Renji Abarai gritted his teeth, gripping Sōōmaru tightly with both hands as he poured all his spiritual power and will into it, trying to withstand the unstoppable Getsuga Tensho.
However, the power of the Getsuga Tensho far exceeded his expectations. Though he gave it everything he had, he still could not completely block that terrifying force.
He could only watch helplessly as the Getsuga Tensho drove him backward again and again, the ground beneath his feet splitting open with shocking cracks under the immense impact.
"Nani, bakana!"
Renji Abarai's heart was filled with indignation and rage.
Byakuya Kuchiki was also greatly surprised, because he could sense that the power of this sword pressure was not something the restricted Renji Abarai could withstand.
The restriction was placed on captain- and lieutenant-level Soul Reapers when they came to the World of the Living, so as not to unnecessarily affect the souls there. After all, their Spiritual Pressure was too high; living people in the World of the Living who approached them could be crushed to death.
As long as a soul was not strong enough, no matter how many came, they would die.
Therefore, when coming to the World of the Living, a restriction spirit seal engraved with their respective squad insignia would be placed somewhere on their bodies. Their Spiritual Pressure would be severely restricted, with a restriction rate of eighty percent. Once approval was obtained in the World of the Living, the restriction could be lifted and their full power restored—five times that of the World of the Living.
The restriction was automatically imprinted onto some part of a Captain-level Soul Reaper's body when passing through the Senkaimon.
Even Byakuya Kuchiki could not avoid it.
"Stand down, Renji."
Byakuya Kuchiki used Flash Step and appeared beside Renji Abarai, shattering the