At that very moment-
Bang!
The paper sliding door of the dojo was violently pulled open, the frame trembling violently.
A tall, wild figure stood at the entrance, a near-mad grin on his face, his gaze blazing as he stared at Setsuna: "Finally found you. Excellent. Now you have a Zanpakuto too. Fight me!"
Setsuna was quite speechless. He had already recognized the other's identity from that iconic starfish-shaped hair, but he still asked, "Who are you?"
"My name is Zaraki," Zaraki's eyes flashed with an almost bestial light. "A month ago, I originally intended to continue challenging Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, but I unexpectedly sensed your Reiatsu... Do you know? I was originally unable to sense Reiatsu."
"But that day, I miraculously sensed your pure, deep Reiatsu... You would be a better opponent than Kuruyashiki Kenpachi! So, I've been looking for you these past few days."
Hiroshi's mouth twitched as he listened.
'No wonder Captain said things had been quieter recently. So this monster had switched targets.'
'But for this guy to set his sights on Setsuna... seemed even more troublesome...' Hiroshi reprimanded sharply, "Zaraki! It was one thing when you challenged Captain in the Rukongai before, but now you've pursued him all the way to the Seireitei. That's going too far!"
Zaraki waved his hand impatiently. "I got into the Seireitei by finding Unohana. If you have a problem, go find her."
Hiroshi's eye twitched wildly. Although Captain Unohana of the 4th Division appeared to be a gentle, considerate woman, he had learned from certain channels that she was actually the first captain of the 11th Division, not only terrifyingly strong but also a murderous maniac.
How dare he go confront Unohana?
Hiroshi took a deep breath. "Zaraki, don't you feel ashamed, challenging a new student with your strength?"
"Hmph, how could a weakling like you understand his power?" Zaraki's eyes were dangerous. "Or would you rather fight me yourself?"
Hiroshi's mouth twitched again. He had seen Zaraki fight his Captain. With his own strength, it would be a miracle if he wasn't instantly killed.
Setsuna walked out, smiling. "There's no need for concern, Ishiwara-sensei. I happen to want to test my own capacity as well."
"Are you serious?" Hiroshi's eyes widened. He then lowered his voice. "Don't push yourself. Captain-Commander should arrive soon."
Setsuna smiled. "It's fine. His strength isn't enough to make me push myself."
Hiroshi's heart shook violently, 'Zaraki truly wasn't the type to bully the weak. Could it be that Setsuna's strength really could compare to that of a Captain-level Shinigami?'
Suppressing the agitation in his heart, he solemnly informed him, "You must be careful. If you can't hold on, surrender immediately. This guy is a monster who only knows battle. Although he hasn't achieved Bankai, his strength is on par with our Captain's."
Setsuna nodded and calmly walked toward the door.
Seeing Setsuna walking toward him, Zaraki excitedly released his Reiatsu.
Just his presence alone caused everyone around to tremble involuntarily, their breathing becoming difficult.
Zaraki grinned, revealing a beast-like smile. "Wait, where's your sword?"
"A sword, is something so inconvenient truly necessary?" Setsuna slowly raised his right hand, fingers together, a sharp golden light gathering at his fingertips. "All my limbs are blades!"
He had consulted the Capricorn Gold Saint about the [Excalibur], so his swordsmanship was not weak.
Setsuna asked calmly, "Is this the extent of your presence?"
Instead of getting angry, Zaraki was delighted. He laughed heartily, shaking the entire dojo. "As you wish!"
He no longer suppressed the Reiryoku within his body. Vast Reiatsu erupted like a tsunami.
The sky instantly darkened, as if clouds had been forcibly dragged over by his Reiatsu.
The earth trembled. Space groaned under the strain.
"He was holding back when he fought Captain?" Hiroshi's face turned pale, barely able to stand. "This Reiatsu... it surpasses even Captain's level!"
"It seems to be only Second-class Reiryoku. His Reiatsu still isn't fully released, is it?" Setsuna shook his head slightly. "Then I'll get a bit serious too."
His Conqueror's Haki erupted in the form of Reiatsu.
Although his Reiatsu was weaker than Zaraki's, his willpower was superior.
Boom!
The clash of their presences warped space. Most of the teachers and students of the Shin'o Academy fainted in an instant.
Only a very few, like Yoruichi, Aizen, and Hiroshi, could barely hold on.
Yoruichi stared at Setsuna in disbelief. "When he fought me before, he wasn't even using a tenth, maybe not even a hundredth, of his power!"
Aizen also had an epiphany in his heart: 'Is a Shinigami's battle truly a battle of Reiatsu?'
"Excellent!" Zaraki's Zanpakuto tore through the air, cleaving toward Setsuna with destructive force.
Wrapped in Reiatsu, the Zanpakuto seemed to possess life. The space around the blade twisted slightly, unable to withstand the pressure.
Setsuna didn't dodge. His right hand's fingers were pressed together, golden light solidifying into substance at his fingertips.
The Excalibur is a hand-chop trained to its extreme. A casual swing can cut through planets.
Although he didn't have his physical body now, the power of his soul was still condensed.
The deafening sound of the Excalibur clashing with the Zanpakuto was like an ancient bell struck by a giant hammer, shaking the entire academy.
"Interesting!" Zaraki growled excitedly, withdrawing his blade to strike again.
This time, his movements were faster. The blade drew three afterimages in the air, attacking Setsuna's neck, waist, and legs simultaneously.
It was a technique he had grasped through countless life-or-death struggles. A seemingly simple slash that sealed off all avenues of evasion.
Setsuna shifted his feet lightly. The Gold Cloth traced a brilliant arc in the sunlight.
He didn't choose to block. Instead, with a movement as elegant as a dance, he walked straight through the gaps between the three slashes.
"What?" Zaraki's pupils contracted.
In his hundreds of years of battle, he had never seen such exquisite footwork.
Shunpo pursued extreme speed, but Setsuna's movements carried a unique rhythm, as if he had already predicted the trajectory of the blade.
The moment Setsuna passed through the web of blades, his right hand, fingers together like a sword, stabbed straight for Zaraki's throat.
This strike was fast as lightning. The golden fingertips left a scorching trail of light in the air.
Zaraki instinctively leaned back, his blade turning to parry.
But he was still a split second too slow. The golden fingertips grazed his neck, leaving a shallow cut.
Zaraki froze.
He reached up and touched his neck. His fingertips came away stained with warm blood.
Then, he laughed.
It was a heartfelt, nearly delirious joy.
"Wonderful!" His voice trembled with excitement. "How many years... how many years has it been since anyone could injure me in my limited state?"
Setsuna, however, sighed inwardly, 'Most people grew stronger as their power increased. Only Zaraki, through long-term suppression, had made his own power weaker.'
'Now, he couldn't even tell clearly whether he was in his limited state or not. It was truly somewhat pitiful.'