At the central Training Ground of the Seireitei Academy, the slaughter between Isayama Yomi and Unohana Retsu had reached a state of madness.
Both had abandoned all defense, their blades carrying spiritual pressure that tore through space; every collision erupted with ear-piercing metallic clangs and a mist of blood.
However, as Unohana Retsu's thousand-year-dormant battle instincts fully awakened, the "quality" of her spiritual pressure began a terrifying transformation, devouring the surrounding reishi like a bottomless abyss.
Although Yomi's spiritual pressure rose violently due to the sesshōseki, it was ultimately suppressed in "magnitude" by this ancient pressure born from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Like a lone boat in a raging sea, every swing of her blade became exceptionally heavy.
"Damn it!" Yomi gritted her teeth, the power of the Hollow within her body stirring under the extreme pressure.
Her left hand suddenly clutched her cheek—her fingertips almost touching the bone mask that was about to condense. In this blood-boiling, life-risking slaughter, she absolutely could not fail now! Even if it meant exposing her Hollowfication, she wouldn't hesitate!
Just at this critical moment—
"Swoosh—!!!"
The sky was suddenly pierced by a golden trail tearing through the air! A Golden Arrow, wrapped in a spiral energy storm and carrying a power like judgment itself, descended boldly!
It accurately captured the most violent gap in the collision of their spiritual pressures, crashing down like a falling star!
"What is that???"
"Boom—!!!"
The Training Ground Barrier, already riddled with cracks from the impact of their Second Class Spiritual Pressure, shattered like fragile glass before this torrent of energy—a fusion of the full power of Shihōin Hiroki, Chizuru, and Yashiro, amplified to the extreme by the sagittarius gold cloth!
The Golden Arrow turned into a raging wave of light that incinerated reishi, plunging unreservedly into the core of their battle circle!
The deafening explosion distorted space into ripples.
The violent golden reishi storm instantly swallowed all vision, and the terrifying shockwave, like a solid wall of iron, sent the two combatants flying!
Their bodies crashed like broken kites onto the shattered ground in the distance, as dust and energy turbulence soared into the sky.
As the thick dust gradually settled, the scene revealed before everyone was breathtaking.
The entire central area of the Training Ground had vanished, replaced by a massive charred crater dozens of meters in diameter, with smoke rising from its molten edges.
On either side of this epicenter of destruction, Unohana Retsu and Isayama Yomi were covered in blood, struggling to stand up in a wretched state.
Their shinigami uniforms were in tatters, their exposed skin covered in burns and deep lacerations, and their spiritual pressures fluctuated violently like candles in the wind; clearly, both had suffered severe injuries from the aftermath of the Golden Arrow.
"Cough... cough cough..."
Unohana Retsu wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her gaze toward the deep pit carrying a hint of regret at having her interest interrupted.
"How disappointing... I finally found an opponent who could make me feel 'content,' only to have it crudely ruined like this."
Beneath her gentle mask, the soul of the first kenpachi was letting out an unwilling cry due to the interruption of the battle.
"Yeah... it's really annoying..." Yomi panted heavily, forcibly suppressing the churning Hollow power and intense pain within her body.
She was secretly shocked by the power of Shihōin Hiroki's arrow—if Hiroki hadn't deliberately controlled the point of impact, and if she and Unohana hadn't instinctively dodged to shed some of the power, it wouldn't have been as simple as just being severely injured.
What made her even more fearful in hindsight was that if this arrow hadn't interrupted them in time, she would have exposed her Hollowfication form in front of everyone, with unimaginable consequences!
Unohana Retsu carefully sensed her own condition, her brow furrowing slightly. "My Kaidō is repairing my internal organs, but the destructive reishi remaining from that arrow is still eroding my spirit body... I'll need some time to rest and recuperate to fully recover from these fundamental injuries."
She looked at Yomi, whose aura was also withered. "What about your injuries?"
"Not great..." Yomi shook her head with a bitter smile and admitted honestly, "Taking the direct impact of that arrow broke several bones and shook my spiritual network. I'll probably have to be bedridden for a few days."
That guy has even more tricks up his sleeve! I was really saved this time... I almost lost my head and caused a huge disaster!
Unohana Retsu's deep gaze fell upon Yomi, as if piercing through her wretched appearance to look directly at the wild potential and untamed sharpness within her.
A faint smile, one that only their kind could understand, tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Then... would you like to join the Fourth Division?" This invitation was a recognition of a rare opponent, as well as a safe place for this "vicious blade" to return to its sheath.
"Sure." Yomi nodded immediately, without the slightest hesitation.
Joining the Fourth Division would allow her to get close to this powerful first kenpachi to refine her swordsmanship, while also using the Fourth Division's relatively detached environment to hide her secrets. It was the most ideal choice at the moment.
"Mm, a wise decision."
Unohana Retsu nodded with satisfaction, and a soft green light of Kaidō began to emanate from her, enveloping herself and Yomi to temporarily stabilize their injuries. "Let's go. We're going back to the Fourth Division barracks to heal."
She didn't even bother to spare another glance at the destroyed crater or the terrified spectators in the distance.
"Okay."
Ignoring the deathly silent, shocked stares and the sounds of gasping from the crowd, the two supported each other as they stepped over the messy scorched earth and rubble, their figures slowly disappearing into the lingering dust and the unscattered golden reishi fragments.