Ikkaku vs. Asano Kiyoshi!

Behind the Fourth Division barracks, the rising Reiatsu lit the area as brightly as day!

The deep crimson Reiatsu, red as blood, enveloped Ikkaku. The muscles, bones, and flesh he had forged through years of training were being crushed by the pressure, producing unbearable creaking sounds. Yet there was not a trace of pain on Ikkaku's face. His grin stretched to his ears as he continuously let out laughter born of utter exhilaration. At that moment, he was like a beast that knew only how to suck the marrow from its enemies' bones, bite through their throats, and gorge itself on thick, delicious blood!

Even through the Video Recording Device, Ikkaku's crazed appearance was overwhelmingly striking. Mayuri Kurotsuchi looked at Ikkaku, who seemed possessed by madness, with faint helplessness on his face.

"Tch! Another lunatic. Ah, there really are more lunatics like this in the Soul Society. No wonder even the air is so unbearable!"

Hearing Mayuri Kurotsuchi's aggressively biting words, Kenpachi Zaraki showed no anger whatsoever. No, rather, his attention was not on Mayuri Kurotsuchi at all. He stared at the bald man on the screen, an ogre-like grin spreading across his face. The bells in his hair swayed continuously, ringing out with clanging chimes like the laughter of a demon.

The other captains wore varying expressions as they watched: helplessness, approval, disdain, calmness...

After seeing Ikkaku's Shikai, Captain-Commander merely nodded slightly and made no further reaction.

However, when an Ink-Black Reiatsu that could rival—and even overpower—the red Reiatsu appeared, every captain, including the Captain-Commander, instinctively turned to the screen!

Because this might be the first battle of the Soul Society's first domain-type Zanpakuto!

Whether in terms of combat, data, records, or anything else, it was an event bound to draw immense attention!

Especially the instant Asano Kiyoshi called out his Zanpakuto's Shikai Phrase, nearly everyone unconsciously held their breath, eager to see what made this first domain-type Zanpakuto different. Even beneath Aizen's gleaming lenses, there was an intrigued smile.

"Interesting. Under the stimulus I specifically prepared for you, you really did break through that limitation. Then let me see just how far your ability can go..."

"Turn to Heavenly Light and Wither—Yellow Springs!"

As the release phrase was completed, the Ink-Black Reiatsu rose like a colossal dragon soaring into the sky, viciously clamping down on the red mass of light. Then the dragon dispersed, revealing the figure of a young man at its center!

That figure was so extraordinary that nearly everyone who witnessed his Shikai could not help but become absorbed in it!

An endless, boundless Bright Red Flower Sea grew from beneath the feet of an ancient, desolate pavilion. Bright red Reiatsu sprouted from white bones, while the flowers seemed to carry the sweetest and deadliest poison in the world—the source of all desire and the final destination of all obsession!

The blood-colored flowers swayed amid a storm of Reishi, carrying waves of rich fragrance. A bright red flower grew from the eye socket of a white skull, creating a scene both exquisitely beautiful and utterly tragic.

Asano Kiyoshi wore a Chinese Tunic Suit and a pair of Chinese Traditional Long Black Cloth Shoes. Standing beneath the bright red pavilion, he looked at Ikkaku, who was wrapped within the sea of flowers, and slowly said,

"Ikkaku! You'd better be careful from here on out!"

Seeing Asano Kiyoshi's Shikai, beautiful and tragic to the extreme, all the captains fell silent. Looking at the excessively exaggerated release, they asked in disbelief,

"Hey, hey, hey! How is this possible? With a move covering such a vast range, I wouldn't doubt you if you told me it was Bankai."

Isshin was still making a huge fuss without the slightest restraint. Under normal circumstances, the other captains would certainly have rebuked him a little. But now, looking at the somewhat exaggerated range of Reiatsu coverage on the screen, not a single person thought Isshin's remarks were inappropriate.

Head Captain Yamamoto leaned on his cane, an unreadable glimmer flashing in his eyes as he said to Mayuri Kurotsuchi,

"As for this recording, I want your assurance that only the captains here may view it. I do not want anyone else to know about it, especially those in Central 46. Do you understand?"

Though Mayuri Kurotsuchi was usually rather sharp-tongued, seeing the stern and serious Head Captain Yamamoto made him feel slightly uneasy. Still, his mouth did not lose any of its edge.

"Rest assured. Based on my own judgment, I already placed all information concerning Asano Kiyoshi under the highest clearance level of the Research and Development Department. Other than Captain-level personnel, no one can access this data."

Hearing Mayuri Kurotsuchi's words, Head Captain Yamamoto nodded, indicating that he had done well. Then the Old Man returned his attention to the fiercely raging battle on the screen and said no more.

Back at the Fourth Division, crimson and ink-black collided like two savage beasts, leaping at each other with the intent to kill!

This time, Asano Kiyoshi did not wait for Ikkaku to attack first. Instead, he chose to take the initiative. He raised an arm slightly and chanted,

"Bakudo #21—Sekienton!"

With Asano Kiyoshi's Shikai, Sekienton's range underwent an enormous change. It instantly expanded from a radius of just over ten meters to nearly fifty meters. Moreover, countless traces of Asano Kiyoshi's Reiatsu darted through the dense red fog, making it impossible for those outside to discern his exact position.

At the same time, the wildly moving Reiatsu acted like a radar for Asano Kiyoshi. As long as an enemy entered the red mist, no matter how they dodged, they could not escape the lock of his Kido!

Looking at the vast fog that had emerged, Ikkaku's face carried a hint of excitement. He looked at Asano Kiyoshi and spun Hozukimaru, its red tassel trailing from the butt end, in a flourish. Then, with an explosive burst of strength from his arm, he drove the chilling gleam of Hozukimaru forward, carving a clear path through the dense fog!

With just a single thrust, he had opened a path through the mist!

Hidden within the red fog, Asano Kiyoshi watched Ikkaku's war-god-like bearing and silently shook his head. Though he felt somewhat helpless, his chanting did not slow.

"Hado #12—Fushibi."

As the Reishi in the air rapidly reorganized and shifted, a fiery red net shot toward Ikkaku.

Seeing the net rushing at him, Ikkaku revealed a savage grin. He directly abandoned defense, twisting his entire body through the air in an extremely bizarre manner. Then, he fiercely thrust the spear in his hand toward his lower left!