Capítulo 33: The Duty of the Gotei
Seiya's reaction was anything but slow.
Even before his opponent launched the attack, he had already curled his body defensively.
Yet, despite his preparation, he was utterly powerless to resist.
Bang!
His entire body was lifted off the ground, like being hit by a speeding carriage. The impact sent his mind spinning, and an excruciating pain coursed through his body.
He wasn't even sure how many times he had tumbled.
By the time he came to, he found himself surrounded by fragments of wooden tables and chairs. His face twisted in pain, making it impossible for him to stand.
His body felt as if it had been crushed under a massive weight.
His thoughts were foggy, and his awareness started to blur.
Something's wrong... That slap hit my head...
It wasn't an exaggeration to call the move an ambush.
From the way this "close-quarters combat" unfolded, Seiya could now confirm that his opponent had spiritual pressure far surpassing that of a lieutenant.
Untraceable. Unreadable. An attack launched without any forewarning.
It was a miracle Seiya was still alive.
But he couldn't blame Kiganjō; this predicament was ultimately his own fault for trusting the man too much.
A man like Kiganjō, who rose to the title of Kenpachi by spilling blood, couldn't possibly be as reasonable as he had hoped.
The best course of action would have been to follow the others and flee at the first sign of danger.
Lack of experience... that's what this is.
Still, reflecting on mistakes could come later. For now, he needed to stand up.
While his mind urged him to act, his body didn't follow.
Staggering to his feet, Seiya stumbled and collapsed back to the floor.
From a short distance away, he heard Kiganjō's mocking laughter.
"Oh-ho~ Not bad, kid. I really swung that one to kill you, but you managed to hang on."
"Strike first, strike hard—that's what I learned on the streets of Rukongai."
"Don't hold it against me, kid."
This man, a product of Rukongai's chaos, had an entirely different mindset from Seiya, who had lived as an ordinary citizen. Their combat instincts weren't even on the same plane.
Seiya struggled to lift his gaze.
Drip...
A faint sound accompanied the sensation of warm liquid trickling down his forehead—a sticky, rust-colored fluid that seeped into his right eye, tinting his vision both vibrant and blurry.
His head was injured.
How severe was the wound? Was the bleeding bad?
These were details he couldn't process. His body remained paralyzed.
This was as bad as it could get.
Through his muddled vision, Seiya saw Kiganjō's massive frame drawing closer.
Gone was the lazy tone from earlier. His voice now brimmed with mockery and disdain.
"Guys like you, I've run into plenty of them. Clueless, self-righteous fools. Thinking joining the Gotei 13 makes them heroes. Thinking they'll accomplish something great."
"God, just the thought of it makes me sick."
Kiganjō's footsteps grew louder.
The sharp clinking of metal scraping against metal echoed in the air.
He's drawing his blade.
Kiganjō grinned widely, baring his teeth in a display of twisted satisfaction. To Seiya, it was the look of a man reveling in power.
"Honor, duty, the title of Captain... It's all just for show."
"In the end, what matters is strength and fists. Kill without hesitation—that's what gets you ahead. Oh, and food, sleep, women, and bloodshed. That's all you really need to live. Don't you agree?"
Reputation meant nothing. Purpose was irrelevant.
It was all about indulging one's instincts.
Beautiful women to claim. Annoying obstacles to eliminate.
As long as he didn't provoke the nobility, he could do whatever he wanted.
Outside, he might restrain himself a bit, but within the 11th Division, his authority was absolute.
Even if he violated female subordinates or picked fights on the streets, no one would question him.
"I'm fulfilling my duty to protect the peace of the Seireitei," he'd say.
Those who didn't comply or submit? Eliminate them.
Even if every woman in the 11th Division resigned, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni wouldn't bat an eye.
At most, the old man might issue a token reprimand: 'Maintain decorum and discipline.'
That was it.
Because he was a Captain, the stability of the Seireitei rested in his hands. That was the Gotei 13's philosophy.
The feelings of commoners? Disposable. The lives of the weak? Expendable.
If he wanted someone's body or life, it was his right to take it.
Kiganjō Kenpachi wholeheartedly embraced this ethos, finding great satisfaction in his life.
To him, such a life—where whims dictated actions—was pure ecstasy.
He saw no end to it.
Even in his next life, he would crave the same.
This was Kiganjō Kenpachi, a man who truly believed in this twisted version of "duty."
Through his hazy vision, Seiya saw the man raise his long blade.
"If you saw me take an interest in a woman, you shouldn't have interfered. You should've pinned her down, stripped her, and presented her to me."
"That's your duty as a subordinate and my right as a Captain. Got it?"
"Well, looking at you, I can see you don't get it. Fine. I'll let it slide this time. You're forgiven."
After all…
"Just seeing your pretty-boy face makes me sick enough as it is."
With that, Kiganjō swung his blade down, aiming to end it.
Seiya's expression remained blank, almost dazed. He couldn't move to resist.
His body still refused to cooperate.
But his mind, sharp and alert, screamed in warning. His survival instincts surged, tightening every fiber of his being.
He had to fight back. He couldn't just lie down and die.
But how?
What could he do now? What was left to aid him in this moment?
Like a drowning man reaching for the surface, Seiya flailed mentally, searching for something—anything—to pull him out of the abyss.
In that fraction of a second, his consciousness drifted.
And then he saw it.
That familiar crossroads he had dreamed of countless times.
Ah… so that's it.
At this instant, clarity struck him like lightning.
Without thinking, Seiya raised his right hand. Not to block, not to defend.
But to grasp the hilt of his sword.
There was no turning back.
On the edge of despair, with death mere inches away, Seiya exhaled a breath heavy with the taste of blood.
His zanpakutō.
Release.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder