Let's put aside the chaos in the Soul Society for now.
Back in the Human World…
Due to Nozomi Kujō's runaway stunt, Rukia and Senna had no choice but to split up and search separately.
While Rukia headed to the train station, she ran into her own reigai.
"Kuchiki Rukia, this will be your grave!" the reigai version shouted.
Finally meeting her duplicate, Rukia felt… a strange kind of familiarity.
"Is that so? Because I think this place is going to be your grave instead," she shot back coldly.
The reigai Rukia glared at her original. "Why?! Why haven't you taken Ichigo for yourself yet? How can you even allow that Shihōin woman to share his love with you?!"
Rukia immediately turned bright red. "W-What?! Take Ichigo?! What are you even talking about?!"
Clearly, she was still a bit of a pure-hearted girl when it came to this stuff—even with her age, Rukia didn't have much experience in love!
"Hmph! It's because of your shy, indecisive nature that you failed to win Ichigo's heart! I'll kill you and replace you! There should only be one Kuchiki Rukia in this world—and I will be the one to win Ichigo over!"
At that, Rukia's expression darkened, and her spiritual pressure exploded outward, pressing down on her reigai counterpart so intensely she could barely speak.
"Replace me? Try to take Ichigo for yourself?"
She unsheathed her Zanpakutō in fury.
"There's one thing you're right about—there should only be one Rukia in this world. But as for how I handle things with Ichigo… that's none of your business!"
The reigai Rukia was in shock.
"H-How?! Why is your spiritual pressure so strong?! I was supposed to be stronger than you!"
Pure cope.
After all, everyone in the Soul Society still thought Rukia was merely lieutenant-level.
No one knew she had already mastered Bankai—and deeply refined it at that.
Still, Rukia wouldn't be facing just herself.
Sensing her immense power, another reigai soon arrived—Mayuri's lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi.
Even though Nemu had no Zanpakutō, thanks to Mayuri's countless experiments (and Yammy Inaba's enhancements), she had become terrifying in her own right.
Yet Rukia didn't flinch. Her spiritual pressure surged even higher.
"Reigai version of Nemu? Come at me—both of you. I, Kuchiki Rukia, do not fear you!"
But just then, the real Nemu arrived.
Since Mayuri wasn't currently in the Human World, Nemu was free to act on her own.
Seeing Rukia suppress two reigai lieutenants with spiritual pressure alone, she walked up respectfully and asked:
"Miss Rukia, may I handle my reigai?"
Rukia retracted her pressure slightly and nodded. "Of course. I'll deal with myself, then."
Nemu didn't use Shunpo.
She ran, sprinting full speed toward her reigai and dropkicked her across the battlefield.
Now, it was back to one-on-one.
Knowing she couldn't win normally, reigai Rukia activated her Shikai immediately.
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"
"First Dance: White Moon!"
An icy pillar erupted, freezing Rukia in place.
Meanwhile, Nemu's battle was over in a flash.
Unlike most cases, where reigai were stronger than their originals, Nemu was one of the few exceptions.
In a few exchanges, she pierced through her reigai's body with her bare hand.
Then, with cold precision, she pulled out the reigai's soul pill—and crushed it.
One reigai, terminated.
At that moment, the pillar of ice shattered.
Rukia stepped out, completely unharmed.
"Not bad, reigai me. Your enhanced abilities are impressive… but you're still a step behind."
Then she raised her hand and made a gesture so bold it would make all of Korea break down in fury.
The reigai turned and ran.
Rukia was about to give chase—but then a voice called out.
"Rukia, that was awesome!"
It was Matsumoto Rangiku, having just finished off the reigai Kira.
"Lieutenant Matsumoto."
As the two greeted each other, Rukia frowned slightly.
After all, Matsumoto had been spending a lot of time around Ichigo lately…
She sighed internally.
Great. Looks like I'm gaining another love rival.
In the Soul Society, nobody really cared about relationship drama—but still, every strong woman seemed to like Ichigo.
Rukia couldn't help but feel both amused and a little overwhelmed.
Just then, a voice came from the shadows—
"Leaving already, Rukia?"
It was Renji Abarai.
Or rather—his reigai.
Rukia, Nemu, and Matsumoto all tensed, ready for a fight.
But the reigai Renji just stared at Rukia in anguish.
"Why… why haven't you confessed to Ichigo yet?"
Rukia: ????
Matsumoto: Oh.
Everyone knew that Renji and Rukia had grown up together in Rukongai.
Apparently… this version of Renji had fallen for her.
Rukia frowned. "You may only be a copy of Renji, but please don't say things like that."
Well then. Rukia had officially shut it down.
But the reigai still looked heartbroken.
"Do our feelings mean nothing to you? Don't you understand how much I love you?"
Rukia cringed.
This guy was acting like a full-blown simp.
Somewhere in the distance, real Renji sneezed.
Matsumoto looked like she was about to throw up.
That expression reminded her too much of her own past—with Ichimaru Gin.
Thank goodness Gin had never been this pitiful.
Just then, Chad and Orihime arrived.
They'd sensed the immense spiritual pressure earlier and rushed to help.
What they saw… was traumatizing.
Chad's face twisted in pain.
He had once trained with Renji.
To see a version of his mentor acting like this… was beyond embarrassing.
"I'll handle this."
Without waiting, Chad charged forward.
Orihime ran over to Rukia and the others.
Rukia still felt grossed out, but didn't comment.
Nemu didn't understand the emotional weight, and Matsumoto… well, she'd already been through enough.
Orihime, sensing the awkward tension, quickly changed the topic.
"Rukia-chan, did you find Nozomi?"
The three shook their heads.
Orihime sighed in relief. At least she'd successfully deflected the conversation.
Meanwhile—
Chad was pummeling the reigai Renji's face.
Every punch landed on the mouth.
Hard.
Chad was making sure the guy couldn't say anything else cringe.
He respected Renji. And Ichigo was his brother.
There was no way he was letting this spiraling simp drama continue.
The reigai finally snapped.
"Roar, Zabimaru!"
He pulled back and unleashed a Shikai strike at Chad.
But Chad calmly raised his massive right arm.
Blocked.
Yes, the reigai had all of Renji's training memories.
But Chad had those too.
He knew every weak point.
After just two rounds, the reigai realized—
This wasn't tennis. He wasn't going to win with a racket.
So he stepped back, gritted his teeth, and Bankai'd.
"Hihiō Zabimaru!"
Power surged.
Chad crossed his arms, bracing against the wave of spiritual pressure.
The reigai didn't hesitate—he fired off his Bankai's trump card.
"Baboon Bone Cannon!"
A crimson blast flew toward Chad.
Chad took it head-on—with only his right arm.
It pushed him back, but didn't break through.
Sensing the incoming explosion, Chad leapt aside.
Then he launched himself forward.
The reigai tried to fire again—but—
Another red cannon collided mid-air and neutralized his attack.
The real Renji had arrived.
He stood next to Chad, grinning. "Nice work. You've gotten way stronger, Chad."
Chad nodded. "…Thanks."
But he wasn't going to mention what had just happened.
Let Renji discover that horror himself.
"Let's take him down together," Renji said.
The reigai Renji was furious at seeing his original.
He attacked again—
"Baboon Bone Cannon!"
But Chad blocked it again—with his left arm.
"Devil's Left Arm!"
His white-armored left hand caught the cannon blast mid-air.
Then—
"Devil's Strike!"
One punch shattered the reigai Renji's entire Bankai structure!
His spiritual pressure destabilized!
"Finish it!" Chad shouted.
Renji grinned, leapt into the air—
"Baboon Bone Cannon!!"
This time, the blast struck clean.
The reigai screamed in despair—
"Nooooooo!!!"
And was obliterated.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]