Blade's Edge

"Yoruichi, what's wrong?"

Kukaku Shiba raised a hand and fired a Shakkahō, destroying the Hollow before turning to ask Yoruichi Shihōin, who had suddenly fallen silent beside her.

"I hate war!"

Yoruichi Shihōin's golden eyes were filled with sorrow as she watched Soul Reapers fall one after another, then rush forward again, only never to rise. She watched those Soul Reapers who, with only their last breath remaining, still tried to kill the Hollows before them. Blood had almost covered the battlefield.

"Ah!" Kukaku Shiba froze for a moment, then smiled knowingly. "I hate war too! Every time, so many people die. But it can't be avoided."

"Is that so?" After a moment of silence, Yoruichi Shihōin raised the short blade in her hand and sniffed. "Shadow, come out. I know you're there!"

"Lady Yoruichi!" Shadow instantly appeared and dropped to one knee.

"You've worked hard too. You've killed quite a few Hollows, haven't you?" Yoruichi Shihōin said.

"I'm sorry, Lady Yoruichi!"

"You have nothing to apologize for!" Yoruichi Shihōin placed a hand on Shadow's head and said softly, "Shadow, stop protecting me now!"

"Lady Yoruichi!" Shadow's dark pupils suddenly contracted as he looked up in astonishment.

"I am Yoruichi Shihōin, yes, but I'm also a Soul Reaper! While everyone else is fighting for their lives, I still haven't gone all out. Under your protection, I've only been fighting low-level Hollows!"

Yoruichi Shihōin bent down and looked into Shadow's eyes. "They're ordinary Soul Reapers, but I'm captain-class!"

"Shadow, I know you're worried about me! I know you don't want me to get hurt, but..." Yoruichi Shihōin smiled. "I want to fight with all my strength too! I can't keep living under your protection. Even if I get hurt, even if I die, that is my responsibility as a Soul Reaper and as the heir of the Shihōin family!"

"L-Lady Yoruichi!"

Those pitch-black eyes reflected her golden ones. The determination and longing for battle in her gaze shook Shadow's heart.

After a moment of silence, Shadow spoke in a slightly hoarse voice. "I understand, Lady Yoruichi!"

Yoruichi Shihōin curled her lips into a smile, raised her head to look at the battlefield, and tightened her grip on her blade. "Shadow, go fight! Use all your strength and end this war quickly. I want to go home!"

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi!"

Shadow let out a long breath. Beneath his raised collar, a cold curve crossed his lips. He raised a hand and destroyed two Hollows, then looked at the countless Hollow horde before him, his ink-black eyes brimming with boundless killing intent.

His right hand formed a claw, fingers spread wide. With a crisp Crackle!, visible blue lightning burst around his outstretched palm, blooming with dazzling brilliance as snapping sounds rang out without end.

Lightning! Wild, unrestrained lightning! Thunderlight surged, currents coiling like venomous snakes as they gradually wrapped around his Plus arm. Electric light flashed, and thunder roared harshly.

"I didn't want to interfere in this war, but this is Lady Yoruichi's command."

Shadow's expression turned icy, his black eyes carrying intense murderous intent. He slowly raised his lightning-filled right hand. In the next instant, bolts of lightning streaked across the once-dark sky.

Amid everyone's shocked and fearful stares, Shadow raised his right hand, spread his five Root fingers toward the dense horde of Hollows, and gave a low shout.

"Thunder Dragon: Gale Break!"

A brilliant bolt of lightning erupted from his palm. Like a blue dragon, it broke through the shackles of the air amid thunder and lightning, scorching everything around it as it tore through rippling layers of space. With an enraged roar, it crashed directly into the Hollow horde.

The thunderlight surged madly like a tsunami, currents spilling everywhere. The sound of Crackle! rang without end, like a thousand birds crying together.

The unstoppable thunder dragon unleashed countless flashes of lightning, illuminating a stretch of sky.

"Boom!!!"

The violent impact made the Plus ground tremble. Piercing thunder exploded beside their ears, making them buzz.

The instant the smoke cleared, every Soul Reaper sucked in a cold breath. Of the countless Hollows, nearly half had been wiped out.

"..."

The Plus battlefield fell silent. The Soul Reapers stood dumbfounded. Hollows that had seemed so powerful to them were utterly vulnerable before Shadow. Just one move—only one move!

Ignoring everyone's reaction, Shadow frowned in dissatisfaction and shook his hand. In his view, the power of Thunder Dragon: Gale Break should have been far greater than that. Had he underestimated their strength?

"Damn it! Damn it!"

The Adjuchas went berserk. From the eyes exposed beneath their masks, it was easy to see just how twisted their expressions were.

"Cero!"

"Bala!"

"..."

All kinds of attacks came one after another. Shadow snorted coldly and activated the Body Flicker Technique. His figure moved at extreme speed, countless afterimages making everyone dizzy.

"Damn it! Stop running! I'll kill you!"

The Adjuchas roared.

"Hmph!" Shadow snorted disdainfully, his eyes filled with contempt and indifference.

"You damn brat!"

Seven Adjuchas, fourteen scarlet eyes, stared fixedly at Shadow.

His hand moved to the hilt of the blade on his back, and his aura suddenly changed. Solemn, chilling, and filled with killing intent so immense it nearly became tangible, his black eyes held a trace of madness beneath their coldness. A bloodthirsty curve rose at the corner of his lips.

The blade was slowly drawn. The Zanpakutō remained entirely black like the night, like the strongest fangs of a beast, capable of tearing apart any prey.

"Lady Yoruichi ordered me to end this war as quickly as possible. So I'm coming. Be careful, Hollows!"

Before his words had even faded, his figure abruptly vanished. When he appeared again, he was already amid the remaining Hollow horde. His Zanpakutō drew an arc, and two Gillian dispersed into the air without even being able to resist.

The seven Adjuchas flew into a rage, each using their proudest attacks against Shadow. Yet none could hit him. He was fast—far too fast. Like a black bolt of lightning, he darted continuously through the battlefield. Every swing of his hand was accompanied by the disappearance of a Hollow.

"Cero!"

"Swordsmanship: Lightning Slash!"

A dazzling radiance instantly erupted from the pitch-black Zanpakutō. Silver arcs of lightning covered Shadow's body as the violent blade, wrapped in almost tangible electric arcs, slashed fiercely into the Cero.

As expected, the blade split the Cero in two from the middle. Yet like a savage beast breaking free from its restraints, it continued onward without losing momentum and cleaved the bird-shaped Adjuchas that had fired the Cero into two halves.

The blade turned, and the silver-white arcs surged again. It spun as Shadow swung sharply to the left, instantly destroying three Gillian.

Like a beast ready to devour its prey, Shadow slaughtered them! Yes, this was a slaughter! Whether Gillian or Adjuchas, they were now as easy to kill as chickens, as simple to crush as ants.

"So powerful!"

"Nice! Kill those pieces of trash!"

"..."

The expeditionary Soul Reapers who witnessed this scene shouted excitedly as though pumped full of adrenaline. The Soul Reapers from the advance unit had also heard of Shadow's name, and they cried out in amazement.

"So this is his Swordsmanship?" Shinji Hirako smiled. "The number one Swordsmanship in Soul Society truly lives up to its reputation!"

"Yeah!" Juji Nanma, who was receiving treatment from Yamada Seinosuke, coughed. "Looks like we aren't needed now. He can handle it alone!"

Hearing Juji Nanma's words, Shinji Hirako merely grinned without saying anything. Yet the unease in his heart remained, growing stronger with every passing moment.

"Swordsmanship: Combo Strike!!!"

With a roar like a gale, Shadow thrust his blade forward. The last Gillian was destroyed, leaving only five Adjuchas.

"I'll finish all of you in one move!"

Shadow dragged his right arm back, used his left leg as a pivot, and flipped into the air. He gripped the blade in his right hand while his left hand swept across its surface.

"Swordsmanship Secret Art: Heaven Slash!"

Violent spiritual pressure burst from his body, gathering the spirit particles around him. Light blazed from the blade as it descended from above, carrying killing intent that filled the sky.

"Cero!"

The five Adjuchas seemed to sense danger. They roared together and combined their strongest power.

"Boom boom boom boom!!!"

After the continuous explosions, silence returned. From the dust filling the sky, Shadow walked out step by step with his Zanpakutō in hand. He slowly sheathed it behind his back, his sharply defined face still expressionless.

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