A battle of Spiritual Pressure

If I fought that monster head-on, I wouldn't stand a chance. No, even with a few dirty tricks, I have no chance of winning at my current level... but at least I can get a feel for this man's strength.

Kisuke Urahara, whom Sōgo Shihoin had thrown into the sky, came up with a plan in just a few seconds. He released his Zanpakuto's Shikai, flipped several times in midair, and landed on the ground with a show of ease.

A Soul Reaper's battle comes down to Spiritual Pressure, Kidō, Zanpakuto, combat experience, and psychological factors. Even if I don't have the advantage in Spiritual Pressure, as long as I gain the upper hand in the other four, there might still be a glimmer of hope for victory...

First, I'll find a way to provoke him!

Kisuke Urahara's eyes were focused and serious. Benihime had already changed shape in his hand, and a deep crimson light became a slashing wave that hurtled toward Sōgo Shihoin, who stood a short distance away.

"Now that's surprising."

A flicker of surprise crossed Sōgo Shihoin's eyes as he watched the blood-red blast roar toward him. He hadn't expected a Soul Reaper's Zanpakuto to be capable of an attack resembling a Cero. He shifted slightly to one side and dodged it.

He dodged it? I thought he'd take it head-on. The good news, then, is that my Benihime might be able to hurt him. That means I have the advantage in Zanpakuto for now, too.

Next is Kidō... Urahara calmly watched Sōgo Shihoin easily evade Benihime's ability. His eyes narrowed slightly, but his mouth didn't stop moving. "Oh my~ I'm still having a little trouble controlling Benihime's power, so you'd better be very careful, little Sōgo. If you get hurt, I won't be able to explain it to Yoruichi."

"Trying to goad me? If you're trying to make me angry, you've succeeded!"

A vein bulged on Sōgo Shihoin's forehead as he stood a short distance from Urahara. Sometimes, even when you knew someone was trying to provoke you, you still got very angry.

It worked.

The corners of Kisuke Urahara's mouth lifted slightly at Sōgo Shihoin's words. Yet in that single second while Kisuke Urahara was thinking, Sōgo vanished from his sight.

"Carriage of thunder, gap of the spinning wheel, this thing has light, divide it into six!"

"Bakudō No. 61, Six Rods Prison of Light!"

Kisuke Urahara ignored the target that had vanished completely before his eyes. He simply chanted and cast his Kidō behind himself.

"Huh?"

Just as Sōgo Shihoin was about to attack Kisuke Urahara's backside, six rods of light pinned him in place, preventing him from taking another step.

"Oh my~ Isn't this little Sōgo?"

"It looks like you've run into some trouble?"

Hearing the startled voice behind him, Kisuke Urahara smiled and turned sideways to look at the trapped Sōgo as he asked.

"Haha, looks like I underestimated you~" Sōgo Shihoin showed no trace of panic at being caught by Kisuke Urahara. His expression remained relaxed. "How did you know I'd attack from behind? Can your Zanpakuto predict the future, too?"

"My Zanpakuto doesn't have an ability like predicting the future, something almost on the level of a true god. Nor did I know you'd attack me from behind, little Sōgo. I was only gambling-gambling that, as Miss Yoruichi's younger brother, you'd have exactly the same attack patterns as her." A smug smile hung on Kisuke Urahara's face. "It seems my gamble paid off."

"Hahahaha..."

"So that's it~ You can actually consider that much during a fight. No wonder my sister thinks you're such a rare talent. I was a little doubtful at first, but now I see she was right."

After hearing Kisuke Urahara's explanation, Sōgo Shihoin burst into laughter, lavishing praise on Urahara without reservation.

"Haha, thank you for the compliment, little Sōgo. This little talent of mine is still a far cry from yours~ How about we call this fight a draw?" Kisuke Urahara shook his head lightly, narrowing his eyes again as he tried to bring his fight with Sōgo Shihoin to an end. "You're trapped now, and I don't have any Spiritual Pressure left to keep fighting. Why don't we call it a draw?"

"Huh?" The instant Kisuke Urahara finished speaking, Sōgo Shihoin vanished from in front of him and appeared behind him instead, kicking at his backside. "I'm trapped? When did that happen?"

Smack~

Kisuke Urahara staggered, stumbling several steps toward the dirt slope ahead before he finally stopped.

"Now that's... truly surprising. That was Bakudō No. 61, cast at full power with the complete incantation..."

Kisuke Urahara turned to look at Sōgo Shihoin, who had broken out of his Bakudō as easily as tearing through a sheet of paper. Nervous, cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He really was a little frightened. Even the current captains would probably need some time to break free of Bakudō No. 61 cast with his Spiritual Pressure at full power and the complete incantation, wouldn't they?

"Urahara, what is a Soul Reaper's battle?"

Sōgo Shihoin didn't continue attacking. He simply stood where he was and asked Kisuke Urahara.

"A Soul Reaper's battle is a very comprehensive affair. You have to consider many factors, such as the Soul Reaper's Spiritual Pressure, Hakuda, technique, experience, Kidō, mindset, and the compatibility of Zanpakuto abilities." Kisuke Urahara did his best to list every factor he could think of that would affect a Soul Reaper's battle. "Mm, that should be about it~ Do you think my answer is correct, little Sōgo?"

"Congratulations~ Wrong answer~"

Sōgo Shihoin crossed his arms into an X in front of his chest and shook his head as he spoke.

"Huh?" Kisuke Urahara froze at Sōgo Shihoin's words. He had been quite confident in his answer, and hurriedly asked Sōgo, "It's wrong? But I listed almost every condition that could affect a battle!"

"A Soul Reaper's battle is very simple~"

"A Soul Reaper's battle is a battle of Spiritual Pressure. A Soul Reaper's battle is nothing more than a contest of whose Spiritual Pressure is greater."

As Sōgo Shihoin spoke, earth-shaking Spiritual Pressure surged into the sky. At the same time, he rolled up the sleeves of the white haori he wore, revealing his fair, tattooed skin. The tattoos on Sōgo's body began disappearing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Boom!!

Spiritual Pressure! Spiritual Pressure taken to the utmost! Endless Spiritual Pressure! It crashed toward Kisuke Urahara like a tsunami, and it wasn't limited to Kisuke Urahara. The entire Soul King Palace and the skies over all of Soul Society lay beneath this Spiritual Pressure, vast and heavy.

In the center of Seireitei, at Gotei 13 headquarters, a certain man who had guarded this place for a thousand years without ever taking a step back slowly opened his eyes.

"That brat has grown stronger again."

His name was Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. The man with the long white beard and gleaming bald head, who always silently regarded the world with kindly narrowed eyes, opened his half-lidded eyes and gazed high into the sky, pondering something.

I got a site notification today. Everyone can invest a little to get a share of the signing rewards.

Also, could those of you with recommendation votes support me a little~ This book's recommendation vote count is honestly embarrassing~ I hope you kind readers will cast your votes. Saying no to "definitely next time" starts with me~

(End of chapter)