Even after unleashing a fierce strike, Byakuya's blade failed to hit—Reigai Byakuya easily slipped past it with Shunpo.
That alone left Byakuya genuinely surprised.
The usually expressionless noble even showed a trace of shock. Not just because his attack missed—
But because Reigai Byakuya, while evading, had left a thin cut on his cheek.
Despite launching relentless offensives at the start of the battle, Byakuya's overexertion of spiritual energy had made him weaker in both speed and power compared to his Reigai counterpart.
So if his stamina couldn't win this fight, then he'd have to rely on the Zanpakutō's abilities to turn the tide.
And curiously—both Byakuyas seemed to have come to the same conclusion at the exact same moment.
They raised their blades simultaneously—
"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"
But even setting aside Byakuya's injuries, the Reigai version was simply stronger overall. This was true of most captain-class Reigai clones.
In the sky, their released Senbonzakura clashed like colliding whirlwinds of sakura petals.
Yet the Reigai's petals were noticeably more numerous and more ferocious.
He easily overwhelmed Byakuya's release, and the blades began pursuing the real Byakuya like a swarm of hunters.
Tiny lacerations started appearing across his body.
Driven to the edge and chased all the way to a rooftop, Byakuya dropped his blade—
"Bankai! Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
At the same time, Reigai Byakuya mirrored the action—activating his own Bankai.
Endless waves of sakura petals surged through the air, clashing violently as both techniques filled the sky in a chaotic dance of destruction.
As the two passed each other in a flash of motion, Byakuya acknowledged his foe.
"I've seen it… the honor you possess as a Reigai."
Reigai Byakuya nodded.
"I told you—there's only room for one Head of the Kuchiki Clan."
Each conjured a single blade in their hands.
But the Reigai's blade flickered—then crumbled into dust.
"Hah… If I hadn't followed Ichigo Kurosaki's advice and pushed my Zanpakutō's abilities to the next level, I'd have lost right now," Byakuya thought, staring at the scar on his own left hand.
If only he had more time…
If he could permanently elevate Senbonzakura to White Emperor Sword mode, this fight would've been over in one strike.
Victorious at last, Byakuya resumed his path toward the Department of Research and Development.
——
Meanwhile, on another battlefield, Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru had reached a dense bamboo forest.
Kenpachi walked with his usual relaxed grin—even though, as Yachiru clung to his back, she muttered,
"Ken-chan… slow down. The road's kinda all smashed up…"
"I know," Kenpachi chuckled.
Suddenly, he sensed a powerful spiritual pressure.
Atop the bamboo stood—Reigai Soi Fon, Commander of the Onmitsukidō.
Despite his wounds, Kenpachi was still overflowing with energy.
Reigai Soi Fon drew her short Zanpakutō.
And the moment her blade was unsheathed—hundreds of hidden operatives swarmed from the forest!
Trained assassins all… but they weren't nearly strong enough for a monster like Kenpachi.
He mowed them down effortlessly.
"Ken-chan is so strong! So awesome!" Yachiru cheered from his shoulder.
Kenpachi replied with a smirk,
"It's not over yet. That Reigai version of me… he was strong. But beating him made me even stronger. My body's itching for more."
This was no bluff.
It was simply that Kenpachi's self-imposed restraints had loosened again—his true power leaking through.
In mere moments, the bamboo grove was littered with unconscious Onmitsukidō operatives.
Kenpachi hadn't killed them—they were just misled by Soi Fon's Reigai. So he'd simply made sure they couldn't fight anymore.
Realizing brute force alone wouldn't cut it, Soi Fon ordered the remaining operatives to go all in!
They surrounded Kenpachi and thrust their blades in unison.
But—
Clang!
None of their swords could pierce his spiritual pressure!
Even without his eyepatch removed, the attacks couldn't break his skin.
This was no surprise. Not even Ichigo's first strike had hurt him back in the day.
Kenpachi released a shockwave with one swing—knocking all the assassins flat in a single motion!
Seeing this, Reigai Soi Fon personally leapt into the fray.
"Sting all enemies to death—Suzumebachi!"
She instantly Shunpo'd behind Kenpachi, aiming for a two-strike kill—
But just as she was about to land the second hit—
Komamura Sajin arrived!
He blocked her blade with his own Zanpakutō, the recoil making Reigai Soi Fon's right hand tremble violently.
Kenpachi blinked in surprise.
"…You're still alive?"
Komamura nodded calmly.
"Sorry I'm late. I came to help."
"Help me? Don't be ridiculous! I'll kill her myself! Don't get in my way!" Kenpachi snapped.
Komamura misunderstood.
"Don't worry, I'm sturdy. Escaping the Dangai wasn't easy, but I'm not out of the fight yet."
"I'm not worried about you! I said don't butt in!!"
But Komamura had already moved.
"Captain Soi Fon, I'll be your opponent."
"Oi! LISTEN to me!!" Kenpachi yelled, annoyed beyond reason.
Yachiru, naturally, joined in with a cheer.
"Go, Doggie! Go!"
Realizing Komamura had no plans to talk it out, Kenpachi gave an exaggerated sigh and walked away—Yachiru still on his back.
He had more important things to do. Like defeating Inaba Kagerōza.
As Kenpachi left the forest, Komamura and Reigai Soi Fon clashed!
Their fighting styles were polar opposites—
Soi Fon: light, fast, agile.
Komamura: heavy, slow, powerful.
Using her speed, Reigai Soi Fon quickly marked Komamura's left arm with Nigeki Kessatsu.
One more hit in the same spot—and he'd die.
But landing two perfect strikes on a captain wasn't easy.
Strength-wise, Komamura had the edge. If she got caught—it was over.
To avoid that, Reigai Soi Fon used Shunpo to create dozens of afterimages, far more than Arrancar No. 7 Zommari ever could.
Her speed made the claim "Hueco Mundo's fastest" a joke!
The copies all charged Komamura from every direction.
But Komamura wasn't fazed—his spiritual pressure surged.
"Tenken!"
A giant version of his blade materialized—
One swing.
All afterimages—obliterated.
She was fast, but Komamura was overwhelming.
Still, Reigai Soi Fon herself wasn't hit.
While Komamura cleared the field, she had already Shunpo'd behind him—
—And left another Nigeki Kessatsu mark on his back!
Thankfully, Komamura reacted in time.
He summoned Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō's giant hand, breaking her assault.
Then, relying on beast-like instinct, he preemptively spun and caught her arm mid-air!
If she took a direct hit now, she'd be done for.
But just as he gripped her, she activated Shunkō!
A burst of pure energy exploded from her body, breaking free and delivering a brutal spinning kick—
SLAM!
Komamura crashed through the forest, carving a new path into the bamboo!
Though dazed, he rose quickly.
But Soi Fon, empowered by Shunkō, was faster and stronger than ever.
She flew forward—kick first!
Komamura had no time to dodge. He raised his fist to block—
BOOM!
Even with spiritual pressure reinforcement, he was sent flying—his sword falling from his grasp.
Reigai Soi Fon saw her opening.
She charged forward, aiming for the final blow.
Komamura barely rolled away in time.
But one thing was clear—
He could no longer keep up with her speed.
Now a sitting duck, he was being pummeled relentlessly.
With her next strike, she knocked him flat—
Then drew her Zanpakutō once more—
Preparing to activate her Nigeki Kessatsu finisher.
But just before she landed the fatal strike—
Komamura snatched up his blade.
"Tengai!"
A crushing vertical slash from Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!
The force sent Reigai Soi Fon crashing into the ground, tearing open the forest floor.
But—
In her Shunkō armor, she endured it.
Though battered and winded, she clawed her way back up.
Both were nearing collapse.
Both knew—
The next attack would decide everything.
They stood—
And activated their final moves.
"Bankai! Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!"
"Bankai! Jakuho Raikōben!"
A massive black armored warrior clashed with a giant yellow missile.
Reigai Soi Fon ignited her lightning cannon, launching it with a boom—
Komamura roared,
"RAAAAH!"
Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō swung its sword—straight into the oncoming missile!
A Gundam vs. Missile-level explosion lit up the battlefield.
When the smoke cleared—
Both combatants had collapsed.
——
And elsewhere, deep within a prison in Soul Society…
A figure known as Konpaku no Dokutai was reporting to ten imprisoned criminals about the outside world's chaos.
One of the prisoners looked strikingly similar to Kujo Nozomi.
And even more bizarre—
He also looked like a younger version of Inaba Kagerōza.
Who was this green-haired youth…?
What was his connection to Nozomi—and to the mastermind himself?
——
(End of Chapter)
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