Chunks of shattered stone fell from the cliff face. Amid the billowing dust, Shūsuke Amagai's voice rang out, carrying a faint calmness and apology:
"Forgive me, Nel. There is something I must accomplish. For that, even if it is you, I will not hesitate to draw my blade against you!"
Nel said nothing. She looked at Shūsuke Amagai within the dust cloud and silently drew the Zanpakuto at her waist.
Asano Kiyoshi had told her that Shūsuke Amagai was not a bad person. He merely had something in his heart that he wanted to verify. She only needed to defeat him.
At the same time, Nel often heard her subordinates comment on Shūsuke Amagai. Without exception, they were all full of praise for him.
Therefore, Nel had no intention of being ruthless, but at the very least, she had to keep Shūsuke Amagai under control here.
As both sides' spiritual pressure erupted, the dust swirling throughout the area gathered into a vortex. The next instant, spiritual pressure surged, scattering the dust in every direction.
Shūsuke Amagai had already completed his Zanpakuto's Shikai. Its blade had grown as tall as a person, while its hilt had transformed into a white seashell-shaped shield. The forward portion had become a completely crimson blade. Blazing fire exploded from the shield, its nearly tyrannical force sending Nel flying.
Before Nel could land, Shūsuke Amagai stabbed his blade into the ground and shouted:
"Wheel Flame Dragon Fang!"
The ground immediately erupted with countless pillars of fire. They charged in the direction of Nel's spiritual pressure, and no matter how she changed position, they remained tightly on her heels.
Seeing this, Nel did not hesitate. Pink spiritual pressure coiled around her Zanpakuto, and with one slash, she cleaved the entire ground—fire pillars and all—into fragments.
But while