"Byakuya... nii-sama...?!"
Rukia Kuchiki seemed to vocalize this unconsciously.
Her complexion instantly drained of all pigmentation, achieving deathly pallor.
Byakuya Kuchiki regarded her with characteristic indifference, speaking softly: "Rukia."
Rukia's form commenced involuntary trembling.
Moments prior, Shigure Segawa's arrival had generated profound shock.
Yet she never could have anticipated Byakuya Kuchiki's personal involvement—the noble Kuchiki family patriarch and Sixth Division captain!
"Nii-sama... why... why would nii-sama... appear here?"
Rukia murmured with absent bewilderment.
Byakuya Kuchiki's expression maintained indifference, declining to address her inquiry while stating:
"Rukia, why do you display such expression?"
"Upon arbitrarily transferring your spiritual power to a human, did you not contemplate consequences?"
"Do Soul Society's regulations constitute mere nothingness to you?"
?!
Rukia's expression immediately petrified.
"Byakuyanii-sama, I was merely..."
She appeared anxious, attempting circumstantial explanation.
She desired to inform her adoptive brother that initially, desperate necessity had compelled her actions.
However, confronting Byakuya Kuchiki's glacial regard, her words ceased.
Byakuya Kuchiki lowered his gaze, speaking with frigid finality:
"Refrain from excuse attempts, Rukia. Such behavior would merely demonstrate pathetic weakness."
These arctic words, carried by cold winds, penetrated Rukia's consciousness.
She gradually lowered her head, ocular luminescence steadily dimming.
She responded quietly:
"Yes... Byakuyanii-sama."
Byakuya Kuchiki elevated his gaze toward Shigure: "Lieutenant Segawa, prepare for departure."
Shigure nodded gracefully, subsequently leaping from the streetlamp while approaching Rukia.
Suddenly, however, a pale azure energy beam shot toward their position.
A spirit particle arrow formed through concentrated gathering, rushing directly toward Shigure.
Shigure merely inclined his head slightly, achieving precise evasion.
The spirit particle projectile continued into the distance, dissipating atmospherically.
Byakuya's gaze turned arctic as he peered into surrounding darkness.
Shigure pivoted slowly, maintaining composed demeanor.
From the shadows, a clear masculine voice emerged:
"Two grown men simultaneously confronting one defenseless young woman..."
"Truly unpleasant to observe..."
"I genuinely... cannot tolerate such developments..."
While speaking, a male student wearing school uniform emerged from the darkness.
Spectacles adorned his features, jet-black hair parted centrally.
His left hand grasped a plastic bag.
His right hand, however, wielded a lengthy bow bearing distinctive black and white patterns.
Upon the bow, azure spirit particles flickered ominously!
Upon perceiving him, Rukia immediately raised her head.
"Ishi-Ishida, why are you present here..."
"You inquire 'why'? That constitutes a peculiar question."
Uryū Ishida displayed a subtle smile, adjusting his spectacles lightly.
"Initially, I intended claiming coincidental passage, however... observing your current expression, you likely wouldn't accept such explanation, correct?"
"Therefore, naturally... I detected Soul Reaper presence."
Speaking thus, he released his left hand, the plastic bag dropping groundward.
"My intended excuse has become superfluous."
While continuing his discourse, he positioned both hands upon the bow.
Byakuya Kuchiki's expression remained composed: "As anticipated, an obstructive individual has materialized."
"Obstructive?"
Uryū Ishida repeated the term, grinning slightly.
"To you, forcibly removing Kuchiki-san constitutes merely a 'matter'?"
Upon hearing this declaration, Byakuya Kuchiki simply regarded Shigure with indifferent address:
"I entrust this to your handling, Lieutenant Segawa."
Shigure experienced no particular surprise upon hearing this directive.
He nodded gracefully without verbal response, directly turning toward Uryū Ishida.
This novice Quincy's current capabilities could only be characterized as "utterly insignificant" before Shigure's abilities.
When Uryū Ishida observed Shigure's attention, he abandoned his smile.
Immediately thereafter, he elevated his bow suddenly, positioning fingers upon the spirit particle bowstring.
Targeting Shigure, he grinned: "My designation is Uryū Ishida. Please remember it, Soul Reaper."
"At minimum, remember the name of your impending conqueror!"
Following this declaration, he drew the bow forcefully, atmospheric spirit particles rapidly concentrating at his fingertips.
Simultaneously, azure luminous patterns resembling spider webs manifested swiftly upon his bow.
Witnessing this spectacle, Rukia's pupils contracted sharply as she shouted desperately:
"Cease! Ishida!!"
In this instant, she wasn't warning Shigure to evade, but calling toward Ishida.
Uryū Ishida experienced momentary bewilderment before immediately displaying confident expression.
"Remain calm, Kuchiki-san... Following yesterday's combat experience, my current strength is formidable!"
Upon completing this statement, he released his drawing fingers directly, the spirit particle arrow launching instantaneously.
"Whoosh!"
However, this time, the singular arrow suddenly fragmented into six projectiles, simultaneously targeting Shigure!
Observing this development, Rukia felt her heart plummet to absolute depths.
If this Shigure Segawa truly possessed the capabilities Jūshirō Ukitake had described...
Then Ishida possessed absolutely no victory possibility!
Within moments, six arrows radiating azure luminescence rushed directly toward Shigure.
Shigure maintained his subtle smile, neither dodging nor evading.
Instead, he elevated his hand, palm confronting the arrows' trajectory.
The subsequent moment, all six luminous projectiles transformed directly into explosive spirit particle streams before his palm!
"?!"
Uryū Ishida's pupils contracted immediately.
How was this conceivable?!
These represented high-concentration spirit particle arrows he had condensed using Quincy power—how could they be neutralized so effortlessly?!
Suddenly, another dramatic change occurred.
Shigure's figure before his perception vanished entirely!
The next instant, he materialized behind Ishida's position.
Uryū Ishida sensed frigid presence behind him, pivoting rapidly while attempting to draw his bow.
Shigure had already elevated his hand, extending a single finger toward him.
"Hadō #1: Shō."
Boom!
Under his extreme spiritual pressure enhancement, violent spirit particle streams concentrated, erupted, and discharged from his fingertip!
At such proximate distance, this devastating spirit particle impact struck Uryū Ishida's chest instantaneously.
"Pff!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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