Everyone's eyes were fixed upon that shimmering heart composed entirely of Reishi.
Constructing a stable form purely out of one's spiritual particles was no simple feat—countless factors had to be considered.
But to create a central heart capable of anchoring so many delicate Reishi chains was virtually impossible.
Shingyōji Sen stared blankly, murmuring in disbelief, "How could he have done this...?"
Nobu didn't answer. Unohana's earlier speculation about his Zanpakutō wasn't incorrect—it did indeed possess an ability similar to "rewinding."
But then again, his Zanpakutō wasn't just a single sword.
Ignoring the curious gazes from the crowd, Shingyōji walked directly toward the Reishi Restoration Device, extending a hand toward the glowing heart suspended within.
The moment his fingers touched the heart, countless delicate chains instantly collapsed. Unconcerned, Shingyōji pressed his palm directly against the shimmering core.
His eyes widened further.
"This...is impossible…"
He'd attempted to inject his own Reishi into the heart, but was immediately repelled.
In other words, this heart was now a fully self-contained entity with a perfected internal structure.
Considering the difficulty of creating such a thing—and in such a short period—Shingyōji felt his entire worldview crack.
Yet Tachikawa Nobu had done it.
Shingyōji stumbled back a step, standing there with cold, trembling hands.
Seeing this reaction, Nobu calmly turned to Kotetsu Isane. "Kotetsu-fukutaichō, can we announce the results now?"
Only then did Isane snap back to attention, instinctively glancing toward Unohana for guidance. Nobu's accomplishment had completely overturned common sense, leaving Isane hesitant to make any unilateral judgment.
"I concede."
Just as Isane was about to appeal to her captain for guidance, Shingyōji's low voice rang out.
Surprised murmurs immediately erupted from the watching members. No one had anticipated this outcome. Many had imagined numerous possibilities for today's competition, but very few had envisioned Nobu's victory—especially one so astonishingly decisive.
With a complicated expression, Shingyōji slowly approached Nobu. His thoughts were tangled, filled with mixed emotions.
After a long sigh, he finally said, "With Reishi manipulation skills like yours, it's undeniably your victory, Tachikawa. If you continue delving into Kaidō, I have no doubt you'll achieve something astonishing."
Nobu, fully aware of what had just transpired, bowed slightly in reply. "You're far too kind, Senpai."
Shingyōji turned and bowed deeply to Unohana.
"Captain, my defeat was fair and undeniable."
Unohana's face was serene as always. She simply nodded, gently calling out, "Isane."
"Yes!"
Kotetsu Isane immediately stepped forward. Instead of gathering the seated officers for consultation, she directly announced the result.
"Tachikawa Nobu repaired all two thousand Reishi chains. The winner is Tachikawa Nobu!"
The outcome was already obvious to all. Whispers filled the courtyard.
Shingyōji sighed inwardly, already aware of how things would turn out. After personally witnessing Nobu's Zanpakutō days earlier, he knew he stood little chance in the upcoming Emergency Aid evaluation either.
Better to see this through gracefully.
Shingyōji bowed again respectfully toward Unohana. "Captain, for the next round—could we begin with Emergency Aid?"
This request confused the ordinary division members, but the seated officers immediately understood its implications.
If Nobu also won the second round, there would be no need for a third. Although Nobu's Kaidō victory was astonishing, there was no guarantee he would similarly excel in Pharmacology.
Shingyōji was clearly giving Nobu the chance to end the match early.
Nobu recognized this as well, silently appreciating Shingyōji's dignified approach.
Unohana remained silent momentarily, her gaze briefly flickering toward Nobu.
"I have no objection," Nobu said calmly.
Isane quickly directed several squad members to remove the Reishi Restoration Devices and prepare for the next round.
Soon after, two humanoid forms were brought out. They lacked any facial features and were completely white, resembling life-sized dolls.
At first glance, Nobu immediately recognized them.
Modified souls. Another creation from the Twelfth Division's Technology Development Bureau.
Once the preparations were complete, several basic medical tools were placed alongside the two bodies.
Kotetsu Isane began reading the next set of rules aloud.
"These two modified souls possess an internal structure identical to a human's. Identical injuries will now be inflicted upon both, after which competitors must heal them. Assessment will be based on healing effectiveness and time required."
Two seated officers stepped forward, each wielding a scalpel, methodically cutting various wounds into the modified bodies. Each injury varied from superficial cuts to deeper incisions reaching muscle and bone.
In addition, they used Kaidō to inflict internal damage, mimicking realistic trauma.
Afterward, Nobu and Shingyōji inspected the bodies, confirming that the injuries were nearly identical.
Kotetsu Isane reset the timer, placing it between them.
Earlier, during setup, Nobu and Shingyōji had each retrieved their Zanpakutō.
As soon as the round officially began, Shingyōji immediately unsheathed his blade, quietly chanting:
"Grow Wild, [Aogi]!"
Instantly, a soft radiance surrounded the blade as it transformed into a short, wakizashi-like form.
Shingyōji released his Zanpakutō's power, and a gentle green aura expanded outward, enveloping both the modified soul and the wooden table beneath.
Amazingly, the wounds began visibly healing, and even the wooden table sprouted new green shoots.
This was Nobu's first time witnessing another healing-type Zanpakutō's release firsthand, and he couldn't help but be fascinated.
Shingyōji continued his work diligently, manipulating his blade in careful movements.
Nobu watched quietly for a moment longer, easily deducing the Zanpakutō's ability.
Accelerating cellular regeneration to rapidly heal injuries, even bringing dead wood back to life.
It was an excellent example of a classic healing-type Zanpakutō.
Yet Shingyōji maintained perfect focus, despite knowing his chances of winning had nearly vanished.
After silently observing, Nobu calmly drew his own blade, placing it gently upon the modified body.
"The Spirit Anchored Here, the Soul Returns There"
A gentle brilliance enveloped the modified soul's body. In the blink of an eye, every wound—internal and external—vanished completely.
Sheathing his sword smoothly, Nobu turned toward Isane and announced casually:
"I'm done."
---
T/N: i dont think he used his shikai...? but just in case the actual name of his zanpakuto is Shigan-Higan
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