Meeting

Even as Fuzhuku Rin's side descended into chaos...

The battle between Kira Izuru and Renji Abarai continued as normal.

The moment the fight began, both of their Spiritual Pressures boiled over—extremely powerful spiritual pressures that, by Shinigami ranking standards, could absolutely be classified as high-level.

That is, Vice-Captain-class Spiritual Pressure.

Both figures turned into afterimages, clashing repeatedly across the Training Ground.

The difference was that Renji Abarai wielded his Zanpakutō.

While Kira Izuru was bare-handed, the Zanpakutō at his waist showing no sign of being drawn.

"Man, since when did your Hakuda get this strong?"

"To think you can trade blows with a blade bare-handed."

Renji Abarai spoke with a hint of shock.

The Zanpakutō in his hand slashed relentlessly, each strike powerful enough to carve a vacuum in the air before him.

But Kira Izuru's eyes held a calm expression.

His hands alternated continuously—palm strikes, fists, knife-hands, claw strikes—meeting the blade in Renji Abarai's grip.

For a time, he showed no sign of losing ground.

The intricate Hakuda clashed with the concise swordsmanship, drawing gasps and exclamations of awe from the members of the Third Division.

"Kira and Abarai..."

"Have they both grown to this level already?"

A flicker of shock passed through Lucia's eyes.

Though following the Kuchiki Family gave her access to the finest educational conditions in the Soul Society, it was clear that mere teaching conditions couldn't keep pace with the most exceptional geniuses.

Just as the two were locked in an intense stalemate, Nara Dan's side encountered an additional problem.

Ever since Nara Dan graduated, he had directly upgraded his cramped Dormitory into a spacious Captain's Compound.

Compared to the simple dormitory with only a small front yard, the Captain's Compound was like a true mansion. It not only had a front and back yard