Shimo was genuinely surprised by Yamada Seinosuke's choice.
If there was one field in which Shimo was admittedly lacking, it would be Kaidō—the healing arts.
Yet his opponent had voluntarily chosen to avoid a Kaidō duel.
Did this mean Seinosuke was actually stronger in direct combat?
Upon hearing Seinosuke's decision, Unohana shook her head with clear disappointment.
As the Captain of the Fourth Division, no one understood Seinosuke's capabilities better than she did.
But as for Shimo's true strength—he remained a mystery, even to her.
"…Good luck, Seinosuke."
Unohana's voice carried a faint note of pity.
She stepped aside from the platform, giving space to the two combatants. At the same time, she instructed her squad members to erect a Kidō barrier around the stage.
"You are permitted to release your Zanpakutō in this Duel for the Seat,"
"But under no circumstances may you take your opponent's life."
Standing before the barrier, Unohana lightly placed her pale hand against its surface, her gaze drifting between the two figures inside.
The moment her voice fell, Seinosuke struck first without hesitation.
"Bakudō #21: Sekienton! (Red Smoke Escape!)"
A move that completely violated the spirit of a fair duel—every action Seinosuke took was aimed solely at securing victory.
To ensure nothing went wrong, he launched a Kidō spell while Shimo was unprepared.
Thick red smoke instantly engulfed the barrier. Within seconds, visibility across the platform dropped to zero.
Shimo frowned slightly.
The effects of Sekienton were obvious—either a cover for escape or the prelude to another attack.
But escape was impossible inside the barrier. Clearly, Seinosuke was preparing to launch a full assault from concealment.
Outside, the smoke billowed upward. Even Unohana, observing from beyond the barrier, looked displeased.
As the original Kenpachi, she had always preferred head-on, honorable battles.
And now, Seinosuke's actions had thoroughly exposed his cowardly nature.
Shimo attempted to sense his opponent's spiritual pressure, trying to pinpoint his location.
"Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six!"
Seinosuke's chant rang out from within the crimson haze.
"Bakudō #61: Rikujokoro! (Six Rods Prison of Light!)"
Brilliant golden rods of light tore through the red mist and instantly bound Shimo, who had remained standing calmly in place.
"Tsk, annoying brat…"
Seeing the spell succeed, Seinosuke sneered with smug satisfaction.
"Now then, time to finish you off!"
"Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws!!"
Shimo's brow lifted slightly as he felt the bindings tighten around his waist. But his voice remained calm:
"So this is your way of fighting?"
"Pretty crude, to say the least."
Seinosuke's expression twisted.
"You're already at my mercy, and still you talk big?!"
"Fine, then I'll teach you a lesson your parents never did!"
As he shouted, the spiritual pressure in his palm flared even stronger.
"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui! (Pale Fire Crash)"
A surge of bright blue flame burst from his palm. The crackle of thunder and explosion echoed through the barrier, rattling the ears of everyone watching.
Many of the squad members, upon seeing this, assumed the match was already over.
"Ah, I thought we might finally get a new Liutenant this time."
"But in the end, Shimo just graduated from the Shin'ō Academy. His strength has its limits."
"Tch… Seinosuke really is a despicable Shinigami, choosing ambush tactics even against newcomers."
"Shame. I really can't stand that sly, conniving face of his."
Unohana's expression shifted ever so slightly as she caught the murmurs from her subordinates. She returned her gaze to the barrier.
The battle wasn't over yet.
A thunderous explosion erupted inside the barrier.
Thick smoke billowed upward, once again obscuring everything inside.
For some reason, the moment the blast hit, Seinosuke felt a wave of danger surge within him.
He waved his hand to disperse the smoke—and what he saw froze him in place.
His already-narrow pupils contracted into needle-thin points.
He could hardly believe his eyes.
"You broke free from Rikujokoro?!"
Before him, Shimo stood calmly, his right hand raised in front of him.
A round shield of Kidō energy floated silently before him, having completely absorbed the impact of Sōkatsui.
"Bakudō #39: Enkōsen. (Round Lock Fan)"
"That kind of 3 year-old kid's fighting style doesn't work on me."
It was now evident—Yamada Seinosuke was no fighter.
Despite holding the rank of Liutenant, he was clearly a logistics officer at heart. In combat terms, perhaps even an embarrassment to the title.
"Since you're so eager to buzz off from your rank, allow me to grant your wish."
Shimo lowered his hand. Enkōsen vanished instantly.
"Bakudō #75: Gochūtekkan! (Five-Pillared Iron Weights)"
As the incantation ended, five massive iron pillars suddenly materialized in the air above.
They hurtled downward—aimed directly at Seinosuke.
His thin, frail body looked even smaller compared to the titanic rods descending from the sky, creating a stunning visual impact.
Everyone watching was dumbfounded.
With a thunderous crash, the pillars slammed down, pinning Seinosuke firmly to the dueling platform, completely immobilized.
"It's over, Yamada Seinosuke."
Shimo's expression remained indifferent, showing not even a hint of joy from his victory.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai. (Pale Lightning)"
A flash of blue-white lightning fired from his fingertip—
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