Charging Ahead (Second Update of the 4,000-Character Chapter)-Please Vote!

Charging Ahead (Second Update of the 4,000-Character Chapter)—Please Vote!

Inside the west gate of Seireitei, Shinigami had gathered in dense crowds. They had all been startled into coming here when the Sekki Seki wall came crashing down, and naturally, they had all witnessed what happened earlier.

Though they didn't understand why Captain Ichimaru Gin had made a mistake and failed to kill the Ryoka, instead driving him away from Seireitei, they had already been preparing to disperse once they saw that the Ryoka couldn't invade Seireitei again.

But what happened next gave everyone a fright. A boy who looked extremely young had lifted the White Road Gate with one hand and walked inside as casually as if he were visiting a neighbor.

"How is that possible? He..."

"That's impossible. The wall is made of Sekki Seki, which completely blocks spiritual power. That means it can only be opened with physical strength. How could he...?"

"And with one hand, no less. He doesn't even look like he's exerting himself."

"..."

The crowd immediately erupted into an uproar, but no one panicked too much.

After all, they couldn't sense even the slightest trace of spiritual pressure from him. If all he had was great strength, then he wasn't much of a threat to them, with their ever-changing Zanpakuto and Kidō.

Not far from the west gate stood a building marked with the number "12."

This was the Surveillance Department under the 12th Division, responsible for monitoring everything that happened in Seireitei. There were Surveillance Department branches near all four gates—east, west, south, and north—to detect any unusual activity as quickly as possible and notify all of Seireitei.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap...

The 12th Division was also known as the Technology Development Division. The Surveillance Department, with its advanced detection technology, had noticed Wu Biao the moment he stepped into Seireitei and issued an alert throughout the entire court.

"Emergency alert, emergency alert. An intruder has been spotted inside Seireitei. All divisions, report to your assigned guard positions and remain on alert. The intruder is at the west gate of Seireitei. Number of Ryoka: one. Combat assessment: no spiritual power whatsoever, but possesses immense strength. All divisions, proceed with caution! I repeat, emergency alert, emergency alert..."

Accompanied by the clang of an instrument resembling a gong, the announcement rang throughout Seireitei.

It was nearly dusk, and most division members were eating in their division mess halls. This announcement sent Seireitei, which had been settling into quiet, into an uproar.

Many even began to wonder if they'd misheard.

An invasion of Seireitei?

What a joke. And the invading Ryoka didn't have any spiritual power?

Had he come here to get himself killed?

"Hahaha, I wonder which poor soul from Rukongai came to Seireitei looking to die."

"Exactly. He doesn't have a trace of spiritual power and still dares to enter Seireitei. He must be tired of living!"

"Forget about him. Let's keep eating. They'll send out an all-clear in ten minutes at most."

"Probably less than three minutes. I heard members of another division already headed over there."

"Eat, eat. Then we'll go to bed. Just ignore him!"

"..."

Comments like these could be heard in every division. No one cared about an invasion by a "Plus" who, in their eyes, had no spiritual power whatsoever.

Most of the captains felt the same way and didn't take the alert seriously at all.

But there were exceptions—such as a certain man who had been secretly observing the Human World.

Inside the captain's office at the Fifth Division Barracks.

A middle-aged man with short brown hair, black-rimmed glasses, and a gentle face slowly looked up toward the west gate. A playful smile curved his lips.

"So that interesting human has come too. How curious..."

Almost none of the divisions sent anyone out. Everyone carried on as if nothing had happened, going about their own business. It was hardly their fault; the alert had clearly stated that the intruder had no spiritual power whatsoever, which wasn't enough to make anyone wary.

At Seireitei's west gate, a gleam flashed in Ichimaru Gin's eyes as he watched Wu Biao. A foxlike smile gradually appeared on his face as he thought, Things are getting livelier and livelier. This should be the human who caught Aizen's interest, right?

"Is this where the Shinigami live?"

Brother Biao looked around with his big bag on his back, sounding utterly relaxed. He didn't look like an intruder at all. He looked more like an elementary school student out on a field trip.

"Oh, you, over there with the white hair!"

After taking in the scenery for a while, Brother Biao remembered the real reason he had come. He looked up at Ichimaru Gin and said excitedly, "Come on! I'm here to steamroll the Soul Society. Hurry up and fight me!"

"..."

The corners of the mouths of the many Shinigami surrounding him twitched. This guy definitely had something wrong with his head... But then again, if he didn't, he wouldn't have come to invade Seireitei.

Though Wu Biao had called him White Hair, Ichimaru Gin only smiled faintly. A hint of mockery flashed in his narrowed eyes as he turned to the Shinigami gathering around them. "Can you handle a kid with no spiritual power? If not, I'll take him into custody myself."

He was clearly setting them up. After all, he knew Wu Biao had fought a Gillian in the Human World and killed it. The Shinigami here wouldn't stand a chance against him.

But the Shinigami didn't know that. Instead, Ichimaru Gin's words made them feel looked down upon, and they all thumped their chests as they shouted.

"Don't worry, Captain Ichimaru Gin. He's just a clueless brat who doesn't know when to quit!"

"That's right. You can head back!"

"..."

"Are you sure you don't need my help?" Ichimaru Gin's smile grew brighter, and the mockery in his eyes became even more apparent. "Don't go reporting to your superiors that I didn't go after the Ryoka and even let him get away once I've left."

"Absolutely not! We'll make sure to teach this brat a good lesson!"

Meanwhile, Wu Biao tilted his head as he watched the people talking in the distance, a clear look of impatience on his face. "Hey, idiots over there! Are you coming or not? I'm in a hurry to find that girly man!"

But before Wu Biao could finish speaking, Ichimaru Gin winked at Brother Biao, then vanished from the spot with Shunpo.

Wu Biao immediately shivered and stood frozen for a moment before he finally reacted.

"Holy crap, did that guy just wink at me?" After saying this, Brother Biao couldn't help shuddering. He didn't discriminate against gay people, but he wasn't interested in men...

Quickly banishing the utterly disgusting image of that wink from his mind, Wu Biao tightened the straps of his backpack and started walking toward the Shinigami surrounding him.

"Hey, kid, stop right there!"

Seeing Wu Biao approaching, several Seated Officers who were clearly leading the group waved at him. "Do you have any idea where you are?"

"Get back home and drink your mother's milk! You can still get out if you leave now!"

Wu Biao curled his lip. He couldn't be bothered wasting time on such obvious cannon fodder, so he quickened his pace and stopped in front of the group of Shinigami. "Cannon fodder, do you know a guy with long black hair, a really girly face, and a neck scarf? His hair looks like this... Yeah, like that. A girly man."

Wu Biao gestured above his head as he spoke, but the fifty-odd Shinigami clearly couldn't figure out who he was looking for from Brother Biao's extremely mangled description.

"I don't know!" The one who spoke was Third Seat Togakushi Riku of the 3rd Division. Before his words had even fully left his mouth, he stepped forward. Everyone in front of him made way; the Third Seat was the strongest among them!

"But I'm arresting you now for entering Seireitei without a travel permit. Come with me."

At this, the Shinigami looked at Wu Biao with pity. Since the Third Seat of the 3rd Division had spoken, the poor kid would have to come with them, no matter what.

But it was hardly anyone else's fault. The kid had brought this on himself!

"Ah, what a bother." Wu Biao shook his head in dismay.

Just a bother?

The Shinigami sneered. The kid really didn't know his own limits.

But they had clearly misunderstood. The bother Wu Biao was talking about wasn't them. It was...

"This place is so big. Where am I supposed to find that girly man...?"

Brother Biao's frustration didn't last long. A look of excitement soon tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Forget it. I'll just beat my way in and steamroll the place. I'm bound to run into him sooner or later!"

His words stunned the Shinigami present. A moment later, they were all infuriated by Wu Biao's arrogance.

"Big talk. You're asking for death!" Togakushi snorted coldly and placed his hand on the Zanpakuto at his waist, ready to use force to arrest the clueless brat.

But...

Clack—

A hand appeared out of nowhere and pushed aside the Zanpakuto, which had barely been drawn half a foot from its sheath. Before Third Seat Togakushi could even understand what had happened, a large hand clamped down on his face.

Severe pain shot through him from between those five fingers. Togakushi was instantly horrified. Through the gaps between the fingers, he saw Wu Biao's cold smile and could think of only one thing: This is impossible!

But before he could say it, a terrifying force broke through the spiritual pressure he had instinctively mustered and smashed him straight into the ground...

Boom—

With a loud crash, Third Seat Togakushi was driven headfirst into the stone ground like a planted onion. His legs twitched twice, then he passed out.

"I'm in a hurry!"

That was the last thing Third Seat Togakushi heard before losing consciousness.

If he had taken Wu Biao seriously and released his Zanpakuto, Shun-jin, he wouldn't have been so easily defeated. But he hadn't taken Wu Biao seriously at all, so his instant defeat had been inevitable from the start.

The others didn't know any of this. All they knew was that the Third Seat of the 3rd Division, Togakushi, had been defeated by the kid in front of them without being able to put up any resistance.

Wu Biao didn't give them time to react. He darted forward and threw a straight punch at the nearest target.

Seeing him coming, the Shinigami instinctively drew the Zanpakuto at his waist and rushed straight at him.

"Get lost!"

Wu Biao roared. He acted as if he didn't see the sharp blade at all. A black gleam flashed across his right arm as he punched toward the Zanpakuto.

With a clang, the Zanpakuto rang out sharply. Wu Biao's punch had broken it clean in two. But his fist didn't slow down in the slightest, slamming straight into the man's face.

Blood and teeth flew through the air as the Shinigami was sent hurtling backward. He smashed into a distant wall, reducing it to rubble, and lost consciousness without even making a sound.

The sight shocked the Shinigami present. Several Seated Officers looked horrified, but they also came to their senses.

"Everyone, attack together! This guy's no simple opponent. Don't hold back at all. Alive or dead, it doesn't matter!" At his command, killing intent filled the eyes of the Shinigami from all the surrounding divisions. They used Shunpo and charged toward Wu Biao.

Those whose Zanpakuto could be released did so now. One release command and Zanpakuto name after another rang out!

"Hahahaha, come on! Now this is a real fight!" Wu Biao laughed excitedly, his body blurring as he charged straight at the Shinigami rushing toward him.

His eyes were streaked with bloodshot excitement. This was the kind of battle he had always longed for. His mind went blank, leaving him with only one thought—or, more accurately, just one word:

Fight!

One came, and he fought one. Two came, and he fought both. A whole group came... and he'd knock them all down, steamrolling this place called Seireitei!

Wu Biao was incredibly fast. In an instant, he was face-to-face with a Shinigami in the group whose Zanpakuto had been released. Spiritual pressure blazed along the blade as it carried overwhelming force toward Wu Biao.

"Good!" Wu Biao shouted. He raised his left hand and swung it forward in a hard slap. With a whoosh, the released Zanpakuto trembled violently. The spiritual pressure coating it collapsed and scattered as it met his palm.

The Seated Officer felt a terrifying force travel through his Zanpakuto. His hand immediately went numb, and the blade flew out of his grasp, slapped away by Wu Biao.

Before he could react, Wu Biao had already ducked in front of him and punched him hard in the abdomen. As the Seated Officer spat blood and flew backward, Wu Biao pivoted on his right foot and charged toward the person on his right.

"Blur, Mukyo!"

At the same time, a Shinigami murmured a release command, and the Zanpakuto in his hand was released. A thick fog appeared around Wu Biao. Inside it, he couldn't see a thing.

"Die!"

The Shinigami snarled under his breath and slipped close to Wu Biao. Just as he was about to ambush him with his Zanpakuto, Wu Biao turned around in the fog. He seemed completely unaffected by the fog's obstruction of his vision, and his punch landed precisely on the Shinigami.

The man was horrified and could only bring his Zanpakuto up in front of him, but...

Crack! The Seated Officer's Zanpakuto broke in half under the punch. The punch continued unabated, slamming into him, and he passed out. The fog dissipated at once.

It had all happened too fast. From the moment Wu Biao charged in until now, only a few breaths had passed, yet he had already defeated two low-ranking Seated Officers in the blink of an eye!

The sight made everyone suck in a breath. Their pupils all shrank.

But with an arrow on the string, it had to be released. The remaining Shinigami had already charged forward, and it was too late to retreat.

That lightning-fast battle had left them all shaken. They now brought out their strongest techniques. Everyone who could release their Zanpakuto had done so, while those who couldn't had mustered all their spiritual pressure.

They also attacked viciously. They no longer dared underestimate the man before them.

Feeling their killing intent, a blood-red gleam appeared in Wu Biao's eyes.

Wu Biao liked to fight, but he wasn't bloodthirsty. He could kill Hollows, who weren't human, without a second thought, but when fighting these Shinigami, he had always held back.

Now that he saw them turn their killing intent toward him, a trace of murderous intent stirred in his eyes too.

In the next instant, Wu Biao burst forward and charged straight at the few people in front. His fists became afterimages as he hammered them mercilessly.

Punches, elbows, knees... even his shoulders. He unleashed all the fighting techniques he had learned to perfection. In someone else's hands, these techniques might have been only moderately effective, and at most looked flashy.

But with Wu Biao's terrifying strength behind them, these advanced fighting techniques could unleash unimaginable power. They might well rival Hakuda powered by a Shinigami's spiritual pressure.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At that moment, Wu Biao was like a fighting machine. Every part of his body could be used as a weapon. Wherever his fists and feet struck, Zanpakuto snapped and bodies were sent flying.

He was like a lion charging into a flock of sheep. No one could withstand even one of his attacks; he completely overwhelmed them!