Not long after—
The Thirteenth Division's sparring grounds were packed.
With Ukitake Jūshirō presiding, officers and seated members surrounded the arena layer upon layer, sealing it tight.
Bai Chen and Shiba Kaien stood facing each other at the center.
Neither had released their full pressure yet, but when their gazes met, it felt as if sparks were already crackling through the air.
Standing outside the field, Ukitake raised his hand and announced the rules in a calm but resonant voice:
"First—"
After the seated officers worked together to erect five layers of Kidō barriers, Ukitake continued:
"To avoid casualties, Bai Chen and Kaien—both of you will fight under the same spiritual pressure level."
"You may freely use the Four Shinigami Arts and your Zanpakutō."
"Other than that—there are no restrictions."
This rule existed for one reason alone: fairness.
Bai Chen's spiritual pressure was, frankly, abnormal—far beyond the level of an ordinary vice-captain.
Kaien, despite being a genius in his own right, was still at Fourth-Class Reiatsu, a full tier lower.
So at Ukitake's suggestion, Bai Chen voluntarily sealed his own pressure, suppressing it to match Kaien's.
From this moment on, neither side could rely on brute spiritual pressure.
What would decide the outcome was technique, judgment, Kidō mastery, combat instinct—and Zanpakutō control.
Spectators' Reactions
In the crowd, Shiba Miyako turned to Kotetsu Kiyone and asked softly,
"Kiyone… who do you think will win?"
Kiyone blinked, then answered earnestly,
"As a Fifth Seat of the Thirteenth Division, I'll obviously support Vice-Captain Kaien!"
But then she hesitated, her gaze drifting toward Bai Chen.
"Still… Bai Chen is already one of us now."
"If everyone supports Kaien unconditionally, then I kind of want to cheer for Bai Chen instead."
She even gave a quick blink, as if to emphasize—
This is totally fair and not personal at all.
Miyako sighed, conflicted.
"You're not wrong… treating them differently wouldn't be fair."
"And Bai Chen did limit his reiatsu."
"This isn't a life-or-death battle, either."
Still, the worry lingered.
If Kaien lost—
his authority as vice-captain would inevitably be shaken.
Kaien Makes the First Move
As soon as Ukitake finished announcing the rules, the tension snapped.
Kaien raised his arm, reiatsu surging.
Boom!
Fourth-Class spiritual pressure erupted outward, kicking up dust as his black shihakushō fluttered violently.
Cheers broke out immediately:
"Vice-Captain Kaien really is amazing!"
"At this rate, he'll definitely advance another level!"
"He's absolutely one of the strongest vice-captains!"
Kaien ignored the noise.
He focused on Bai Chen and spoke evenly:
"Bai Chen… I've heard you're a Kidō expert."
"Strong enough to even create your own spells."
As he spoke, his fingers traced a precise motion in the air, confidence filling his voice.
"Most Shinigami favor wind, fire, or lightning-type Kidō—high damage, fast casting."
"But don't underestimate the so-called 'unpopular' ones."
His eyes sharpened.
"Especially when my Zanpakutō, Nejibana, amplifies water-based techniques."
The chant began.
Flowing Water Kidō
"Water, take form—
Flow and sharpen,
Grant me the power of the sea—
Condense into blades of the void!"
"Hadō #65: Waterblade Barrage!"
Spiritual particles gathered instantly.
Moisture from the air condensed, glowing blue as three enormous blades of water formed in front of Kaien.
They hovered like divine weapons, shimmering with lethal clarity—
almost like Poseidon's trident split into three.
Bai Chen raised an eyebrow, visibly impressed.
"A water-type Hadō… that's rare."
"And beautifully controlled."
The crowd erupted again as Kaien thrust his palm downward.
The three water blades screamed through the air, slicing forward with terrifying speed, blue trails rippling behind them.
Ice Counters Water
Ukitake's expression tightened.
"Water always has a counter…" he murmured.
"…and that counter is ice."
As if answering the thought itself, Bai Chen calmly began his incantation—unhurried, composed.
"Pure white snow—
Crystalline frost—
Let the heavens descend in cold silence."
"Freeze, solidify, still all motion—
Hear my command!"
"Hadō #85: Glacial Snowfall!"
The moment the chant ended—
The temperature inside the barriers plummeted.
A wave of frost burst outward from Bai Chen, and within a radius of several dozen meters, the air itself froze.
Crack—!
The ground crystallized.
Mist turned to ice midair.
The incoming water blades never even reached him.
They froze solid in flight—
transforming into three massive ice sculptures, suspended in midair like frozen relics.
The entire battlefield became a silver-white world of frost and snow.
Silence followed.
Then—
A collective gasp.
Water… frozen.
Momentum… erased.
Attack… completely neutralized.
Bai Chen stood calmly at the center of the icy domain, hands behind his back, expression unchanged.
And in that moment, everyone watching finally understood—
This wasn't just a contest of strength.
It was a clash of mastery.
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