Kenpachi Zaraki was beginning to realize that something was off.
At first, he was ecstatic, each swing of his blade filled with raw power and excitement. But soon, a deep frown settled on his face.
No matter how much force he put behind his attacks, he couldn't break through his opponent's fingernail defense. And worse, the man wasn't even attacking—just blocking, deliberately holding back.
"This is getting interesting..."
Kenpachi grinned, a flash of excitement flickering in his eyes. His grip on his sword tightened, and his Reiatsu surged upward in layers.
Sensing this change, both the bald man and the flashy man's eyes lit up.
Finally, Kenpachi was about to show his true strength!
This time, let's see if that Shinigami captain still refuses to draw his sword!
At some point, they had unconsciously shifted their goal. Instead of wanting to defeat the captain, they now just wanted to see him unsheathe his blade.
...
Just as they were watching Kenpachi in amazement, Masatsuki Aozaki responded accordingly.
He adjusted his own Reiatsu, raising it to match Kenpachi's increase perfectly.
"This guy… he can keep getting stronger too!?"
The bald man and the flashy man couldn't help but exclaim in disbelief.
Could it be that the powerful Reiatsu he had displayed earlier—during his intense battle with Kenpachi—had only been a fraction of his true strength?
For a moment, neither of them could believe what they were witnessing.
...
By now, members of the 11th Division had gathered around, eager to watch the battle.
Seeing the two fighters still locked in combat, the squad members couldn't hide their shock.
"Whoa! That guy has been fighting the Captain for this long… that's insane!"
"Where the hell did this monster come from? I've never heard of him before!"
"No wonder Captain Aozaki-sama specifically ordered us to find him. The Captain's foresight is amazing."
"If he joins our squad, we'll have two captain-level fighters! That means we could surpass the 1st Division and become the strongest squad!"
Hearing these comments, the bald man and the flashy man exchanged looks, both wearing expressions of confusion.
Why do these guys sound so sure their captain is going to win?
Sure, Aozaki still looks at ease right now, but Kenpachi has no limits!
In the end, the one standing victorious will definitely be Kenpachi!
...
On the battlefield, Masatsuki Aozaki was casually deflecting Kenpachi's attacks with a single hand, engaging in an all-out battle.
Yet, despite the intensity of the fight, he found himself… bored.
Kenpachi's strength wasn't quite what he had hoped for.
To keep things from ending too quickly, he had to suppress his own power, dragging out the battle.
Right now, Kenpachi wasn't even qualified to be his nail clipper.
Judging from what he had seen so far, Kenpachi was somewhere between an average captain and a second-class high-tier captain in terms of spiritual pressure.
He was still half a step behind the veteran captains of the Gotei 13.
But that was understandable.
In the 80th District, there were plenty of people whose Reiatsu could rival that of a professional Shinigami. However, true captain-class powerhouses were rare—perhaps one appearing every few hundred years.
If he didn't severely suppress his strength, this battle-hungry man probably wouldn't enjoy himself at all.
Unfortunately, I don't have that much time to waste. I might as well put some pressure on him.
With that thought, Masatsuki Aozaki began gradually increasing his power—his Reiatsu, his speed, his strength...
In the blink of an eye, Masatsuki Aozaki had completed a full-scale enhancement of his abilities.
Kenpachi Zaraki, faced with this sudden surge in power, was momentarily caught off guard.
Masatsuki abruptly drew Banshō Senran, his blade flashing as his figure blurred.
Shhkk!
In an instant, a long, narrow wound appeared on Kenpachi's body.
Splurt!
Scarlet blood burst forth like blooming flowers, creating a strikingly gruesome scene.
Kenpachi glanced down at his wound, a look of mild surprise crossing his face.
Then, his grin widened into something even more crazed.
"You really are strong… This is perfect. This is exhilarating!"
He let out a wild shout and swung his sword once more.
Despite the deep gash on his body, blood still pouring from it, he moved as if he felt no pain at all.
With every strike, his movements became faster, his attacks fiercer, his Reiatsu climbing higher.
Masatsuki Aozaki smiled in satisfaction.
For this man, pressure was the best motivator.
Whenever he faced a formidable opponent, Kenpachi would continuously break past his own limits, unlocking even greater strength.
The frequency of their clashes intensified, the sheer force of their blows sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
Their Reiatsu was like two towering mountains, bearing down on the surrounding Shinigami, making it hard for them to breathe.
Each exchange sent resounding booms through the air, shaking the very ground beneath them.
As Masatsuki kept increasing his strength, Kenpachi grew even more savage.
The sensation of becoming stronger with each passing moment set his blood ablaze.
And the feeling of being repeatedly suppressed by his opponent only made him tremble with excitement.
But then, in the midst of his relentless assault, something felt… off.
For the first time, he sensed an invisible wall blocking his Reiatsu. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't push past it—not even by the slightest fraction.
His growth had come to a sudden and complete halt.
At the same time, the gap between him and Masatsuki was widening.
Realizing this, Kenpachi's expression twisted into shock and disbelief.
Never before had he felt powerless because of his own limitations.
Until now, he had always been the one leaving his opponents in the dust, forcing himself to hold back just to make fights enjoyable.
But this time…
For the first time, he was the one being left behind.
It was an entirely new sensation.
And instead of discouraging him, it only made him even more thrilled.
Now this—this is a real fight!
Kenpachi let out a low growl, his mouth stretching into a vicious grin, sharp teeth bared like a beast.
His excitement was reaching its peak, his entire body surging with energy as if his very blood was boiling.
If his opponent had been someone of equal strength, they would have long been swept up in his frenzied battle lust, consumed by the thrill of combat.
But Masatsuki Aozaki was different.
He wasn't the least bit excited.
Kenpachi had already pushed his Reiatsu to its absolute limit.
If not for Masatsuki holding it back with his own Reiatsu, the surrounding Shinigami would have likely been knocked unconscious by the overwhelming force.
Yet in the grand scheme of things, none of it mattered.
The difference between them was insurmountable—like beings from entirely different dimensions.
Kenpachi's talent was undoubtedly monstrous.
But at the end of the day, he was still just a Shinigami.
As a soul, as a warrior, he had reached the peak of what was possible within his limits.
But Masatsuki Aozaki—
He had yet to reach his own.