When it comes to battle, the 11th Division is always eager for a fight.
And this was a rare opportunity—to challenge a captain.
Ittora Yamazaki had just used Tenteikūra to send out the message, and within three minutes, the dojo was packed. The gathered Shinigami were all raring to go, but none wanted to lose face by ganging up on a single opponent, so they held back from charging in right away.
Masatsuki Aozaki glanced at the four-person group led by Gin Ichimaru not far away.
Ichimaru wore his usual carefree smile.
Ryuuseki and Izumo looked on with admiration, as if it had never even crossed their minds that he could lose.
Only Lisa Yadōmaru's eyes flickered briefly with concern.
Masatsuki Aozaki let out a pleased smile.
All his tireless effort—sacrificing sleep, pouring himself into his craft, bringing forth in this world what he had accumulated in his past life—had not been in vain. Even the 9th Division's editorial department had seen fit to publish his book.
It was all worth it!
"Captain Aozaki, I'm no match for you," Ittora Yamazaki admitted honestly.
Their earlier exchange had made it clear—Masatsuki Aozaki was far beyond him in strength.
He had attacked with full force, yet the other had sent him flying with a single casual strike. The gaping hole in the dojo's door was still unrepaired.
And it wasn't just physical strength. Even their Zanpakutō were leagues apart. Even a Bankai had been overpowered by the opponent's Shikai alone.
Just remembering how powerless even Kenpachi Kiganjō's sparring partners had felt against that rock-like armor…
If Masatsuki Aozaki's Zanpakutō was truly as rumored, then even in Shikai, it could likely reduce him to dust.
Dying in battle was one thing, but being beaten to death by his own captain? Now that would be humiliating.
"It's fine, I'm not here to kill anyone..."
Masatsuki Aozaki smiled at Ittora Yamazaki, his excitement clear as he flexed his fingers.
"I just thought this would be a good chance to get to know everyone in the 11th Division."
"You can even release your Zanpakutō!"
Ittora Yamazaki let out a wry smile. But with things at this point, he knew he couldn't back down—if he did, it wouldn't just be his own pride on the line, but the entire 11th Division's.
"Alright!"
With a sharp cry, he gripped the scabbard at his waist.
"Roar, Koenmaru!"
Drawing his Zanpakutō, flames instantly engulfed the blade.
A fire-type Zanpakutō, huh? What unfortunate luck… but this level of heat doesn't affect me anymore.
Masatsuki Aozaki grinned.
The 11th Division had always been a combat-focused squad, but at this time, it was still somewhat different from how it would later be under Kenpachi Zaraki.
While they favored direct combat, they didn't reject Kido-based techniques, nor did they have a particular preference for purely offensive-type Zanpakutō.
"Then come, 3rd Seat Yamazaki!"
The moment his words fell, Masatsuki Aozaki's figure vanished.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Ittora Yamazaki.
Yamazaki's pupils shrank in shock, and he instinctively slashed forward with Koenmaru—
Bang!
Before he could even react, a fist slammed into his abdomen with crushing force. His body shot backward like a severed kite, crashing straight through the wooden wall.
Completely overpowered.
The watching 11th Division members froze in shock, and some couldn't help but swallow nervously.
Without the slightest hesitation, Masatsuki Aozaki extended a finger, pointing at the gathered Shinigami. Then, with a smirk, he curled his finger in a taunting gesture, as if to say:
"He's not enough. Why don't you all come at me together?"
Fury flared in the hearts of the 11th Division members.
They were known as the battle maniacs of the Gotei 13—when had they ever suffered such humiliation? Without another moment of restraint, they charged in unison.
The dojo echoed with the pounding of footsteps, the crackling of thunder, the rush of wind.
From a distance, Gin Ichimaru watched with an indifferent expression.
Ryuuseki, Izumo, and Lisa Yadōmaru, however, stared wide-eyed, holding their breath as they witnessed the chaotic clash—one man against a hundred.
"Good!"
Masatsuki Aozaki's eyes gleamed with excitement. He sidestepped a Seated Officer's incoming punch, glided forward, and suddenly lashed out with what seemed like an unremarkable fist.
Bang!
A shockwave rippled outward as his punch landed square on the officer's contorted face, sending him flying diagonally through the air.
A sharp crackle rang out—lightning flashed fiercely, snaking through the air like a white serpent.
A Seated Officer, eyes gleaming with aggression, swung his long sword, directing a bolt of electricity straight at Masatsuki Aozaki.
In an instant, Masatsuki Aozaki closed the gap, his movements ghostlike. Appearing beside the officer, he raised his left hand and brought it down like a blade.
A searing pain exploded in the officer's skull as his body was sent soaring uncontrollably.
The next moment, his head crashed into the ground, shattering the dojo floor.
Another squad member lunged from the side, raising his Zanpakutō like a massive axe.
Masatsuki Aozaki reached out, grabbed the man's face in a crushing grip, and shoved him forcefully into the wooden wall—splintering it open with a deafening crack.
From afar, a towering Shinigami with short hair charged forward. He loomed at least three heads taller than Masatsuki Aozaki, his muscles bulging as he swung a powerful punch.
Bang!
A pale hand stopped the attack in midair.
"Not bad. Do you mainly train in Hakuda? We should spar sometime," Masatsuki Aozaki remarked, nodding in approval. "But for now, you'd better sit this one out."
With a firm grip on the towering man's wrist, Masatsuki Aozaki twisted his body and flung him aside. The massive Shinigami crashed into the crowd, toppling several squad members in his wake.
Without pause, Masatsuki Aozaki sank his stance slightly, his fists launching forward with blinding speed—turning into a flurry of black shadows. His strikes rained down like a violent storm, hammering into the bodies of the advancing squad members.
"Don't die," Masatsuki Aozaki murmured.
"What...?"
The fighters barely had time to register his words before—
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
A relentless barrage of impacts erupted like the beating of war drums. Bodies flew in all directions.
Lisa Yadōmaru stood frozen, staring in utter disbelief.
So this... is the power of a captain?
She had never actually seen her own captain go all out before. Would he look the same at full strength?
Against him, sheer numbers meant nothing.
...
One hour later.
Masatsuki Aozaki stood in the middle of the wreckage.
Around him, countless 11th Division members lay sprawled across the floor—some gasping for breath, others completely motionless.
The barracks were in complete disarray. The walls and floor were riddled with holes, the very structure battered and broken.
Tattered Shihakushō were stained with blood, and nearly every squad member had crimson trailing from the corners of their mouths.
Ryuuseki, Izumo, and Lisa Yadōmaru could only stare blankly.
They had never seen anything like this before.
A Shinigami who could defeat an entire division without even drawing a Zanpakutō?
Even though the 11th Division was currently lacking its upper-tier fighters, they were still seasoned warriors, trained for combat.
And yet, he had overwhelmed them completely.
It was... terrifying.
"You haven't changed at all," Gin Ichimaru said, stepping forward with an easygoing expression. "Still as monstrously strong as ever."
In general, the 11th Division's members had lower Reiatsu than the prisoners of the Nest of Maggots.
But there was an undeniable difference between a Shinigami with a Zanpakutō and one without.
Masatsuki Aozaki waved a hand dismissively. "It's not a big deal. Give it time, and you'll be like me too."
"Yeah, right," Gin Ichimaru scoffed, rolling his eyes.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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