Sacrifice

"Close one."

Renji Abarai wore a smile of relief after surviving a near-death ordeal.

"I almost got blown to death..."

"But thankfully..."

"Zabimaru, I'm already standing on the same level as you!"

Renji Abarai swung the tail in his hand, and the giant snake coiling before him stretched open its body. Red Spiritual Pressure spread out, directly repairing every injury.

Having regained the power of his Bankai, Renji Abarai once again possessed abundant Spiritual Pressure, giving him the ability to fight another three hundred rounds.

This allowed Renji Abarai to regain his confidence and fighting spirit. He looked excitedly at the Baboon Woman and Zabimaru hovering in the air, as though he had come back to life.

"He really is stupidly adorable..."

A smile bloomed across the Baboon Woman's delicate face.

"Renji..."

"There's no need to keep fighting, Renji..."

"You've passed our test."

For a moment, Renji Abarai failed to process her words.

"What?!"

"I passed?!"

The Baboon Woman smiled and slowly descended from the air.

"That's right, Renji..."

"You've passed. You have earned our recognition."

Renji Abarai looked unable to understand.

"But our battle isn't over yet, is it?"

"Didn't it only just begin?!"

Yet the Baboon Woman did not answer Renji Abarai's question again. Instead, both she and Zabimaru in her hand began to turn illusory.

"No matter what, Renji."

"Make good use of our power."

"Live on..."

"And..."

Before the Baboon Woman and Zabimaru dissolved into specks of light, she wore a meaningful smile.

"It isn't just our power..."

"There's also a little surprise for you."

"Renji."

With that, Renji Abarai's Zanpakutō, Zabimaru, disappeared.

More precisely, it returned to Renji's body.

And at the very instant Zabimaru returned, Renji Abarai's Spiritual Pressure surged wildly upward like floodwaters released from a dam.

Visible waves of Spiritual Pressure continuously