Nobu looked up at the figure standing on the rooftop and suddenly let out a laugh. "You're not… Sanada Ryōichi, are you?"
Sanada Ryōichi—the Twelfth Division member deemed responsible for the last field internship incident, still at large and never apprehended.
The figure didn't respond. Probably avoiding speaking so his voice couldn't be identified.
Since there was no reply, Nobu began to consider—was this man's purpose simply to gauge his strength, or was he here to kill?
Is Aizen watching from the shadows, too…?
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the figure lunged from the rooftop—so fast that Nobu's pupils contracted sharply.
Clang!
A crisp clash. Sparks flew as their guards met.
Nobu stared hard at the enemy now just inches away. But strangely, the space beneath the cloak's hood remained pitch black—his face completely obscured.
Above them, gray clouds churned. Waves crashed violently against the coast.
Schrrk!
Blades scraped with a piercing screech. The enemy twisted to stab backward—Nobu's pupils caught the gleam of cold steel.
Fast!
He twisted his wrist, bringing his Asauchi upright to deflect. At the same time, he slammed his right elbow into the flat of the opponent's blade, diverting the strike just enough for it to graze past his cheek.
Sparks burst again. Their guards locked together once more.
Nobu bared his teeth in a cold grin, his eyes flashing dangerously.
Their blades quivered at almost identical frequencies. The cloaked man suddenly leapt up and drove a kick straight at Nobu's chest.
Nobu didn't block—he took it head-on, using the impact to spring backward a full ten steps.
He caught his breath, giving his Asauchi a casual flick.
Faster. Stronger. This guy's speed and power are beyond lieutenant level.
Which could only mean one thing—he was a captain-class combatant under Aizen. Setting aside whether Aizen had brought in any Arrancar yet, that left only the two Nobu had considered from the start:
Gin Ichimaru.
Or Tōsen Kaname.
But with the cloak concealing everything—and without the enemy releasing his Zanpakutō—Nobu couldn't make a definitive call.
Still, the fact that he hadn't released his Zanpakutō… might actually be good news. If he had, that would've meant he was here to kill, no question.
His communicator was still silent.
Even so, the enemy's Reiatsu control was already having an effect, even without a release.
Nobu suddenly relaxed his stance. His grip loosened on his Asauchi, the blade twirling lightly before sliding back into its sheath.
The cloaked man hesitated—then—
ZING!
"[Yasha Shankū]!"
The blade flashed out again, unleashing a crescent arc of compressed energy nearly two meters wide, visible even to the naked eye like a blade of wind. The enemy raised his sword to block—but the instant the slash neared, some instinct screamed danger. He vanished in a flash step.
BOOM!
The sword pressure tore through everything behind him, collapsing an entire building in its wake.
The man landed again, only to sense another wave coming. He whirled around—just in time to see another arc of sword pressure hurtling straight for him.
Too late to dodge.
Desperate, he threw up his left arm.
[Bakudō #81 – Danku]
A transparent barrier materialized midair.
But—shockingly—it shattered instantly on impact. The wave of pressure ripped through it like paper.
Splurt!
Blood sprayed through the air. The cloaked man barely twisted aside in time to avoid a fatal blow—but his left shoulder was gashed open to the bone, the black cloak sliced wide.
Nobu narrowed his eyes.
That Danku had been incomplete. If the attacker were truly a full captain, he should've been able to cast it cleanly even under pressure.
Then the truth hit him.
If he was a current captain, he'd be wearing his division's limiter seal—a spiritual restraint that suppresses Reiatsu to no more than 20% of normal while in the Human World.
Gin was still only a lieutenant of the Fifth Division. But Tōsen—Tōsen had already taken over as captain of the Ninth.
So this is only 20% of a captain's power? And he hasn't even released his Zanpakutō yet?
No wonder he got injured—he underestimated me.
The cloaked man floated in midair, clutching his injured arm, clearly weakened.
But not deterred.
Suddenly, he raised his left arm again. Nobu didn't hear anything, but he knew the man was chanting a spell.
He immediately responded—another sword arc sliced horizontally through the air.
The cloaked man flash-stepped to the opposite side, unleashing a yellow blast of spiritual energy.
Shakkahō?
But Nobu was ready. One flash step and he dodged it easily.
Just as he landed midair—
Six glowing rods of light materialized around him out of nowhere.
Double incantation—Rikujōkōrō?!
The Shakkahō had been a feint! No captain would bother incanting such a low-level Hadō—that chant had been for the Bakudō #61 – Six Rods of Light Prison!
Nobu's chest tightened. Too late.
The rods struck and pinned him midair. He couldn't move.
Across from him, the cloaked man raised his hand again—still chanting.
Nobu struggled against the seal. It was no use—not in time.
The enemy's spell was complete. Massive arcs of lightning gathered around his outstretched arm, roaring toward Nobu.
[Hadō #63 – Raikōhō]
Three spells in quick succession. Not bad for a captain.
Nobu was still immobilized. He watched as the thunderclap blast closed in, about to engulf him—
BOOM!
It struck dead-on. The cloaked man relaxed, lowering his wounded arm.
Anyone hit by Raikōhō while bound by Rikujōkōrō—there was no way they could survive that.
"[Hadō #4 – Byakurai]!"
The sudden voice made the cloaked man's eyes widen in shock.
A white lightning bolt shot straight from the explosion's aftermath, aimed right at him.
Panicked, he flash-stepped away.
"[Bakudō #30 – Shitotsu Sansen]!"
Just as he stabilized his footing, three massive glowing fangs of light came flying at him.
Teeth clenched, the man raised his injured arm—
[Bakudō #39 – Enkōsen]
The shield held, stopping the triple strike—but before he could relax, a voice sounded behind him.
"[Bakudō #1 – Sai]."
A surge of force twisted his limbs sharply. Already injured, his arms couldn't take it—the pain tore a cry from his throat.
Sai? Just… Sai?
Bakudō #1?!
His hidden face twisted in agony. Limbs frozen, he began to fall from the sky.
Nobu raised a finger, locking onto the plummeting man.
"[Hadō #4 – Byakurai]."
The white beam pierced straight through his chest.
Thud.
The cloaked figure slammed into the ground, kicking up a plume of dust. By the time Nobu descended after him, the man was barely conscious—clinging to life.
Nobu spoke slowly. "Someone like you… I doubt you're a nobody in the Soul Society."
The man's face remained hidden beneath the cloak. Nobu didn't bother checking—he'd already guessed who it was. No need to unmask him now.
The man tilted his head slightly, as if trying to get a final look at Nobu.
He didn't understand—how had Nobu survived Raikōhō unharmed?
It had happened before, too. The Kidō he'd launched at the Senkaimon was also completely neutralized by Nobu.
Was it his Zanpakutō's ability?
But he hadn't even seen when Nobu released it!
Nobu grinned, pointing his blade at the man's head.
"But I don't care who you are. Take your questions… and go ask them in hell."
Just as he raised his sword to strike, a beam of light shot down from the sky, surrounding Nobu and cutting him off—encasing the cloaked man within a separate barrier.
A reverse barrier?
Nobu tilted his head.
Tch. Can't take the heat, huh?
---
T/N: was gonna update earlier but got lazy, so im just doing 4 chapters for today's update, should be an update tomorrow too maybe 4 maybe not
Hello. I'm Enkidu.
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