NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 3: CHAPTER 3
"This is…!? What terrifying spiritual pressure!"
Even Byakuya Kuchiki couldn't keep his composure.
This Reiatsu wasn't just overwhelming in volume, but as golden light converged around the blade, he felt an extremely dangerous sensation emanating from the sword.
Yes—this was fear.
For a captain of the Gotei 13 to feel a sense of crisis from a mere seated officer's Zanpakutō was unheard of.
"No… This battle must be stopped immediately!"
His lieutenant, Hiroshi Arata, also sensed it, but it was already too late—Renjiro Kurozawa was ready to strike!
"Ex—calibur!"
Renjiro swung the golden sword, and an overwhelming torrent of golden energy erupted, consuming everything in its path!
BOOM!!!
The intensity of the golden radiance made it impossible to keep one's eyes open. Even Shinigami stationed far away in the Seireitei could feel the residual impact of the technique.
A thunderous explosion rang out, the sheer force of it causing tremors throughout the training grounds. The very air was electrified with destructive power.
In the aftermath, as the dust and light began to settle, an eerie silence fell over the Sixth Division's training field.
What remained was a massive crater—a deep void in the earth where the ground had been obliterated. As for Kuchiki Takuto…
He was gone.
Not even a shadow of him remained.
---
"This… This can't be Shikai-level power, can it!?"
The spectators could only gape at the devastation. Even the most seasoned Shinigami among them had never witnessed a Shikai display such absurd force.
"It seems that I've won this match," Renjiro declared calmly, his golden sword still glowing in his grasp. His gaze swept over the other seated officers.
"Who else wants to challenge me?"
His voice echoed in the silence.
The Sixth Division members flinched.
No one stepped forward.
What kind of idiot would dare challenge him after witnessing that display?
Even Hiroshi Arata, standing alongside Byakuya, wore an unreadable expression. His fists clenched in frustration before he snapped, "You… You actually killed him!?"
Renjiro didn't even blink. "The seat test has always been a life-or-death challenge, hasn't it? Even Kuchiki Takuto himself used that excuse to justify 'accidentally' killing civilians in past tests. Why should it be any different now?"
Hiroshi was momentarily at a loss for words.
Renjiro knew his actions would draw hostility from the noble houses—especially the Kuchiki Clan. But he welcomed that challenge. The greater the danger, the more valuable the rewards from the survival system.
"Captain Kuchiki, I assume my new rank is clear now?"
Byakuya's expression was unreadable, but after a brief pause, he responded, "Indeed. Based on your performance, I officially assign you the Third Seat of the Sixth Division. You may collect your certification after the test concludes."
Without another word, Byakuya turned and left the training grounds, his spiritual pressure subtly fluctuating.
Renjiro understood. Byakuya was bound by his sense of fairness and duty to uphold the results of the test. But at the same time, he now saw Renjiro as a threat.
That was fine.
In fact, Renjiro welcomed it.
---
The Rumors Spread…
Later, back in his quarters, Renjiro collapsed onto his futon, exhausted.
"I didn't expect one attack to drain all my spiritual energy… Looks like my Reiatsu reserves are my biggest weakness right now."
What he didn't realize was that news of his display of power had already spread throughout the Seireitei!
It wasn't just idle gossip—his attack had caused seismic-level destruction, making it impossible to ignore.
At the Fifth Division Barracks, a certain bespectacled captain adjusted his glasses, a subtle smile forming on his lips.
Aizen Sōsuke gazed in the direction of the Sixth Division's training grounds.
"The attack just now… That level of power is extraordinary. Even among the captains, few possess such sheer destructive force. Has someone new mastered Bankai?"
He pondered the implications.
A new, unknown factor had entered the equation—one that warranted careful observation.
---
Meanwhile, at the First Division Headquarters, the supreme commander of the Gotei 13 stood with his arms crossed, staring at the devastated training grounds from afar.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni had felt that surge of power as well.
"Captain-Commander, do you recognize that technique?" asked Chōjirō Sasakibe, his lieutenant.
Yamamoto remained silent for a moment before shaking his head. "No. That was no ordinary Zanpakutō technique. The force of it was immense—even captains would struggle to replicate it."
Sasakibe frowned. "But the training grounds are built using Sekkiseki stone… How could a mere seated officer's attack cause such devastation?"
"An important question," Yamamoto agreed. His gaze sharpened. "We will soon have our answer."
Just then, Byakuya Kuchiki arrived at the First Division Barracks. His face was as composed as ever, but his presence alone signified the gravity of the situation.
Yamamoto spoke first. "Byakuya Kuchiki… Who was responsible for the attack?"
Byakuya responded calmly, "The Shinigami in question is named Renjiro Kurozawa… And this was not Bankai."
A tense silence filled the room.
Sasakibe's eyes widened. "Impossible! If that wasn't Bankai, then what kind of Zanpakutō could unleash such an attack!?"
Yamamoto's expression darkened. "The training grounds are fortified to withstand Bankai-level assaults. If he accomplished this with Shikai, then his power may surpass most captains once he fully matures."
Sasakibe swallowed hard, fully understanding the implications. Even among the Gotei 13, there were only a few captains capable of such devastation in a single strike.
Byakuya nodded. "That is why I suspect his Zanpakutō may be the strongest Light-Type Zanpakutō in history."
A deadly silence followed his words.
The captains of the Gotei 13 now had their eyes on Renjiro Kurozawa.