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"Phew—"
After climbing the long flight of stairs, Chad turned his head and looked behind him.
This place was already on high ground in Seireitei; standing here and looking down, he could take in almost everything around him.
Slowly turning around, Sado looked up at the increasingly clear white tower in the distance. According to his previous investigation, that white tower was the Repentance Palace where Kuchiki Rukia was imprisoned.
"Ichigo, Ishida… they should have arrived by now."
Not long ago, he had sensed Ichigo's Reishi, but before he could meet up with him, Ichigo disappeared again, and Sado was held in place by the continuously surging Shinigami.
So, putting Ishida and Inoue aside for now, Ichigo and that guy named Ganju should be ahead of him, perhaps even already at the base of that white tower at the highest point.
He needed to speed up too!
Having made up his mind, Chad wasted no time and ran along the wide road towards the white tower.
However…
After only a few steps, his figure paused.
Someone!
Looking ahead, he saw a figure slowly approaching from the end of the empty street.
This figure was a young man, appearing to be in his twenties, with a handsome face.
But his attire…
Made Chad's eyes show confusion.
Because the young man walking towards him was not wearing the shinigami uniform like other Shinigami, which was consistent with Ichigo's, but rather a black work uniform that looked like some kind of uniform, and on his feet were not straw sandals, but a pair of exquisitely styled high boots.
The whole person looked a bit out of place with the surroundings, giving the impression more of a Human World inhabitant than a Soul Society resident.
Over the black work uniform was a sleeveless, pure white haori with the character 'Nine' on the back, fluttering as he walked.
Shinigami? Native?
As the young man got closer, Chad's confusion grew thicker.
Because the more he looked, the less the other person seemed like a Shinigami, and most importantly…
The other person, like himself, was empty-handed and did not carry a Zanpakuto.
"Sorry, it's my duty."
The young man did not approach further, but stopped about ten meters away, saying calmly, "The place ahead is not somewhere you can go."
"Oh, and to introduce myself, I am the interim Captain of the Ninth Division of the Gotei 13."
Captain!?
Upon hearing this, Chad's gaze immediately became serious. This was the first time he had encountered a Captain-level figure of the Gotei 13 on his journey.
Although he had encountered a guy who claimed to be the Third Seat Assistant of the Eighth Division not long ago, he was sent flying with one punch… and it didn't delay him much.
As for this young man in front of him who claimed to be a 'Captain'…
He actually wasn't particularly concerned.
Because the feeling the other person gave him was even less than that of the Third Seat Assistant he had seen not long ago…
"Excuse me, I have an urgent matter to attend to, could you please let me pass?"
Although Chad didn't think a Captain of the Gotei 13 would be weaker than a Third Seat, no matter what the other party's true strength was, he had to get through here to meet up with Ichigo and the others.
"If you hadn't entered Squad Nine's jurisdiction, I would actually prefer you to turn back the way you came, that way I'd have less trouble."
Ishikawa looked at Chad and shook his head slightly: "Unfortunately, you entered Squad Nine, so within my scope of duty, there's absolutely no way I can let you leave."
"Then…"
Chad frowned.
"My apologies."
Buzz—
As his words fell, Chad wasted no more words. A violent surge of Reishi immediately erupted from his black-bottomed, red-patterned right arm.
An unusual glint flashed in Ishikawa's eyes. He had to admit that any one of Ichigo's companions, if picked out and placed in Seireitei, could be described as a 'genius'.
If he remembered correctly, Chad's power had only awakened about a month ago, yet the Reishi he was unleashing at this moment had already reached… the level comparable to a Vice-Captain!
Is this an innate talent cheat?
Boom !
In the next instant, a massive fist-pressure, entirely composed of Reishi, roared forth.
From a distance, it looked like a giant energy pillar, starting from Chad's right fist and smashing down towards Ishikawa!
In a blink of an eye, it had already arrived in front of Ishikawa.
However…
Facing this fierce and powerful blow, Ishikawa did not dodge. Instead, he stood frozen in place, as if he had been scared silly.
This scene made Chad frown, and he couldn't help but wonder if the other party was merely pretending to be a 'Captain' to scare him.
Thinking of this, he almost instinctively held back some of his strength.
However, what happened next made his pupils suddenly constrict.
"Bakudo #8: Seki!"
A soft chant came out, and although the voice was not loud, it clearly reached Chad's ears.
Ishikawa waved the back of his right hand as if swatting a fly. It seemed slow, but in reality, in just a blink of an eye, the back of his hand had already collided with the surging Reishi.
Bang—
Reishi scattered, and the massive energy pillar dispersed in front of Ishikawa like countless fireflies.
How is that possible!?
Looking at the starlight formed by the scattered Reishi, Chad's eyes revealed a look of shock.
Although he had held back some strength in this punch, its power had reached an extremely terrifying level. The Shinigami he had encountered before, whether ordinary Squad Members or those who called themselves Seated Officers, all crumbled at the touch of his fist.
And now, everything was reversed!
"Not a bad punch, but holding back in a fight isn't a good habit."
Ishikawa swept his hand and stepped towards Chad.
Although the form of power was interesting, Ishikawa wasn't very interested in researching Fullbring.
Most importantly…
Chad, as he was now, posed no threat to him at all. Although Ishikawa enjoyed fighting, he also had to see if the opponent could bring him any interest.
A one-sided crushing battle was not a fight, but a massacre!
Seeing Ishikawa walking towards him, Chad snapped out of his shock, no longer bothering to be surprised by what he had just seen.
His foot slid back, and his body bent forward, striking a punching stance as taught by Yoruichi.
Buzz buzz buzz—
His surrounding Reishi was, at this moment, stimulated to its utmost.
That trace of underestimation he had before was now completely gone after the previous strike. Although he didn't know why the opponent's aura felt so ordinary, as he walked towards him… Chad felt a tremor from the depths of his soul to his skin.
Even the hairs on his body stood on end at that moment, as if he had encountered some unknown creature, making his body instinctively feel fear!
This fear could not be suppressed by his own consciousness alone!
Because rather than a biological disparity, it felt more like…
A dimensional disparity!
Cold sweat ran down his forehead. The opponent hadn't even attacked, merely walking towards him unhurriedly, as if strolling.
But…
Trembling, uncontrollable!
As the opponent approached, his courage to throw a punch gradually faded.
Thump thump thump thump thump—
The sound of the black high boots hitting the ground grew louder and louder.
Cannot wait any longer!!
Chad had a feeling that if the other party got any closer to him, he would completely lose the courage to throw a punch and would only be able to let the other party do as he pleased.
Bang—
A loud bang rang out as Chad stepped forward, and where his foot landed, the pristine white stone floor instantly shattered.
Twist, punch.
In one fluid motion!
Buzz—
As this punch was thrown, the air dispersed with it, creating a momentary vacuum.
The next second, a deafening roar echoed through the sky!
Boom—!
"Oh?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Ishikawa's eyes. The fact that Chad could punch back under his pressure was indeed a bit beyond Ishikawa's expectation.
However…
Still too weak!
The fist pressure arrived in an instant, but Ishikawa seemed oblivious, taking a light step forward.
Thud!
A dull thud of flesh impacting was heard. This time, Ishikawa not only didn't dodge, but he didn't even use Bakudo, simply taking the blow directly with his chest.
Tap…
A crisp sound of footsteps slowly emanated.
The entire world, at that instant, seemed to have been put on mute. The impact stirred up by that punch silently dissipated.
The sudden transition from extreme motion to extreme stillness caused a sense of incongruity in the hearts of everyone who witnessed this scene.
Unperturbed~
Chad maintained his punching stance, his pupils already filled with shock.
Incomprehensible!
The opponent's strength had reached a point where he couldn't even begin to understand it.
He didn't even know how the opponent had blocked his attack, nor did he understand… why this person was so incredibly strong.
"A fist…"
Ishikawa paused his steps, raised his right hand, and slowly closed his fingers.
"Is used like this!"
As his words fell, visible air currents gathered like mist towards Ishikawa's clenched fist, forming a swirling gust of wind as he moved.
Step, punch!
Boom~
The ground within a dozen meters, accompanied by crisp 'crack crack crack' sounds, developed spiderweb-like cracks centered around Ishikawa, spreading far into the distance.
Whether it was walls or building exteriors!
Chad only felt Ishikawa's punch expanding in his vision, as if it had replaced the entire world.
Death, so close!
Rumble—
A deafening explosion covered all other sounds, practically reverberating throughout the entire Seireitei!
Looking down from high above, a massive fist-shaped shadow could be seen hurtling out from the high ground where the Ninth Division was located. Though the fist appeared translucent like mist, it was incredibly swift and fast, leaving endless smoke in its wake wherever it passed.
From a distance, it looked as if a Human World airplane had flown over the Seireitei, leaving a long trail.
His hair was wildly dancing.
Chad stiffly turned his head to look behind him, only to see that the once wide and flat main road had been replaced by a massive trench, extending all the way to the edge of the high ground, passing through the void and crashing against the invisible Shakonmaku, causing ripples on its surface like water.
It lingered for a long time.
This punch didn't hit him; it brushed past him, and to avoid affecting him, the opponent even chose a slightly higher trajectory.
Although he didn't know why the other party did that, if that punch had landed on him just now, then…
He would have been dead!
"That punch just now was good."
Ishikawa's voice came from beside him: "Did Yoruichi teach you?"
Yoruichi?
Hearing Ishikawa mention Yoruichi's name, Chad was startled and turned his head somewhat inexplicably to look at Ishikawa, who was a head shorter than him.
"Her Hakuda is indeed strong, but it may not be suitable for you."
Ishikawa shook his head slightly: "Remember the feeling of that punch just now. Relatively speaking, your attack style is actually more similar to mine, or rather… it leans more towards the fighting style of a Hollow."
"You…"
Chad looked at Ishikawa in front of him, about to say something.
But in the next second, his body bent downwards, and he became completely unable to move at that instant.
"Bakudo No. 61: Rikujokoro."
The soft chant in his ear made Chad instinctively look at the index finger pointed at his chest.
Ishikawa withdrew his hand and turned to look behind him: "Someone, bring him a pair of Reishi-suppressing handcuffs and take him to the cell. Just lock him up, we still need to get information from him."
"Yes!"
Respectful voices came from all directions, and figures quickly moved towards them.
Everyone among them looked at Ishikawa with deep reverence.
Although they had learned some things about Ishikawa through various channels after he became their Captain.
But rumors are far less impactful than seeing with one's own eyes.
Captain Ishikawa's punch just now, let alone Chad who was close at hand, even those of them who were observing from the shadows felt an indescribable horror in their hearts.
Several Squad Members came to Chad's side and handcuffed him with Reishi-suppressing handcuffs.
"Captain…"
Hisagi Shuuhei came before Ishikawa, looking behind him, and his mouth twitched slightly.
The once neat and flat road…
Was now completely gone, and the smoke in the air was only now gradually dissipating.
This made him hesitate whether to remind Captain Ishikawa that the repair costs for these… according to the Gotei 13's rules, could not be entirely covered by Squad funds.
Because to prevent Captains from wantonly abusing their immense destructive power, Commander Yamamoto had a rule that for any damage caused by a Captain's battle, half of the repair cost would be borne by the Squad's funds, and the other half would be borne by the Captain who caused the damage…
This rule was actually enacted to prevent Captain Zaraki from causing chaos. Other Captains, unless absolutely necessary, would generally not use highly destructive moves within Seireitei.
As for Captain Zaraki…
Due to his frequent getting lost, he often chose the shortest path.
To put it bluntly, he would pick a direction and walk in a straight line, then flatten everything he encountered along the way, whether it was walls or buildings…
Everything leveled!
From then on, Commander Yamamoto enacted this new rule.
Ishikawa did not know Hisagi's thoughts beside him, but glanced at Chad, who was being led away by the Squad Members.
If the two Ginjo he had encountered previously leaned more towards Quincy and Shinigami, Chad in front of him actually felt more similar to a Hollow.
Whether it was his attack methods or his way of using Reishi.
When he had used Reishi to intimidate earlier, he hadn't held back. According to Ishikawa's expectation, Sado should not have been able to counterattack and would have been directly restrained by his Bakudo.
But now it seems…
Among Ichigo's group, this one person who hadn't left much of an impression on him was also not simple, it was just that the people around him were too special… which made him seem somewhat unremarkable in comparison.
That punch was indeed good!
Ishikawa vaguely understood the feeling Unohana Retsu might have had when he provoked her.
Very weak, but still something to look forward to.
That's why he threw that punch!
Shaking his head slightly, Ishikawa didn't pay too much attention to it. A punch for a punch, fair and reasonable!
"Let's go."
Ishikawa said to Hisagi beside him, but found him looking at the road behind with a conflicted expression.
"What's wrong?"
"This…"
Hisagi Shuuhei hesitated upon hearing this, but ultimately decided to tell the truth… mainly because with his salary, he couldn't possibly help Ishikawa fill this hole.
"Hmm?"
Ishikawa blinked: "Say that again."
"Uh…"
Hisagi Shuuhei gritted his teeth slightly, re-explained the rule, and then looked at Ishikawa, who was stunned in place, and asked:
"Captain, should we go back and prepare now?"
"Go back my ass!!"
Ishikawa's face instantly darkened: "Prepare? I haven't even received a single penny in commission fees yet, and you want me to pay out of my own pocket? What a joke, I'm fighting for Seireitei!"
"…"
Hisagi Shuuhei's mouth twitched slightly, and he wisely remained silent. He had been observing the previous battle from the sidelines; it was a battle that could have been resolved with a single Bakudo, yet Captain Ishikawa chose to… destroy the surrounding streets, walls, and even houses with one punch.
"Then…"
"Sigh—"
Ishikawa sighed slightly, took off his Captain's haori, and threw it to Hisagi: "Go back and call a few people to bring some tools. I'll stay here and clear up the trash first."
"Huh?"
"I mean…"
"I'll fix it myself!!"
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr