifested as gold in appearance.
However, Zaraki's was a yellowish gold, while Kyoya's was more of a white-tinged gold. When both erupted simultaneously, it was easy to distinguish between them.
Whoosh!
Boom!
Zaraki and Kyoya charged toward each other at blinding speed, their Zanpakuto clashing at the very center of the training ground.
The tremendous force of their collision shattered the ground beneath their feet, and a powerful shockwave radiated outward, making the Captains' haori and the Shinigami's Shihakusho flutter violently.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
After a brief standoff, Kyoya and Zaraki's Zanpakuto began exchanging rapid strikes.
For a moment, aside from the Captains… the Lieutenants, seated officers, and the 11th Division's members watching the battle could only see countless afterimages of their Zanpakuto.
The sparks and shockwaves generated from their clashes provided a true 'visual feast'.
'Just as I thought...'
Kyoya continued attacking Zaraki while silently analyzing.
'Zaraki's Zanjutsu is too crude.'
'His fighting style relies more on his innate battle instincts.'
'Still, this might actually be the most suitable way for him to fight.'
Zaraki's Reiatsu was undoubtedly at the Shinigami's limit.
Moreover, because his immense Reiatsu was innate, his physical body had also developed to an extraordinary degree to contain it.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Zaraki had the strongest physique among all Shinigami.
Kyoya could only hold his ground against Zaraki in battle because of his Steel Balloon Physique.
On top of that, Kyoya also possessed Kuma's Buccaneer bloodline, granting him strength no weaker than Zaraki's.
'However, while this kind of fighting style might pose a great threat to others...'
'For Master Swordsman like me or Captain Unohana...'
'Every move is full of openings!'
In terms of pure swordsmanship, Kyoya, the [World's Strongest Swordsman], surpassed even Unohana.
So...
Slash!
Slash!
With ease, Kyoya deflected Zaraki's Zanpakuto and landed two deep cuts on Zaraki's body.
Blood splattered. Aside from Unohana's pupils contracting slightly, none of the other watching Captains were particularly surprised.
Kyoya had originally become the Captain of the 11th Division by defeating Kiganjo with his Zanjutsu.
Nearly twenty years later, no one would believe that Kyoya's Zanjutsu hadn't improved at all.
Zaraki's displayed strength was already on par with some of the Captains present.
But in the eyes of many Captains, Zaraki's attacks were nothing more than 'wild slashing'.
Against weaker opponents, this kind of fighting style could overwhelm and instantly crush them.
Against opponents of similar strength, its effectiveness would be limited.
And against those with superior Zanjutsu, then he can only wish for good luck!
Clearly, Kyoya's swordsmanship surpassed Zaraki's, so it was no surprise that he could wound Zaraki.
On the contrary, it would have been more surprising if Kyoya hadn't been able to wound Zaraki at all.
But what truly shocked everyone was Zaraki himself.
If an average Captain had taken two slashes from Kyoya, they would either be dead or severely injured.
Yet, despite being drenched in blood, Zaraki didn't seem affected in the slightest.
Not only that, the Captains could sense that compared to the start of the battle, Zaraki now seemed even more excited… his lips curled into a grin, his features twisted with madness.
What's more, his Reiatsu was gradually increasing.
This was outright absurd.
"So strong!"
"Both Kyoya and that guy named Zaraki… they're monsters!"
In the stands, Shihoin's pupils darted, tracking the movements of Kyoya and Zaraki as she let out an awed murmur.
The power these two were displaying on the battlefield had already surpassed her own.
Behind her, Sui-Feng's face was deathly pale.
Though in her heart, Sui-Feng still believed Yoruichi was the strongest, the reality was undeniable… based on what these two were showing, Yoruichi was indeed slightly outmatched.
Especially since neither Zaraki nor Kyoya had even released their Zanpakuto yet!
"Ah, I can't fully grasp either of them."
Kisuke narrowed his eyes.
"Oh?"
Yoruichi was genuinely surprised when she heard this.
After all, ever since she had known Kisuke, there had hardly been anything he couldn't understand. Even the mad scientists in the Maggot's Nest had been thoroughly dissected, figuratively and literally, when Kisuke served as the Captain of the Detention Unit. His vast knowledge in research was partly thanks to those very scientists.
But now, Kisuke was saying he couldn't fully comprehend Kyoya and Zaraki?
"Why do you say that?"
"Captain Kyoya… well, you already know about him, Yoruichi."
"Even though he's deactivated his gravity devices now, his Shihakusho and Captain's Haori still weigh at least thirty tons."
"Hiss-"
Sui-Feng sucked in a sharp breath, her gaze toward Kyoya now tinged with horror.
'Was this guy even human?'
'The 'gravity devices' were obviously some invention of this bastard's that manipulated weight. Wearing over thirty tons of clothing while also training under increased gravity… no wonder he was so strong.'
'And just how confident was he that he wouldn't even remove his weighted clothes when fighting that beast-like man?'
From the looks of it, even with that handicap, Kyoya was still dominating the fight.
Zaraki, on the other hand, fought like a wild animal… he didn't dodge Kyoya's attacks at all, and by now, his body was littered with over a hundred wounds, big and small.
"As for this Zaraki…"
Kisuke's brows knitted slightly: "His Reiatsu is just too abnormal."
"Normally, for a Shinigami to increase their Reiatsu, even with the best talent, it takes a long time."
Yoruichi nodded.
Take her, for example. As the current head of the Shihoin Clan and Captain of the 2nd Division, her talent was unquestionable.
Yet even she only reached Captain-level in her 200s.
Now, at nearly 400 years old, she estimated it would take her another century or so to break into 2nd-class Reiryoku.
As for 1st-class?
Well, even Yoruichi wasn't even sure if she'd ever reach that in her lifetime.
The higher a Shinigami's Reiryoku, the greater the gaps between ranks… and the harder it was to advance.
At least 70% of Captain-level Shinigami never progressed beyond 3rd-class Reiryoku.
Only a handful of prodigies could break through to 2nd-class.
As for 1st-class Reiryoku… only one or two appeared in Seireitei in a thousand years.
As far as Yoruichi was concerned, in the current Gotei 13, only four Captains had the potential to reach first-class Reiatsu: Kyoraku, Ukitake, Kyoya, and her childhood friend, Kisuke!
"But Zaraki's Reiatsu is increasing in an instant."
"This isn't like resonating with his Zanpakuto for a temporary boost, it's more like…"
"As if this Reiatsu was always his to begin with. The way it's rising is almost like… he's removing seals on his own power?"
By the end, even Kisuke sounded unsure of his own words.
What kind of joke was this?
What kind of mindset would lead someone to seal their own Reiatsu?
And even if you're going to seal it, at least leave yourself a backdoor… some way to freely control the seal's release and reapplication.
But what Kisuke observed in Zaraki was different. It was as if Zaraki's Reiatsu had turned into thick 'layers of seals', requiring him to face life-and-death crises to gradually break them down and integrate them into the spiritual pressure he could currently wield.
In just a few short minutes, under Kyoya's attacks, Zaraki's Reiatsu surged rapidly.
Compared to the training speed of other Captains, it would take at least ten years for them to achieve such a level of growth in their Reiatsu. And that's only if the Captain in question had considerable talent and their Reiatsu was still in a phase of active development.
Otherwise, there were captains whose Reiatsu hadn't improved in decades… or even centuries.
"Just how immense must his Reiatsu be to accomplish something like this?"
"Who… is this Zaraki, really?"
"And what did Captain Kyoya see in him?"
Without realizing it, Kisuke bit down on his thumbnail, a habit of his when deep in thought.
He suspected that Kyoya's invitation for Zaraki to join the 11th Division wasn't as simple as it seemed.
The problem was, his understanding of Kyoya and Zaraki was far too limited. He couldn't begin to grasp their thought processes or their methods.
But Kisuke knew one thing for certain… Kyoya had never given up on his goal of changing the Rukongai.
'Was this Zaraki a piece in his plans?'
…
"This fight should end here."
As Zaraki blocked his Zanpakuto, Kyoya spoke.
Though their battle had lasted less than ten minutes, the gap in their Zanjutsu became painfully clear once Kyoya got serious. Zaraki could barely defend himself.
The only reason Zaraki had lasted this long was his monstrous physical endurance and the sheer density of his Reiatsu.
But no matter how strong he was, Zaraki was still human.
After taking so many of Kyoya's attacks, even with his Reiatsu growing exponentially, Zaraki's body was reaching its limit.
His strikes were weakening.
Continuing the fight any further would be meaningless.
So, Kyoya placed his left hand against the back of his Zanpakuto's blade. A faint white glow began to emanate from its edge.
"One Sword Style-"
"Flash Shadow."
Boom!
A white slash erupted, carving a massive trench into the ground dozens of meters ahead.
At the end of that slash, Zaraki stood, gasping for breath, blood pouring from his body like a waterfall. His wounds were so deep that bone was visible.
"Give up, Zaraki!"
Seeing that Zaraki was still standing despite his chest and abdomen being ripped open by his slashes, Kyoya couldn't help but feel a pang of admiration. If he were in Zaraki's place, he wasn't sure he'd still be conscious, let alone standing.
Yet Zaraki's grip on his Zanpakuto remained firm. His fighting spirit hadn't dimmed in the slightest.
"As you are now, you're no match for me."
"If we keep going, I can't guarantee you'll survive my next strike."
"Hah… hah…"
Zaraki took several ragged breaths, steadying himself.
"Interesting…"
"Dying by your hand sounds like a hell of a good time!"
"Come at me, Kyoya!"
Zaraki roared, his voice raw with exhilaration. After this battle, he no longer called Kyoya 'brat'… now, he addressed him by name.
"One last move-"
"I knew it."
Kyoya sighed and shook his head.
"Zaraki, I noticed you've been fighting me with just one hand on your sword."
"So, for this final strike… have you considered using both?"
"I won't hold back this time."
"If you want to survive… if you want another chance to challenge me… then grip your sword with both hands and unleash everything you've got."