Chapter 154: Just a Bunch of Monsters, Right?
"In fact, the most terrifying aspect of that blade goes even further."
As Satoru was lost in his fantasies, Yoruichi slid the door open and entered.
She was about to speak when she paused, taken aback by the scene inside the room.
Suì-Fēng had taken off her shoes and was standing on Satoru's back, like a general triumphantly trampling a defeated enemy after winning a war.
The problem was, the victorious general showed no trace of happiness on her face, while the defeated general, despite being in a disgraceful and humiliating position, wore an expression of pure bliss.
It was a bit unsettling.
"Eek! Lady Yoruichi!"
Suì-Fēng's face flushed bright red upon seeing Yoruichi's sudden entrance.
"Th-There's a reason for this, I..."
As she spoke, she instinctively tried to step off Satoru's back.
But before she could move, Satoru's voice rang out:
"Oh? Running away now?"
"Are you going to abandon this precious opportunity to protect your beloved Lady Yoruichi?"
"Is the pride of being a direct guard something you can discard so easily?"
"Guh..."
Hearing Satoru's words, Suì-Fēng gritted her teeth.
Though his logic was twisted, she had indeed started doing this to participate in "protecting Lady Yoruichi."
If she ran away now, wouldn't that prove she was incapable of making sacrifices for Lady Yoruichi?
After a brief hesitation, Suì-Fēng pressed her lips together and continued stepping on Satoru's back.
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow.
Though she didn't know what agreement these two had made before she arrived, little Suì-Fēng had definitely been tricked by Satoru.
As someone Suì-Fēng admired, when faced with such a situation, she naturally...
Naturally chose to enjoy the show happily!
There was no helping it—a cute child like Suì-Fēng couldn't fully reveal all her adorable aspects by herself.
Only by teaming up with Satoru could they slowly uncover all of Suì-Fēng's shy expressions!
Watching Suì-Fēng's pretty face flushed red while trying to maintain a serious demeanor, Yoruichi couldn't help but take a deep breath.
She coughed, forcibly steering the conversation back on track.
"Enrakyōten can replicate any Zanpakutō its owner has seen."
"Satoru, do you know what that means?"
Satoru rested his chin on the pillow, wrapping his arms around it.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "It means it can replicate incredibly powerful Zanpakutō... like Ryūjin Jakka."
"That old guy from the Tsunayashiro Clan used Ryūjin Jakka?"
Yoruichi nodded. "Yes, he did."
Two days ago, after delivering Satoru to the hot springs, she had immediately led the Stealth Force to the Tsunayashiro Clan's estate.
As soon as they arrived, she witnessed towering flames.
Senzaemon had used Enrakyōten's ability to replicate Ryūjin Jakka.
Under the assault of the flames, several captains found it difficult to break through.
The situation had reached a stalemate.
The Tsunayashiro mansion was located in the Seireitei's noble district.
If he were allowed to freely use Ryūjin Jakka, many nobles would perish alongside him.
This was an outcome Ginrei could not accept.
He used his Bankai's power to suppress Senzaemon and control Ryūjin Jakka, preventing the flames from spreading outward.
Shinji flash-stepped to his side.
"Hey, hey, old man Kuchiki, this isn't sustainable. We'll be worn down like this."
Against an opponent with such widespread area-of-effect attacks, his Sakanade was practically useless.
It was quite awkward.
Kensei and Aikawa roared as they charged toward the ring of fire, but each time they were halfway through, they were forced back by the scorching flames.
Tsunayashiro Senzaemon—this old man who had never even been a captain—actually possessed Reiatsu of such terrifying intensity.
Even with two captains joining forces, they couldn't even glimpse the upper limits of his power, let alone defeat him...
"Seek Lord Genryūsai's assistance."
Ginrei spoke up.
Shinji scratched his head helplessly. "Guess we have no choice..."
Just as he was about to send a Shinigami to deliver the message, a voice suddenly rang out—
"No need to find Lord Genryūsai! Leave this to me!!"
With a furious roar, a figure descended from the sky.
Shinji looked up, his face frozen in astonishment.
A woman with long purple hair, her expression twisted in rage, unleashed a terrifying wave of Reiatsu as she dove downward!
"Damn you, Tsunayashiro Senzaemon... You made me search Hueco Mundo for three whole days!"
"Finding the person would've been one thing, but after all that trouble, I discovered my master had already returned on his own... Do you have any idea how pissed I am?!"
"Die, die, die, die, DIE!!!"
Amid her incoherent roars, Kirio Hikifune, trailing a long trail of Reiatsu, plunged headfirst into the inferno of Ryūjin Jakka.
Under Senzaemon's stunned gaze, the terrifying flames of Ryūjin Jakka licked against Kirio's body—only to be blocked by an invisible barrier.
The flames burned against the intangible defensive layer, completely unable to reach her actual body!
Mid-air, Kirio drew her Zanpakutō and swung it straight at Senzaemon.
Senzaemon didn't dare underestimate her.
Facing Kirio Hikifune—the designated member of the Royal Guard—he immediately activated Sakanade's ability.
Sakanade was Shinji's Zanpakutō.
Its effect was to disorient the enemy, inverting all their senses—up and down, left and right!
Kirio's downward slash suddenly reversed upward.
Shinji froze for a moment, then hurriedly tried to explain his sword's ability to her.
But before he could speak, he saw Kirio's eyes suddenly lose focus.
The moment she realized her body and soul were out of sync, she instantly replaced her own senses with those of an artificial soul.
Spinning mid-air, she locked her gaze back on Senzaemon—
BOOM!!!!
A tremendous explosion echoed all around.
A mushroom-shaped cloud of dust shot into the sky!
High above, Aikawa couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
As expected of a legendary veteran powerhouse. Just this single sword strike is enough to demonstrate his true caliber!
Kensei flicked his Zanpakutō, sending out several threads of wind that dispersed the billowing dust cloud.
They saw Kirio gripping her Zanpakutō, standing like a war goddess, launching a relentless barrage of attacks against Senzaemon.
Seeing this, Ginrei nodded. "Everyone, let's attack together and assist Captain Hikifune!"
"Heh heh... Now that Ryūjin Jakka is suppressed, it's my time to shine..."
Hirako grinned, baring his teeth, and raised his Zanpakutō.
But at that moment, Kirio, who had been attacking incessantly, suddenly stopped.
Her eyes widened as she stared in disbelief behind Senzaemon.
Unnoticed by anyone, one monster after another had emerged from there.
Each monster was a white sphere the size of a brown bear.
They had no eyes, nose, ears, or limbs—only a massive maw filled with gigantic teeth.
They looked somewhat like Cthulhu-style Pac-Men.
Seeing these large spheres, cold sweat trickled down Kirio's forehead.
"Hey, hey... You've got to be kidding me?"
Up in the sky, Ginrei's face drastically changed.
"Fall back! Everyone! Get away immediately!!"
"What's going on? What's wrong with everyone? They're just a bunch of monsters, right?"
Kensei asked in surprise.
"Because these aren't ordinary monsters."
A voice suddenly came from beside him.
"Their name is Gagaku Kairō!"