Just Right

Three minutes ago.

Kyoraku Seishu stared intently at the wall separating the two residences nearby, his gaze seemingly trying to pierce through it.

"I keep feeling that the courtyard on the right is more suspicious."

"But we clearly sensed spiritual pressure reacting here just a moment ago..." The squad members looked at Kyoraku Seishu, feeling absolutely certain that their intuition had been correct.

Such an obvious fluctuation of spiritual pressure, combined with that slight clashing sound, all pointed to someone hiding in the dilapidated house right in front of them. What was there to doubt? If they delayed any longer, the person would escape!

Seishu calmed his mind, pushing his perception to its most sensitive state.

A faint, familiar sensation flickered within his spiritual awareness. Yet, it was so elusive that he struggled to grasp it.

What could it be?

Suddenly, that hazy sensation felt like light breaking through paper, and Kyoraku Seishu's eyes lit up in an instant!

An object carrying an incredibly familiar spiritual pressure abruptly appeared within his sensory range, like a candle flame in the dark of night!

It was Kyoraku's spinning top!

This top was a gift he had personally bought for his younger brother, Kyoraku Shunsui, and he had infused it with a unique spiritual pressure signature.

As the only two brothers left in the Kyoraku family, Seishu had to be vigilant against anything bad happening to his brother. This top was not just a toy for his brother, but a reassurance that allowed him to track Shunsui's whereabouts at any time.

The top appeared like a fish leaping from a deep pool, only to vanish back beneath the surface in a flash.

"There is indeed something fishy over there! Follow me!" Before he finished speaking, he had already leaped over the high wall, landing in the small courtyard on the right.

Although the two squad members had slight reservations about his judgment, they still followed orders, vaulting over the wall one after another to stand beside Kyoraku Seishu.

As Kyoraku Seishu landed, he immediately sensed an extremely faint vibration coming from beneath the ground.

Kyoraku's top... is underground... smashing things?

Seishu didn't have time to overthink it and immediately released his Zanpakuto: "Stand tall, Proud Snow! Green Pine!"

A verdant light flashed across the blade, and the image of pine and cypress crowns spread out from the hilt in Seishu's hand.

"Green Pine: Stone Splitter!"

Spiritual light flickered, manifesting into near-solid, massive roots that tore through the weed-choked ground, spreading directly toward the location of the top underground.

The two squad members nearby stood guard with their Zanpakuto drawn, looking extremely serious.

In their memory, this was only the second time they had seen Kyoraku Seishu release his Zanpakuto. For them, unable to successfully release their own blades yet, the current situation was somewhat critical.

"Did you find something, Brother Kyoraku!?"

As the spiritual roots extended underground, Seishu's perception spread along with them—

Beneath the ground, there was a square structure; it looked like a basement.

At the same time, a series of impacts traveled along the roots into Seishu's mind.

Is Kyoraku using the top to strike the wall? Is he trapped?

Upon this realization, Kyoraku Seishu loudly commanded: "Everyone outside, come into this courtyard immediately and stand guard!"

The two Soul Reapers outside the courtyard and over a dozen Kyoraku family servants carrying long staves immediately kicked open the old gate and swarmed in.

Seishu roughly gestured a perimeter and ordered the four Soul Reapers: "Stand along this area, but don't get too close. Once I lift the ground and we see the enemy, attack immediately!"

He then ordered the remaining servants: "You are not combatants, so stay as far back as possible. If anyone flees in your direction, fight if you can, but retreat if you can't. Do not engage head-on."

Everyone nodded, then found their positions and assumed a defensive stance.

"Green Pine: Mountain Puller!" With a sharp shout from Seishu, the spiritual roots that had already penetrated underground immediately pierced the roof of the basement, and then countless roots tightened simultaneously, forcibly ripping the buried roof right out of the ground!

The violent tremor left the servants behind him dumbfounded. This was their first time witnessing their master use his ability—such formidable power; the Kyoraku family head was truly terrifying!

Following a chaotic, thunderous crash, the ceiling and the thick layer of soil were tossed aside by Seishu toward a vacant lot in the distance. The scene below was now fully exposed to everyone's eyes.

Kyoraku Shunsui stood by the far wall, covered in soot, his face filled with shock and sorrow.

Closer to Seishu's side, two people were locked in a tight embrace. One of them was half-kneeling on the ground, his head hanging limply, his body drenched in blood, seemingly having lost consciousness. The clothing near his right shoulder had been shredded by an explosion, and his left hand was pierced by a short blade, yet he was still gripping the attacker's hand tightly.

The other person had blood at the corner of his mouth and was also looking up with a face full of shock, as if he couldn't believe his eyes.

Faced with such a stalemate, the Soul Reapers were momentarily unsure whether to attack the two entangled figures or to rescue Shunsui first.

Seishu looked toward his brother first and shouted: "Shunsui! Are you alright!?"

Hearing his older brother's voice, Kyoraku snapped out of his shock and pointed at Lin Nan and Iwamoto, who were locked together: "Brother! Save Lin Nan quickly, he's hurt!"

Seishu did not hesitate; he turned his Zanpakuto, preparing to strike at the immobilized Iwamoto.

"Damn it! To think you could actually find this place..." Iwamoto glared viciously toward the opening above. "How could I let you succeed so easily... Soul Art: Viewing Flowers Through Mist!"

With his soft chant, Seishu and the others standing on the ground were instantly plunged into a state of terror—

In their eyes, the basement that had been unroofed suddenly transformed into a hideous, terrifying, fanged maw, roaring as it lunged to swallow them whole.

The servants, having no combat experience, instantly dropped their long staves, wailing in fear as they scattered and fled.

The Soul Reapers standing closer were also trembling, knowing only to hold their blades in front of them, their minds blank and unable to act.

Kyoraku Seishu, the most experienced in battle, furrowed his brows tightly. His Zanpakuto transformed into green vines, swiftly coiling around the four paralyzed squad members and whisking them away to a safe zone.

Then, he gave a light shout: "Green Pine: Proud Snow Branch!"

From the gnarled branches of the Green Pine, pine needles formed from spirit particles surged toward that hideous giant maw like swarms of layered insects. Upon striking the maw, every single needle triggered a small-scale explosion.

In an instant, the dust and smoke generated by the blasts shrouded this desolate courtyard.

Kyoraku was choked by the dust, unable to open his eyes, and coughed incessantly. The rumbling roar left his ears ringing, causing him to lose his senses for a short time.

Everything had happened too quickly; he hadn't even had time to call out a warning.

"Big Brother! The target is below, why are you attacking the ground!?" He shielded his nose and mouth with both hands and shouted desperately: "Watch out for an ambush!"

Hearing Kyoraku's warning, a flash of white mist seemed to pass before Seishu's eyes, and the entire scene shifted:

The terrifying, fanged maw had vanished, and beneath the ground lay the same basement with its ceiling torn away;

Meanwhile, the abandoned house in front, which had been intact moments ago, was now half-collapsed, with thick, smoke-like dust billowing into the air.

"Damn it!" Seishu realized instantly, "It's an illusion!"

At the same time, a calm chant reached his ears, making his skin crawl.

"Mask of flesh and bone, All creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man!

Carve twin lotuses upon the walls of blue flame, Wait in the abyss of the distant firmament!"

Taking advantage of the moment everyone was disoriented by the illusion, Iwamoto had finished chanting the Kido. A look of triumph appeared in his narrow eyes.

At this moment, the people on the ground had yet to break free from the illusion; Kyoraku Shunsui was still stunned and immobilized by the explosions; and Lin Nan, standing before him, had long since lost consciousness.

Now, there was no one left who could stop him!

"It is too late, Mr. Soul Reaper!" A polite smile curled at the corner of his lips, "Way of Destruction No. 73..."

Seeing that his opponent had completed the incantation, Kyoraku Seishu knew it was too late for him to do anything. His mind went blank, the opponent's words echoing relentlessly in his head...

Way of Destruction No. 73, Twin Lotus Blue Fire Crash.

Kyoraku Seishu could already foresee the two massive, scorching blue fireballs plummeting toward the ground.

Among those on the ground, he was likely the only one who could survive a Kido above level 70, though he would still pay the price of severe injury. The others, especially the servants, would inevitably be vaporized by the Kido, leaving not even a trace behind...

How could it come to this... This was the only thought that could cross his mind.

"Hey, your daddy isn't dead yet!" An abrupt voice suddenly interrupted Iwamoto's incantation.

Lin Nan's head snapped up, his bloodshot eyes filled with an untamable light.

Iwamoto looked at him with a hint of astonishment.

This brat was hit directly in the right chest by a level 20 Kido and took two of my blades to the abdomen—how is he still awake?!

Lin Nan exerted sudden force with both hands, pulling Iwamoto toward him, then pressed his body firmly against the other man. He extended two index fingers and pressed them tightly against Iwamoto's body.

"Try dodging this." In Iwamoto's stunned gaze, he said with a smile, "Way of Destruction No. 4, White Lightning!"

Two blinding white beams, crackling with faint electricity, ignited instantly, piercing through Iwamoto's chest and right abdomen. The flying sparks blasted fist-sized holes through the basement wall behind him and the layers of earth above!

Earth and stone flew, the basement was ruined, and the barrier vanished along with it.

Seishu, who had just recovered from his shock on the surface, couldn't help but gape in astonishment: This brat, he can actually use Kido with both hands simultaneously!

Could he be the new apprentice Captain-Commander Yamamoto has taken in?

Iwamoto spat out a mouthful of blood, enduring the searing pain in his chest, and cursed: "You... bastard! Why aren't you dead..."

A mysterious smile appeared on Lin Nan's blood-covered face: "Didn't expect that, did you?"

Iwamoto's brows knit deeply together. Seeing out of the corner of his eye that Kyoraku Seishu had already aimed his Zanpakuto at him, a strange light flashed in his eyes, and he slammed his head into Lin Nan's forehead.

"Soul Art: Viewing Flowers Through Mist!"

Following his sharp shout, Lin Nan, caught in the illusion, felt his vision go black as he fell backward, his body out of control.

Iwamoto broke free from Lin Nan's grip and leaped backward, arriving beside the stone door. He wiped his left hand across his wound, smearing blood onto the symbol at the center of the stone pillar.

Kyoraku had just snapped out of the rapidly changing situation and was horrified by the sight. He charged at Iwamoto with all his might, his incantation ringing out like a thunderclap: "Way of Binding No. 9, Crushing Chain!"

A rope emitting a bright yellow glow shot from Kyoraku's hand toward Iwamoto.

At the same time, Kyoraku Seishu launched his own attack: "Green Pine: Stone Splitter!"

Several spirit-particle roots curled rapidly toward Iwamoto; if they touched his body, they would capture him completely.

Iwamoto, blood on his lips, revealed a triumphant yet haggard smile: "Too bad, Soul Reapers, you still can't catch me..."

He leaned backward, his entire body instantly merging into the pitch-black darkness behind the stone door, as if melting into an invisible abyss, leaving no trace behind.

The Kyoraku brothers' Kido and Zanpakuto both struck empty air.

Seishu cursed: "Damn it! He actually got away!"

Kyoraku Shunsui froze for a second, then rushed to the side of the fallen Lin Nan, scooped him into his arms, and shook him vigorously: "Lin! Are you alright?"

"Shaking me like this, aren't you afraid I'll die from blood loss?"

Lin Nan coughed lightly, gradually waking from the illusion.

Kyoraku Seishu also leaped down from above and asked with concern: "Your injuries are severe, how do you feel now?!"

The haggard Lin Nan could barely support his own body. He looked at the anxious Kyoraku brothers beside him, pointed to his own head, and laughed:

"The force was just right; it rattled me but didn't hurt my brain."