Without a doubt, Kukaku was definitely unleashing her full power.
But from Kukaku's appearance, apart from the initial Reiatsu leakage due to the sudden surge when she released her Reiatsu, she seemed no different from usual at this moment.
However-
"Whoosh!"
With a flicker, Kukaku's figure instantly appeared in front of Gin. She raised her index finger and pointed at Gin like a storm-
"Shigan - Ranbu!"
Bang bang bang bang-
A series of air explosion sounds erupted between Kukaku and Gin.
The air was directly pierced by Kukaku's finger. Transparent shockwaves brushed past Gin's body, striking the prison building behind him and blasting large holes into it.
This situation frightened Kira Izuru, who was cowering at the entrance in the center.
After all, he was just a small Lieutenant. In this peaceful era, when had he ever experienced such a battle scene?
The moment Kukaku released her Reiatsu earlier, he felt he might suffocate under that powerful reiatsu.
But later, when Gin and Kukaku started fighting, it didn't give Kira much pressure.
After all, both Kukaku and Gin had strong control over their Reiatsu.
Kukaku practiced Life Return, while for Gin, this level of battle wasn't enough to make him release more of his reiatsu.
Precisely because of this, their battle seemed somewhat calm and gentle to Kira.
But although the Reiatsu Conflict wasn't strong, the aftermath of their battle made Kira feel as if he could be dragged in and killed at any moment.
Those terrifying shockwaves could still pierce through the prison building even from over twenty meters away.
Kira felt that just one such attack could kill him.
'This is Captain-level battle...'
For a moment, fear showed in Kira's eyes, and his hands trembled slightly.
This was his body alerting his rationality when facing beings that could take his life at any moment.
But then, Kira still controlled his body, placing his right hand on the Zanpakuto at his waist.
Ahead, his Captain was fighting the enemy.
And as Gin's Lieutenant, what he needed to do was try his best to prevent Gin from being affected by other external circumstances.
Fear was biological instinct, but courage was humanity's anthem!
This was what Gin often told Kira.
'Probably, Captain Gin had long seen through me and often gave me pointers?'
Remembering Gin's usual teachings, for a moment, Kira actually managed to calm his mind and body.
Boom!
Boom boom boom boom boom-
Gin's body swayed left and right like willow catkins, avoiding many of Kukaku's attacks.
Only when he couldn't avoid an attack would he draw his Zanpakuto to block.
Kukaku's fingers collided with Gin's Zanpakuto, emitting metallic clangs. The furious offensive suppressed Gin, putting him at a disadvantage.
"Such strong Hakuda!"
"Even the 2nd Division's Captain's mastery in Hakuda isn't as good as yours!"
Gin commented while blocking Kukaku's attacks.
"Heh, is the Gotei 13's 2nd Division's Captain really this weak?"
Hearing Gin's evaluation, Kukaku scoffed.
After all, in Kyoya's words, their Revolutionary Army's Army Commanders were only on the same level as Sui-Feng, Rangiku, Komamura, etc.
Even though she had the Shiba Clan's heritage and was second only to Hitsugaya among the seven Army Commanders, belonging to the Revolutionary Army Army Commanders' second tier along with the 1st Corps Commander Kisaragi Shusuke, she still hadn't reached the 'hundred-year Captain' level.
Moreover, before coming here, Kukaku had a brief encounter with Sui-Feng.
Putting aside other aspects, Sui-Feng's Shunpo indeed lived up to the name of the 2nd Division's Captain.
As for Hakuda, since they didn't fight much before Sui-Feng was lured away by Yoruichi, so Kukaku didn't know much about it.
However, Kukaku was indeed very confident in her Hakuda.
In the entire Revolutionary Army, apart from Kyoya, if she claimed second place in Hakuda mastery, no one dared claim first!
What she displayed now was just the tip of the iceberg.
"Shigan - Oren!"
Bang bang bang bang bang bang-
Another series of air explosion sounds erupted.
Unlike the previous Ranbu, this time Kukaku's hands moved like lightning, thrusting rapidly.
From Kira's visual perspective, it seemed as if Kukaku had over a dozen hands.
The faster and more powerful thrusts forced Gin to take them seriously.
Clang clang clang clang clang clang-
Gin's Zanpakuto became adorned with white light.
This was Gin using his Reiatsu to protect his Zanpakuto.
In Gin's view, the power of Kukaku's current attacks had reached a level capable of shattering ordinary Asauchi.
A Zanpakuto's blade was formed by highly condensed Shinigami Reiatsu, sufficient to cut through defenses of beings with Reiatsu far exceeding their own.
But the Zanpakuto itself wasn't indestructible.
In the Gotei 13's history, there were Shinigami whose Zanpakuto were broken.
Although the 12th Division's Captain, Mayuri had the ability to repair Zanpakuto, who knew if Mayuri would do something to their Zanpakuto during the repair process.
After all, Mayuri's own Zanpakuto had countless control measures planted in it. Even if Mayuri's Zanpakuto was controlled and tried to counter him, Mayuri could probably easily kill it instead.
Gin's own Zanpakuto was his means to kill Aizen.
And its true ability, Gin had never used once in the real world.
Naturally, he didn't want his Zanpakuto damaged, exposing its true ability.
Using Reiatsu to cover the Zanpakuto could effectively protect it and enhance its attack power.
Bang bang bang bang bang bang-
The tip of Gin's Shinso collided with Kukaku's index finger, producing metallic clangs and circles of air shockwaves.
The cloaks on Kukaku and Gin's Captain's Haori were lifted by the air waves, rustling.
And Kira was forced back step by step by the shockwaves from their battle, having to raise his right hand in front of himself and release his own Reiatsu to stand firm in the aftermath of the two Captains' fight.
A flicker passed through Gin's eyes as he saw Kira struggling to maintain his footing.
He immediately stopped clashing head-on with Kukaku and retreated directly. Then, white light gathered on Gin's sword, which he then slashed out.
"Flying slash?"
Seeing this, Kukaku's pupils abruptly contracted.
Actually, flying slashes weren't rare in the Revolutionary Army, and many people could perform them.
Putting others aside, among the seven Army Commanders, apart from her, the exception specializing in physical techniques, the other six Army Commanders were all Great Swordsmen capable of performing flying slashes.
But flying slashes from different Great Swordsmen were different.
Kukaku once heard Koga say that Gin was once a genius as famous as Kyoya.
He was also the earliest to learn swordsmanship from Kyoya.
Barring any surprises, Gin's swordsmanship realm had already broken through the Great Swordsman-level, reaching the Swordmaster-level.
And Swordmaster's slashes… Kukaku had only seen Kyoya perform them.
The concept and power that could sever everything with a swing of the sword were still fresh in Kukaku's memory.
Even though she knew not all Swordmaster were as powerful as Kyoya, she didn't dare underestimate them.
Therefore, even though this slash didn't seem very strong, Kukaku didn't dare underestimate it. She immediately withdrew her offensive and retreated simultaneously.
Swish-
Boom-
Clatter…
Without Kukaku blocking it, Gin's slash easily severed the suspension bridge, causing it to fall from the middle and crash onto the connected prison building, creating noisy sounds.
"Intruders!"
"Assemble, assemble!"
By now, the commotion from Kukaku and Gin's battle had been noticed by the Repentance Cell's guards, who began gathering towards this area.
The Repentance Cell was where the Seireitei imprisoned nobles.
Therefore, the guards here weren't Gotei 13's Shinigami but the nobles' private soldiers.
Compared to Shinigami, the nobles' private soldiers were more obedient, like slaves without freedom, their lives and deaths controlled by the nobles.
As for ordinary Shinigami, they were imprisoned in the jail guarded by the 9th Division.
The Shiba Clan had declined now, no longer possessing the prestige of the Five Great Noble Families, but they were still nobles.
As the wife of the Shiba Clan's head, Miyako was naturally also a noble.
In less than a minute, the surrounding suspension bridges were filled with patrol guards entirely covered in white hoods.
"Tch, troublesome!"
Seeing this, Kukaku clicked her tongue, then kicked out towards her surroundings with both feet!
"Rankyaku - Ran!"
Instantly, dozens of slash waves spread out from Kukaku as the center, encompassing these guards within her attack range.
Thump thump thump thump thump-
Ah ah ah ah ah...
Instantly, blood flowers flew, and screams continuously arose.
Kukaku's attacks were something even Gin had to take seriously.
These guards watching the Repentance Cell, in terms of strength, were about the same as ordinary Shinigami, so how could they withstand Kukaku's attacks?
With just this one move, at least over twenty people were severely injured by Kukaku's attacks.
And the suspension bridges they stood on were torn to shreds by Kukaku's slash waves!
Gin's figure flashed, leaping down from high altitude, appearing in front of Kira.
He blocked the incoming slash wave for him, waved his Zanpakuto, and deflected this slash to the side, blasting another hole in the prison building.
"Are you okay? Kira."
"Huh?"
"Sorry, Captain."
Kira quickly apologized to Gin.
As Gin's Lieutenant, not only did he not help Gin in his battle, but Gin even had to save him.
It was just too lousy!
"I'm too weak. If not for having to save me..."
"What are you talking about? Kira!"
Gin lowered his head, looking at Kira's full of self-blame face under the moonlight's shadow, as if seeing himself from back when he was powerless to prevent Rangiku from being hurt due to lack of strength.
"You are the Lieutenant I personally chose and acknowledged."
"Even I, before growing stronger, encountered many things I was powerless against."
"But, Kira..."
"You must remember this feeling of powerlessness, but don't let it crush you. Instead, use this powerlessness to spur yourself, making it the nourishment to become stronger."
"Yes, Captain!"
After comforting Kira, Gin turned his gaze downward.
There, he could no longer sense Kukaku's Reiatsu.
Sure enough, after the dust settled, below the several buildings of the Repentance Cell, only the Repentance Cell's guards moaning in pain remained. As for Kukaku, she had already escaped during the earlier chaos.
"Kira, let's go!"
"During this period, your training intensity needs to increase another level. Can you handle it?"
"Don't worry, Captain, I'll handle it!"
'Next time, I definitely won't be a burden to Captain Ichimaru!'
…
'That was close...'
In the shadows, Kukaku let out a light sigh, large amounts of heat emanating from around her body.
'If that guy had been serious, I probably would have had to use my Zanpakuto...'
Gently placing her right hand on the short sword sheathed at her waist behind her back, Kukaku's eyes held both relief and regret.
The relief was that she hadn't exposed her final trump card. If the enemy prepared for her based on the strength she displayed this time next time, she could certainly give them a surprise.
The regret was that since obtaining this power until now, she hadn't been able to truly display it.
She knew Miyako was definitely imprisoned in this Repentance Cell's building.
But judging from Gin's attitude, to truly rescue Miyako from the Repentance Cell, at least two Army Commanders and two Vice-Commanders would be needed.
One Army Commander to block and hold off Gin, one Army Commander to block guards coming from elsewhere, and two Vice-Commanders to break into the prison building and rescue Miyako from within.
Kukaku alone couldn't do it.
Knowing this, Kukaku didn't waste time here.
After taking a deep look at the prison building where Gin was, Kukaku turned and left without hesitation.
Whether gathering everyone to help break her out or waiting until the execution to raid the execution ground, she would need everyone's help.