__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Devour… Yachiru!"
Even though his body was already soaring high into the sky,with the distance stretched and the meteor's colossal mass as contrast,Kenpachi Zaraki looked no bigger than a speck.
But his roar still ripped straight through the heavens.
It blasted through the clouds with a thunderous boom, shook the transparent barrier around the arena, and slammed perfectly into every spectator's ears as if he were screaming right beside them.
Naturally—
The entire stadium exploded again.
Hueco Mundo
"Wait… wait, don't tell me I heard that right. Did that monster just shout 'Shikai'?!"Starrk's pupils trembled. His worldview about collapsed.
After watching the previous two fights…
In his eyes, Kenpachi Zaraki was no longer a Shinigami. He was a full-blown monster in human skin.
But the shocking part?
That sky-shattering Reiatsu—that wasn't his limit.That was just the starting line.
This demon of a man… had been fighting without even using Shikai?
Starrk's brain simply refused to process it.
"…"
Barragan was speechless.
His expression had gone beyond "ugly." There were no words left for it.
No Shikai.No technique.Just raw Reiatsu and brute swings—and he could still erase anything in his path.
He hadn't even started using actual Zanpakutō abilities.
"With strength like that, he didn't even make the top ten? What kind of monsters are ranked above him…?"
Harribel's face changed again and again.Her body trembled. She didn't dare think further.
As for the rest—
Grimmjow was silent.Nnoitra mentally shut down.Yammy didn't even dare look at the screen.
The proud, arrogant, sky-high-ego Espada…
Every last one of them fell into instant self-isolation.
Hueco Mundo sank into dead silence.
Soul Society – 5th Division, Underground Chamber
"Hmm? You're kidding… Zaraki Kenpachi can actually use Shikai?!"
Gin Ichimaru's smile froze.
For the first time, Gin felt the world wasn't real.
Ever since Zaraki joined the Gotei 13, his mad, straightforward personality and barbaric, unreasonable sword swings had already carved his reputation deep:the undisputed king of pure, unadulterated melee.
"Captain Zaraki's Zanpakutō can't Shikai. He just fights with raw Reiatsu and brute force."
That line…
Had long become common sense among all Shinigami.Not just the lower ranks— even captains believed it.
But now?Zaraki Kenpachi had actually spoken a Shikai release command.
What kind of situation was this?
"It's surprising, yes… but I'd say it's a good sign."Aizen's voice held none of its usual coldness.His sharp eyes shone with heat and ambition."If even Kenpachi Zaraki can break through his limits, then the future holds limitless potential."
"For example… the Hōgyoku."
At that, Aizen's lips curled into a dark, confident smile.
If Kenpachi could surpass himself, then so would he.With the Hōgyoku, he would reach the true pinnacle of existence.
11th Division
"Wahaha!"
Little Yachiru launched herself like a missile, crashing into Zaraki's chest with a joyous giggle."Kenny! This is amazing! I can't believe the future you actually awakened Shikai!"
"Seriously, congrats, Captain! No more being stuck with basic slashes!"Ikkaku flashed his white grin, fired up.
"Can't wait to see what Captain's Shikai can actually do!"
Just hearing Kenpachi shout the release command made Yumichika feel like something in his chest had ignited.
That surge of power…
It had to be some ridiculously overpowered ability, right?
"Hah! It's a hell of a surprise, I'll give you that! Never thought my Zanpakutō would actually wake up one day!"Kenpachi broke into a feral grin, mood sky-high.
He had carried the "King of Pure Slashes" title for decades.
Didn't mean he wanted to be stuck that way forever.
If Shikai could make battle even more fun, then Kenpachi had zero objections.
"But…"
"'Yachiru,' huh? Kinda weird name. Can't guess what ability it might have."
Ikkaku frowned, trying to make sense of it.
The name didn't sound like any specific type.Maybe physical? Maybe something else?
"Dummy, you forgot."Yachiru perched on his shoulder, wagging a finger."A Zanpakutō's power always fits its owner's personality. So Yachiru has to be a direct-attack-type Zanpakutō!"
"Oh… that does make sense."
Ikkaku nodded thoughtfully.
An attack-type Zanpakutō would definitely fit the king of melee.
When the golden Reiatsu finally dispersed, the cloud-piercing light faded…
Kenpachi's blade had transformed completely.
The once battered, chipped katana was gone.
The new form—
A massive, oversized cleaver of a blade.Edge huge.Guard a bold, three-dimensional polygon.Handle wrapped in white cloth.The entire sword swollen larger than Zangetsu ten times over.
In short:
Kenpachi's Zanpakutō looked like a super-sized butcher's knife built to carve giants.
And the presence it gave off was even more vicious than Zangetsu's.
"Hah…"
Freshly released, Kenpachi's killing intent flared.
His scarred face twisted into an ecstatic grin as he roared, "Kid with the illusions! This is my first Shikai ever. Better hope your meteor's tough enough!"
He spoke like it was nothing.Like a meteor from beyond the world wasn't worth his attention.
And what happened next proved he meant every word.
"Fshhh!"
Just like the last two times—no fancy moves.No technique.No posture.Kenpachi just dropped his shoulder, raised the massive sword with one hand, and swung it down with a wild roar.
One slash.
A single brutal arc of power that tore through sky and earth.
When the attack touched the meteor—
It shot straight through without the slightest resistance.
And under the eyes of the entire world—
The giant meteor was split clean in half, like tofu under a kitchen knife.
The King of Pure Slashes.One swing.Guaranteed kill.
"..."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________