Inside the barrier, the roar of kido shook the air.
One spell after another blasted out, rattling the entire warehouse as if it might collapse.
The Vizards stood outside, glassy-eyed, watching the two monsters inside hurl kidō like it was nothing.
"Shinji… that was #96, right?"
Love stared dumbly.
Shinji gave a weary nod. "Hado 97… Bakudo 99… Kaido 81… and half a dozen barrier arts besides…"
The others twitched.
Lisa muttered, "And he learned everything from the seventies to the nineties in one night and a day?"
No one wanted to speak.
It was too painful. Too discouraging.
How could a freak like this even exist?
Rose tried to comfort them. "Relax. He's only copying the spells. The power isn't on par with ours."
Hiyori shot him a glare. "Did you learn three hundred spells in five days?"
"…."
Rose's mouth twitched. He wisely shut it.
Three hundred in five days. What more could anyone ask for?
Hachigen, filled with envy, said, "If only I were the one teaching him…"
Teaching mediocrity was torture. Teaching genius was bliss.
The others nodded grimly.
Shinji coughed. "Urahara told me—this brat isn't just talented in kido. His hoho, zanjutsu… every field's absurd."
The group's eyes lit up, gazes burning toward Cole.
Love muttered, "As expected of Captain Kurosaki's son… his gift's even greater than I imagined."
Shinji and the others smiled knowingly.
They'd heard whispers of Isshin Kurosaki having a son, but never met him.
Now they had.
Truly, the son of a tiger is no dog.
Yoruichi gave them a flat look.
"…You lot are mistaken."
They blinked. "Mistaken?"
The black cat licked her paw.
"He's not Isshin's son. He just lives at the Kurosaki Clinic. Isshin's son is Ichigo Kurosaki."
"???"
Kensei gawked at Cole.
"Then who the hell is this guy!?"
Yoruichi tilted her head. "…Some random kid?"
The Vizards twitched violently, ten thousand curses stampeding through their minds.
They'd all assumed he was Isshin's child. With power like that, what else made sense?
But now…
"…."
"Cole! Hurry!"
At the warehouse entrance, Rukia and Ichigo in shinigami form burst in, faces stricken.
Then they froze.
Rukia's eyes widened in shock at the sight of the Vizards.
"Squad 3 Captain Rose… Squad 5 Captain Shinji… Squad 7 Captain Love… Squad 9 Captain Kensei…!"
Her face paled as she backed away.
She knew them well—when she graduated the Academy, none of them had yet defected.
"What, just the Kuchiki girl?" Hiyori grumbled, hefting her jagged blade. "Cole's been busting his ass for you, and you only just show up?"
Rukia blinked, then finally spotted Cole inside, unleashing spell after spell.
"Hado #54: Haien!"
Purple fire boiled in his hand, lancing out like a laser into the barrier's corner.
"WHOOOSH!!"
The blaze devoured the space.
Tessai clapped, eyes shining. "Excellent, Cole! Your control of all spells below level sixty is solid now!"
Of course. I've been pumping hundreds of points into them… Cole winced inwardly. His attribute pool was nearly empty.
"No incantation… Haien at level 54…"
Rukia stood dumbstruck.
She'd been a shinigami for 150 years, studied kidō all that time. Yet she still couldn't cast above level 30 without incantation.
And this boy…
Her thoughts spun—until Hiyori's words landed like a thunderclap.
"Cole's been training this hard for you, idiot!"
Rukia froze, cheeks flaring red.
"T-that's not it! I don't want to drag him down. I meant to return to Soul Society alone—"
"Don't be stupid!" Hiyori snapped. "He's fighting so you don't have to go back. Can't you see that, you clueless girl!?"
"Don't bully her, Hiyori."
Cole appeared behind her, grinning as he ground his knuckles against her temple.
"OW ow ow—!"
She nearly cried, flailing until she wrenched free.
"You brat, I was speaking up for you!"
Cole waved her off. "No need. It's my choice. Whatever the cost, I'll stick to it. Still… thanks. I'll treat you to candy later."
"Damn it—I'm not a kid!"
"You look like one."
"Cole, I'll kill you!!"
Rukia could only gape at the two squabbling like children.
"…That really is Vice Captain Hiyori Sarugaki?" she whispered.
"Yep," Cole said lightly, still ruffling her hair. Then he looked at Rukia and Ichigo.
"So what brings you two running here?"
Their eyes widened, remembering their purpose.
"Cole, it's bad!" Rukia cried. "Ishida and Ichigo messed around with a hollow bait—now thousands of hollows are swarming here!"
Ichigo shouted, "It's true! We can't handle it alone. You've gotta come!"
Cole raised a brow.
"Thousands, huh? You two really went all out. Not afraid of starting a war?"
...…
......
(End of Chapter)
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