The reishi in the air trembled violently.
A torrent of black-red reiryoku surged into the horned mask on Hiyori's forehead.
In a blink, it condensed into a blinding orb of destructive light, its pressure enough to make hearts quake.
"Cero…"
"Tessai, that human's going to die."
Kensei's voice was grim, eyes fixed on the clash.
They had once been Gotei captains and lieutenants, warriors of immense strength.
Now, with hollow powers, their might was even greater—lieutenants rivaled captains, and captains were monsters among monsters.
Tessai said nothing, but his hands twitched, ready to unleash kido at a moment's notice.
Yoruichi and Soi Fong had stepped outside the barrier, perched atop crates, watching the crimson-black glow with stern faces.
"This Cero…" Soi Fong's eyes narrowed. "It's already on par with Adjuchas-class hollows."
Yoruichi nodded faintly. "Hiyori was a lieutenant. With hollow power, it's only natural."
Then—
"Shhhhk!!"
The crimson-black Cero blazed forth like a spear, ripping toward Cole's heart.
Cole narrowed his eyes, raising the golden Ruyi Jingu Bang to meet it.
"Idiot, do you want to die!?"
Hiyori cursed. She hadn't thought he'd actually try to block it.
He'd been dodging all this time—yet now he was suddenly bracing for impact.
One hit could kill him.
Cole ignored her, swinging his golden staff. A streak of gold clashed head-on with the crimson flash.
"BOOM!"
The warehouse shook to its foundations, dust and debris surging in waves.
A choking cloud swallowed the battlefield. None could see who had survived.
"Hey, human! You alive?"
Hiyori edged forward, shouting into the smoke.
But then—
Her face froze.
A ray of gold sliced through the haze.
She raised her jagged blade, cloaking it in her raging black-red reiryoku, and hacked down desperately.
But Cole's figure emerged before her, golden staff swinging lazily.
"Too slow."
"Too weak."
His casual voice cut through her ears—then their weapons met.
In an instant, her Orochi Kugiri was blasted from her grip, flung aside.
The golden staff loomed at her face.
"So fast… such power…"
Her pupils shrank. For a moment, she thought she'd die.
But the staff only tapped her mask.
"Crack."
A thin fissure spread across it.
Then more.
"Smash!"
The hollow mask shattered, fragments clattering across the floor.
Cole rested his staff on his shoulder, eyeing her calmly.
"Your reflexes are too slow. The moment you saw me, you should've pulled back. Forget your zanpakuto—kido was the right choice."
He stretched lazily, then ruffled her red hair with a smirk.
"Don't sulk. With effort, you'll stand tall as a Shinigami."
Then he waved at Tessai:
"Uncle Tessai, over here. Lady Yoruichi and Captain Soi Fong cleared space—we can train in kido now."
Tessai gulped, ready to answer—
"Wait, Tessai!"
Shinji, Kensei, Love, and Rose all pressed hands to his shoulders.
Lisa, Hachigen, and Mashiro fixed him with sharp stares.
"What?"
A chill coiled in Tessai's gut.
Shinji's voice was heavy. "What's with that human brat? What is that zanpakuto?"
Kensei narrowed his eyes. "I saw it—he smashed a Cero with brute force."
Love's tone was low. "That blow… it shook the whole space. Not normal."
Rose's voice was calm, but edged like steel. "And he stopped his strike perfectly. That wasn't luck—it was control."
The four former captains bore into Tessai, demanding answers.
They'd been leaders of the Gotei 13 once—their eyes couldn't be deceived.
That boy wasn't normal. His power, his reiryoku—inhuman.
Tessai coughed, fumbling for excuses. He wasn't about to hand over his rare genius of kido to swordsmen.
But Kensei's patience snapped.
"Enough chatter. He's just a human, right? I'll test him myself."
"Kensei!" Tessai barked, furious.
But Kensei was already moving, vaulting past Hiyori with a grin, zanpakuto in hand.
"Don't be down, Hiyori. I'll avenge you. Watch me bully this brat."
His reiryoku surged.
"Reduce to ash—Tachikaze!"
His archaic blade shrank into a ring-shaped dagger.
With a roar, he slashed at the golden staff.
"Human, don't lump me with Hiyori! I was captain of Squad 9! My power is—"
"Enough already!!!"
Cole snapped.
His patience burned away.
Clenching the golden staff with both hands, he swung down with all his strength, roaring:
"I just want to learn kido—stop getting in my way!!!"
"BOOM!!!"
The blow thundered.
Kensei was blasted back like a cannonball, sent hurtling faster than he'd charged.
"CRASH!!!"
He smashed into the barrier, the wards flickering wildly under the impact.
...…
...
(End of Chapter)
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