Chapter 131: Komamura Sajin Vs. Reinhard Cavendish
Following Captain Yamamoto's order, the captains launched their attacks on the Espada and their subordinate officers, and the sound of blade collisions echoed throughout the battlefield.
At this time, 7th Division Captain Komamura Sajin and his lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba surrounded Reinhard, who stood alone.
"Oh? There are only two of you? Then come at me together."
Reinhard looked down upon Komamura Sajin and Tetsuzaemon Iba, his eyes filled with fanatical fighting spirit.
For a moment, the atmosphere between both sides grew tense. Under this pressure, Tetsuzaemon Iba said to Komamura Sajin: "Captain, there's only one opponent. Should we defeat him together and then go support the other captains?"
"Battle between men requires fairness and honor, Tetsuzaemon."
"Even if the enemy before us is an Arrancar, we need to show appropriate respect."
"Besides, I don't recall ever teaching you to behave that way in honorable combat."
Speaking thus, Komamura Sajin signaled his vice-captain to retreat, then faced Reinhard alone and said: "My apologies. I am Captain of the 7th Division, Komamura Sajin, and will engage you as your enemy next. Please be cautious."
"Captain of the 7th Division? I observed your strength when you attacked that other Arrancar earlier."
"Your character is admirable—I don't dislike it. I'll give you one chance: step back, otherwise you will die in the coming battle."
Reinhard spoke to Komamura Sajin in a calm tone, without any arrogance in his words, as if discussing something perfectly ordinary.
Unexpectedly, after hearing Reinhard's words, Komamura Sajin showed no anger or irritation, but said solemnly: "I notice that you doesn't lead subordinate officers like the other Espada. You must have tremendous confidence in your strength."
"I understand that I may lose to you, but I am deeply indebted to Soul Society, so retreating is impossible."
Saying so, Komamura Sajin drew his Zanpakuto and pointed it at Reinhard: "Please draw your sword!"
"Otherwise, I will attack first."
"Interesting, truly interesting."
Reinhard smiled slightly and said: "Unexpectedly, there's such an honorable individual like you among the Shinigami. I like that very much."
"Indeed... not all Shinigami are as Lord Fiander described... dishonorable."
"Then... come at me. I won't kill you, seeing as you're still pleasing to my eyes!"
As Reinhard's voice fell, Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba said angrily: "Too arrogant! The captain spoke to you modestly, yet you respond with such conceit!"
"Tetsuzaemon!!"
Suddenly Komamura Sajin interrupted Iba and said sternly: "Go assist the other vice-captains. Leave this to me!"
"But... Captain!"
"This is my order! Carry it out!"
Komamura Sajin interrupted Iba again, speaking with authority.
"Yes! Captain, please be careful!"
After speaking, Iba rushed toward Matsumoto Rangiku's direction.
"Is this... to protect your lieutenant, Mr. Captain?"
Reinhard released his crossed arms and began stretching his muscles. He clenched his massive iron fist, producing creaking sounds under his grip.
"Yes... As someone with beast instincts, I can smell an extremely dangerous aura emanating from you."
"Tetsuzaemon is still young—he's not suited to directly join this battle."
"So... once the next battle begins, I will give everything I have, and I hope you won't be careless!"
As Komamura Sajin's voice fell, red Reiatsu exploded from his body instantly.
"Bankai! Kokujo Tengen Myo-o!"
Massive Reiatsu filled the entire battlefield. A giant warrior hundreds of meters tall, wielding an enormous samurai sword, instantly materialized and looked down at Reinhard from above.
"Is this Reiatsu? Is that Komamura?"
"Using Bankai at the start of battle? Who's his opponent?"
"This Bankai? Is that Captain Komamura?"
Right after Komamura's Bankai activation, all captains around the battlefield were drawn to his actions. After all, both sides were still in the probing phase, yet Komamura had directly released Bankai.
"Using Bankai immediately? Did he send me away to protect me? Captain..."
Tetsuzaemon Iba, not far away, touched the sunglasses on his nose bridge, feeling dejected. After all, being dismissed due to his captain's concern was genuinely embarrassing for a vice-captain.
"Oh? What a towering giant. Is this your Bankai, Mr. Captain!"
"That's correct. My Bankai, Kokujo Tengen Myo-o, possesses the greatest raw power among the captains. You must be careful!"
"Hah!!"
As Komamura raised his right hand and slashed Zanpakuto fiercely downward, the warrior giant behind him made identical movements, raising its tens-of-meters-long samurai sword and bringing it down heavily.
BOOM!
The enormous blade struck directly at Reinhard below, raising massive clouds of smoke and dust. After a moment, as the dust settled, Reinhard's figure was revealed completely unharmed.
Reinhard was actually catching the blade of Kokujo Tengen Myo-o with his bare hands. Veins bulged on his thick arms. Komamura tried to control his Bankai to withdraw the blade, but his opponent's strength was so overwhelming that he held the massive blade firmly without any apparent effort.
"Impossible... how could anyone be so powerful!"
A drop of sweat fell from Komamura Sajin's forehead, his eyes filled with disbelief. Even though he had anticipated his opponent's strength at the battle's start, being unable to harm him despite using full power exceeded all expectations.
"Not bad—you're worth my serious effort!"
Suddenly, Reinhard swung the blade sharply away.
Under the sudden force redirection, Kokujo Tengen Myo-o took several steps backward while raising its sword again, nearly stumbling.
Komamura Sajin, who shared physical connection with his Bankai, experienced the same effects.
"... you truly were holding back!"
Looking at the composed Reinhard, Komamura Sajin showed no fear in his eyes. Even knowing he was outmatched, he would never retreat—that was simply the kind of man he was.
"Hey there, my friend. That Espada seems quite powerful—he can block our captain's attack so easily."
On another front, Kyoraku exchanged strikes with Starrk using Katen Kyokotsu while laughing casually.
Starrk looked at Kyoraku, who was still fighting him yet had energy to observe other battlefields, and said wryly: "Please forgive me—aren't you strong like a monster yourself?"
"That guy over there is called Reinhard, and he's genuinely powerful."
"Oh? How powerful is that?"
Kyoraku slashed horizontally. Starrk easily dodged and stabbed back, saying: "At the very least, he's still somewhat stronger than me."
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