Clang! Clang! Clang!
Above the vast plains, two figures were rapidly clashing.
Dense sparks formed golden-red lightning, and the air, distorted by high temperatures, rippled distinctly.
The explosive sound of metal clashing filled the ears.
Yoriichi's breathing was deep and scorching as he tightly gripped his Zanpakuto hilt, facing Harribel's relentless, rain-like slashes.
For the first time, he felt what it was like to face a true opponent.
This was a real battle!
Compared to his entrance exam fight with Yamamoto Genryusai, the danger now far exceeded anything before.
As Captain-Commander, even if Yamamoto Genryusai wanted to test a student's true level, he couldn't set such a high difficulty from the start.
However, Hollows fought completely differently.
They were wild and violent, putting their full strength into every move.
Due to the dense reishi in the surroundings, Tier Harribel felt no fatigue whatsoever.
Precisely because of this, Yoriichi's long-dormant battle instincts were fully awakened.
With scorching breaths, Yoriichi's gaze was like a torch, fixed on Harribel's movements.
He tilted his head back, dodging a horizontal slash.
Seizing the instant vulnerability when her opponent couldn't retract her strength after a slash, he launched a fierce kick towards Harribel's wide-open chest!
The surrounding air seemed to tear apart, emitting a sharp, explosive roar!
Harribel's pupils contracted, and she instinctively used Sonido to dodge.
However, just as the ground reishi exploded, Yoriichi also appeared behind her as if teleporting.
His arm muscles tensed, his entire body's strength concentrated in his palm, and the Zanpakuto in his hand thrust forward with lightning speed, too fast to cover!
At the same time, the "Yoriichi" in front of Harribel gradually dissipated into an illusion.
[Sun Breathing… ]
[Fourth Form… ]
[Fake Sunset Rainbow! ]
— What?
The pincer attack from the front and back caught Tier Harribel off guard.
She couldn't imagine a Shinigami would use Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, that he would use an illusion to disrupt her attack rhythm, thereby putting herself in danger.
She bit down with all her might.
Creak…
In the moment of crisis, she could no longer think, only follow her instincts to twist her body at full speed.
Finally, in the nick of time.
Swish!
Amidst the sharp sound of air being torn, the blade pierced through her chest, narrowly avoiding a fatal spot.
Even so, she still spat out a mouthful of blood, her body leaning forward, staggering a few steps.
In her pale blue eyes, the blade piercing her chest was reflected, and she tried to grasp it to restrain Tsugikuni Yoriichi's movements.
But the pain made her movements sluggish.
The moment she raised her hand, the Zanpakuto had already been pulled from her body.
The sharp blade brought out a spray of fresh red blood, like a fountain.
Hiss!
On the still unstained blade, Yoriichi's expressionless face was reflected.
A roaring wind sounded.
"Damn it!"
Harribel roared, her unwilling emotions making her grit her teeth, enduring the pain, and slashing backwards.
Unfortunately, Yoriichi's movements were far faster than she anticipated.
Clang! He raised his hand to block the incoming slash.
The next second.
Rumble!
The ground suddenly trembled, and accompanied by the oncoming strong wind, a vast pillar of reishi light rose in the distance.
"!"
This reishi was very familiar.
Gojoshibe Kenpachi!
Yoriichi briefly paused his movements due to this sudden change.
Harribel retreated, glancing slightly towards that direction with half-closed eyes.
Although she didn't know what was happening over there.
But…
Such a huge commotion…
— Is it a Shinigami (Hollow)!? × 2
Thinking of this, the two came back to their senses and exchanged glances:
"Your person?" × 2
"No…" × 2
"Then who is it…?" × 2
"… …" × 2
The two were speechless for a moment.
After a few short sentences, the air fell silent.
Harribel spoke first.
She was breathing heavily, blood seeping from between her fingers, breaking the silence:
"That one over there… is your teammate, right?"
"That's right."
Yoriichi nodded, "For him to unleash such powerful reishi, it must be a formidable opponent."
"… …"
Harribel slowly spoke: "Then… don't you have any reaction?"
"He will die."
"If I remember correctly… that should be Szayelaporro Granz's territory."
"He is a Vasto Lorde even stronger than me…"
"Is that so? It seems he is indeed troublesome." Although he said this, Yoriichi did not move.
Battles among Shinigami fall into two categories: one for honour, and one for duty.
Currently, both are present, and casualties during a mission are inevitable.
As a Captain, while enjoying certain privileges, one naturally must also bear certain risks.
If he went to save him, then what would be the meaning of a Captain's existence, and where would their honour be placed?
Furthermore, there was still a Vasto Lorde in front of him…
Evidently, Gojoshibe Kenpachi could only save himself.
He would not be swayed by Harribel's words.
Harribel took a deep breath.
She pressed one hand to her chest, trying to stop the bleeding, while the bone blade formed by her other hand was tilted in front of her, in a wary stance.
Following that, her somewhat weaker voice sounded between them:
"Shinigami… you are even calmer than I imagined."
"I thought someone like you would rush over quickly after learning your comrade was attacked, but you remained completely still."
"Is this the belief you uphold?"
"Is it too hypocritical…?"
"How is it hypocritical?" Yoriichi gently shook his head, "I trust him, that's all. If he loses, it is the fate of a Shinigami."
Millions of years of slaughter are not a game.
Any soul who becomes a Shinigami holds the resolve to die and not have a good end.
"Fate?"
"Heh." Hearing this, Harribel sneered,
"I never believed in such things. Fate is just boring comfort for losers."
"I am not your opponent, I admit that, but as long as I have enough companions, I will not lose. This is what I have always believed."
Because she was being hunted, she didn't bring along the few female Hollows she met along the way.
If she had, although she wouldn't have a hundred per cent win rate, she wouldn't be in such a sorry state as she was now.
Yoriichi looked at Harribel, watching the reishi light pillar in the distance shrink instantly, his tone completely unruffled:
"So… where are your companions?"
"As you said, a world without sacrifice cannot exist."
"The passing of bloodlines, the inheritance of techniques, including the growth of Shinigami, all of these without exception require sacrifice."
"No one is immortal, including you and me,"
"Don't be too presumptuous, Harribel."
"Continue."
"… …"
Hearing this, Harribel instinctively wanted to retort.
However, just as she opened her mouth, Tsugikuni Yoriichi in front of her had already vanished like a ghost, leaving only a faint afterimage.
The incoming slash was extremely cold.
Clang!
Her rapidly contracting pupils reflected on the cold blade, and Harribel hastily blocked, completely forgetting to breathe.
A sense of crisis enveloped her entire body.
It was like being submerged in seawater, or even crushed under a mountain; the immense force from her wrist made her retreat continuously.
— Hiss! The ground immediately ploughed a silver gully dozens of meters long.
For a moment, she couldn't find any room for a counterattack!
The battle had completely turned one-sided!