Battle Continues

Ichiro Odagiri and the other two were in equally dire straits. With strength only comparable to Third Seats, they were completely being suppressed. The Adjuchas fighting them was clearly treating the three of them like toys, with no intention of killing them.

Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, the Lieutenant of the Third Division, was fighting with great difficulty. Even after releasing his Zanpakutō, he was still no match for the Adjuchas. His defeat seemed only a matter of time.

That stubborn, violent Kensei Muguruma wielded his Zanpakutō, Tachikaze, having completely abandoned defense in favor of relentless attacks. This utterly reckless fighting style left his opponent in quite a mess.

The Shiba Family excelled most at Kido, and Kūkaku Shiba was clearly one of its finest practitioners. With Kido channeled through her Zanpakutō, the immense destructive power she unleashed actually left her evenly matched with the Adjuchas she faced.

Most unexpectedly, Yoruichi Shihōin was suppressing her Adjuchas opponent. It was not that Yoruichi Shihōin's attacks were stronger than the Adjuchas's, but that she was simply too fast—so fast that her figure could barely be seen. In such a state, it was difficult for the Adjuchas to strike her, but Yoruichi Shihōin would not be able to defeat it anytime soon either.

The captains and Lieutenants had fallen into bitter battles, while the Bleach of the Expeditionary Force and Advance Team suffered grievous casualties as well. Although there were quite a few with the strength of Seated Officers, not every Seated Officer could stand against a Gillian.

The battle was gradually turning against them. Perhaps before long, the entire force would be wiped out. Would reinforcements make it in time?

"We're almost there! Everyone, pick up the pace!"

Within the reinforcement force, Shunsui Kyōraku had shed his usual frivolity, his face full of worry.

"Yoruichi, nothing can happen to you!"

Shihōin Shanqing said nothing, but his furrowed brow had not relaxed in the slightest.

"Don't worry too much."

Kirio Hikifune said only that much, because at this moment, any consolation would have been pale and powerless.

Two Vasto Lordes, nearly ten Adjuchas, and over a hundred Gillians. Upon receiving the report, the Seireitei had urgently ordered the three of them to provide support, but no one knew whether they would make it in time.

The only thing they could do was rush there as fast as possible.

Clang!

The two Zanpakutō collided for who knew how many times. As the two figures passed each other in an instant under the force of their momentum, Shadow twisted his wrist and slashed at Kexikara's throat.

As though he had anticipated it, Kexikara's crimson blade instantly blocked the nearly fatal strike. With a turn of his blade, he rapidly changed direction and slashed at Shadow's waist.

Shadow's body twisted in an unnatural motion. He pulled back his blade, blocking the attack while changing moves into a horizontal slash.

Clang!

Another collision rang out. The two figures landed at the same time and slid backward. It sounded like much had happened, but in truth, it had all been an exchange lasting only an instant.

"Heh! This is how a blade should be used! Now this is fun!" Kexikara laughed loudly. "Kid, what's your name?"

"Shadow."

The reply was crisp and direct. To Shadow, Kexikara was an opponent worthy of hearing his name.

"Shadow..." Kexikara muttered. "What a strange name."

Just then, Juji Nanma suddenly let out a heart-rending roar.

"Captain Wangyuan!"

Turning around, they saw Juji Nanma lying on the ground, covered in blood. Before him was Wangyuan Baoren, who had taken the attack for him. His eyes were tightly shut, and it was impossible to tell whether he was alive or dead.

"What a complete idiot," Kexikara said disdainfully.

"Captain!!!"

Kensei Muguruma roared, his eyes bloodshot. "I'll kill all of you! Bankai—Tekken Tachikaze!"

"So you've actually mastered Bankai." Kexikara clicked his tongue, then looked at Shadow. "Say, aren't you people together? Why aren't you worried at all?"

"Their lives and deaths have nothing to do with me."

Shadow's reply was cold and utterly devoid of emotion. Yes, aside from Lady Yoruichi, he would not care whether anyone lived or died. Anyone.

"Is that so?"

"Secret Swordsmanship: Swallow Return."

There was no response, no warning. A distance of ten meters seemed as close as if it were right before him. There was no dazzling blade light on the pitch-black Zanpakutō, no oppressive presence—only a dark blade shadow as deep as ink, as though it could draw all things into itself. A black slash, simple yet fatal.

Like a swift swallow streaking through the air, it was both rapid and clear. Though it could plainly be seen, there was no way to evade it, because it was not a thrust pursuing ultimate speed, but a simple arc traced like a whirlwind.

"Wha... what?!"

Kexikara's eyes were filled with disbelief. Blood gushed from his left leg to his right shoulder like a flood. If he had not instinctively stepped back, he had no doubt that strike would have cut him in two. Yes, it definitely would have.

"No matter how strong you are, you're still just a Hollow."

Shadow's cold tone, paired with his disdainful expression, nearly enraged Kexikara to death.

"Arghhh!" Kexikara roared. "Cero!"

Countless dark-red Reishi rapidly gathered, then fired out at an even faster speed.

"First Layer! Gate Break!!!"

With a fierce slap of his palm against the ground, immense spiritual power forcibly compressed the Reishi in the surroundings. Under the condensation of Reiatsu, it formed a towering gate ten meters high before him.

After arriving in Soul Society, Shadow had modified it from Orochimaru's Rashomon. It could be said to be Shadow's greatest defense at present.

Boom!

The Cero slammed heavily into the gate. After holding out for several seconds, Gate Break finally could not endure any longer and was blasted to pieces. Unable to defend himself, Shadow used Flash Step to dodge aside, panting heavily.

He truly had not expected that Vasto Lordes and Adjuchas were separated by only a single rank, yet the same Cero differed enormously in charging speed, firing speed, and attack power.

However, a glint flashed through Shadow's black eyes as he said thoughtfully, "High-Speed Regeneration."

"What?" Kexikara froze.

"Adjuchas all possess High-Speed Regeneration. Why aren't you healing yourself?" Shadow sneered. "Or have you already lost that ability? Don't tell me a Vasto Lorde doesn't have it."

"I'll kill you!"

Seemingly enraged into humiliation by Shadow's words, Kexikara raised his left hand and pointed his index finger at Shadow. A faint white glow slowly lit up at its tip, shining like a fireball. The blazing light resembled a tiny sun, and the immense Reiatsu it gathered made a humming sound as it met the air.

"This is a move only Vasto Lordes can use! Gran Rey Cero!"

A violent crimson beam swept toward him with endless pressure and overwhelming force.

"Third Layer! Gate Break!!!"

Both palms slammed heavily onto the ground, and three Reishi gates standing one meter apart appeared in a row.

Boom!!!