Furious Wu Biao (4,000-word first update)

Furious Wu Biao (4,000-word first update)

A large group of 11th Division members had gathered in the dojo, sparring with one another. They weren't using Asauchi, either, but Zanpakuto. They fought each other with feverish abandon, as if they had no fear of death.

The 11th Division belonged to the Gotei 13 and was renowned above all the other divisions for its devotion to martial prowess and its warrior spirit. Most of its members wielded direct-combat Zanpakuto. The division paid little attention to Kidō, and its captain didn't even possess the ability to use it.

The division's duty was to serve as a fierce front-line assault force, representing the Soul Society's most elite professional combat unit.

Its captain, Kenpachi Zaraki, was a valiant battle maniac. Many of his officers and members idolized him, and they often referred to the Gotei 13's 11th Division as the "Kenpachi Squad"!

"Level One Alert..."

When the announcement sounded throughout the Seireitei, the entire dojo fell silent. A man seated at the head of the room, resting with his eyes closed, opened them. He had a fierce face and a scar on his left cheek. The hem of his Captain's Haori was jagged, and his long hair was tied up into many small spikes, like a hedgehog's.

Tiny bells hung from each spike. They weren't ordinary bells. Since Kenpachi Zaraki couldn't sense fluctuations in spiritual pressure, the 12th Division had specially made the Reiryoku Sensing Bell for him.

Zaraki slowly sat up, an interested smile appearing on his face. Against his fierce features, though, it looked more like a sinister grin.

"Little Kenpachi, are we going to kill someone?"

A pink-haired little head poked out from behind him. Her voice was as adorable as a little girl's, and she sounded delighted—but the meaning behind her words was chilling...

"Independently killing a Gillian isn't the kind of achievement that would interest the other captains, but I have a feeling... this Ryoka will be pretty interesting. I'd like to go take a swing at him!"

He was already giving Gillian far too much credit. Even a vice-captain wouldn't think much of independently killing a Gillian. Anyone who could become a division's vice-captain was no pushover.

That was why the earlier announcement had said that anyone below vice-captain level should not act alone.

At the 1st Division, Captain-Commander Yamamoto slowly raised his head to look toward the western side of the Seireitei. Then he lowered it again and continued examining the document in his hands. It was an order issued by Central 46.

The seal and style of the order seemed perfectly normal, but Captain-Commander Yamamoto still felt that something was wrong.

"Sasakibe, go and mobilize some more personnel to reinforce the western district."

"Yes, sir!"

Standing beside him, the 1st Division's vice-captain, Chōjirō Sasakibe, replied respectfully. He didn't ask any questions; he simply turned and left the Captain-Commander's office.

Central 46.

It consisted of forty sages and six judges gathered in the Seireitei. It was the Soul Society's highest judicial body, with authority over the Gotei 13 and the entire Seireitei.

Everyone had to obey its orders, including Captain-Commander Yamamoto himself!

Any Shinigami who committed a crime in the Soul Society or the Human World would be tried by Central 46. If the court ruled that force was necessary, it would issue an order to the 13th Division or another unit through a secret underground passage, using a covert command slip.

As mentioned earlier, orders like that one were sent directly to the 1st Division, after which the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 relayed them to every member of the Gotei 13.

In short, this was supposed to be a place of immense authority and dignity.

But now, the stench of blood filled Central 46. Dried blood covered the walls and the fine tables alike.

The halls, so solemn in appearance, were filled with the unmistakable stench of corpses left to rot for a long time. Some kind of special barrier kept the smell from escaping beyond Central 46.

The sages and judges, normally so high and mighty, all lay amid the dried blood. Their faces were frozen in fear and disbelief. They looked pitiful, but also pathetic.

Two figures stood in the shadows. One of them was the captain of the 5th Division, Aizen Sōsuke.

The warm smile that usually graced his face was gone. In its place was an air of arrogance and coldness.

The other was a brown-skinned man wearing an eye patch. He was the captain of the 9th Division, Kaname Tōsen!

"Near the 5th Division?"

Seated high above, Aizen murmured softly, then curved his lips into a faint smile. "If I'd known that interesting human was heading that way, I would've gone to meet him. A human without a trace of spiritual power... How intriguing."

Kaname Tōsen spoke up beside him. "Lord Aizen, should I go and—"

"No need." Aizen waved a hand before he could finish. "Let him make a scene. His arrival will also speed up my plans. Once tomorrow morning's captains' meeting is over, the 5th Division Captain... will have to die once, too!"

"Level One Alert..."

The announcement rang throughout the Seireitei. Even from inside the Senzaikyu, it came through loud and clear.

Rukia sat inside the Senzaikyu, gazing through the window at Sokyoku Hill. That was where she would meet her death.

Every criminal sentenced to execution by the Sōkyoku was imprisoned in the Senzaikyu, and each cell had a window that looked out only on Sokyoku Hill.

It was meant to put pressure on prisoners as they waited for death, filling them with fear and making them reflect on their crimes.

That was why the white tower was called the "Senzaikyu"!

Rukia had been sitting listlessly, but when she heard the announcement, she sprang up from her chair.

A human. He had independently killed a Gillian. He was incredibly strong.

Those three details were enough for Rukia to know, even without hearing his name... The madman who'd dared to snatch someone back from Hell had arrived!

"That lunatic's here. Then Ichigo must be..." Worry crossed Rukia's face as she remembered what Renji had told her about the Ryoka while escorting her here.

He wore a Shihakusho, had orange hair, and carried a greatsword. The Ryoka who'd been stopped outside White Road Gate had to be Ichigo.

Wu Biao's appearance now confirmed her suspicions. She was moved, but also deeply worried. She wanted to run out and tell them to go back to the Human World and stop worrying about her.

But Rukia couldn't do that. She had lost her freedom and was nothing more than a prisoner awaiting execution!

"Ichigo... Don't you dare die!"

"Where are Rukia and that girly guy?"

Was he here for Rukia?

A flicker of surprise crossed Hinamori Momo's face. She didn't know who Wu Biao meant by "girly guy," but she certainly knew Rukia. Hinamori and Rukia had been classmates.

They had both come from Rukongai, and Hinamori was one of Rukia's few friends at the Spiritual Arts Academy!

But they were only friends. If Rukia had run into an ordinary difficulty, Hinamori would have helped her. But after Central 46's ruling, she could only obey. She couldn't act like Renji Abarai and step in!

That was the difference between a close friend and a friend. Renji was undoubtedly Rukia's close friend!

Hinamori suppressed the surprise in her eyes and looked at Wu Biao coldly. "You're in no position to worry about anyone else now. You had the nerve to break into the 5th Division barracks, so... you're staying here!"

As soon as she said "staying here," Hinamori's Zanpakuto was already out of its sheath. The last word had barely left her lips when she lunged at Wu Biao, who was right in front of her.

Seeing Hinamori charge at him, Wu Biao's eyes flashed with caution. The spiritual pressure of a vice-captain was worlds apart from that of Togakushi, a Third Seat.

But that was all!

Wu Biao stepped forward. Instead of dodging, he took the initiative and attacked.

He threw a punch. The power of his body erupted, unleashing a terrifying force that made the air around him hiss.

At the punch's thunderous impact, Hinamori's expression changed and her eyes contracted. Even before it landed, she could sense its power. But she was already committed and had to pour all her spiritual pressure into her Zanpakuto.

With a thunderous boom, the Zanpakuto rang out. Wu Biao's punch narrowly avoided the blade's edge and struck the flat of the sword instead, knocking it aside. The blade whistled past him.

The hand holding the sword felt a terrifying force shudder through it. The punch relied on sheer physical power to break through technique, and it had even shattered the spiritual pressure covering her Zanpakuto. Shock and disbelief filled her eyes.

"How can anyone have such terrifying physical strength?"

Hinamori was stunned, but she had no time to think about it. After knocking the Zanpakuto aside with one punch, Wu Biao was already closing in, swinging another punch at her!

"Bakudō #39: Enkōsen!"

With a low shout, spiritual pressure surged, and a circular shield appeared between Hinamori and Wu Biao.

What was this?

Wu Biao's eyes flickered with curiosity as he stared at the shield that had appeared out of thin air. But his fist didn't slow in the slightest. He struck the shield head-on, and it lasted less than two seconds before shattering.

But that was enough. Hinamori used Shunpo and leapt backward, putting distance between herself and Wu Biao. Her eyes were filled with wariness.

The rapid exchange had happened too quickly for many of the members present to react. Only after Hinamori was forced back by a single punch did they finally realize what had happened. Fear crept into their eyes as they looked at Wu Biao.

He'd forced Vice-Captain Hinamori to retreat with one punch. Could strength alone really do that?

"Kill!"

But they were trained Shinigami. They quickly suppressed their fear, and as soon as the command rang out, a large group charged at Wu Biao.

In an instant, attacks and Kidō filled the not-so-large dining hall.

"Interesting!" Wu Biao cried, staring at the various Kidō coming his way, full of curiosity. The more he learned about these Shinigami, the more interested he became. And the stronger his opponents were... the happier he was!

He had been about to retreat and dodge, but then he saw seven or eight figures charging at him from behind, all intent on killing him. A savage grin curled Wu Biao's lips. If he couldn't dodge, then he would face the fight head-on!

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Wu Biao charged straight ahead without hesitation, slamming into the Shinigami rushing toward him.

The dozen or so Shinigami in front grinned fiercely and swung their Zanpakuto at the oncoming Wu Biao!

In the blink of an eye, they clashed.

A thunderous boom rang out as Wu Biao's fists became a blur. In an instant, he threw more than a dozen punches, each striking the flat of a Zanpakuto with pinpoint accuracy. Metal rang against metal again and again.

As the figures were knocked backward, more than a dozen Shinigami were sent flying in an instant, spitting blood.

But those dozen had managed to stall Wu Biao for several seconds. Behind them, a group of Shinigami raised their hands toward Wu Biao and chanted the same incantation!

"Ye Lord! Mask of flesh and blood, all creation, flutter of wings, those who bear the name of Man! On the wall of blue flame, inscribe a twin lotus. In the abyss of conflagration, wait at the distant heavens! Hadō #31: Shakkahō!"

The incantation ended just as the first dozen Shinigami were sent flying.

Wu Biao had only just come to a stop when two dozen fireballs swept toward the area where he stood.

Before the fireballs reached him, an intensely hot wave washed over him. The uniform of the Kanonji Style's chief disciple wrinkled, and his hair began to curl from the heat.

"They can even play with fire?"

Wu Biao couldn't help staring in surprise. To think people could shoot fireballs from their palms—it was something he'd never heard of. But his expression gradually turned serious. He took a step, preparing to escape the area.

But...

"Carriage of thunder, gap of the spinning wheel, with light divide this into six! Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō!"

Hinamori, who had been waiting for her chance at the back of the group, struck now. Six bars of light forged from spiritual pressure bound Wu Biao in place.

Wu Biao's face darkened slightly. He strained to break free, and cracks immediately appeared in the six bars of light. They shattered in an instant. But that brief delay was all it took. The two dozen fireballs were already upon him. It was too late to dodge!

"Then I'll smash my way through!!!"

Wu Biao roared. Instead of retreating, he charged straight into the dense barrage of fireballs.

The 5th Division Shinigami sneered. To face Kidō with nothing but his body was a death sentence!

A thunderous boom erupted, shaking the whole area. The impact rocked the entire dining hall.

But from within the sea of flames created by the exploding fireballs, a figure wreathed in fire burst out. The faces of the 5th Division members changed. Those closest to him narrowed their eyes in disbelief.

Amid the roar, Wu Biao charged straight out of the flames. He didn't slow at all, heading directly toward the group in front of him. They had thought the Shakkahō would burn him to ash, but he was still coming.

His clothes were covered in sparks and utterly tattered. Black smoke rose from his hair, and the smell of burnt hair filled the air.

But the body exposed beneath his clothes was merely a little charred... otherwise, it was completely unharmed. The sight was enough to leave anyone stunned.

"How is this possible?!"

"He didn't use spiritual pressure to protect himself. There's no way he could withstand Kidō with pure physical strength!"

"This Ryoka... his body's strength is terrifying!"

Wu Biao's face was twisted with rage. His eyes were bloodshot, red from corner to corner.

As for why he was so furious... As he charged forward, his handsome middle-parted hairstyle had scattered into black ash in the wind,

revealing... a gleaming bald scalp!

He hadn't used spiritual pressure to protect his entire body, hair included. His physical toughness had allowed him to withstand the Kidō unscathed, but his hair didn't have the same toughness. The extreme heat had turned it to charcoal in an instant. Then the wind had blown it away... leaving his scalp shinier than if it had been shaved with a blade.

These people had not only burned the clothes Teacher Kanonji had given him, they had ruined his hairstyle, too. He had spent nearly half a year growing out that middle part, and they'd burned every last strand off in an instant.

How could that not make Wu Biao furious? How could it not make him lose his mind? How could it not make him... roar?!

"My head can be cut off, my blood can be spilled, but my hairstyle must stay intact! You burned my hair, you bastards—today, I'll make every one of you bald as a monk!!!"

Brother Biao: I'm bald now, so I'm invincible! (LMAO)