Jidanbo's face turned blue and purple with rage. He slammed his double axes into the ground and roared,
"Fools! When I said no one's passed for three hundred years, I wasn't talking about Soul Reapers — I meant intruders like you!"
Cole finally understood. Of course Soul Reapers didn't need to use the Dangai to enter and exit their own realm.
"So how do we get in then? Do we have to worship you first?" Ichigo raised Zangetsu.
Jidanbo smirked, pointing to the massive stone gate behind him. "Even if you defeat me, you'll never lift this White Road Gate. But if you win, I'll raise it for you."
They finally understood. The gate had no hinges or gaps — it wasn't for pushing or pulling, but for lifting.
Cole thought for a moment. His strength stat was already at 7000 points, equivalent to the power of a thousand men.
He grinned, planting his staff into the ground. "How about this? If you can lift my staff, we'll admit defeat."
"A stick!?" Jidanbo burst out laughing. "That tiny thing? I could use it as a toothpick!"
Cole only smiled, chanting, "Grow! Grow! Grow!"
The staff swelled into a golden pillar hundreds of times larger, towering before the gate.
Jidanbo froze, slack-jawed. "You've got to be kidding!?"
He dropped his axes, arms straining to hug the pillar. "Uuurgh!!!"
But even with all his might, the giant couldn't budge it.
Ichigo groaned. "Cole, seriously? I wanted to try out the sword techniques Kisuke taught me. Pulling out that staff is just bullying him."
"Fine, fine, my bad." Cole smirked at Jidanbo. "Well? Admit defeat yet?"
Sweat poured down Jidanbo's forehead. He knew these intruders weren't ordinary. Still, he stammered, "This doesn't count. You haven't beaten me yet."
Cole chuckled, shrinking the staff back down. "Aren't you worried I'll just crush you with it?"
The gatekeeper nearly panicked, but Chad stepped forward calmly. "Cole, Ichigo — leave this to me. I want to test my new strength."
Ichigo sighed, pulling back. "Guess I'll wait."
Jidanbo's spirit flared again. "A test of strength, then! I'm the mightiest warrior of Rukongai in centuries — I won't lose!"
"Brazo Derecha de Gigante (Right Arm of the Giant)!"
Chad's right arm darkened crimson and black, catching Jidanbo's fist without faltering. Strange white-red markings spread, eerie and Hollow-like.
"Brazo Izquierda del Diablo (Left Arm of the Devil)!"
With a roar, Chad's left fist smashed forward.
"Boom!"
The mighty Jidanbo was sent flying, crashing into Seireitei's wall, leaving behind a grotesque skull-shaped imprint.
Cole raised a brow. "You held back?"
Chad nodded, dispelling his arm forms. "I didn't want to hurt him too badly. He said if we beat him, he'd open the gate."
Jidanbo staggered, horrified. The strongest warrior of Rukongai… beaten by an intruder. Tears welled in his eyes. "I… I lost… how can I live with this shame?"
Ichigo sighed, trying to console him. "Don't cry, big guy. Cole says losing's part of battle. Just train harder and—"
But suddenly Ichigo drew Zangetsu up, blocking with a clang.
"Boom!"
Jidanbo's axes slammed down — a desperate sneak attack. But Ichigo's blade cleaved them to pieces. Shards clattered across the ground.
Jidanbo froze, then broke down into sobs again. But after Orihime and the others reassured him, he calmed. Grateful they spared him, he staggered to the gate, wedging his fingers underneath.
With a roar, he slowly lifted it, revealing Seireitei's interior. A wave of dense spiritual energy blasted outward.
Cole sucked in a sharp breath. "So much spirit energy… even richer than Kisuke's underground training room."
Just as they stepped forward—
A crushing reiatsu fell over them, freezing the air.
Footsteps echoed. A white haori, pale violet hair, and a foxlike smile appeared.
Jidanbo trembled. "C-Captain Gin Ichimaru…"
Gin smiled. "Jidanbo, opening the White Road Gate for intruders is against the law."
"They… they beat me…" Jidanbo stammered.
"Still not allowed." Gin's eyes slid toward Cole and Ichigo.
"Shoot to kill… Shinso."
A flash of white light shot forward like a beam.
"So fast!" Cole's eyes narrowed. He knew Shinso was quick, but even he could barely follow it.
A scream. Blood sprayed. Jidanbo collapsed, crushed by the gate as it slammed down.
In that instant, Cole pointed his staff at Gin.
"Shoot to kill… Ruyi Jingu Bang!"
Gin's smile froze as the golden staff suddenly extended like Shinso itself, hurtling toward him.
"What!?" For once, his grin vanished. He tore his zanpakuto free from his sleeve.
"Clang!"
Shinso and the golden staff collided, sparks flying.
The White Road Gate slammed shut.
Ichigo slashed futilely at it, leaving only shallow white marks. "Rukia! Who the hell was that!?"
Her face was pale. "The Third Division Captain — Gin Ichimaru. Don't be fooled by his smile. He's one of the most dangerous captains in Seireitei."
Ichigo and the others paled. They hadn't expected a captain's attack to be that fast… faster than light itself.
"Cole, Yoruichi-san, what now!?" Ichigo demanded.
Yoruichi licked her paw. "Jidanbo's injured. He won't be able to open the gate again. There's… another way in. I have a friend—"
"I'll handle it."
Cole stepped forward, crouching at the gate. His fingers dug into the crack at its base.
"Hey, kid!" Jidanbo croaked. "Strength and leverage are different. Even if you're stronger than me, that doesn't mean—"
The gate groaned.
Cole gritted his teeth, muscles straining. With a roar, he heaved it onto his shoulder.
Everyone gawked. To them, it was like watching an ant lift a war chariot.
Even Gin stopped, eyes wide. "You… lifted the White Road Gate!?"
Cole grinned, licking his lips. "Ichigo, Rukia, Chad, Orihime, Uryu — go with Yoruichi. I'll scout ahead."
"What!?" Ichigo shouted. "Cole, what are you—"
But Cole stepped through, letting the gate slam shut behind him.
"Cole, you bastard!!!" Ichigo pounded the gate, furious.
Inside, Cole stretched lazily, fingering a marble-like bead in his pocket. Smiling, he raised his staff toward Gin.
"Captain Gin… care for a fight?"
(End of Chapter)
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