Victory

"It seems that without using Tetsusaiga's ultimate technique, I won't be able to win this battle."

Ailin steadied his breathing, sensed the spiritual power he had left, and shook his head slightly.

Although his Zanpakuto, Shunpo, and Kido had all reached the threshold of Captain-level, his insufficient Reiatsu was still a fatal weakness.

Without sufficiently powerful Reiatsu, no matter how strong his four Shinigami disciplines were, he could not unleash their proper power.

The difference in Reiatsu strength between Third-class Spiritual Pressure and Captain-level Second-class Spiritual Pressure was more than tenfold.

Marechiyo Ōmaeda had served as Vice-Captain for nearly two hundred years, and his own strength had been honed to its peak.

After releasing his Zanpakuto, Marechiyo Ōmaeda's Reiatsu might not have matched the Captains' usual level, but it was not far off.

If the Captains did not release their own Zanpakuto, it would not be easy for them to deal with Marechiyo Ōmaeda in a short time.

Ailin had used a technique like Reiatsu Burst. If he failed to defeat Marechiyo Ōmaeda while he still had spiritual power to spare, then once his spiritual power was depleted, he would be fish on the chopping block, at the mercy of others.

"Vice-Captain Ōmaeda, I'm about to use my Zanpakuto's ultimate technique."

"Ever since I mastered this move, I haven't used it outside."

"And its power is immense, so please be careful, Vice-Captain Ōmaeda."

"What? A Zanpakuto's ultimate technique?"

Hearing Ailin's words, Marechiyo Ōmaeda's pupils contracted.

After every Shinigami nurtured their own Zanpakuto, once the bond between Shinigami and Zanpakuto reached a certain level, they would learn the Zanpakuto's name from the blade itself.

Then, by calling out the Zanpakuto's name, the Shinigami could release it.

This was a Shinigami's Shikai.

A Zanpakuto's ultimate technique was a move possessed only by certain powerful Zanpakuto.

Especially since even someone as strong as Ailin said its power was immense, it was clear that this move was no simple matter.

Marechiyo Ōmaeda did not dare let down his guard in the slightest.

Boom!

Vast Reiatsu erupted from Marechiyo Ōmaeda's body.

Marechiyo Ōmaeda had also used a technique like Reiatsu Burst.

Enhanced by Reiatsu Burst and his Zanpakuto's Shikai, Marechiyo Ōmaeda's Reiatsu had reached Captain-level Second-class Spiritual Pressure.

"Come on!"

"Good!"

Seeing that Marechiyo Ōmaeda was ready, Ailin no longer hesitated.

Most of the Reiatsu in his body surged through Ailin's hand and into Tetsusaiga in his right hand.

Whirlwinds spun around Tetsusaiga's blade.

Then, Ailin fiercely swung his blade toward Marechiyo Ōmaeda—

Wind Scar!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Three wind slashes formed from spiritual power tore three deep trenches through the ground and swept toward Marechiyo Ōmaeda with unstoppable force.

Haaah—

At the same time, Marechiyo Ōmaeda's Reiatsu poured into his Zanpakuto, activating his strongest technique.

Drunken Demon - Rampage!

Boom!

Marechiyo Ōmaeda swung his spiked club, smashing it fiercely into the three wind slashes Ailin had unleashed.

Creak, creak—

Boom, boom, boom—

"So heavy!"

Marechiyo Ōmaeda gripped his spiked club tightly. Drunken Demon - Rampage was his Zanpakuto's strongest ultimate technique.

Yet even his strongest ultimate technique could barely halt the momentum of Ailin's slashes.

The increasingly powerful slashes that followed still forced Marechiyo Ōmaeda's huge body backward.

His feet carved two long furrows into the training ground.

"No, I can't hold it back!"

After holding on for several seconds, the remaining force of Marechiyo Ōmaeda's Drunken Demon - Rampage ran out, and he could no longer block Ailin's Wind Scar.

In the end, Marechiyo Ōmaeda only had time to use Drunken Demon Maru, his spiked club, to shield his vital points before his entire body was swept into Ailin's Wind Scar...

"AAAAAAAH..."

Whoosh, whoosh...

Marechiyo Ōmaeda's scream had barely rang out when Ailin's vision blurred. In the next instant, Shihoin Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke appeared in the center of the training ground.

Urahara Kisuke was even carrying the blood-soaked Marechiyo Ōmaeda in one hand.

So fast!

Ailin was shocked.

He knew that Shihoin Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke were powerful, but knowing it in his heart and facing it for real were two entirely different things.

Still, Ailin had personally witnessed a Captain-level powerhouse use Bankai. Moreover, neither Shihoin Yoruichi nor Urahara Kisuke had released their Reiatsu, so the pressure they gave Ailin was truly less than what he had felt when facing Kisaragi Taiho.

What Shihoin Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke brought Ailin was more pressure from within his own heart.

However, seeing just the tip of the iceberg of their strength eased the pressure in Ailin's heart somewhat.

In that instant, Yoruichi had directly cut off the follow-up force of Ailin's Wind Scar, while Urahara Kisuke had used Shunpo to reach Marechiyo Ōmaeda and pull him out from the Wind Scar's path.

The two had acted with effortless ease. Urahara Kisuke had not released his Zanpakuto, and Yoruichi had not used Shunkō.

Clearly, neither Ailin nor Marechiyo Ōmaeda was qualified to make Shihoin Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke get serious.

"Lord Yoruichi, Urahara, Third Seat."

Ailin returned Tetsusaiga to its worn and battered appearance, sheathed it at his waist, and bowed to Shihoin Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke.

Since these two had stepped in, this challenge had come to an end.

"Cough, cough, pfft..."

Marechiyo Ōmaeda, whom Urahara Kisuke had saved, coughed a few times before spitting out a mouthful of blood.

However, although he was seriously injured, Marechiyo Ōmaeda did nothing undignified. Instead, he gave Ailin a thumbs-up and laughed. "Hahaha, impressive, kid! I lost this battle!"

Although everyone had known the outcome at the end of the battle, hearing Marechiyo Ōmaeda personally admit defeat still made the onlookers feel as though they were dreaming.

"Wow..."

"Th-this isn't a dream, is it?"

"Vice-Captain Ōmaeda actually lost?"

This battle had sent the members of the Second Division through countless twists and turns.

From Ailin suppressing Vice-Captain Ōmaeda at the start, to Vice-Captain Ōmaeda gaining the advantage after releasing his Zanpakuto, to the final clash of their Zanpakuto ultimate techniques...

Until the very end, no one knew who the victor would be.

However, whether it was Ailin or Marechiyo Ōmaeda, after the strength they displayed in this battle, no one had any objections to either of them becoming the Second Division's Vice-Captain.

After all, Shinigami might have towering backgrounds, but without strength, they could not command the respect of their subordinates.