"Ha…ha…ha…"
Shunsui Kyōraku laughed, feigning amusement. "That's quite a jest."
He wouldn't admit to being the strongest captain after Yamamoto. He'd like to, of course, but not while Captain Ailin and Captain Ukitake were present.
Ailin's power was unquestionable. And Ukitake, as the host of the one-eyed god, Mimihagi, not only possessed considerable strength himself but could also manifest Mimihagi's form, wielding a portion of the Soul King's power.
Realistically, Kyōraku estimated he was probably third or fourth strongest among the captains currently in the World of the Living.
"Is that so? It seems my luck's holding out then."
Having said that, Coyote Starrk removed his glove, revealing the number "1" on the back of his hand. "As the Primera Espada, avoiding the strongest captains certainly makes things easier."
"My, my. To think I'd be underestimated in the end…"
Kyōraku pulled his straw hat lower and smiled. He hadn't expected to be perceived as weak. His concern for Jūshirō Ukitake, who had remained motionless since the battle began, had diverted his attention. He'd been worried about Ukitake's illness flaring up again.
"So, are you ready to use your full power now?" Kyōraku asked Starrk.
He'd observed the fight between Ukitake and Lilynette Gingerbuck, Starrk's Fracción. The young Arrancar, he concluded, had no hidden abilities; she was simply outmatched. Even in his weakened state, Ukitake's battle against her was little more than child's play.
"It seems I should get serious as well."
"Lilynette!"
"Hmph!" Responding to Starrk's call, Lilynette scowled at Ukitake before returning to her Espada's side.
Starrk placed his left hand on her head, and an immense spiritual pressure erupted from them both.
"Chase him down – Los Lobos!"
BOOM!
A blue pillar of spiritual pressure shot skyward, revealing Starrk's Resurrección. His appearance hadn't changed drastically. Perhaps because, when he became an Arrancar, his soul had split into two separate beings, his Resurrección differed from other Hollows'.
While most Hollows had a single Hollow hole, Starrk had two. Besides the one in the center of his chest, a white, spectacle-like mask now covered his left eye, its socket a void of darkness, his second Hollow hole. His weapons were a pair of modern handguns. He raised his left hand at Kyōraku.
"Cero!"
A blue Cero blast erupted from the gun towards Kyōraku.
BOOM!
The sudden attack caught Kyōraku off guard. He used Shunpo to evade, but it was futile. Starrk's second Cero followed immediately.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ensuing barrage left Kyōraku speechless. He had fought countless large Hollows over the years, and for each, the Cero had been their ultimate attack, a powerful but costly technique, used sparingly. Starrk, however, used it as if it were a basic attack, a relentless barrage that forced Kyōraku to rely on his considerable Shunpo skills to avoid being obliterated.
During a brief respite, Kyōraku tossed his straw hat into the air, momentarily obscuring Starrk's vision, and called out his Zanpakutō's name.
"When the flowers scatter, they flutter in the wind, the flower goddess cries. When the flowers scatter, they flutter in the wind, the heavens laugh at the demons. – Katen Kyōkotsu!"
BOOM!
An immense spiritual pressure erupted from Kyōraku, its intensity surprised even Starrk. Even without his Bankai, Kyōraku's spiritual pressure rivaled his own.
FLASH!
Starrk fired another Cero. This time, Kyōraku didn't dodge. He swung his Zanpakutō, cleaving the Cero in two. The severed halves struck the buildings behind him, exploding with tremendous force, reducing two seven-story structures to rubble.
"Bushogoma!"
After dispersing the Cero, Kyōraku continued his attack. He swung his Zanpakutō, unleashing two whirling gusts of wind that spiraled towards Starrk.
Starrk raised his right hand, and a dense blue aura enveloped him. He was taking this seriously.
"Infinite Cero!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The next moment, hundreds of Cero blasts erupted from his guns, colliding with Kyōraku's Bushogoma. Dozens were dispersed, but the relentless barrage overwhelmed Kyōraku's attack, shattering it completely.
"Are you kidding me?" Even Kyōraku, known for his laid-back demeanor, was taken aback.
This was beyond simply using Cero as a basic attack. Hundreds of Ceros at once forced Kyōraku into a desperate, evasive dance, the roar of explosions was chasing him through the replica Karakura Town.
"This is the type of enemy I hate dealing with the most…" He muttered as he dodged. If Ukitake were here…
As if summoned by his thoughts, Ukitake's voice echoed. "Sōgyo no Kotowari!"
Ukitake materialized behind Kyōraku, extending his left Zanpakutō. The incoming Ceros were absorbed by the blade, passing through the five medallions on its hilt before being released from his right Zanpakutō.
A three-meter-wide Cero blast erupted from Ukitake's blade, obliterating the incoming Ceros and shot towards Starrk.
Slightly surprised, Starrk used Sonído to evade the attack. Another Shinigami captain with spiritual pressure comparable to his own. And that ability… to absorb and redirect his own Ceros…
"Thanks for the help, Ukitake." Kyōraku smiled.
"Such an opponent suits me perfectly. Leave him to me."
"Are you sure you're alright?" Kyōraku asked, concerned.
"I'm fine, Kyōraku. Captain Ailin used his Zanpakutō's ability to restore me. He said it reverted my state to three hours ago. I have at least two and a half hours before my illness flares up again. More than enough for this fight."
"Alright. Be careful." Reassured, Kyōraku turned his attention elsewhere. "Captain Soi Fon seems to be struggling. I'll leave this to you. I'll go assist her."
"Be careful."
With a few Shunpo, Kyōraku arrived at Soi Fon's side.
"Captain Soi Fon, how is he?"
"Huff, huff…"
At this time, Soi Fon's breathing was ragged from exertion. She became visibly relaxed upon seeing Kyōraku.
"Captain Kyōraku, be careful. That black miasma surrounding him is incredibly destructive. Everything it touches rots and decays. I saw Gin Ichimaru use Dankū to momentarily block it. It seems to be a Kidō-type ability."
"My, my. These Arrancar and their abilities… each one more absurd than the last…" Kyōraku sighed.
Captain Hitsugaya was facing the Tercera Espada. Ukitake had taken over the fight against the Primera. This skeletal figure with a crown had to be the Segunda Espada. Even Soi Fon's brief description painted a picture of immense power. It made sense, however. If his ability could be blocked, even momentarily, by Dankū, he wouldn't have lasted long against Starrk's Infinite Cero.
"Captain Soi Fon, why don't you rest for a bit? I'll handle him for now."
Soi Fon nodded, acknowledging her exhaustion. She had expended a considerable amount of spiritual pressure and effort simply keeping Barragan Louisenbairn at bay. She couldn't maintain her peak condition much longer. One wrong move, and she could be in serious danger.
As for Kyōraku, despite his usual carefree demeanor, he was the captain of the Intelligence Division, a position that demanded both skill and intellect. He had never disappointed, in battle or otherwise. She trusted him to defeat Barragan.
Once Soi Fon had retreated, Kyōraku launched a tentative attack. "Bushogoma!"
…
Izuru Kira lowered his hands, relieved. Despite years of neglect, the healing Kidō he had learned in the Fourth Division hadn't faded. In fact, his increased control over spiritual energy had enhanced its effectiveness.
"Captain Ōtoribashi's injuries are stable. He should recover fully with some rest."
"Thank you, Kira," Hachigen Ushōda nodded gratefully. "Without you, we would have been in serious trouble."
He hadn't expected the Visored to be so thoroughly defeated in such a short time. His own healing abilities were limited. Kira's assistance had saved at least three of them, allowing Hachigen to focus on the more critical injuries. Without Kira, the Visored would have suffered casualties.
"It was your healing that ultimately saved them, Senior Hachigen. My skills are barely adequate for assisting you. Now that everyone's stable, I should return to the battlefield."
"Of course. Be careful."
"I apologize. We came to assist, but in the end, we accomplished nothing…"
Speaking of this, even Hachigen couldn't help but blushed.
"Don't apologize, Senior. You were a great help." Kira shook his head. "Without you, the captains would have been overwhelmed by Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen." He waved goodbye and left the Tozanshō, heading towards the Sekkiseki, the boundary pillars.
The spatial distortion that had swapped a portion of the Zaraki district with Karakura Town was anchored by four Sekkiseki. If the Arrancar destroyed them, the replica Karakura Town would revert back to the Zaraki district.
The lieutenants' task was to protect these pillars. Kira, believing the Shinigami outnumbered the Arrancar, had initially focused on healing. Now, however, three of the four battlefields around the Sekkiseki were silent, and the fourth was still ongoing.