Ikkaku's Defeat

The moment the Double Chanting ended, whether it was Ikkaku, directly facing the suddenly appearing chains, or the squad captains currently staring at the screen—

Everyone was stunned numb...

What the hell was this?!

Was Post-Chanting and Double Chanting supposed to be used like this?!

Was this brat being way too outrageous?!

Wasn't he grinding the faces of veteran captains like them into the dirt?!

The Captain-Commander watched the utterly calm Asano Kiyoshi on the screen. His hand unconsciously tightened, crushing off a small corner of the cane that had accompanied him for years. The surrounding air began to heat up slightly. He wasn't angry—he was simply too excited!

The reason Post-Chanting and Double Chanting were difficult wasn't merely because they demanded an extremely high level of Reishi control. While that requirement was hard to meet, controlling Reishi was nothing more than a basic skill for veteran captains. The true difficulty was this—if one wished to use Post-Chanting and Double Chanting, one had to construct two entirely different Reishi configurations and casting sequences at the same time.

And unless someone possessed two brains, this was essentially impossible to achieve!

Even those who could use Double Chanting proficiently only did so with relatively low-level Kido they had mastered completely, releasing them through the body's instinctive memory. Yet Asano Kiyoshi had only been enrolled for two months. There was no way he could have attained the Reishi familiarity that others required decades, even centuries, to develop in such a short time.

Then there was only one possibility!

This brat might have dual-core processing, unlike the single-core minds of the rest of them! He had effectively been born with an extra brain!

And that alone wasn't enough. What he had displayed just now was Post-Chanting and Double Chanting, both completed at the exact same time!

That meant... this brat had at least triple-core processing?!

If Asano Kiyoshi truly had triple-core processing, then it could basically be concluded that, at the same level of strength, he would be nearly invincible in the future!

No Shinigami could defeat Asano Kiyoshi while standing on the same level as him!

When you cast your first Kido, he could cast three Kido at once to tear you apart. What the hell were you supposed to fight him with—your head?!

Even Aizen felt a flicker of shock as he watched. Although Asano Kiyoshi had demonstrated those two techniques in the Living World, he had used them with an interval between them at the time. As a result, Aizen hadn't realized that Asano Kiyoshi could use "Post-Chanting" and "Double Chanting" simultaneously.

After noticing this, curiosity and the desire to study him further flashed through the light brown eyes behind the glasses reflecting the screen's glow.

After a brief silence, the Captain-Commander said to Mayuri Kurotsuchi, "Seal it away. Anyone who wishes to access Asano Kiyoshi's records must personally come to my First Squad for approval!"

After saying that, the Captain-Commander swept his gaze over all the captains. An utterly terrifying pressure filled his eyes, and that single look made every Shinigami present understand his meaning.

From this moment onward, Asano Kiyoshi had completely entered the Captain-Commander's list of candidates!

And his status was close to that of a crown prince!

Meanwhile, Ikkaku stared at the Yellow Rope that had suddenly appeared, shock showing on his face. Looking at Asano Kiyoshi, he shouted, "Hey! Are you kidding me?! Is Kido supposed to be used like this?!"

Asano Kiyoshi smiled, then said to Ikkaku, "Probably. I think it works pretty well this way!"

Yumichika was already somewhat dumbfounded. As he looked at Asano Kiyoshi standing in the arena, he understood for the first time just how vast the gap between them was. They were worlds apart!

Watching Asano Kiyoshi's back, Yumichika helplessly shook his head, his heart filled with bitterness. He understood. The gap was simply too great. It wasn't something that could be bridged through effort alone. Such a disparity could only inspire despair and submission.

Ikkaku was a little slow, and he hadn't paid much attention in class, so naturally he didn't understand what Asano Kiyoshi's level of Kido usage represented. Besides, he didn't care!

All he cared about now was defeating Asano Kiyoshi!

The yellow chains tore through the air as they rapidly lunged toward Ikkaku's limbs. Faced with this, Ikkaku's spear-form Hozukimaru naturally lost its usefulness.

But at that moment, not only did Ikkaku not give up, the beast-like fighting spirit on his face surged even higher! He shouted once more, "Split apart—Hozukimaru!"

As Ikkaku's words fell, his Zanpakuto transformed from its initial spear form into a three-section staff with a spearhead!

The change in Ikkaku's weapon allowed him to directly sever the Bakudo Asano Kiyoshi had cast with Hozukimaru's altered form.

However, after cutting through the yellow chains, Ikkaku's body briefly revealed an opening and stiffened. Faced with such a favorable situation, Asano Kiyoshi clearly had no intention of continuing to slowly wear him down with Kido.

A black longsword formed from Ink-Black Reiatsu appeared directly at his side. Grasping the Ink-black Longsword, he used Shunpo to arrive before Ikkaku, then thrust the blade straight at Ikkaku's heart!

Seeing this, Ikkaku's expression darkened. The back of his hand fiercely struck his three-section staff, sending the rightmost section flying directly toward Asano Kiyoshi. This way, before Asano Kiyoshi could pierce Ikkaku's heart, that spiked nunchaku would definitely pierce his head.

This move forced Asano Kiyoshi to immediately change tactics and give up his chance to finish Ikkaku, leaving him no choice but to evade the attack and turn what had been a guaranteed kill into merely an opportunity to seriously injure him.

This was the best choice Ikkaku could make, but... he had forgotten that in the world of Shinigami, a Shinigami who knew Kido was the equivalent of a noble dual-class fighter!

Asano Kiyoshi did not halt his movements. Instead, he directly threw the longsword in his hand while his body slightly shifted to the right, avoiding the incoming Hozukimaru.

Seeing the flying blade, Ikkaku's expression relaxed slightly. He could dodge this kind of attack. Even if he failed, it would only leave him lightly injured.

It seemed Asano Kiyoshi wasn't willing to trade injuries with him... Still, that wasn't good. He would have to advise him later. After all, opportunities to trade a light injury on his own side for a serious injury on the enemy's side had to be seized in actual combat. That was experience he had earned from years of fighting his way through Rukongai.

Just as Ikkaku twisted slightly, intending to evade the flying blade, he suddenly discovered that his body had become numb and stiff! At that moment, Asano Kiyoshi's voice reached his ears as well:

"Hado No. 11—Tsuzuri Raiden!"