Fantasy Library, Ch 206-210

Chapter 206: The Captains' Reactions

"My future?"

The sudden topic caused Kaiser's brow to rise slightly.

"That's right." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto nodded as he spoke meaningfully. "Though still a child, you already possess the ability to act independently. Someone like you no longer needs to remain in the Shin'ō Academy."

An ordinary Academy Student, yet possessing the strength to slay an Adjuchas-class Menos Grande in a single blow—who would believe that?

But the facts were in front of them. All signs already fully confirmed this to be true. Since that was the case, allowing such an outstanding talent to remain in the ivory tower of the Academy was without a doubt a waste of time—and more importantly, a squandering of potential.

"Graduate." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto said solemnly. "Join the Gotei 13. That is where you truly belong."

Originally, Yamamoto had intended for Kaiser to be drawn into the Gotei 13 after gradually shedding his violent tendencies through peaceful student life at the Academy.

But in the past half year, Yamamoto had been watching Kaiser’s every move.

He discovered that, despite Kaiser’s origins in the Zaraki District and the many ruthless criminals he had battled, he was not a bloodthirsty or war-loving individual like a certain someone. On the contrary, he was very easy to get along with.

Renji Abarai, Izuru Kira, Momo Hinamori... all three were from Rukongai and had interacted with Kaiser to varying degrees, yet none had ever encountered any issues with him. It was proof that Kaiser was not someone with problematic character.

And Kaiser's strength was far too exceptional—not only within the Shin'ō Academy but likely even among the Gotei 13 itself. There was no reason for him to remain in school; it was time for him to receive further tempering within the Gotei 13.

Thus, Yamamoto used this opportunity to present his proposal.

However, at this moment, the real troublemaker could no longer remain silent.

"Oi, Old Man Yama, can you really make such an important decision so casually?"

The one who spoke with absolutely no respect for the Captain Commander was the man who had been staring at Kaiser ever since his arrival.

He had a fierce-looking face, a scar across his left cheek, and his Captain’s Haori had jagged edges at the hem. His hair stood up like a porcupine, each tuft adorned with a tiny bell, and his right eye was covered with an eyepatch. His appearance was nothing short of bizarre.

"Captain of Division 11—Kenpachi Zaraki."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto cast a glance at him and stated his identity.

Yes.

This man was the Captain of Division 11—Kenpachi Zaraki.

"Don’t look at me like that, Old Man Yama," Kenpachi Zaraki grinned, his expression more savage than anyone else’s, and the aura he exuded was more frenzied than anyone else's—as if he were a beast ready to bite. "This guy’s still just an Academy Student, right? And a first-year at that? You telling me someone like that can really kill an Adjuchas in one strike?"

"I’m not buying it."

Kenpachi Zaraki's words made the other Captains look toward Kaiser.

They found Kenpachi’s attitude somewhat strange.

They knew Kenpachi well—he wasn’t the type to do this kind of thing.

Doubting someone’s strength and opposing the Captain Commander’s decisions—this wasn’t like the usual Kenpachi Zaraki.

But among the Captains present, there were indeed a few who questioned Kaiser’s strength.

"Not everyone has the capacity to carry the banner of justice. For someone so young, the burden might be a little too much."

The first to voice support for Kenpachi was Kaname Tōsen, Captain of Division 9.

A dark-skinned man with purple hair and goggles on his face.

Division 9 was the incarceration squad, responsible for imprisoning and apprehending serious criminals who endangered Seireitei. Though Kaname Tōsen gave off a somber vibe, he appeared to be someone who hated evil deeply, hence his remark.

"Indeed, while I don't want to doubt the Captain Commander’s decision, Tōsen’s concern is not without reason."

Next was Sajin Komamura, Captain of Division 7.

A towering figure wearing a helmet like an iron bucket, a Haori adorned with a raised collar and shoulder guards, and armor on his limbs.

Division 7 was the inner court guard squad, responsible for defending Seireitei—in other words, the guards. As its Captain, Komamura clearly had a strong sense of justice and responsibility. His comment was quite reasonable.

"Well, the kid just looks so young. I think it’d be better to let him enjoy peaceful school life a bit longer, wouldn’t it?"

Said by Isshin Kurosaki, Captain of Division 10.

A tall and well-built man with short black hair, a lean face, and a sleeveless long white Haori.

Division 10 was the patrol and guard squad responsible for patrols in both Seireitei and Rukongai. Essentially, the security force. Isshin Kurosaki’s appearance matched that image—but his attitude seemed a bit unserious.

These three Captains all questioned Kaiser’s strength. Perhaps they had no ill intent, but they did doubt the credibility of the rumors.

Of course, where there is doubt, there is also support.

"Gentlemen, I don’t believe the Captain Commander is the type to promote someone arbitrarily. If he’s made this decision, then it must be well thought out. We should place more trust in that."

A gentle and calm voice.

The speaker matched her tone—a graceful and mature woman with long black hair braided and draped over her shoulder.

Retsu Unohana, Captain of Division 4, and the most skilled Kaidō practitioner in the Soul Society.

"I feel the same as Captain Unohana. As someone who has spent more time around Kaiser, I can assure you he truly is talented enough. Graduating early from the Shin'ō Academy is well within his rights."

Sōsuke Aizen followed up with full support for Kaiser.

"I’ve also heard from the Academy Students—everything confirms his abilities."

Shunsui Kyōraku chuckled as he pressed on his straw hat.

These three voiced their support, forming a subtle opposition to the earlier objections. To an outsider, it might seem like factional infighting.

Meanwhile, Suì-Fēng and Mayuri Kurotsuchi showed no interest in the topic at all, nor in Kaiser himself. They simply observed coldly from the sidelines. The Captain of Division 6 remained silent as well, eyes closed.

As Division 6 was a Noble-exclusive squad, its duties related to the Noble Clans. The Captain—belonging to the head of the Kuchiki Clan, one of the Four Great Noble Clans—seemed uninterested in matters involving commoners and thus didn’t participate in the discussion.

It was said he was planning to retire soon, and another genius from the Kuchiki Clan would take over. For now, he showed no enthusiasm for Gotei 13’s affairs and simply wished to spend his remaining days in peace.

As for Division 3, the support squad, its Captain’s position was currently vacant and thus had no representative present. Division 13, the purification squad, had its Captain chronically ill and often absent from such meetings—hence their absence.

Ten Captains each expressed their opinions or silently conveyed their stance, creating a charged atmosphere.

Kenpachi Zaraki, as if growing impatient, cut everyone off.

"Who cares if he’s qualified to graduate?! I’m saying, does he really have the strength to kill an Adjuchas in one strike!" Kenpachi said. "That’s an Adjuchas! To kill one of those, you’ve got to be at least Captain level, right?"

"And you're saying a kid halfway through his first year at the Academy has Captain-level strength?"

"Well, I don’t believe it!"

Kenpachi Zaraki's words caused all the Captains’ eyes to flicker.

To be honest, this was the part they doubted most.

It wasn’t that they distrusted the intelligence—it’s just that a first-year Academy Student with Captain-level strength was simply too hard to accept.

Even if he was rumored to have Second-Class Spiritual Pressure, with potential to become a Captain, how long had he even been enrolled?

Six months!

Only six months, and he was already at Captain level?

Without seeing it with their own eyes, who would believe such a thing?

And precisely because they were Captains, they knew how difficult it was to reach this level.

Most of them simply didn’t want to believe it. They didn’t want to believe that a feat they had painstakingly achieved had already been surpassed by a half-year rookie.

"So what do you propose, Captain Zaraki?"

Retsu Unohana turned to him and asked.

And then everyone saw it.

Saw Kenpachi Zaraki smile.

A very dangerous smile.

"If we want to know whether this guy really has Captain-level strength, isn’t the method obvious?"

Kenpachi finally laid bare his intent.

"Have him fight me. Problem solved, right?"

Upon hearing this, the Captains finally understood why Kenpachi Zaraki—this battle maniac—had been so unusually vocal in opposing Yamamoto’s decision.

So this was what he’d been waiting for.

"Oi! You’re from the Zaraki District too, right?"

Kenpachi Zaraki shouted to Kaiser with barely contained excitement.

"Then fight me—let’s see who’s the strongest swordsman from Zaraki!"

Chapter 207: No Reason to Refuse

Within the Gotei 13, Division 11 was especially renowned—perhaps even the most famous squad of them all.

The reason was simple: Division 11 was fiercely combative, known as the most powerful force within the Gotei 13.

Division 11 was a unit devoted exclusively to combat, and it heavily emphasized physical strength. Most of its members wielded Zanpakutō focused on direct attacks, paid little attention to Kidō, yet were always at the front lines. Its very existence represented the most elite combat power in the Soul Society. So much so that the squad barracks even had designated arenas for sparring and dueling. Squad members frequently trained in combat, making them arguably the most professional warriors among the Gotei 13.

The Captain of this squad was even regarded as the strongest swordsman within the Gotei 13 and the Soul Society as a whole. As such, successive Captains of Division 11 were given the title “Kenpachi,” a name that symbolized absolute strength.

Division 11 revered combat to the extent that they could bypass hierarchy. Anyone could challenge anyone at any time. If you won, you took their place. There was no need to wait for formal promotion as in other squads.

In other words, if you could defeat the third seat of Division 11, you became the third seat. If you defeated the Lieutenant, you became the Lieutenant. And naturally, if you could defeat the Captain, you would not only become the Captain of Division 11 but also inherit the title of “Kenpachi,” the strongest swordsman of the era.

Kenpachi Zaraki had risen to power exactly this way.

He wasn’t originally a Shinigami of the Gotei 13. Like Kaiser, he came from the 80th district of North Rukongai—Zaraki, the most chaotic and lawless region. A nameless and rankless soul, he later adopted “Zaraki” as his surname. From a young age, he displayed a thirst for battle and a bloodthirsty nature.

He never attended the Shin'ō Academy and never received formal Shinigami training. But through a chance encounter, he took an Asauchi from a deceased Shinigami and made it his own Zanpakutō.

With that stolen Zanpakutō, Kenpachi fought countless criminals and murderers. No one knows how many he killed or how many times he himself was slashed, but he enjoyed it all.

He became terrifyingly strong—though his swordsmanship was crude due to lack of training, his innate spiritual pressure and battle lust compensated for everything. And so, his name began to spread.

Eventually, driven by the desire for stronger opponents, Kenpachi traveled across districts, engaging in life-and-death battles, gathering like-minded warriors, and ultimately arrived at Seireitei.

When he learned of Division 11 and the title “Kenpachi,” he went straight to challenge the former Kenpachi—and killed him. Thus, he became the current Captain of Division 11 and inherited the name Kenpachi Zaraki.

You could say his entire life was one of battle and slaughter. As a fearless warrior, he was worshipped by many seated officers and Squad members in Division 11. Some even referred to Division 11 as “Zaraki Squad” to show their respect for him.

Even after becoming Captain, his love for battle did not wane—it only grew stronger.

Now, without a doubt, Kaiser had been targeted by this battle maniac, igniting his desire for combat.

No helping it—upon learning that Kaiser, like him, hailed from Zaraki and was an unrivaled prodigy who had tested at Second-Class Spiritual Pressure the moment he enrolled, Kenpachi Zaraki had already been dying to meet him. But he had been prevented from doing so by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

Now that Kaiser had not only appeared, but had also demonstrated the strength to slay an Adjuchas-class Menos Grande in a single strike, how could Kenpachi Zaraki possibly sit still?

Whether Kaiser truly possessed that level of power was irrelevant to him—he simply wanted to challenge him and see for himself if the rumors were true.

If Kaiser lived up to the reputation, great. If not, Kenpachi wouldn’t be disappointed either. After all, he was still a fellow warrior who had carved his way out of Zaraki, and no matter how weak he was, he couldn’t be that weak, right?

And so, Kenpachi Zaraki went against his usual behavior and publicly questioned Yamamoto’s decision—not for any principle, but simply to create an excuse to fight Kaiser.

"You’re not the type to chicken out, are you?" Kenpachi grinned, saying, "I know better than anyone what kind of guys come out of that place. No way you’d turn down a fight served to you on a silver platter. Am I right?"

As he spoke, Kenpachi’s spiritual pressure surged forth like a mountain crashing down upon Kaiser.

Its terrifying weight caused space to tremble, and the air seemed to split into black and white, distorting the field of vision.

While Kaiser wasn’t overwhelmed, he did sigh inwardly.

"Why is there always some battle-crazed lunatic no matter where I go?"

First it was the student council president of Jie Long Seventh Institute from the Asterisk world, then Vali and Cao Cao from the High School DxD world, and now the Captain of Division 11, Kenpachi Zaraki—why was he always being pestered by these combat maniacs no matter what world he entered?

Couldn’t they show a little interest in something other than fighting?

But...

"I really don’t have any reason to refuse."

Kaiser glanced at the silent Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and the other captains who were watching. He instantly understood what they were thinking.

They might not all doubt his strength, but they certainly wanted to see just how strong the Soul Society’s most talented Shinigami in a thousand years really was—especially considering he had only studied at the Shin'ō Academy for half a year.

If Kaiser could display sufficient strength, then the captains' view of him would be completely different.

And that was no trivial matter.

As previously stated, the Soul Society was an extremely hierarchical world where the line between the upper and lower classes was very clear.

From a broader perspective, Shinigamis living in Seireitei were upper class, and souls living in Rukongai were lower class.

From a narrower view, the strong were upper class, and the weak were lower class.

Within the Gotei 13, power was especially important. Only those with sufficient strength could become Captains, Lieutenants, or seated officers.

Those with lower ranks had to serve those above them. Lower-seated officers were required to obey higher-seated ones. Even Lieutenants had to follow their Captain’s orders without question. Disobedience could result in execution.

It was a world where, if a subordinate made a mistake, and their superior ordered them to commit seppuku on the spot, they’d have to comply.

Don’t be fooled by how comfortably Kaiser lived in the Academy—that was only because everyone believed he had limitless potential and would one day rise above. If not for that, the noble-born students would never have tolerated a lowly soul from Rukongai causing waves.

Renji Abarai was already one of the nicer ones, but apart from Izuru Kira, Momo Hinamori, and Rukia Kuchiki—who had known him since childhood—who else willingly approached him or became friends?

No one.

Because the noble-born students looked down on those from Rukongai. Even though Renji Abarai performed outstandingly in Zanjutsu classes, their gaze toward him was like one might look at a rabid dog.

Why did so many Academy teachers and even the Headmaster personally seek out Kaiser, offering warmth and special guidance?

The answer was simple: because they believed Kaiser would eventually become a Captain-tier figure in the Gotei 13 and wanted to build a good relationship early on.

If Kaiser were merely a genius, even if he graduated early and joined the Gotei 13, he’d still likely be someone who ran errands for Captains.

But if he could demonstrate strength equal to the Captains...

"My goal in this world is simple: to live a brilliant and exciting life."

"As a mere commoner from the Soul Society, a soul born in Rukongai, what could be more talked about than joining the Gotei 13 and becoming a Captain?"

"What’s one Adjuchas?"

"If I’m going to fight, then defeating a Captain—that’s what makes things exciting!"

Pretending to be weak was never Kaiser's style.

To live life as fully as possible, he needed to stand out.

Otherwise, why would he have displayed his Second-Class Spiritual Pressure without holding back during the Shin'ō Academy entrance exam?

Wasn’t it precisely to make a name for himself in the Soul Society?

Thinking this, Kaiser met Kenpachi Zaraki’s war-hungry gaze and suddenly smiled too.

A sharp-edged smile.

"Let’s move to another location, Captain Zaraki," Kaiser said. "There’s no room here for us to go all out."

Hearing this, Kenpachi Zaraki burst out into wild laughter.

"No problem! Anywhere’s fine with me!"

So long as he could fight, whether it was in a swamp or a mud pit, Kenpachi Zaraki would be thrilled.

THUD!

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto tapped his wooden staff for the third time, drawing everyone’s attention to him.

"Captain Kurotsuchi," Yamamoto said expressionlessly, "you handle the location."

"Understood," Mayuri Kurotsuchi shrugged. "This is a rare chance. Let me take the opportunity to collect some combat data on Captain-level battles."

The other Captains exchanged glances. In the end, even they started feeling a bit excited.

Two battle geniuses from the Zaraki District clashing head-on—what kind of sparks would fly?

They could hardly wait to find out.

Chapter 208: The Blade That Will Defeat You

The venue Mayuri Kurotsuchi prepared was not an existing location within Seireitei, but rather an experimental site built beneath the Division 12 barracks.

This experimental site seemed originally intended to house large living specimens, but all of them had already been disposed of by Mayuri—either dissected or used for some experiment and scrapped—so now the area stood completely empty.

Multiple layers of barriers were deployed around this place, making it impossible even for a Menos Grande to escape. Even if an Adjuchas-class Hollow used a Cero to bombard the barriers, they could withstand the attack perfectly, and not even a ripple would be sensed from the outside.

In other words, even if Captain-level individuals went all out in battle here, it would not impact the outside world in the slightest.

Kaiser and Kenpachi Zaraki entered this site and stepped into the combat zone.

"You may begin at any time."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi stood in the distance with the other Captains, his sharp and slightly mocking voice clearly reaching both of them.

"Feel free to go wild. With your level of strength, it’s impossible to completely destroy this place anyway."

With that said, Mayuri spoke no more, instead calling for a subordinate to begin recording data from the upcoming battle.

The other Captains either crossed their arms or stood calmly in the breeze, watching the confrontation in the distance. No one spoke a word—they simply waited in silence for the fight to begin.

The two within the arena did not keep them waiting long. The moment Mayuri finished speaking, they started moving.

Kenpachi Zaraki was the first to draw his Zanpakutō.

His Zanpakutō was peculiar. The guard was a three-dimensional polygon, the blade jagged and uneven, and the handle wrapped in tattered white cloth—it looked heavily worn, battered beyond repair.

"Come on, draw your sword," Kenpachi Zaraki grinned, looking unbearably excited. "Want me to give you a few steps' head start?"

"Do as you please." Kaiser’s expression remained perfectly calm. He slowly placed a hand on the hilt at his waist and drew his Zanpakutō as he spoke. "Whatever you're planning won’t affect what I intend to do next."

"Whether you want to give me a head start, go all out, or even surrender on the spot—I don’t care at all."

"As long as you remain on the battlefield, I will keep swinging my blade. That’s all there is to it."

Kenpachi Zaraki seemed quite satisfied with this remark, and the curve of his smile widened.

But more than the exchange, what caught Kenpachi Zaraki’s attention was Kaiser’s Zanpakutō.

Kaiser’s Zanpakutō was the complete opposite of his. Its appearance was not crude at all, but rather elegant—noble even—with a refined aura that made Kenpachi Zaraki feel like his own Zanpakutō was slightly trembling just by being near it.

And he wasn’t the only one whose attention was drawn to Kaiser’s Zanpakutō—the Captains observing the fight were also captivated.

"That Zanpakutō doesn’t look ordinary at all." Isshin Kurosaki stroked his chin and said suspiciously, "It doesn’t even seem to be in Shikai yet, but it already doesn’t look like the rest of ours."

"Indeed. There’s something strange about it," Sajin Komamura rumbled from behind his iron mask. "I sense a hidden Reiatsu within. Even though it hasn’t released yet, it’s already so unusual. Very odd."

"He’s already attained Shikai, hasn’t he?" Kaname Tōsen couldn’t see Kaiser’s Zanpakutō, but he could clearly sense a faint spiritual pressure. Calmly, he said, "Even though I can’t see it, a Zanpakutō that unique can’t possibly be just an unreleased Asauchi."

"He must’ve already achieved Shikai." Shunsui Kyōraku spoke with interest, smiling. "Amazing. He’s only had his Asauchi for a few days, yet he’s already mastered Shikai. No wonder he’s the most outstanding prodigy in a thousand years."

"Captain Aizen, you’ve interacted with the prodigy before, haven’t you?" Retsu Unohana had been watching Kenpachi Zaraki, but upon seeing how gleefully he was smiling, she turned to face Kaiser and observed his Zanpakutō for a moment before turning to Sōsuke Aizen. "Have you ever seen the boy’s Shikai?"

"No, I haven’t." Aizen shook his head, his voice tinged with a hint of regret. "Back in the World of the Living, he defeated an Adjuchas-class Menos Grande without using Shikai. As for the other Hollows, they couldn’t force him to use it either."

Sōsuke Aizen was very intrigued by Kaiser’s Zanpakutō.

He had noticed its unusual aura back in the World of the Living. Though faint, its spiritual signature had unique characteristics that had piqued his interest.

Unfortunately, a Zanpakutō without release was no different from an Asauchi. Even with Aizen’s insight, if he hadn’t seen its Shikai, he couldn’t fully grasp the nature of its power.

That’s why he genuinely felt regret. It wasn’t just a show.

And precisely because of that, Sōsuke Aizen became even more interested in Kaiser’s Zanpakutō.

For a sealed blade to already exhibit such distinctiveness—wasn’t that proof of its extraordinary nature?

If he had known, he would have prepared a more thorough “gift.”

While Aizen and the other Captains exchanged observations, Suì-Fēng, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and the Captain of Division 6 remained silent, silently observing. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto also remained quiet.

Unlike the other Captains, Kenpachi Zaraki could tell that Kaiser’s Zanpakutō was unusual, but his sensory skills weren’t keen enough to identify specifics. So he simply grinned and said:

"No Shikai? I can wait!"

Kaiser responded with a half-smile.

"Getting me to use Shikai won’t be so easy. Let’s see if you’re capable of it."

It was the truth—not an insult to Kenpachi Zaraki.

Kaiser didn’t look down on him, but he sincerely believed it was best not to release his Zanpakutō lightly.

The reason was simple—his Zanpakutō was special. Once it revealed its true power, it could cause terrible consequences.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi had confidently declared that they could fight here as much as they wanted, but Kaiser believed that if he released his Zanpakutō, one strike might be all it took to level the entire facility. There wouldn’t be any “as much as you like.”

So, Kaiser had no intention of using Shikai easily.

Of course, Kenpachi Zaraki didn’t think that way.

"...I’m not like the others. Just because I’m a Captain doesn’t mean I think I’m better than everyone. I won’t scold you for speaking that way."

Kenpachi Zaraki raised his Zanpakutō, a red gleam flashing in his eyes.

"But being underestimated really pisses me off."

With that, he unleashed his Reiatsu.

It surged through the entire arena, distorting the air and shaking the space itself.

"Just like you said, it doesn’t matter what you do. All I have to do is swing my blade!"

Kenpachi Zaraki’s killing intent erupted as he laughed wildly.

"Come fight me, Kaiser!"

The instant those words fell, Kenpachi Zaraki charged.

"Hahahahaha!"

With wild laughter, Kenpachi Zaraki charged toward Kaiser, radiating terrifying Reiatsu.

Wind howled around him as he tore through the air, his charging form causing a storm of pressure to explode outward.

In the blink of an eye, Kenpachi Zaraki arrived in front of Kaiser and, without a single flourish, brought down his blade in a heavy slash.

BOOM!

In that moment, dust erupted into the air, forming a cloud of smoke.

Kenpachi Zaraki’s single, unadorned attack landed like a missile, sending out shockwaves and explosive force.

The sheer power of the blow was so immense that even a typical Captain might not walk away unscathed.

Kaiser felt that terrifying force as he blocked the blow, but still held firm, keeping the attack at bay. The edge of Kenpachi’s heavily worn blade ground violently against his, throwing off a shower of sparks.

"Hah!"

Kenpachi Zaraki’s joy only deepened. His bloodlust grew more savage, and with another loud laugh, he raised his sword and swung again.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!...

As Kenpachi Zaraki continued to swing his sword, thunderous blasts echoed one after another, sending dust into the sky again and again.

Kaiser didn’t retreat. He received every strike head-on, each one hammering incredible power through his blade and into the ground beneath his feet, which cracked and caved in under the pressure.

"Your sword is certainly brutal, Captain Zaraki."

Kaiser parried another devastating slash and, ignoring the shockwaves and pressure, spoke to his opponent.

"This is how I fight. If you’ve got a complaint, try beating me and see what happens!"

Kenpachi Zaraki showed no shame. He reveled in the sheer violence, laughing wildly as he swung again and again.

His attacks had no pattern, no technique—not even a name for his moves. It was like watching a street thug brawl with a stick. He had no poise of a swordsman and was, by far, the most unrefined opponent Kaiser had ever fought.

But his overwhelming spiritual pressure made every blow terrifyingly powerful. He fully embodied the idea of brute force overcoming finesse.

CLANG!

Kaiser knocked away another ferocious strike, then suddenly stepped forward and closed the distance.

"Then watch closely—this is the blade that’s going to defeat you."

With that quiet declaration, Kaiser’s Zanpakutō arced like a crescent moon.

SPLASH!

A sudden, frigid slash landed cleanly on Kenpachi Zaraki’s chest, leaving a wound across his body.

A flash of blood erupted, spraying into the air.

Chapter 209: You Really Will Die

Splatter!

Blood that fell from the sky struck the ground heavily, stirring up a loud splashing sound.

That blood instantly stained the ground red, making the battlefield reek of blood for the first time.

Kenpachi Zaraki’s chest was instantly drenched in blood, his entire upper torso soaked scarlet.

“Hahahaha!”

Yet even after being slashed hard, Kenpachi Zaraki continued laughing—and louder than ever.

“You actually wounded me, Kaiser!” Kenpachi Zaraki laughed like he had taken a hit of pure adrenaline. “It’s been a long time since anyone managed to injure me. You really are a worthy opponent!”

Kenpachi Zaraki’s Reiatsu was monstrously powerful by nature, and not only did it increase the strength of his attacks, it made his body abnormally durable.

Normally, someone could strike at him with a blade and still fail to leave a wound. Even a Lieutenent-level opponent would struggle to inflict an injury on someone with such powerful Reiatsu.

The fact that Kaiser was able to casually slash him once and leave a wound was already enough to prove his extraordinary strength.

And this was exactly the kind of opponent—and kind of battle—that Kenpachi Zaraki craved.

“Come! Let’s keep fighting!”

Kenpachi Zaraki roared and slashed again.

Whoosh!

Kaiser no longer chose to meet his attacks head-on. With a single Shunpo, he pulled away, dodging Kenpachi Zaraki’s swing, then instantly used another Shunpo to step into close range.

Slash!

Blade light flashed, blood sprayed—Kaiser once again landed a clean cut on Kenpachi Zaraki, slicing open his side.

“Hahahahaha!”

Kenpachi Zaraki didn’t mind at all. He wildly swung his Reiatsu-infused Zanpakutō at Kaiser, only for Kaiser to easily dodge it again.

Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!

Kaiser danced around Kenpachi Zaraki, continuously weaving in and out using Shunpo to gain an advantage. Sometimes he appeared in front, sometimes behind, sometimes from afar, and sometimes he stepped in close—dodging fluidly and landing blow after blow as his Zanpakutō slashed Kenpachi Zaraki again and again.

Side, chest, arm, thigh, cheek, back—one gaping wound after another appeared on Kenpachi Zaraki’s body, blood pouring from him like it cost nothing.

Even so, Kenpachi Zaraki showed not a hint of concern. He completely abandoned defense and swung at Kaiser with all his might, even ignoring slashes that struck at his vital points, letting the blade carve wounds across his body as he pushed forward with the reckless momentum of someone ready to trade 800 of his own for 1,000 from his foe.

That appearance made Kaiser’s eyes flicker slightly—and even the observing Captains in the distance furrowed their brows.

“That guy Kenpachi is still just as crazy.”

Isshin Kurosaki clicked his tongue and muttered.

“I’ve heard stories of how insane his fights can get, but I didn’t expect he’d be this extreme.”

Sajin Komamura also spoke with a deep, steady voice.

“...A monstrous evil dwells deep within him. Sooner or later, it’ll devour his life and endanger others.”

Kaname Tōsen gripped the hilt of his Zanpakutō tightly, treating Kenpachi Zaraki like a grave threat.

“My dear Captain Commander, you’re not going to stop him even like this?”

Shunsui Kyōraku tilted his chin toward Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, but received no reply.

Not only did Yamamoto remain silent, even Retsu Unohana refrained from commenting. She simply watched Kenpachi Zaraki, who kept grinning through his injuries under Kaiser’s relentless assault, her thoughts unknown.

As for the others, they had turned their attention to Kaiser’s performance.

“Kenpachi is definitely a lunatic, but that kid is actually holding him down. Maybe that bit about one-shotting an Adjuchas wasn’t so exaggerated after all.”

Mayuri Kurotsuchi collected combat data as he spoke, sounding a bit surprised. “Even his Shunpo is that well-practiced. He truly is a genius.”

“What do you think, Captain Suì-Fēng?” Sōsuke Aizen smiled beside her. “Kaiser’s Shunpo shouldn’t be bad even by Onmitsukidō standards, wouldn’t you say?”

The most famous trait of Onmitsukidō wasn’t anything else—it was their unrivaled mobility.

Simply put, everyone in that organization was a master of Shunpo.

Suì-Fēng was the Captain of Division 2 and the Commander-in-Chief of Onmitsukidō. Her Shunpo was the best in the Gotei 13, virtually unmatched.

So when she saw Kaiser’s Shunpo in action, even she narrowed her eyes slightly.

“That level of Shunpo? Plenty of people in Onmitsukidō can manage that.”

Suì-Fēng didn’t seem particularly impressed.

“But he’s only studied for six months and already reached that level.” Aizen saw through her inner thoughts and smiled. “Even you must be impressed by that, aren’t you?”

Suì-Fēng stayed silent—an unspoken admission.

From her perspective, Kaiser’s Shunpo was just barely passable.

But as Aizen had pointed out, he had only been a student for six months and had already achieved this level. That made it a different matter entirely.

Yes, Onmitsukidō had many experts in Shunpo, but how many of them could reach Kaiser’s level with only half a year of training?

Suì-Fēng thought for a moment—and realized there weren’t many.

“That kid... I thought, since he’s from the 80th District of North Rukongai just like Kenpachi, he’d be another idiot who only knows brute force. I didn’t expect he’d have mastered Shunpo to this degree...”

Suì-Fēng, who originally didn’t care much about Kaiser, began paying closer attention to him.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!...

Unaware of what the Captains were thinking, Kaiser was fully immersed in the battle with Kenpachi Zaraki. His Shunpo became smoother and more precise with each step, his figure flickering at Kenpachi Zaraki’s left one moment and right the next, as elusive as a ghost.

Slash!

Kaiser’s Zanpakutō once again carved through the air and slashed across Kenpachi Zaraki’s flesh, adding yet another gash to the already nearly-covered body.

In contrast, Kaiser remained completely unharmed, not even out of breath.

“Still want to keep fighting, Captain Zaraki?”

Kaiser dodged another of Kenpachi Zaraki’s heavy swings with a Shunpo and reappeared ten meters away, finally ceasing his attacks. He flicked his blade to throw off the blood staining its edge.

“Of course!” Kenpachi Zaraki’s grin didn’t fade, and he roared like a demon, “How could I pass up an opportunity like this? Who wouldn’t want to keep enjoying it!?”

This battle maniac had truly made combat into a source of joy—a form of pleasure. Even Kaiser couldn’t help but be impressed.

He had met many who loved fighting, but someone this addicted? Perhaps only one.

Even Vali, who had challenged him twice, wouldn’t have gone this far—abandoning defense and ignoring wounds just to keep enjoying the thrill of battle.

“You really will die at this rate.”

Kaiser offered that line.

“Isn’t that great?” Kenpachi Zaraki laughed savagely. “To die in battle, to fall in a clash of blades—that’s the natural order of the world!”

“...Hearing ‘natural order’ come from someone like you really does feel out of place.” Kaiser shook his head, half-laughing. “Forget it. Everyone has the right to choose how they die—even you, Captain Zaraki.”

“If you want to keep going, then I’ll see it through to the end. Just don’t blame me if you end up dead.”

At those words, Kenpachi Zaraki laughed again—but this time, he seemed more composed.

“It’s true, I don’t mind dying in battle. In fact, I think that’s the best way to go—but right now, I don’t want to die.”

He actually said it.

“If I die, I can’t keep fighting.”

“If I die, I can’t enjoy the thrill of combat anymore.”

“I still want more battles. I want to cross blades with more strong opponents.”

Kenpachi Zaraki reached up and grabbed his eyepatch.

“So, sorry, Kaiser—if I don’t want to die by your hands, then I’ve got to go all out!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Kenpachi Zaraki tore off his eyepatch with a sharp pull.

BOOM!!!

In an instant, a terrifying wave of Reiatsu erupted from Kenpachi Zaraki.

It was golden Reiatsu.

In that moment, his spiritual pressure exploded to a physical, tangible level. Gold light surged upward from his body like pillars and unleashed a storm of wind and energy that filled the entire space.

“Hahahahahaha!”

Kenpachi Zaraki stood at the center of the tempest, his sword raised. The golden Reiatsu behind him began to form a massive, twisting skull.

“What incredible Reiatsu...”

Kaiser stood within the violent storm of spiritual pressure, pushed back several meters, forced to raise his sword arm to shield his face from the blasting dust and wind.

“So this is your true Reiatsu, Captain Zaraki?”

Kaiser spoke calmly, drawing Kenpachi Zaraki’s fiery gaze.

“My eyepatch, you see—it’s a tool developed by the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. It constantly absorbs my Reiatsu with no upper limit, keeping it at a relatively low level.”

Kenpachi Zaraki had always worn it—suppressing himself, reducing his combat power.

“It was meant to help me enjoy battle more. As long as I wasn’t too strong, even weaker opponents could offer some fun.”

But now, Kenpachi had taken it off—releasing his limiter, unleashing his true strength.

“Can you handle me in this state, Kaiser?”

Kenpachi Zaraki’s entire body surged with Reiatsu, divine and overwhelming.

Facing him, Kaiser finally released his own spiritual pressure.

“Let’s find out, Captain Zaraki.”

Chapter 210: Sword Pressure! The Final Outcome

BOOM!!!

A wave of Reiatsu no weaker than Kenpachi Zaraki’s suddenly erupted in this space, triggering a thunderous boom.

This Reiatsu was also golden—but it shimmered with a refined, gilded luster, both brilliant and dazzling.

Kaiser released this terrifying Reiatsu from his entire body, surging outward to engulf the surroundings and instantly clashing with Kenpachi Zaraki’s own.

If Kenpachi Zaraki’s Reiatsu was a violent wind, a roaring current, then Kaiser’s Reiatsu was a flash flood, a tsunami. The moment the two collided, it was like a meteor striking the earth, sending violent tremors through the space and ground alike.

Crack crack crack crack…

The ground split continuously, shattering piece by piece.

Rumble rumble…

The barrier erected across the experimental site began to emit tooth-grinding creaks, as if on the verge of collapse.

The two golden Reiatsu collided like a stormy downpour, clashing again and again, making the earth tremble and the heavens shift.

The Captains observing from afar all showed a shift in expression, shaken enough by the Reiatsu that they had to raise their hands to shield their faces.

“What unbelievable Reiatsu…!”

Suì-Fēng, Sajin Komamura, Kaname Tōsen, Isshin Kurosaki, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and the Captain of Division 6 could no longer maintain the calm and composure they had at the start—cold sweat began to slide down their foreheads.

“This is…”

Retsu Unohana and Shunsui Kyōraku both revealed heavy expressions.

“……”

Sōsuke Aizen’s eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing.

As for Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, he too looked at Kaiser with some surprise, clearly taken aback by the Reiatsu now radiating from him—one not inferior to Kenpachi Zaraki’s in the slightest. A faint hint of astonishment flickered across his aged eyes.

“Hahahahahahahahahaha!”

Kenpachi Zaraki hadn’t expected Kaiser’s Reiatsu to be so strong. He froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up, overjoyed.

“You were hiding this kind of Reiatsu too, huh?! Kaiser!”

Kenpachi Zaraki shouted toward Kaiser, his expression full of uncontainable glee.

“I wasn’t hiding anything. I just hadn’t fully released it,” Kaiser replied calmly. “I’m a Second-Class Spiritual Pressure holder—did you really think my Reiatsu would be weak?”

“You just didn’t expect that I could already control it so well. That I could manipulate this level of Reiatsu with ease.”

Kaiser raised his Zanpakutō and pointed it directly at Kenpachi Zaraki.

“If you’re planning to crush me through sheer Reiatsu, then you’ve miscalculated.”

“And if this is your full-power state already, then the outcome won’t change.”

“This battle ends here.”

All of Kaiser’s Reiatsu converged on his Zanpakutō, which began to radiate a golden aura.

Seeing this, Kenpachi Zaraki trembled with excitement, his overflowing battle intent fully transforming into joy, released without restraint.

“I really don’t want this to end.”

That was the truest thought in Kenpachi Zaraki’s heart.

“I want to keep fighting.”

“I want to keep enjoying this.”

“But what comes next is the decisive moment. That much I understand.”

Kenpachi Zaraki, like Kaiser, poured all of his Reiatsu into his Zanpakutō.

The two simultaneously raised their swords, their Reiatsu surging like a storm, like a raging flood, creating the most violent collision yet.

“Let’s finish this!”

They shouted the same words in unison, swelling their Reiatsu to its peak.

“Brace yourselves.”

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto finally spoke.

“Sword Pressure is coming.”

Sword Pressure—the technique of releasing the Reiatsu on one’s Zanpakutō to attack the enemy. It was a combat skill known to many Shinigami.

In the hands of ordinary Shinigami, it was merely a way to widen attack range or increase reach. But in the hands of those with immense Reiatsu, it became a devastating, lethal blow.

Without a doubt, both Kaiser and Kenpachi Zaraki belonged to the latter category.

What was about to come would shake the heavens and earth.

“Heir of the heavens, iron-walled citadel, dragon roars, lion bellows, tiger howls, wolf runs—sever heaven and earth before the collapse!”

Among the Captains who understood this, several began chanting Kidō.

“Bakudō #81: Dankū!”

A colossal transparent protective wall immediately rose from the ground, standing tall before them all.

Almost at the exact same moment, Kaiser and Kenpachi Zaraki moved.

“HAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

They roared in unison, swinging their raised Zanpakutōs down toward one another.

In the next instant, two golden sword strikes, both forged from astonishing Reiatsu, erupted from their blades—ripping through air and earth as they flew toward each other.

The golden strikes surged like torrents of light visible to the naked eye. This was solidified Sword Pressure, akin in nature to a Hollow’s Cero.

Wherever the two attacks passed, all Reishi was incinerated. The earth, as though split open by an irresistible force, was torn apart, churned up, and blown skyward in a storm of dust and debris.

BOOOOOOOOM!!!!

Before long, the two golden sword waves collided, triggering a cataclysmic explosion.

RUMBLE RUMBLE…!

Thunderous noise rolled through the air like rolling thunder, and the clashing golden Sword Pressure spilled power outward in all directions. The shockwaves turned the surrounding ground to loose soil—flying, crumbling, and breaking apart.

The winds surged like tidal waves.

The Reiatsu spread like a monstrous flood.

The entire experimental site shattered beneath the force of their clash. The closer to the center, the more catastrophic the destruction. Even faraway areas suffered damage as if struck by a natural disaster, revealing the glowing outlines of the containment barrier.

“—”

The Captains protected behind the transparent wall didn’t even have time to speak before the incoming shockwave engulfed them.

Anyone still able to keep their eyes open and gaze into the center of the battlefield would see that, after a long standoff, one of the two colliding Sword Pressure waves gradually overwhelmed the other—ultimately shattering it.

The earth-shaking impact seemed to last forever before it finally subsided.

When all was calm again, the entire experimental site had been transformed into a ruin.

Only then did the Captains raise their heads, hastily looking into the battlefield.

And what they saw made more than a few pupils tremble.

At the very center of the clash, the original terrain had been completely obliterated.

Only a massive crater remained, with two intact strips of ground at its edges. On those stood Kaiser and Kenpachi Zaraki respectively.

They both held their Zanpakutōs mid-swing. One still radiated pulsating Reiatsu, while the other looked as if all power had been spent—smoke wafting from his body.

This scene remained frozen for around ten seconds.

Then—

Splurt!

Blood exploded from the smoking figure’s body, drenching him completely in red.

“Haha…”

Kenpachi Zaraki was still laughing—but the strength had gone from it.

“…You win.”

Leaving behind those words, the blood-drenched Kenpachi Zaraki finally toppled backward, collapsing into a pool of blood.

THUD!

His Zanpakutō shattered as it hit the ground—the blade snapping into several pieces.

“Thank you for the match, Captain Zaraki.”

Kaiser muttered inaudibly to anyone, then slowly sheathed his Zanpakutō with a soft click.

“Kenpachi has lost.”

“Captain Zaraki has lost.”

“Kenpachi of Division 11… has lost.”

Those were the thoughts that simultaneously surfaced in the minds of the watching Captains as they stared at Kaiser standing tall with his blade sheathed—falling into speechless silence.

“Captain Unohana.”

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto gazed deeply at Kaiser without offering comment—only calling out to Retsu Unohana.

“I understand.”

Unohana nodded, stepped forward with Shunpo, and reappeared beside the fallen Kenpachi Zaraki. Lifting his massive frame, she vanished without a word—leaving behind the devastated battlefield.

“Let’s return.”

With that single line, Yamamoto declared the end of the duel.

The Captains exchanged looks, then all gave Kaiser one final long glance before turning to leave.

“Kaiser.”

Yamamoto called out to him one last time—but this time, he no longer called him an Academy Student.

“You did well.”

With that, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto turned and left without further delay.

Kaiser did not respond—he only looked in the direction where Kenpachi Zaraki had disappeared, lips pressed in silence.

“If you’d mastered your Zanpakutō completely… this fight wouldn’t have ended so easily.”

Throughout this entire battle, Kenpachi Zaraki had never done one thing.

He never released his Zanpakutō’s true form or power.

Not even Shikai—let alone Bankai.

Of course, he and Kaiser were different.

Kaiser didn’t want to release Shikai because the power of his Zanpakutō was too great—excessive, even. To avoid catastrophic consequences, he refrained from using Shikai, let alone the even more overwhelming Bankai.

Kenpachi Zaraki, on the other hand, simply didn’t have Bankai—and his Shikai was only half-awakened.

He had always treated his Zanpakutō as a tool for combat, never forming any bond with it, never wishing to fight alongside it. As a result, he couldn’t hear its voice or learn its name.

The only reason his Zanpakutō had partially reached Shikai was because his Reiatsu was so overwhelming that it forcefully awakened some of the blade’s power.

Without even a complete Shikai, Bankai was out of the question.

Thus, Kenpachi Zaraki was the first Shinigami in the history of the Soul Society to become a Captain without a Bankai—and the only current Captain who lacked one.

If he had a Bankai, or even a complete Shikai, this battle wouldn’t have ended so quickly.

With these thoughts, Kaiser turned around—and silently walked away…

(End of Chapter)