“Hey, hey… you’ve got to be kidding me.”
Muttering under his breath, Hirako Shinji grabbed a few nearby Shinigami and withdrew further away.
Between Kaelith and that wandering swordsman, their battle unleashed a raging storm of spiritual pressure, turning the surrounding air into a field of slicing blades.
Any closer, and even a Shinigami would be in real danger.
On the other side, Ikkaku Madarame was doing much the same.
He grabbed hold of the pink-haired girl by the collar and retreated.
“Someone who can fight that man evenly?” Ikkaku couldn’t help voicing his disbelief.
The little girl dangling from his grip just shook her head.
“No, baldy, that big brother isn’t fighting him evenly.”
Ikkaku glanced at her, confused.
From where he stood, Kaelith seemed to be holding his own blow for blow.
How was that not “evenly matched”?
Smiling, the pink-haired girl explained, “That big brother is way stronger than Lil Sword is right now.”
“He’s just playing with him.”
Ikkaku’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. He’d fought that man countless times and had always been beaten down. If anyone qualified as invincible, it was him.
And now someone was treating him like a toy?
Taking the hint from Yachiru’s words and looking back at the fight, Ikkaku gradually realized she had a point.
Although the swordsman—Zaraki—was slashing away in a relentless offensive, brimming with raw power, Kaelith’s expression remained relaxed.
It was as if Kaelith anticipated every swing, always blocking right on time.
At first, Zaraki was all fired up, but he soon started to frown.
Zaraki grinned wildly, pouring more strength into his blade.
His spiritual pressure flared, layer upon layer.
Sensing the shift, Ikkaku’s eyes gleamed.
Zaraki was getting serious now—surely Kaelith couldn’t stay so casual anymore!
Yet, to his astonishment, Kaelith simply raised his own reiatsu to match.
Its power smoothly adjusted to Zaraki’s level, as if it were effortless for him. It was like Kaelith could tap into that level at any time, with minimal strain.
Ikkaku found it hard to believe.
Meanwhile, more Eleventh Division members—those who hadn’t gone too far—came rushing back.
Seeing the fierce battle unfolding, they were all taken aback.
“Whoa! He’s forcing Kaelith-aniki to use some actual effort… that guy’s no joke!”
“Where did this monster come from?”
“No wonder Aniki came out here specifically—if this guy joins the Eleventh, we’ll be unstoppable!”
“See? That’s our big brother for you. He’s only been captain a short while but is already strengthening our squad!”
“Our aniki sees the bigger picture!”
“I’m gonna train hard and become his right-hand man!”
“Together with Aniki, we’ll topple the First Division—’cause the Eleventh’s the strongest!”
“Eleventh Division!! Aaaargh!!”
Yumichika blinked, baffled by the raucous cheers from these Shinigami.
“…These people are all right in the head, I hope?”
In the midst of it all, Kaelith and Zaraki Kenpachi were locked in a furious exchange of blows.
Kaelith was somewhat surprised—Zaraki wasn’t as strong as he’d imagined.
Even without that eye-patch limiting his power, Zaraki’s abilities were just… average.
Roughly between a Lieutenant and Captain. Not quite Captain level. It might be some years before the canon storyline began, but still—he was further behind than Kaelith had expected.
Curious, Kaelith decided to increase his own power once more.
He raised his reiatsu, quickened his attacks, sharpened his strength—an all-round boost.
At that moment, Zaraki clearly failed to keep up.
Kaelith’s blade flashed, carving a long gash across Zaraki’s body.
Blood burst in a vivid bloom.
Zaraki looked down at the wound, momentarily taken aback.
Then a crazed grin spread over his face.
“So you really are strong… this is great!”
He roared in delight, lifting his sword again.
Even as blood spilled from that open slash, he shrugged it off, slashing faster instead of slowing down.
Kaelith couldn’t help but laugh.
Just as he’d thought:
Though Zaraki wasn’t the typical protagonist in appearance, his battle instincts were absolutely protagonist-level—sustaining injuries only fueled his drive.
He could sense Zaraki’s excitement and love for combat in every swing of that battered blade.
Truly, this was a man born for the Eleventh Division.
Feeling Zaraki’s fervor, Kaelith’s own excitement rose.
Their blades collided at ever-increasing speed, the resulting spiritual pressure bursting like flying razors, splitting the nearby rocks and outcroppings.
The more Kaelith powered up, the wilder Zaraki became.
He was trembling from an intensity that soared with each moment, relishing this chance to push himself further and further.
Then, all of a sudden, Zaraki noticed something off.
I’m trembling not just from excitement.
His muscles were nearing their limit.
He couldn’t keep pace with Kaelith’s onslaught anymore.
Realizing this, Zaraki felt a jolt of shock… followed instantly by a surge of delight.
So, this is what it’s like to find an opponent beyond my power? That’s even more thrilling!!
He bellowed laughter, mouth splitting in a vicious grin. It was as if he was throwing every last bit of himself into the furnace of madness, craving the strength to overwhelm Kaelith.
Seeing his skin redden, steam beginning to rise from his body, Kaelith arched an eyebrow.
Suddenly, he flung away his Zanpakutō.
With Shunpo too swift for the eye, he slipped around Zaraki’s next slash and appeared right in front of him.
A fist wrapped in raging spiritual pressure traced a silver arc—
smashing into Zaraki’s face with a thunderous impact.
A colossal jolt shot through Zaraki’s skull, making his eyes roll back.
Then he collapsed to his knees, toppling forward, rump in the air, sprawled out on the ground.