Kenpachi Kiganjō spread his massive hands wide before slamming them down onto the ground.
Jagged stone pillars erupted from beneath, surging toward Masatsuki Aozaki like the fangs of a beast.
"Inuga Gantotsu!" (Fang Rock Pursuit)
Masatsuki burst through the rising dust, lightning crackling wildly across his back and shoulders as he darted through the Colosseum at breakneck speed.
Blood dripped onto the ground—his left shoulder had been pierced.
"What insane speed!" Kiganjō's pupils shrank.
This brat is too fast… Inuga Gantotsu can't keep up!
Before he could react, a deafening roar of thunder exploded right beside him—dangerously close.
Lightning-wreathed fists slammed into his side and chest, sending translucent columns of electricity shooting into the sky.
Masatsuki's voice was cold.
"Sōkotsu: Raitei!" (Lightning Emperor)
Kiganjō was sent flying, while Masatsuki vanished from sight.
In the blink of an eye, countless electrified fists rained down on him, each strike landing with pinpoint precision.
"Ikkotsu: Raitei!"
This was the ultimate speed of Ikkotsu!
Kiganjō crossed his arms in front of him, bracing against the relentless barrage of fists and crackling energy.
His only shield—his Bankai's defense!
Boom!
The impact of fists against stone sent shockwaves tearing through the Colosseum, kicking up a storm of dust and debris.
"Hahaha! It's been ages since I've had a fight this satisfying!"
Kiganjō let out a wild, defiant laugh, planting his feet firmly on the ground. The rocky armor on his arms had shattered completely.
"As I thought—I've been sick of the quiet life for a long time. Thanks for finally making things fun, brat!"
"Is that so?" Masatsuki sneered but didn't press the attack.
During their exchange, Kiganjō's armor had been damaged more than once, but every time it neared the brink of destruction, it rapidly regenerated.
Continuing the same assault would be pointless.
Kiganjō hesitated for a moment before shaking his head in disbelief, his stone gauntlets reforming around his hands.
I'm an idiot. There are plenty of people smarter than me.
He had always known that. He just didn't want to admit it.
With a heavy thrust, Kiganjō drove his massive zanpakutō into the ground.
Instantly, sharp rock formations burst out from all directions, closing in on Masatsuki.
No matter how fast he moved, unless he could fly, the stone blades would hunt him down.
"Speed alone won't save you. Your weak little punches can't hurt me. And let's see how long your Reiatsu can last."
Kiganjō laughed, his tone completely relaxed.
As long as he managed his Reiatsu properly, he was untouchable.
Masatsuki scoffed. "You really are suited for that Zanpakutō… lashing out because you're afraid."
"The shape, form, and power of a Zanpakutō… all come from the soul of its wielder."
A familiar female voice echoed in Masatsuki's mind.
"Then what is the source of my power? Your fickle nature?"
"But you are not me."
Masatsuki Aozaki responded in his heart, gripping Banshō Senran tightly as he locked eyes with Kenpachi Kiganjō, unwavering.
—In battle, focus is everything.
He had long since grown accustomed to Banshō Senran's whispers.
After reaching the 3rd Rank of Reiatsu, the zanpakutō had taken to speaking to him of its own accord. It never said anything particularly important—either teasing him about his personal life or making him guess its true name.
Every time he guessed wrong, she would pretend to be angry, ignoring him for the rest of the day like a sulking girlfriend.
Admittedly, forgetting his own partner's name was his fault.
But knowing she couldn't leave him, Masatsuki simply chose to ignore his mistake.
"Die!!"
With a furious bellow, Kiganjō slammed his foot down, and a massive spike shot up from the ground beneath Masatsuki.
This time, he abandoned control over the other stone pillars—the attack was faster than ever.
The jagged rock shot through the air like a beast's fangs, tearing the atmosphere apart with a roaring shockwave.
Its speed and density far surpassed his previous attacks… Masatsuki had no time to react, no way to block it!
Kiganjō leaped forward, his colossal rock-formed fist ready to strike.
But Masatsuki raised both hands, clenching them into fists as the lightning behind him erupted into raging flames.
He swung his fists straight into the incoming stone pillar.
He… reacted in time!?
Impossible!
His combat instincts are terrifying. No wonder the old man took an interest in him.
What a monster!
Crack!
A devastating force erupted from Masatsuki's fists, shattering the stone pillar in an instant.
Kiganjō's rock fist slammed down, colliding with Masatsuki's smaller, flesh-and-blood fists.
Compared to the sheer size of his opponent's, Masatsuki's hands seemed tiny—barely half the size of Kiganjō's attack.
Boom!
A shockwave exploded outward, rippling through the battlefield.
Crackling…
In the next moment, Kiganjō's massive rock fist crumbled into dust.
Masatsuki's body shot backward like a cannonball, rolling across the ground for over ten meters before finally coming to a stop, leaving a bloody trail behind him.
…
Drip. Drip.
Blood trickled down from his forehead as Masatsuki struggled to sit up, leaning against a massive rock. He gasped for breath, his body wracked with pain.
His hands were mangled and bloodied, but still functional—still capable of fighting.
Had it not been for the stone pillar that absorbed some of the force before their fists met, Kiganjō would have been sent flying too.
"What a mess."
Banshō Senran's voice rang out, and in an instant, the world faded into pure white. Time stood still.
Only Masatsuki and the girl before him retained their color.
"Do you regret coming here? You're such an idiot. You should have run away earlier."
Masatsuki briefly wondered if he had hit his head too hard—he was actually seeing Banshō Senran in front of him.
"Regret…? Maybe a little. But not for myself."
"Strictly speaking, even if I die here, I wouldn't consider it a loss. But you… and Rangiku, the others—you'd all be upset."
"And thinking about that… makes me not want to die."
"You're right. I would be sad."
Banshō Senran crouched in front of him, resting her chin on her hand as she nodded.
"But you're still a complete idiot, bringing up other women at a time like this. How annoying."
"I won't argue that," Masatsuki admitted through gritted teeth. "I underestimated him. Got too caught up in the fight. I should have run before he used Bankai."
"Well, Bankai is a turning point."
Banshō Senran spread her hands, and at some point, a small, beautiful bird had appeared beside her.
Its feathers were pitch-black, and it had four legs and four wings, letting Banshō Senran gently stroke its tiny head.
"Achieving Bankai doesn't just enhance Reiatsu—it strengthens a zanpakutō's abilities too. Relying solely on the Bōkunchō's power is pushing it."
At her words, the Bōkunchō seemed to bristle in protest, shaking its head as it tried to push away her hand.
Flapping its wings, it landed on Masatsuki's shoulder and turned its back on him, as if saying—
"I'm not talking to you anymore!"
"Well, if Bankai is that powerful, why don't you just tell me your true name?"
Masatsuki chuckled, winking at her.
"No way. You wish. It's not that easy."
"If you don't tell me, you'll lose me forever."
"You don't need Bankai to deal with someone like him. We have the power to defeat him—you just refuse to use it. Stop holding back already."
With those final words, Banshō Senran leaned in, pressing her lips against Masatsuki's.
Her form began to fade into nothingness.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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