“Damn you, Hollow!” Shadow’s figure vanished in an instant, then reappeared behind the Adjuchas.
He drove a fist forward.
“Kairyokuken!” “BOOM!” The Adjuchas had no time to react before it was blasted away.
It crashed into the ground and carved out a massive crater.
“Argh…” The Adjuchas roared furiously.
“I’m going to kill you!” It opened its mouth, and countless dark crimson particles rapidly gathered within.
In an instant, a terrifying aura began pouring out.
“I’m the one who should be saying that.” Shadow’s cold voice carried a bone-chilling edge.
His hand settled over the hilt at his waist, and a murderous pressure erupted from his body.
“Cero!” “Tōjutsu: Battōzan (Sword Art: Draw Slash)!” His blade flashed from its sheath once more.
A lightning-fast arc streaked across the empty air.
The surrounding currents and Reishi seemed to converge upon the blade, as though the sword had drawn in the very essence of the world.
A pitch-black blade of energy burst forth and tore through the air.
“BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!” The Cero was split straight down the middle.
Its two halves slammed into the ground on either side, erupting with deafening explosions.
Yet the black slash continued forward without losing any speed.
“AAARGH!” The Adjuchas barely managed to move its vitals out of the way, but its entire right arm was cleanly severed.
…
“S-So strong…” The moment Kaien Shiba opened his eyes, this was the sight that greeted him.
He stared in stunned disbelief.
“Of course!
Shadow is really strong!” Yoruichi Shihōin watched the battle without blinking, answering proudly when she heard his voice.
Then she realized who had spoken and quickly turned around in surprise.
“Kaien, you’re awake!” “…” Kaien’s expression went flat.
At the same time, the entire Gotei 13 sensed the Reiatsu filled with that terrifying killing intent.
The captains immediately abandoned whatever they were doing and rushed toward the source of the Reiatsu in Rukongai.
It was not merely curiosity.
They had all recognized it.
This was the same Reiatsu that had briefly appeared several days ago.
Only Tansei Shihōin’s expression changed drastically.
He knew that Reiatsu belonged to Shadow.
But for Shadow to release such overwhelming killing intent, enough to make even him feel alarmed, something must have happened.
…
“ROAR!” Its Cero had been cut apart and one of its arms severed.
The Adjuchas went berserk.
Light flashed across its body, and from the stump of its severed limb, an entirely new arm rapidly grew.
“That’s…
Chōsoku Saisei (High-Speed Regeneration).” Kaien stared in surprise before turning toward Yoruichi.
“Yoruichi…” “It’s fine!” Yoruichi shook her head and spoke firmly.
“There won’t be a problem.
Father said Shadow is captain-class.
He’ll definitely win.” …
“Chōsoku Saisei (High-Speed Regeneration), huh?” Shadow snorted disdainfully.
As long as he killed it before the regeneration could activate, or inflicted damage from which death was irreversible, then High-Speed Regeneration would become meaningless.
His pitch-black blade swept back in a wide arc.
At that moment, Shadow seemed to become one with the heavens, the earth, and his sword.
The boundaries between man, blade, and the world itself appeared to disappear.
A black blade of energy surged outward with overwhelming force.
One slash to sever all things.
Nothing could stop it.
Kiba no Michi (Way of the Fang).
“What?!” The Adjuchas was horrified.
Facing that overwhelming strike, it realized there was nowhere to dodge.
Gritting its teeth, it chose to gamble everything.
Better to fight than simply stand there and die.
“Cero!” “BOOM!” The black slash and the Cero collided violently.
The impact caused the entire earth to tremble.
The Adjuchas did not even have time to scream before the raging power completely annihilated it.
“Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” Figures appeared one after another.
The captains of the Gotei 13 had finally arrived.
“Yoruichi!
Are you hurt?!” Tansei Shihōin could not have cared less about anything else.
His first thought was naturally of his daughter, the cherished princess of the Shihōin Clan, Yoruichi Shihōin.
“I’m fine, Father!” Yoruichi was supporting Kaien, anxiety written across her face.
“But Kaien is badly hurt.” “Let me take a look.” Retsu Unohana, Captain of Squad 4, smiled gently as she took Kaien from Yoruichi and carefully laid him on the ground before beginning treatment.
“Don’t worry.
He’ll be all right.” Yoruichi nodded gratefully.
“Thank you so much, Captain Unohana!” Seeing that Yoruichi was merely covered in dust and grime but otherwise completely unharmed, Tansei finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Whoosh!” Shadow suddenly appeared in front of Yoruichi.
He dropped heavily to one knee, gritting his teeth.
“I am deeply sorry, Yoruichi-sama.
I…” “Idiot!” Yoruichi froze for a moment before cutting him off.
Her clear voice carried helpless amusement.
“Why are you always apologizing for everything?” “Yoruichi-sama…” Yoruichi wrapped both arms around Shadow’s neck and grinned.
“Shadow, you did more than enough.
I’m the one who acted recklessly.
If anyone should apologize, it should be me.” “And I should be thanking you for saving me!” Yoruichi excitedly ruffled Shadow’s hair.
“That was so cool!
Shadow, you looked amazing!” “Yes, Yoruichi-sama.” Shadow lowered his head.
Only then did Yoruichi nod in satisfaction.
Still grinning, she climbed onto Shadow’s back and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Let’s go home, Shadow!” “Yes, Yoruichi-sama!” Shadow stood with Yoruichi on his back, but instead of immediately leaving, he walked over to Kaien, who was still receiving treatment.
His voice was cold and utterly serious.
“You saved Yoruichi-sama.
That means I owe you my life.
Someday, I’ll repay that debt.” “Shadow!” Yoruichi stared at him in surprise.
“You…” Kaien was equally stunned, completely unsure how to respond.
“Then I’ll leave Kaien in your care, Captain Unohana,” Yoruichi said.
“I’ll come see him tomorrow.” The moment Yoruichi finished speaking, Shadow activated Shunshin no Jutsu and abruptly vanished.
All that remained was a group of captains wearing an assortment of strange and complicated expressions.
…
By the time they returned to the Shihōin estate, it was already getting late.
After dismissing the attendants, Yoruichi went to her private bath.
She changed out of her clothes and slipped into the warm water, relaxing after everything that had happened that day.
Outside the door, Shadow sat on the steps with his usual cold expression.
His head was slightly lowered as he became lost in thought.
Steam drifted above the bath while Yoruichi soaked in the water, leaving only her purple-haired head visible.
She stared into the hazy mist as ripples spread across the surface.
Then something mischievous seemed to occur to her.
Her golden eyes shifted from side to side, full of playful cunning.
“Ahhh!” “Yoruichi-sama!” The sudden scream startled Shadow out of his thoughts.
Without stopping to think, he spun around and burst through the door.
“Yoruichi-sama, are you…” He immediately froze when he realized Yoruichi was perfectly fine and had merely tricked him into barging into the bath.
His face turned bright red.
Shadow instantly spun around, rushed outside, and slammed the door shut behind him.
“Hahahaha!” Her prank had worked perfectly.
Having finally managed to make the eternally stone-faced Shadow lose his composure, Yoruichi doubled over beside the pool and laughed until tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.
Outside, Shadow listened to the laughter coming through the door.
His expression shifted repeatedly as he rubbed his face and let out a helpless sigh.
“Yoruichi-sama is even more exhausting than Anko-sama…”