Chương 175: Baishin

As Ailin stepped out of the captain's meeting room, Zaraki's boisterous laughter reached his ears.

"Hahahahahaha!"

"Little sword, this way, this way!"

From the vice-captains' waiting room, Zaraki burst through the wall, his laughter echoing as he charged towards the source of the reiatsu clash.

However, Yachiru Kusajishi, perched on his shoulder, continuously pointed him in different directions, gradually leading him astray.

"It seems we can't rely on Zaraki this time," Ailin thought, shaking his head as he watched Zaraki and Yachiru disappear into the distance. He decided against calling them back.

Zaraki should cherish the time he had with Yachiru.

His reiatsu had already reached the level of a hundred-year captain. Perhaps, after a few dozen more battles, Zaraki's suppressed spiritual pressure would be fully restored.

Then, upon hearing the name of his Zanpakutō, he would release its power, and Yachiru would return to his inner world.

Ailin silently calculated the time.

Yhwach had spent nine hundred years regaining his heartbeat, ninety years regaining his sanity, and nine years recovering his strength...

Currently, Yhwach was in the stage of regaining his sanity.

There was still time...

Swoosh!

Without further concern for Zaraki and Yachiru, Ailin used Shunpo to head towards the Eleventh Division. He sensed that Kiganjō was struggling against the newly emerged opponent.

This didn't surprise Ailin in the slightest.

Although Kiganjō had achieved Bankai, his Zanpakutō's abilities were lacking.

In Ailin's eyes, Kiganjō was on par with Ikkaku Madarame. Both held an awkward position within the Gotei 13.

They had achieved Bankai, but their reiatsu paled in comparison to the other captains. While releasing their Zanpakutō elevated their spiritual pressure to a similar level, their abilities placed them at the bottom of the captain-level hierarchy.

Ikkaku, in particular, suffered from insufficient reiatsu. Even in his Bankai state, his Zanpakutō remained dormant, requiring the stimulus of battle to awaken its true power.

And even then, it only possessed the strength for a single, devastating blow.

If Ikkaku's reiatsu were greater, his Bankai, Ryūmon Hōzukimaru, would be fully awakened, allowing him to unleash its full power with every strike, elevating his strength significantly.

As Ailin pondered this, another surge of powerful reiatsu erupted from the Eleventh Division.

Boom!

"Oh? This reiatsu... it's Ikkaku? He has achieved Bankai as well?"

Sensing the additional captain-level spiritual pressure, Ailin's eyes gleamed with interest as he hastened his pace towards the Eleventh Division.

...

With Zaraki and Ailin attending the captain's meeting, the Eleventh Division was currently under the command of the Third Seat, Kiganjō, who led the division's members in their training.

For the Shinigami of the Eleventh Division, training meant one thing – combat, combat, and more combat!

The Shinigami stationed at the Eleventh Division's barracks were divided into two groups. One led by Kiganjō, the other by the Fifth Seat, Ikkaku Madarame. The two groups engaged in fierce battles within the training grounds.

Boom!

Kiganjō and Ikkaku's Zanpakutō clashed, sparks flying as their immense power generated shockwaves that pushed back the surrounding Shinigami.

Ikkaku had been a member of the Eleventh Division for over twenty years, and he and Kiganjō had clashed countless times, their fighting styles intimately familiar to each other.

Therefore, after a few exchanges of swordsmanship, both Kiganjō and Ikkaku released their Zanpakutō.

"Extend – Hōzukimaru!"

"Shatter him – Tetsu Ryūsei!"

Ikkaku's Zanpakutō and sheath merged into a long spear, while Kiganjō's Zanpakutō transformed into a massive meteor hammer.

Kiganjō held one end of the chain, while the other, adorned with thorns and spikes, swung through the air with a menacing whoosh as he manipulated the chain.

Clang!

Kiganjō hurled the meteor hammer towards Ikkaku, its immense weight and momentum carrying a devastating force.

"Bring it on!"

Despite the disadvantage in weapon size, Ikkaku remained fearless, swinging his spear to meet the oncoming meteor hammer.

Boom!

Spear and meteor hammer collided, and Ikkaku's Hōzukimaru bent into an arc as the sheer force sent him skidding backward, his feet carving deep furrows into the ground.

"Hahaha, again!"

Before he could regain his balance, Ikkaku's reiatsu erupted beneath his feet, halting his retreat. He then charged towards Kiganjō once more.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Ikkaku's figure flickered around Kiganjō, the massive meteor hammer creating craters in the training grounds. The other Shinigami, witnessing the intensity of the battle, quickly distanced themselves from the epicenter, fearing they might be caught in the crossfire.

Boom!

A deafening roar echoed from behind a Shinigami who was observing the battle from the sidelines. He turned, his face contorting in horror.

"Enemy attack!"

Swoosh!

As the Shinigami raised the alarm, a white blade flew from the distance, piercing his body.

"Ugh..."

"Enemy attack! Prepare for battle!"

Despite his injuries, the Shinigami's warning reached the ears of the Eleventh Division members engaged in combat.

"Yūdai..."

Those who recognized the fallen Shinigami called out his name, and more Eleventh Division members rushed to his side, forming a protective barrier around him.

"Who are you? How dare you attack the Eleventh Division?"

"Hahaha, who am I? Has the Eleventh Division forgotten about me after all these years?"

The Eleventh Division's gate crumbled as a hulking figure with messy, light blue hair stepped into the compound. The man possessed a sturdy build, his beard resembled a collection of upright blades.

"Where is Sōya Azashiro, the Kenpachi? I've come to challenge him!"

"What? Challenge Captain Sōya Azashiro, the Kenpachi?"

The older members of the Eleventh Division paled upon hearing the man's words. Ailin had only held the title of Kenpachi for a little over a century. Those who had served in the Eleventh Division for more than one hundred and fifty years knew that the man referred to as "Sōya Azashiro, the Kenpachi" was the previous generation's Kenpachi.

Kiganjō, Ikkaku, and others, alerted by the commotion, had ended their training and gathered at the entrance of the Eleventh Division.

Upon seeing the man before them, Kiganjō's face turned pale with fear.

"You... you're Baishin?"

" Baishin? Who's that, Third Seat Kiganjō?"

Ikkaku, sensing Kiganjō's fear, asked with a serious expression. Perhaps only Ikkaku truly understood the extent of Kiganjō's strength within the Eleventh Division.

Aside from Ailin and Zaraki, Kiganjō was the strongest member of the division, having achieved Bankai.

Yet, even this formidable Shinigami was trembling with fear?

"Baishin was the Vice-Captain of the Eleventh Division over two hundred years ago, a powerful Shinigami who had achieved Bankai," Kiganjō explained, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Back when I was just a regular member of the Eleventh Division, Vice-Captain Baishin challenged Captain Sōya Azashiro for the title of Kenpachi. Although he lost, he survived the battle with Captain Sōya Azashiro.

After recovering from his injuries, Vice-Captain Baishin left the Eleventh Division, and no one knew where he went. I never expected him to return. And he specifically came to challenge Captain Sōya Azashiro."

Even with his Bankai, Kiganjō didn't believe he was as strong as Baishin was two hundred years ago.

And now, Baishin had returned to challenge Captain Sōya Azashiro, indicating that he had grown even stronger.

"Oh? The one with the meteor hammer, I remember you," Baishin said, his gaze falling upon Kiganjō as he spoke with Ikkaku.

"Greetings, Vice-Captain Baishin. It's been over two hundred years. You still look as healthy as ever," Kiganjō straightened his posture and greeted Baishin instinctively, his fear evident.

"Hmph, where is Captain Sōya Azashiro? I've come to challenge him!" Baishin demanded, his eyes scanning the gathered Shinigami, searching for Sōya Azashiro.

"According to the rules of the Eleventh Division, the Captain cannot refuse a challenge. I'm already looking forward to beating him to a pulp."

"Vice-Captain Baishin, Captain Sōya Azashiro was imprisoned over a century ago for committing a grave sin against the Seireitei," Kiganjō informed him. "The current Captain of the Eleventh Division is Captain Ailin."

"What? Sōya Azashiro was imprisoned?"

Boom!

Baishin's reiatsu surged upon hearing the news, pressing down upon the Eleventh Division members.

"Damn it! I haven't defeated him and claimed the title of 'Kenpachi' yet. How could he be imprisoned?"

Baishin completely disregarded Kiganjō's mention of Ailin as the current captain. In his eyes, only Sōya Azashiro and Captain-Commander Yamamoto were worthy opponents.

The current captain, who hadn't even challenged his predecessor, was a "fake Kenpachi" in Baishin's eyes, not deserving of his time.

"Where is Sōya Azashiro imprisoned? I order you to lead all members of the Eleventh Division to rescue him!"

"I apologize, Vice-Captain Baishin," Kiganjō refused, despite his fear of Baishin. He couldn't participate in an act that would endanger the lives of his fellow division members.

A prison break...

Even if they succeeded in freeing Captain Sōya Azashiro, there was no guarantee he wouldn't turn himself in again.

And what would become of the Eleventh Division members then?

Would they surrender and be exiled to Hueco Mundo as part of the Hollow extermination squad?

Or would they resist, only to be killed by the shockwaves of Captain-Commander Yamamoto's attacks?

Therefore, Kiganjō rejected Baishin's demand.

"I am the Third Seat of the Eleventh Division. Our duty is to protect the Seireitei and engage in combat against our enemies. Our opponents are the Hollows that invade Soul Society, not our fellow Shinigami.

If you choose to leave, I will pretend this never happened. But if you intend to use the Eleventh Division as pawns in your prison break, I cannot comply with your request, Vice-Captain Baishin."

"Oh? I've only been away from the Eleventh Division for a little over two hundred years, and now even a stray cat dares to defy my will? Then allow me to show you the consequences of defying me!"

With that, Baishin transformed into a blur, charging into the ranks of the Eleventh Division and launching a brutal assault.

"Ah!"

"Aaaaargh..."

Boom!

Baishin's strength was overwhelming. The ordinary members of the Eleventh Division stood no chance against him.

He grabbed a Shinigami by the ankle, swinging him like a windmill and slamming him into several others, leaving them injured on the ground.

He then tossed the unconscious Shinigami aside and grabbed two more by their necks, smashing their heads together with a sickening thud.

Bam!

"Ugh..."

The two Shinigami instantly lost consciousness, blood spraying from their mouths.

"Hahahahahaha!"

Baishin used the bodies of the unconscious Shinigami as weapons, flinging them at two more Shinigami who charged towards him. The force of the impact shattered the wall behind them, sending them crashing into the building.

"Everyone, retreat! You are no match for Vice-Captain Baishin!" Kiganjō shouted, witnessing the devastation caused by Baishin.

"Hahaha, Third Seat Kiganjō, the Eleventh Division has no tradition of fleeing from battle!" Ikkaku roared, leaping into the air and swinging his spear down upon Baishin.

Baishin didn't even bother to dodge, raising his right arm to meet the attack.

Clang!

Hōzukimaru's blade struck Baishin's arm, sparks flying as it failed to penetrate his skin.

"Impossible!" Ikkaku cried out in disbelief.

In his years with the Eleventh Division, Ikkaku had participated in thousands of battles, but aside from Captain Zaraki, he had never encountered anyone who could withstand a direct blow from his Hōzukimaru with their bare skin.

And unlike Captain Zaraki, whose immense reiatsu increased his body's density to a level that surpassed Ikkaku's attacks, Baishin had simply... blocked the attack with his arm?