The moment Kenpachi Zaraki removed his eyepatch, his aura turned violently ferocious.
The eyepatch over his right eye was a device developed by the Research and Development Institute. Its purpose was to suppress and steadily drain his Reiatsu, lowering his power to match his opponents so he could savor the fun of battle for longer.
As long as he wore it, Kenpachi's spiritual pressure was constantly being restrained.
The instant it came off—
his power returned to its full state.
A pillar of golden Reiatsu wrapped around Kenpachi's body and shot skyward. The bells tied into his hair rang sharply within the storm of pressure, while his white captain's haori fluttered wildly without wind.
Faced with that overwhelming force head-on, only Sengoku, Garp, Kizaru, and Akainu could barely hold their ground.
The weaker Vice Admirals' legs buckled involuntarily. Their spines bent under the crushing weight of his Reiatsu, and even breathing became an unbearable struggle.
As for the ordinary Marines—
most of them had already collapsed.
Their will simply could not endure the pressure. Some looked as though even their souls were on the verge of being crushed apart.
"So he's been hiding this much strength all along?!" Sengoku raised both arms in front of him, shielding himself instinctively. The storm of Reiatsu crashing toward him was so intense he could barely keep his eyes open.
He had crossed the seas for years.
He had fought Whitebeard, Roger, and the Golden Lion.
And yet—
never once had he felt fear like this.
The pressure Kenpachi radiated was even more terrifying than the three great pirates of that era.
It felt like a cub staring up at the king of beasts.
Like a mortal trying to gaze at a god above the heavens.
Sengoku found that he didn't even have the courage to properly lift his head.
"This is absurd." Garp's face was grave. Even something as simple as raising his hand now required effort. "His pressure doesn't just alter the environment—it's directly restricting our movements."
He glanced behind him and frowned harder.
"Other than Borsalino and Sakazuki, nobody else can endure this."
Thanks to Haki and elementalization, the two Admirals could still remain functional. But the fifteen Vice Admirals were struggling on the decks of their warships, each one looking as though an invisible mountain had been dropped onto their backs.
At that moment, Yachiru—who had been lying on Ren Kuro's shoulder—let out a cheerful laugh and hopped lightly onto Kenpachi's shoulder instead.
"Ken-chan, are you really going to fight the Marines all by yourself? That's pretty heroic."
She giggled sweetly, her face as innocent as ever.
"Right?" Kenpachi grinned. "Four Admiral-class fighters. That ought to be enough for me to enjoy this for a while."
"Ken-chan, the Marines look like they're already scared of you," Yachiru said, pouting as she pointed toward the enemy fleet.
"Idiot." Kenpachi snorted. "This game's only just getting started. If they're already scared now, then there's no fun in it."
He tore open the front of his shihakushō and let out a savage laugh.
"Hmph. Anyone who calls someone else an idiot is the real idiot," Yachiru shot back, turning her face away with a little huff.
"Oh?" Kenpachi's grin widened. "Then stand back and watch, Yachiru."
With one step forward, the golden pillar of spiritual pressure that had been blasting into the sky suddenly compressed back into his body.
The terrifying force shaking space itself vanished.
The suffocating Marines finally managed to gasp for breath.
But Sengoku and Garp didn't relax in the slightest.
Because the sense of danger pressing on their hearts hadn't lessened at all—
it had only grown stronger.
"Marines," Kenpachi said, battle-lust blazing in his eyes, "to me, there's only one thing you are."
"Enemies."
"As long as you come at me with everything you've got, that's enough."
He lowered the chipped Zanpakutō to his side.
Then—
with one casual swing—
he split the sea apart.
"…What?!"
Sengoku's pupils shrank violently.
"The sea… was cut open?!"
He could hardly believe the amount of power packed into that single slash.
In his memory, only Whitebeard's quakes had ever torn the sea open like that.
"Compared to Poison Blade and Cherry Blossom… he's the most terrifying one of all."
At that moment, Sengoku found himself in an almost impossible position.
Even if the four of them joined forces, there was no guarantee they could kill Kenpachi.
And even if Kenpachi did fall—
Ren Kuro and the others were still watching from behind him.
If both sides fought without restraint, the result would almost certainly be mutual destruction.
"Battle is just a way to pass the time," Kenpachi said, raising his blade high. "So I suggest you use your strongest techniques."
"The game is starting now."
He brought the blade down through the air.
A golden slash tore straight toward the warship where Sengoku stood.
"Don't be so arrogant, pirate!"
Sengoku exploded with all of his power. Golden light burst from his body, and a massive divine figure began to take shape around him.
Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan…
He transformed into a giant Buddha.
His entire body shone with dazzling light, and an overwhelming righteous aura poured from him. In that form, Sengoku resembled a living god—majestic, inviolable.
"For the sake of justice, I will not let you run wild!"
His voice boomed across the sea like a temple bell.
"Shockwave of the Buddha!"
The giant Buddha raised its hand, and a wave of golden force rippled outward in expanding layers.
Under countless stunned eyes, the two attacks collided.
A deafening roar erupted. The air itself seemed to explode, crackling under the pressure of the impact.
At the center of the clash, a furious whirlpool opened in the sea, while gigantic waves rose in layers and spread outward in every direction.
The Soul Society and the Marine warships alike were tossed violently amid the raging waters, like nothing more than drifting leaves on the ocean.
"Well now, that's terrifying," Gin Ichimaru said calmly, his eyes unreadably deep. "If this were any ordinary ship, it would've sunk already."
"Captain Kenpachi's gone completely berserk," Hitsugaya said as he leaned against the mast. "Are we moving in?"
"There's no need to help that barbarian," Byakuya said coldly.
"Captain Hitsugaya, surely you understand."
"The man fighting right now is like a beast staring at a slab of fresh meat. If you interfere…"
Byakuya's gaze sharpened.
"…he'll probably devour you too."
"And dying that way—eaten by a beast—"
"…would be an exceptionally foolish death."
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