Though Kyōraku sustained minor injury, it was merely superficial—insufficient to compromise his combat capability.
The two combatants probed, parried, and analyzed one another.
Ultimately, Starrk secured minimal advantage.
With a slight laceration across his face, Kyōraku remarked with resignation:
"I presumed your attack pattern involved your right-hand weapon possessing greater power but limited to single discharge before requiring holstering. Your left-hand weapon, while less potent, enabled continuous fire."
He had indeed fallen into his opponent's tactical deception.
However, this posed no significant setback, as he had obtained his desired intelligence.
Kyōraku maintained confidence in eventual victory.
"No such assertion was made!" Starrk stated dispassionately. "What course will you pursue now?"
As he spoke, he involuntarily glanced toward Shiroha's position.
At present, Shiroha was "instructing" Harribel.
"Nothing exceptional!" Kyōraku preserved his victory assurance.
"I've now confirmed these Ceros represent standard variants. Even direct impact would inflict merely severe injury. Consequently, conventional combat approach suffices."
If the projectiles didn't guarantee fatality, their deterrent effect diminished considerably.
Absent mortal fear, one could maintain optimal performance while avoiding strikes.
Simultaneously, Starrk, wielding dual firearms, suffered compromised defensive capability.
Against such an opponent, Kyōraku's Katen Kyōkotsu could exert maximal advantage.
Concurrently, Kyōraku observed his opponent's subtle directional shift and remarked teasingly:
"Dismiss your concerns. Though your associate may not achieve victory, her survival remains probable. Brother Shiroha demonstrates particular proficiency with female opponents, especially those of exceptional beauty."
"What an enviable individual," Starrk sighed once more.
"Though mentally prepared, that man's capabilities prove genuinely formidable. And, for reasons unclear, I find him agreeable. He possesses distinctive temperament."
Shiroha's uninhibited, unrestrained, and transparent character radiated conspicuously.
Kyōraku similarly exhibited comparable disposition, yet compared to Shiroha, his represented mere superficiality, perhaps even deliberate artifice.
Individuals with authentic temperament remained impervious to isolation, never succumbing to despondency or disillusionment.
Starrk didn't covet Shiroha's unparalleled strength, but profoundly desired the other's carefree disposition and psychological equilibrium.
That represented a realm beyond his attainment.
Others lacked this temperament.
Even as adversaries, they found themselves influenced by this quality, discovering the man inherently captivating.
Shiroha embodied such a personality.
Even Starrk hadn't escaped its effect.
"Indisputably," Kyōraku expressed understanding.
Beyond himself, even the characteristically austere Captain-Commander had been influenced.
This demonstrated Shiroha's extraordinary charisma.
Only the most obstinate nobles would actively antagonize Shiroha.
Such individuals truly warranted their eventual fate.
"In that case, let's conclude this," Starrk directed his left-hand weapon toward Kyōraku.
"Having finally activated this state, witnessing your Bankai—genuinely challenging that man—represents imperative opportunity. Therefore, behold—Cero Metralleta!"
Since individual Cero potency proved insufficient, quantity would compensate.
If subjected to ten, scores, or hundreds of simultaneous Ceros, even Kyōraku couldn't withstand such onslaught.
Cero Metralleta embodied precisely such capability.
Starrk could discharge ten, hundred, or thousand concurrent Ceros.
Such offensive capacity sufficed to overwhelm any adversary.
However, the energetic expenditure proved immense.
Among all Espada, only his reiatsu reserves could sustain such prolonged consumption.
"One moment!" Confronting the endless Cero barrage, Kyōraku exhibited moderate alarm.
Such technique proved genuinely astonishing.
What reiatsu reserves did this Arrancar command to endure such expenditure?
Did he genuinely believe reiatsu represented limitless resource?
"I'll permit no delay!" Starrk continued discharging Ceros while inquiring:
"How is your resistance progressing? Can you maintain defense further? Surely your Bankai activation is imminent?"
He maintained fixation on witnessing Kyōraku's Bankai.
His partial identification with his opponent compelled desire to observe ultimate technique.
Kyōraku complained: "This approach lacks honor!"
This large-scale attack—released rapidly and continuously with devastating cumulative effect—presented genuine countermeasure challenge.
The inability to evade or block such assault proved fundamentally frustrating.
"Honor remains intact!" Starrk clearly perceived his opponent hadn't approached limitation.
The Shinigami maintained reserve capacity, poised for counterattack.
Consequently, Starrk could only intensify offensive pressure.
Only through such escalation could he compel Kyōraku's Bankai revelation.