At the same time—
While Baichen and Kenpachi Zaraki's battle continued to spiral through one shocking reversal after another—
Far away in Seireitei, within the Research and Development Institute…
At the very top of the tower, inside a private office that no one was allowed to enter lightly—
Mayuri Kurotsuchi's personal laboratory.
"Captain Mayuri!"
Akonsu's excited voice rang out once more.
"I wasn't wrong, was I?!"
"The abnormal fluctuations coming from Zaraki District are getting more intense by the second!"
"Clearly, the purification force is in serious trouble now!"
Standing before the surveillance monitors, Akonsu frowned deeply. Though he tried his best to stay calm, the warning meters—nearly bursting past their limits—betrayed the violent turmoil churning inside him.
In contrast, the man standing beside him showed no concern at all.
Behind the blue-and-white mask, Mayuri's lips curled upward as he spoke coldly, his tone sharp with disdain.
"Idiot…"
"Haven't you noticed yet?"
"The purification force isn't in danger at all."
"The real problem is Baichen."
Mayuri's voice echoed throughout the spacious, silent office.
Akonsu shuddered and immediately lowered his head.
"W-What do you mean?"
Being reprimanded face-to-face by Mayuri, he didn't dare meet the man's gaze—terrified he'd be tossed into a lab next and subjected to unspeakable experiments.
Mayuri's eyes rotated slowly behind his lenses as he spoke in a low, deliberate tone.
"I don't know exactly what's happening over there…"
"But I can say this with certainty."
"These repeated 'overpressure phenomena'…"
"They're being caused by Baichen's spiritual pressure."
"And the nature of that pressure has changed."
His smile widened—unnatural, delighted.
Ever since the day of Baichen's division assignment, when Mayuri had personally witnessed the overwhelming might of the Zanpakutō Wood Dragon, he had been unable to let it go.
He had spent countless sleepless nights analyzing every shred of data related to that blade.
Though he couldn't replicate it…
Mayuri had still hoped to use that research to create technology linked to Wood-attribute Zanpakutō.
And now—
After analyzing the latest readings—
He had reached a terrifying conclusion.
Baichen's spiritual pressure no longer carried the signature traits of Wood Dragon.
Instead…
It matched the fluctuations of a fire-type Zanpakutō.
That realization was what made Mayuri smile like a madman.
"Tell me, Akonsu…"
"Do you think it's possible…"
"For paired Zanpakutō of completely different attributes to exist?"
Akonsu froze.
"Paired… Zanpakutō?"
"And with entirely different elemental natures?"
Without hesitation, he shook his head violently.
"Impossible!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
"Since the founding of the Gotei Thirteen, paired Zanpakutō have existed—but dual-attribute Zanpakutō do not!"
Such a concept violated every known principle of Zanpakutō fusion.
If such a weapon existed…
Wouldn't that imply the wielder possessed a fractured soul?
How else could two completely incompatible attributes be born within one spirit?
Seeing Akonsu's reaction, Mayuri wasn't surprised in the least.
He chuckled softly.
"That's exactly why…"
"This is the difference between you and me."
"With your imagination, you can only see impossibility."
Ignoring him entirely, Mayuri turned back to the screens, muttering to himself like a lunatic.
"Baichen…"
"Your new fire-type Zanpakutō…"
"It shouldn't be inferior to Wood Dragon, should it?"
"I really look forward to experiencing its power firsthand."
Back in Zaraki District
BOOM—!!!
Wave after wave of scorching heat tore across the already barren land.
Cracks spread through the ground, ash and molten debris erupting from the fissures.
"So this is it…"
"A fire-type barrier technique…"
"So this is the true power of Great Fire Extinguishes the Fan?"
"Still only a Shikai—yet it already rivals a natural disaster!"
Staring at the towering crimson flame formation that engulfed the battlefield, the Shinigami of the purification force stood frozen in shock.
Their mouths hung open, faces pale with awe and fear.
"Vice-Captain Sasakibe…"
"A fire-type Zanpakutō on par with Ryūjin Jakka…"
"If this gets back to Seireitei…"
"Even the Head Captain won't be able to stay seated."
Outside the barrier, Isane Kotetsu felt her breath grow tight just from looking upward.
"It's true," Sasakibe replied gravely.
"If the Head Captain learns of this…"
"He'll demand Baichen demonstrate it in person."
"And he might even…"
"Test it against Ryūjin Jakka itself."
As someone who had served the Head Captain for nearly two thousand years, Sasakibe understood him better than anyone.
Once Great Fire Extinguishes the Fan was revealed, Seireitei would erupt.
Even Central 46 wouldn't remain silent.
But what unsettled Sasakibe even more—
Was Kenpachi Zaraki.
"That man…"
"He's becoming more excited, not less."
"Two incomprehensible monsters…"
Inside the flame barrier, sweat streamed down Kenpachi's rugged face.
Yet the greater the danger became—
The more ecstatic he looked.
"Yes…"
"This feeling!"
"This feeling of standing one step away from death!"
"I've waited for this for centuries!"
Kenpachi roared with laughter as his spiritual pressure surged violently outward, dispersing the oppressive heat.
So overwhelming was his aura that it formed the faint outline of a massive skeletal specter around him—
A savage power sealed away for a thousand years, finally tearing free.
"If I were you," Baichen said calmly, his voice cutting through the inferno,
"With power like this, I wouldn't stay in the Rukongai."
"You're worthy of the title Kenpachi."
"The strongest Kenpachi the Eleventh Division has ever known."
Baichen meant every word.
Now that Nozarashi had awakened—
Keeping Zaraki trapped in the Rukongai would only stunt his growth.
To truly advance, there was only one path.
Seireitei.
Slay the current Kenpachi.
And claim the Eleventh Division.
But Zaraki only snarled.
"I don't care about being 'Kenpachi'!"
"The only thing I want—"
"Is to cut you down!"
With a feral roar, Zaraki leapt.
His massive frame and the colossal blade Nozarashi cast a mountain-like shadow over the battlefield.
Baichen lifted his gaze, scarlet light blooming in his eyes.
Reiatsu and killing intent erupted together, forming a boiling crimson sea.
"Come!"
"One strike decides it!"
"Let's see who the real king of brute force is!"
Baichen launched skyward, the ground shattering beneath his feet.
In the eyes of all who watched—
The massive black blade Nozarashi and the blazing crimson Great Fire Extinguishes the Fan—
Clashed in midair.
And in that instant—
The collision of their spiritual pressure tore through the heavens.
Clouds twisted violently.
The sky itself warped—
As if it were about to be cleaved in half.
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