In an instant, Rennosuke's figure appeared right in front of Satoru.
Staring at Satoru, Rennosuke was filled with rage.
If it weren't for this damned brat, he might have already collaborated with Mayuri Kurotsuchi to steal the artificial soul technology.
That way, his identity wouldn't have been exposed, and he could have remained seated as the captain of the 3rd Division.
Instead, not only had he lost the captain position he worked so hard to obtain, but he had also been thrown into the Maggot's Nest.
What an utter humiliation!
Fortunately, that person had kept their promise and truly sent someone to rescue him.
Though the fact that he had become a stray dog was irreversible, at the very least, before fleeing for his life, he had to kill Satoru!
With a forceful swing of his arm, he brought his blade down toward Satoru!
Whoosh!!
To Rennosuke's astonishment, Satoru's figure flickered and reappeared midair not far away.
Standing on a platform of reishi, Satoru clasped his hands behind his back, gazing down at him like an otherworldly master.
Rennosuke remained frozen in his downward-slashing stance, his expression one of shock.
He hadn't expected Satoru to be this fast.
To think he could evade his strike with Shunpo!
However, his surprise lasted only a brief moment before he immediately prepared to pursue him.
Before he could act, Satoru's voice rang out from midair:
"Kamikawa, are you really determined to settle life and death with me here?"
Hearing this, Rennosuke frowned and looked at Satoru in confusion.
Satoru maintained his stance with both hands behind his back, exuding an immortal-like demeanor as he spoke slowly:
"If I were you, I wouldn't waste time right now."
"Earlier, when I entered the barrier, I deliberately let the spiritual pressure fluctuations here leak out for a while."
"Half of Seireitei already knows what's happening here."
"My two seniors, Captain Kyōraku and Captain Ukitake, are both very sharp. They're definitely on their way here by now."
"Your window to escape is shrinking by the second!"
At Satoru's words, Rennosuke's expression changed.
He glanced at Yasushi Takada, who gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Though he couldn't confirm whether Satoru had actually leaked the spiritual pressure, it was true the young man had entered from outside mid-battle.
Given this kid's cunning mind, sending out a signal wouldn't be surprising.
Rennosuke gritted his teeth in frustration.
But then, as if remembering something, he tightened his grip on his sword.
"Hmph, so what?"
"You're just a student. Killing you won't take long."
"I'll deal with you first, then escape!"
Satoru scoffed. "Kamikawa, is there something wrong with your head?"
"Didn't you see? Before you showed up, I already soloed Captain Takada!"
"As the Head Captain's personal disciple, I've learned several trump cards from him..."
"While defeating you both might be difficult, buying time is well within my capabilities."
Rennosuke frowned deeply, lost in thought.
Behind Satoru, Yoruichi and Soi Fon stood expressionless, their gazes calm.
Both harbored complex emotions at this moment.
Hidden behind Satoru's back, his sleeve bore a long gash, half of it hanging loose.
Had he been slightly slower, more than just fabric would have been severed.
His immortal-like pose wasn't composure—it concealed this vulnerability.
Yet even in this state, he could deliver such bold threats without blinking.
In some ways, that was a talent in itself.
Yasushi Takada spoke up: "Kamikawa, the kid's right. We should leave."
However long the captains might take, he wasn't willing to gamble.
Under his gaze, Rennosuke suddenly sneered.
"Satoru, if you're so confident, why urge us to leave?"
"Wouldn't stalling us be more advantageous?"
"Two captains defecting to the rebels—that's quite the merit."
Satoru sighed. "I repeat: is there something wrong with your head?"
"What's merit compared to survival?"
"While I'm confident in stalling you, there's always a margin for error."
"I need to stay alive to complete the Soul Society Paradise Project. Why risk it with you?"
At this, Soi Fon gave him a peculiar look.
Soul Society Paradise Project... what did that mean?
Yoruichi rolled her eyes.
Though unfamiliar with the term, she could guess its general meaning.
Yasushi Takada said in a deep voice, "Kamikawa, stop wasting time. Let's go!"
The wound on his stomach was getting worse by the minute.
If other captains arrived now, it would be real trouble.
Rennosuke didn't respond.
After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly grinned and swung his sword, charging into the air.
"Damn it, you lunatic!"
Without hesitation, Satoru raised his hand and fired a "Rikujōkōrō" (Six-Rod Light Restraint).
Taking advantage of Rennosuke dodging the attack, Satoru used Shunpo to return to the ground and picked up his Asauchi.
The moment he gripped the hilt, he immediately swung the blade behind him.
Clang!!!
The blade of the Asauchi clashed with Rennosuke's sword, sending bright sparks flying into the night.
"Where's your trump card? Where is it?!"
"Kid, if you've got one, use it already!"
Rennosuke laughed wildly as he slashed, forcing Satoru back.
Satoru stumbled over a dozen steps before barely regaining his footing.
Seeing his state, Rennosuke laughed even louder.
"Ha! You couldn't even dodge my first strike, yet you had the nerve to boast about having some trump card!"
"Takada! Were you really scared off by a brat like this?!"
He turned to Yasushi Takada, grinning mockingly.
Yasushi Takada: "..."
After observing Satoru for a couple of seconds, he nodded.
"Let's kill him together. Make it quick."
Without waiting for Rennosuke's reply, Yasushi Takada stomped the ground, launching himself like a cannonball straight at Satoru.
Satoru used Shunpo to retreat, trying to create distance.
But mid-movement, Rennosuke appeared beside him.
"Die!"
Rennosuke swung his blade downward.
Satoru raised his sword with both hands to block.
Though his technique kept up, his spiritual pressure was slightly inferior.
Boom!!!
Satoru, still mid-Shunpo, was sent flying by the slash, crashing from the sky into the ground.
Yasushi Takada didn't even wait for the dust to settle before leaping high and slamming down into the crater.
Inside the pit, Satoru lay sprawled on the ground, his expression resembling a defeated Kamen Rider—mouth agape, eyes squeezed shut.
Sensing Yasushi Takada's incoming strike, he tried to roll away but found his body temporarily paralyzed from the earlier impact.
After a brief hesitation, he opened his mouth.
A glowing orb rapidly formed.
Explaining this later might be difficult, but survival took priority over being crushed to death!
Just as he was about to unleash this "Simulated Cero," a weak yet resolute voice suddenly rang out—
"Sing... Benihime!!"
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