Battle Continues

Ichiro Odagiri and the other two were in equally perilous straits. Possessing only the strength of Third Seats, they were completely being suppressed. The Adjuchas fighting them was clearly treating the three of them like toys, toying with them without any intention of delivering a killing blow.

Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, the vice-captain 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.

Kensei Muguruma, that unyielding brute, wielded his Zanpakutō, Tachikaze, having completely abandoned defense in favor of relentless attacks. This utterly reckless fighting style left his opponent in quite a miserable state.

The Shiba Family excelled most at Kido, and Kukaku Shiba was clearly among the best of them. With Kido channeled through her Zanpakutō, the tremendous destructive power she unleashed actually allowed her to fight the Adjuchas evenly.

The most unexpected one was Yoruichi Shihōin. She could be said to be suppressing the Adjuchas completely. It was not that Yoruichi Shihōin's attacks were stronger than the Adjuchas's, but rather that she was simply too fast—so fast that her figure was nearly impossible to see. In such a state, it was difficult for the Adjuchas to hit her, but Yoruichi Shihōin could not defeat it in a short time either.

The captains and vice-captains had fallen into bitter battles, while the Soul Reapers of the expeditionary army and advance force suffered heavy casualties as well. Although there were many officers among them with considerable strength, not every seated officer could contend with a Gillian.

The battle was gradually turning against them. Perhaps before long, they would be wiped out entirely. Could the reinforcements make it in time?

"Almost there! Everyone, pick up the pace!"

Among the reinforcements, Shunsui Kyōraku had shed his usual frivolity, his face full of worry.

"Yoruichi, you mustn't let anything happen to you!"

Shihōin Shanqing said nothing, but the furrow between his brows had not eased in the slightest.

"Don't worry too much!"

Kirio Hikifune said only that much, because at a time like this, any comfort would have been painfully weak.

Two Vasto Lordes, nearly ten Adjuchas, and over a hundred Gillians. After 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 quickly as possible.

Clang!

The two Zanpakutō collided for what felt like the countless time. As the two figures holding them passed each other with the momentum of the clash, Shadow flicked his wrist and slashed at Kexikara's throat.

As if he had anticipated it, Kexikara instantly raised his crimson longsword and blocked the nearly fatal strike. With a twist of the blade, he swiftly changed direction and slashed toward Shadow's waist.

His body twisting in an uncanny motion, Shadow pulled back his blade, blocking the attack while changing his move into a horizontal slash.

Clang!

Another collision rang out. The two figures landed at the same time and slid apart. Though it sounded like much had happened, the exchange had taken only an instant.

"Hey! This is how sword fighting should be!" Kexikara laughed loudly. "Kid, what's your name?"

"Shadow."

The answer came cleanly. To Shadow, Kexikara was an opponent worthy of knowing his name.

"Shadow, huh?" Kexikara muttered. "What a strange name!"

At that moment, Juji Nanma suddenly let out a heart-wrenching roar.

"Captain Wangyuan!"

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

"What a fool," Kexikara said disdainfully.

"Captain!!!"

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

"So you've comprehended Bankai!" Kexikara clicked his tongue in admiration, then looked at Shadow. "Say, aren't you lot together? Why aren't you worried at all?"

"Whether they live or die has nothing to do with me."

Shadow's answer was cold, without the slightest trace of emotion. Yes, aside from Lady Yoruichi, he cared nothing for anyone's life or death. No one.

"Is that so?"

"Swordsmanship Secret Art! Swallow Return!"

There was no reply, 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 aura—only a deep, ink-black blade shadow, as though it could draw all things into itself. A simple yet fatal strike of black sword light.

Like a swiftly passing swallow, it was quick yet clear. It could plainly be seen, yet could not be dodged no matter what, because it was not a thrust pursuing ultimate speed. It merely traced an arc, like a whirlwind.

"Wha... what!"

Kexikara's eyes filled with disbelief. Blood surged from his left leg to his right shoulder as though it were water. If he had not instinctively stepped back, he had no doubt that slash would have cut him in two. Yes, it definitely would have.

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

Shadow's cold tone, combined with his disdainful expression, enraged Kexikara to the point of madness.

"Ahhh!" Kexikara roared. "Cero!"

Countless dark-red spirit particles rapidly gathered, then fired out at an even greater speed.

"First Layer! Gate Break!!!"

As Shadow slammed his palm against the ground, his immense spiritual power forcibly compressed the surrounding spirit particles. Under the condensation of his spiritual pressure, they formed a towering gate ten meters high in front of him.

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

Boom!

The Cero struck the gate heavily. After several seconds of deadlock, Gate Break finally could not hold and was blasted to pieces. Unable to defend any longer, Shadow used Flash Step to dodge aside, panting heavily.

He had truly not expected that although Vasto Lordes and Adjuchas differed by only one rank, the same Cero showed an enormous difference in charging speed, firing speed, and attack power.

However, a glint flashed through Shadow's pitch-black eyes. He seemed to realize something. "High-Speed Regeneration!"

"What?" Kexikara froze.

"Even Adjuchas can use High-Speed Regeneration, so why aren't you healing yourself?" Shadow sneered. "Or have you already lost that ability? Don't tell me Vasto Lordes can't do it!"

"I'll kill you!"

Apparently enraged into humiliation by Shadow's words, Kexikara extended his left hand and pointed his index finger at Shadow. A faint white light slowly lit up upon it, shining like a fireball. Its blazing radiance was like a tiny sun, and the powerful spiritual pressure it gathered made a humming sound as it came into contact with the air.

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

A violent crimson beam swept toward him, carrying endless pressure and terrifying force.

"Third Layer! Gate Break!!!"

Both palms slammed heavily against the ground, and three spirit-particle gates standing a meter apart appeared abruptly in a row.

Boom!!!