The vast dimensional space shook violently.
Not just the ground—every inch of the realm trembled.
Air rippled, the sky quaked, yet nothing shattered. Still, Ichigo, Rukia, Orihime, and Kukaku felt their bodies trembling uncontrollably. Only Unohana, Yoruichi, and Soi Fong could remain standing.
Seeing this, Cole instinctively struck the ground with his golden staff. Instantly, the tremors stopped.
Ichigo managed to steady himself, but then collapsed to the ground and vomited.
"Damn it, Cole…"
Rukia, Orihime, and Kukaku turned pale, barely holding back nausea.
Soi Fong clenched her teeth.
"Cole, what's going on? Your zanpakuto materialization—why hasn't anything appeared?"
"…It's not that nothing happened."
Yoruichi glanced at the shattered Tenshintai and muttered, "If it broke, how strong is his zanpakuto?"
Unohana's eyes glimmered. She leaned forward eagerly.
"Cole, don't tell me you've already achieved bankai?"
"…Not quite." Cole gave a wry smile at his staff.
"But I've reached a half-bankai state. And I unlocked a new ability."
When the Tenshintai shattered, his reiryoku had flooded into his zanpakuto. The Ruyi Jingu Bang gained a second power: Dinghaishenzhen—the Needle That Calms the Seas.
As its name suggested, striking the ground with it suppressed all around it, creating a gravity field. His first strike had spread that field across the whole dimension, nearly crushing it. His second strike released the field, stabilizing the realm.
"…Half-bankai?" Ichigo and the others were confused.
But veterans like Yoruichi and Soi Fong immediately grasped the concept.
"A half-bankai… similar to when a shikai isn't fully accepted by its spirit?" Soi Fong muttered, eyeing the golden staff.
Yoruichi leapt onto Cole's shoulder.
"Then what exactly did you awaken?"
Cole thought, then swung at Unohana.
Her eyes lit with excitement as she blocked with her blade. Staff and sword clashed—and in the next instant, his staff overwhelmed her strike.
"Bang!"
The golden rod smacked her forehead, raising a bump.
Pain shot through her, but instead of anger, she looked even more ecstatic.
"Cole, are you challenging me to a real fight?"
Cole paled, shaking his head rapidly. After last night's "battle," he never wanted to cross her again.
He pointed to the bump.
"Try healing that, Unohana."
She hesitated, then channeled Kaidō. Green light spread across her forehead. Normally, such a minor injury would vanish instantly. But this time… nothing.
Her eyes widened.
"This is… impossible."
Cole smirked, twirling his staff.
"This is Dinghaishenzhen. It doesn't just suppress environments—it can suppress wounds. Once suppressed, they can't heal."
The others gasped.
Even fatal wounds could be pinned in place. A wounded enemy would bleed out, unable to recover—even if they escaped the battlefield.
"…As long as you're struck, you can't heal?" Soi Fong muttered. "That's almost as deadly as my Nigeki Kessatsu (Two-Step Kill)…"
Cole waved it off.
"Not absolute. If someone is close to me, the suppression is total. If far away, it weakens, and healing slowly resumes."
Still, that was terrifying. It meant anyone who fought him lost their endurance.
Soi Fong scolded, "Idiot! Why would you reveal your zanpakuto's ability? That's supposed to be a secret!"
Cole just laughed.
"Because I trust you. You wouldn't spread it, right?"
Her cheeks reddened.
"Tch… you think I'm that loose-lipped?"
Cole grinned. The ability was obvious anyway—one strike was enough to show its nature. Better to acknowledge it outright.
Unohana smiled sweetly, touching her forehead.
"Cole, I won't hold your little experiment against you… but can I heal this now?"
He hesitated. "But don't you enjoy—"
"Shing!"
Her silver blade split the earth, carving a canyon at their feet.
"…Nothing." Cole swallowed, rubbing away the suppression. The bump vanished in an instant.
Before he could breathe, Unohana seized his hand.
"Nothing, Yoruichi. I only intend to… discipline this boy."
With a flash, she dragged Cole away, vanishing from sight.
"Discipline!? He used her as an experiment! He's doomed!" Yoruichi cried, running in circles. She knew Unohana's true nature—if provoked, she was terrifying beyond belief.
She dashed to follow, but Soi Fong suddenly scooped her into her arms, blushing fiercely.
"Yoruichi-sama… no, don't go…"
Yoruichi blinked in confusion.
"…Huh!?"
Meanwhile, in the hot spring of the pocket realm—
Cole stammered, "Unohana, Rukia and Ichigo are still training. Should we really be—"
He turned and froze.
Her haori, her robes, even her underwear had fallen to the ground. Her pale form glistened in the mist.
Her cheeks flushed as she pressed a hand to her chest.
"This is your fault. Showing me such a powerful half-bankai… making my heart pound so painfully… you must take responsibility."
Cole swallowed hard.
"B-but we just fought last night… and your injuries aren't fully—"
"That doesn't matter."
Barefoot, she stepped close, gently shoving him into the spring. With a splash, they both disappeared beneath the steaming water.
…
Later, when Cole returned, Rukia sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness, Cole. You scared me—I've never seen Captain Unohana insist on disciplining someone before."
Cole coughed awkwardly.
"Were you hurt badly?" she asked.
His expression twitched.
Hurt? If anything, it was Unohana who had been "defeated."
Still, he kept silent, glancing instead at her zanpakuto, Sode no Shirayuki.
"Rukia, haven't you beaten your spirit yet?"
She shook her head, troubled.
"She told me I must find the real Sode no Shirayuki among all these ice blades before I can gain bankai."
The snowy wasteland was filled with countless white swords.
Ichigo's trial was no better—he hacked endlessly with borrowed blades, each one shattering against Zangetsu.
"Even with shortcuts, bankai is no easy feat," Cole muttered. Then, smiling, he encouraged them both to keep fighting.
…
Elsewhere in Seireitei, Aizen and his followers wandered casually through Seventh Division.
Gin smirked.
"Captain Aizen, we've checked seven divisions already. Could it be the Hōgyoku isn't here?"
Aizen's face darkened.
"No. My Hōgyoku senses tell me Urahara's gem is still in Seireitei. We'll find it—within three days."
He seethed at the thought. Once flawless plans, now reduced to skulking about like fugitives—all because of Urahara… and Cole.
"Urahara Kisuke. Cole…" His killing intent spiked.
But then he froze, sensing the faint spiritual pressure of the Head Captain.
"…That damned old man."
In an instant, he vanished, Gin, Tōsen, and Ulquiorra following close behind.
Moments later, Yamamoto appeared, eyes narrowing.
"They slipped away again… Bring Kurotsuchi. I want to know if his research is complete."
(End of Chapter)
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