"Didn’t you claim you wanted to challenge the Kenpachi and take that title for yourself?" Ailin chuckled, stepping aside to reveal the number emblazoned on the back of his captain’s haori.
"The ninth Kenpachi, the current captain of the Eleventh Division, Ailin Kenpachi, stands before you," Ailin declared, his voice resonating with power. "I have already defeated Sōya Azashiro. The title of 'Kenpachi' is mine.
Come, show me what gave you the audacity to attack my division and inflict such casualties upon my subordinates."
Baishin glanced at Azashiro, who remained silent, a slight frown creasing his brow.
He didn’t deny Ailin’s claim.
So, this man had truly defeated Sōya Azashiro?
"Hahaha, good, good, good!" Baishin laughed. "Sōya Azashiro, I always knew you were unworthy of the title 'Kenpachi.' If not for Captain Kuruyashiki's compassion, you would never have claimed it.
And now, look at you, defeated so easily. You have brought shame upon Captain Kuruyashiki's legacy. You are a disgrace to the title 'Kenpachi'!"
Learning of Azashiro’s defeat, Baishin no longer addressed him with any respect, resorting to calling him by his name.
"Ailin Kenpachi, while I am grateful that you have taken Captain Kuruyashiki’s title from that treacherous villain, I must still assess your worthiness on his behalf," Baishin declared, his eyes locked onto Ailin.
"Let us fight. If you lose, I will personally end your life and reclaim the title of 'Kenpachi'!"
With a wave of his hand, Baishin unleashed a torrent of tens of thousands of blades, forming a deadly wave of steel that surged towards Ailin.
Although this technique had proven ineffective against Azashiro, it was a devastating attack against anyone else.
Ailin drew his Zanpakutō to meet the onslaught.
The golden light of his reiatsu enveloped the blade, transforming it into a massive, elongated fang.
Ailin swung the Zanpakutō towards the oncoming torrent of blades.
"Wind Scar!"
Three blindingly bright slashes ripped through the air, obliterating the wave of blades and continuing their trajectory towards Baishin.
"Hah!"
Baishin crossed his arms before him, his reiatsu flaring as he braced himself against the attack.
The force of the Wind Scar pushed him back, his feet carving deep furrows into the floor of the Muken.
As the initial impact subsided, Baishin began to absorb the reiatsu within the Wind Scar.
"Such immense power!" Baishin thought, his eyes widening in surprise.
The reiatsu contained within a single slash had temporarily doubled his own spiritual pressure. The golden aura surrounding him now comprised two-thirds of his total reiatsu, with only a third remaining purple.
"This man... is truly powerful!"
Baishin no longer doubted Ailin’s ability to defeat Sōya Azashiro.
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He even wondered if Captain Kuruyashiki, in his prime, could have matched Ailin's level of reiatsu.
"Oh? You can absorb reiatsu?" Ailin observed, a smirk playing on his lips. "Then absorb as much as you can. Let’s see if your limits can bring me any amusement."
Ailin was well aware of Baishin’s ability to absorb reiatsu. In fact, he was intentionally allowing Baishin to absorb his reiatsu, pushing him to his limits.
He wanted to defeat Baishin at his peak, to demonstrate the vast gulf in their strength and shatter his confidence.
This was Ailin’s punishment for Baishin.
He wanted him to die a broken man.
Ailin unleashed another Wind Scar. The impact pushed Baishin back, but the distance was significantly shorter than before. The absorbed reiatsu had indeed enhanced his power.
"As expected," Ailin thought, observing the shift in Baishin’s aura. The golden portion now dominated, occupying two-thirds of his total reiatsu, with only a third remaining purple.
"Wind Scar!"
Boom!
This time, Baishin stood his ground, enduring the attack and completely absorbing the reiatsu within.
His aura transformed, becoming entirely gold. A golden flame flickered around him as he struggled to contain the immense power within his body.
Baishin’s reiatsu had increased fivefold compared to his initial Bankai state.
"It seems this is your limit," Ailin observed. "One more attack, and you will be consumed by your own power."
Baishin’s eyes narrowed as a sense of dread washed over him. He could absorb reiatsu, but exceeding his capacity would result in his own destruction.
He hadn't anticipated that the ability he had honed to defeat Azashiro would become his downfall against the current Kenpachi.
If any of those three slashes had been slightly more powerful, he would have self-destructed.
The combined reiatsu of the three attacks had pushed him to his absolute limit.
Was this a mere coincidence, or was this man toying with him?
"Excellent. It appears you have reached your peak," Ailin said, sheathing his Zanpakutō and slowly approaching Baishin.
"You are indeed resourceful, Baishin. Merging with your Zanpakutō has allowed you to achieve a level of power you could never have reached otherwise.
However, this power has its limits. And those limits are defined by the limits of your Zanpakutō. In other words, Baishin, this is the pinnacle of your strength. This is as strong as you will ever be.
Come, entertain me with your full power. If you fail to satisfy me, I cannot guarantee what I will do to avenge the deaths of my subordinates."
Baishin's pupils contracted as he realized the truth. It was no coincidence. This man had been playing with him all along!
"Damn you!"
Fear gnawed at him, but as he saw Ailin sheathe his Zanpakutō, a flicker of relief momentarily eased his anxiety.
Then, a wave of shame washed over him.
He was the one who had challenged the Kenpachi, the one who sought to claim that title for himself. How could he feel relieved that his opponent wasn’t using his full strength?
Fueled by this shame, Baishin let out a roar.
"Hah!"
His golden aura intensified, and he unleashed a torrent of golden blades that shot towards Ailin like bolts of lightning.
These golden blades were far faster and more powerful than the white ones he had used earlier.
Boom! Boom!
However, despite their speed and ferocity, they couldn’t even graze Ailin’s haori.
Ailin moved with effortless grace, his afterimages pierced by the golden blades while his true form steadily approached Baishin.
Boom! Boom!
The booming sounds of the blades impacting the ground grew increasingly rapid. Beads of sweat formed on his metallic forehead.
"Damn it!"
"Hah!"
He crossed his arms before him and released another burst of reiatsu, sending golden blades radiating outwards in all directions.
This attack left no blind spots. Even Ailin’s exceptional Shunpo skills couldn't allow him to completely evade it.
Ailin raised his right hand.
With a swift motion, he caught one of the blades and used it to deflect the others.
The blades that posed no threat to him were ignored, even as they whizzed past his ears.
"How is this possible?" Baishin thought, despair creeping into his heart as he witnessed Ailin effortlessly dismantle his ultimate attack.
Such incredible speed and swordsmanship...
In just a few moments, Ailin had shattered Baishin’s confidence.
If Ailin had resorted to some extraordinary ability, Baishin might have felt less humiliated. But Ailin had simply used Shunpo and Zanjutsu, two of the four basic Shinigami arts.
Baishin even suspected that Ailin’s mastery of these two arts rivaled that of Captain Kuruyashiki in his prime.
No, even Captain Kuruyashiki couldn't have achieved such a level of skill.
As Ailin drew closer, Baishin flinched and retreated, using Shunpo to distance himself from his opponent.
"Oh? Baishin, what makes you think a mere gap in distance can bridge the gulf between us?" Ailin’s voice resounded in Baishin’s ear, and his figure materialized before him.
Ailin raised his hand and formed a fist, then struck towards Baishin.
Baishin raised his arms to block the attack, hoping to absorb some of Ailin’s reiatsu to replenish his own reserves.
However…
BOOM!
The impact sent shockwaves through the Muken.