The plaza before the 11th Division's barracks was tense, charged with hostility.
Dozens of 11th Division's members encircled the new Kenpachi, Azashiro Soya. Each face was etched with fury and hostility.
Their Zanpakuto remained sheathed, yet Reiatsu clashed fiercely in the air, emitting faint vibrations.
"Azashiro Soya! You are unworthy of inheriting the name 'Kenpachi'!"
"Avenge Captain Kuruyashiki!"
"Get out of the 11th Division!"
Angry roars rose one after another. Standing at the forefront was the 11th Division's Lieutenant, Gozo.
This usually smiling, burly man now had bloodshot eyes. Veins bulged on his tightly clenched fists as if he would pounce and fight Azashiro to the death at any moment.
On the other side of the plaza, Yamamoto, accompanied by several Captains, stood watching quietly.
Their expressions varied, but none intervened immediately in the conflict.
"Enough!"
Yamamoto's voice exploded like thunder, instantly silencing all the clamor.
Leaning on his cane, he slowly walked between the two sides, his gaze sweeping over the 11th Division's members like blazing torches.
"Kuruyashiki Kenpachi also ascended by defeating the previous Kenpachi," Yamamoto's voice was low and authoritative. "By doing this now, do you wish to disgrace Kuruyashiki? Turn the title 'Kenpachi' into a laughingstock?"
Gozo stepped forward, his voice trembling. "Captain-Commander! Of course we know a Captain can also be defeated, killed by the next Kenpachi. That's the 11th Division's tradition. We accept it! But we absolutely cannot accept our Captain being killed by a despicable sneak attack!"
Tears welled in his eyes. "How could someone as strong as Captain Kuruyashiki be killed without even fighting back? It must have been a sneak attack! A dirty trick!"
All members stared intently at Azashiro, awaiting his response.
Azashiro had maintained an indifferent expression from the beginning to the end.
Dressed in noble attire, he looked more like a quiet scholar.
"I did not use sneak attack," His voice was calm, almost cold.
"You're lying!" Gozo roared. "Our Captain is so strong, how could—"
"This is my Zanpakuto's ability," Azashiro interrupted him, his tone still flat. "I fused part of my soul into Kuruyashiki's body, manipulated his body to lower his Reiatsu. Then, I fused with the air within him, creating air blades that shredded his internal organs and chest from the inside out."
The plaza fell into dead silence. Even Yamamoto and the other Captains showed grave expressions.
Directly fusing with an opponent, then manipulating their body to commit suicide… it was a bizarre ability!
Azashiro continued, "Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was indeed the most terrifying opponent I've ever faced. If he hadn't used Shikai at that time, but Bankai, at best I could have only managed a mutual kill."
He paused, a flicker of emotion appearing in his voice for the first time. "It was Kuruyashiki who deliberately chose not to do so. He chose death, letting me survive so someone could inherit the name [Kenpachi], preventing the title from being extinguished."
Gozo's mouth opened, but no sound came out. The other members also fell silent.
They knew Kuruyashiki… the man who always laughed heartily, treating his members like brothers.
If it was to ensure the [Kenpachi] name continued, he would indeed make such a choice.
Azashiro looked around at everyone, finally saying, "I did not use despicable means. I respect Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, and I respect the title Kenpachi. If you still cannot accept it, I will accept anyone's challenge. According to the 11th Division's tradition, use swords and blood to decide who is worthy of this position."
There was no provocation in his words, only the calm statement of facts.
Yamamoto slowly nodded. "In that case, the matter is quite clear. Azashiro Soya defeated Kuruyashiki Kenpachi through legitimate means. According to regulations, he is the new 11th Division's Captain."
He looked at Gozo and the members. "Do you have any further objections?"
The 11th Division's members looked at each other. Though unwilling, they could only accept this outcome.
But at that moment, a clear, bright voice came from the barracks entrance.
"It seems I've arrived just in time."
Everyone turned to look. A young man in Shin'o Academy's uniform walked over.
Behind him followed three others also in academy uniforms.
Setsuna walked into the plaza, his gaze fixed directly on Azashiro Soya.
"Eighth Generation Kenpachi, Azashiro Soya," His voice was clear and firm. "According to Gotei 13 regulations, I, Shin'o Academy's graduate, Chiaki Setsuna, hereby challenge you for the captaincy."
"An Academy's student?" Azashiro frowned slightly. "My Zanpakuto's ability is dangerous. If you seek fame, better choose someone else."
After saying this, he noticed the others looking at him with rather surprised expressions.
"It seems you are not well-informed about Soul Society's news," Yamamoto said gravely. "Although he just graduated, his strength is no weaker than Kuruyashiki's."
Hiroshi even said loudly, "Before you challenged Captain Kuruyashiki, weren't you also a nobody? Setsuna's reputation is far greater than yours."
Azashiro said solemnly, "It seems I underestimated you. Very well, I accept your challenge."
Setsuna smiled slightly, his right hand gripping the Zanpakuto at his waist.
"The Cycle Begins Anew, All Things Are Reborn… Become Eternal Starlight, Phoenix Constellation!"
The blade turned into starlight, then transformed into a magnificent, resplendent Cloth, draping over Setsuna.
"This is his Shikai?" Azashiro was slightly surprised. It was his first time seeing a Shikai so incongruent with the Soul Society.
However, he could clearly sense the power of Setsuna's Reiatsu now.
Though this Reiatsu still couldn't compare to Kuruyashiki's, it was exceptionally strong nonetheless.
Almost the instant Setsuna completed his Shikai, Azashiro moved.
To be precise, his Reishi moved.
Those Reishi ignored spatial distance, ignored the Cloth's protection, directly permeating into Setsuna's body.
His physical body remained standing in place, but his consciousness had already connected with Setsuna's body.
It was an extremely bizarre sensation.
Setsuna could clearly perceive foreign Reishi moving, permeating, fusing within his body.
Those particles were like tiny parasites, attempting to take over every cell of his body, every wisp of his Reiatsu.
Then came an even more terrifying attack.
Within Setsuna's chest cavity, the air began to distort, compress, condense.
Those Reishi controlled by Azashiro Soya combined with oxygen molecules in the air, transforming into countless microscopic blades invisible to the naked eye.
Those blades began to rotate, from the inside out.
"Cough—!"
Setsuna violently coughed out a mouthful of blood. Dark red blood mingled with tiny flesh fragments… shredded pieces of internal organs.
His chest visibly caved inward. The Cloth's surface showed strange bulges, as if something was frantically destroying it from within.
The plaza was deathly silent.
Only by witnessing Azashiro's ability firsthand could one understand its terror.
He hadn't even moved. The battle had just begun, and Setsuna was already severely wounded.
"It's... over?" Gozo murmured.
"Azashiro Soya's ability... is it truly invincible?" A member's voice trembled.
The next moment, Azashiro's physical body also spat out a mouthful of blood.
His face paled slightly, but compared to Setsuna's grievous state, his injuries were clearly much lighter.
"My Reishi fuse with you," He wiped the blood from his mouth, his voice still calm. "Damaging your body simultaneously injures me. But the injuries I receive are far lighter than yours."
He looked at Setsuna. "Your Reiatsu is inferior to Kuruyashiki's, so I can still barely hold back. If you persist further, you will inevitably die here."
However, golden-red flames ignited from Setsuna's Cloth.
Within the Nirvana Flames, Setsuna's sunken chest instantly returned to its original state. His shredded internal organs also regenerated within the flames.
Setsuna's breathing was steady as before, as if that fatal injury had never occurred.
Setsuna said calmly, "You want to trade injuries? I don't advise you to do that."