Tap, tap, tap...
On the white stone steps leading up to the Senzaikyū at the foot of Sōkyoku Hill, a series of crisp footsteps suddenly echoed.
Before long, the black cat Yoruichi Shihōin appeared, leading Ichigo Kurosaki, Orihime Inoue, and Uryū Ishida as they hurried forward.
"Hey, Mr. Yoruichi! Is it really okay to just leave Chad back there?" Ichigo asked, the golden greatsword strapped to his back bouncing slightly as he ran.
"It'll be fine, Ichigo!" Yoruichi replied while sprinting. "Captain Shunsui Kyōraku of the Eighth Division is one of the few Shinigami in Soul Society who treats Rukongai souls equally. Chad will be safe with him!"
"I guess… but something still feels strange. Given our situation, shouldn't the Shinigami see us as enemies? So why… why would that guy—"
"Don't dwell on that right now, Ichigo!"
Yoruichi suddenly stopped and looked up the seemingly endless stone staircase.
"Someone has already arrived before us… They're waiting ahead."
"What? Reinforcements from the Shinigami?" Ishida asked in shock.
"I'm afraid… something a hundred times more troublesome than reinforcements," Yoruichi said, frowning. "That spiritual pressure… It's at least captain level!"
Buzz—!
As if confirming her words, a tremendous spiritual pressure suddenly surged into the sky, crushing down on them. It became hard to breathe, and their bodies felt as if they had been run over by a speeding truck, all strength draining away.
"Damn it! Who the hell is up there with spiritual pressure this insane?!" Ichigo gritted his teeth and forced himself to endure.
"Ichigo!" Orihime quickly collapsed to the ground, her slender body trembling uncontrollably under the overwhelming pressure.
"We can't stay here!" Ishida struggled to lift his head. "There's clearly someone incredibly strong nearby. Before they notice us, we need to get out of here!"
"This is too much… At this rate, we'll be wiped out before we even reach the Senzaikyū! We have no choice but to retreat for now!"
The only one unaffected by the pressure, Yoruichi hesitated briefly before calling out:
"Ichigo, whoever's ahead isn't someone you can handle yet! Fall back with me!"
"What are you talking about, Mr. Yoruichi?!"
Ichigo glanced at the white Senzaikyū halfway up the mountain and clenched his teeth.
"You said Tsukuyomi is imprisoned there, right? We're only a few steps away from reaching it and saving her—how can I stop now?!"
"Idiot, Ichigo! I told you—it's at least a captain-level Shinigami ahead! With your current strength, fighting a captain is suicide!"
"Shut up! I'd rather die fighting than be a coward who runs away! Besides… it's not like I'd necessarily lose to someone like that, ahhh!!"
With that, Ichigo charged up the stone steps again.
"Wait, Ichigo! Don't be reckless!!" Yoruichi shouted urgently, but Ichigo's figure had already disappeared around the bend in the staircase.
"Hmph. So the Ryoka causing chaos in the Seireitei is just some greenhorn brat? How boring." Ikkaku Madarame stepped out of the shadows, Zanpakutō resting on his shoulder, eyeing Ichigo down below.
"Yeah. Rare for the captain to get excited for once… He heard there was a really strong one among the Ryoka—"
Yumichika Ayasegawa folded his arms and shook his head.
"And yet he's a weakling who can't even withstand a fraction of the captain's spiritual pressure."
"Even so, that guy's the captain's chosen opponent. So, Yumichika, we'd better behave and not ruin the captain's fun."
Ikkaku glanced at Ishida and the others below.
"No choice then—guess I'll just pick someone random to cut down. I'll take the one with glasses. Looks stronger."
"Hmph! Always leaving the ugly ones for—oh? Seems like there's a pretty young lady here.
Oh dear… Just thinking about such a beautiful life ending beneath my blade makes my heart ache," Yumichika sighed dramatically, hand to his forehead.
"Enough chatter! They're coming up. Let's move before the vice-captain comes over to complain again—"
Ikkaku leapt down the steps first, landing in front of Ishida and the others.
Yumichika followed closely behind. The two of them surrounded Ishida and Orihime from front and back.
"Sorry about this, everyone," Yumichika said lightly.
"You won't be going any further."
"What?! Another Shinigami?!"
Uryū Ishida immediately entered combat stance, quickly forming his spirit bow and aiming it at Ikkaku Madarame.
"Oh? A Quincy—the supposedly extinct clan?" Ikkaku said in surprise when he saw the spirit arrow.
"This is bad! They're from the Eleventh Division!"
The black cat Yoruichi Shihōin recognized them from the "saw-tooth" insignia on their black shihakushō.
After all, the Eleventh Division was Soul Society's most elite combat unit. From captain down to the lowest member, they specialized in close-range battle—
Meanwhile, both Ishida and Orihime Inoue excelled in long-range support. Fighting in this environment against opponents like these would almost certainly end in defeat.
"Shinigami, no need to look so surprised… Because I'll defeat you as a Quincy!"
The blue spirit arrow in Ishida's hand grew brighter.
"Hmph. Surprised? Not at all," Ikkaku replied, drawing his Zanpakutō with a feral grin.
"For a moment there, I was just excited to see a rare Quincy!
Now then… let's begin. Before we start, allow me to warm up a bit! I hope you won't disappoint me!"
As he spoke, Ikkaku suddenly rose onto his toes and began hopping and flailing about in place, like some bizarre ritual dance from the Human World—both ridiculous and strange to behold.
"That crude and ugly little toe dance really can only be appreciated by someone equally crude and ugly… wouldn't you agree, beautiful Miss Ryoka?"
Yumichika Ayasegawa smiled at Orihime.
"Um… sorry… we don't intend to be your enemies, so could you please let us pass?" Orihime bowed politely.
"..."
A drop of sweat slid down Yumichika's forehead. He had never expected the "vicious criminals" described by Seireitei to be this adorably naïve.
After a brief hesitation, he glanced at Ikkaku—still dancing—and frowned slightly.
"Perhaps you should save that talk for after the fight. Now then… bloom, Fuji—"
Crack!!
Before Yumichika could finish releasing his Zanpakutō, the space behind him suddenly tore open into a cross-shaped black portal.
In the next instant, Fūjin Taichi stepped out and viciously kicked Yumichika square in the backside.
"What the hell are you idiots doing fighting at a time like this? Get the hell out of the way!"
Then he looked at Orihime and said urgently:
"You're Orihime, right? You haven't used your Shun Shun Rikka yet, have you? Perfect—
I need you to help me save someone… please!!"