Chapter 80
Tōsen Kaname was also surprised by Orihime's unreasonable ability.
His Bankai barrier looked thin, but in reality, it wasn't fragile; otherwise, an opponent could just keep running in one direction and break through by brute force.
As expected.
The torn barrier repaired itself in an instant, sealing off the gap.
Sunlight and perception vanished again.
This time, Orihime was mentally prepared, which allowed her to calm down and recall her training memories from the Human World.
"...Miss Inoue, although I have a method to achieve Bankai in a short period, I don't recommend it. Danger is one aspect, and on the other hand, there's a super strengthening plan that's more suitable for you."
"...Ding ding ding ding~ It's this! My carefully formulated vaccine. Aren't you envious of how powerful Xiao Yu and Jinta are at such a young age? So I extracted their Reishi and tailor-made an enhancement agent for you. In my opinion, your powers are quite compatible, so you can really look forward to it."
...
"...This... is truly astonishing. Although I expected it to be a good fit, to amplify your ability to this extent without a significant increase in spiritual pressure truly exceeded my expectations."
"...Do I look unhappy? No, not at all. I'm quite happy for you, Inoue. It's just that I thought of something else and couldn't quite smile, because it felt a bit too easy, almost like... Never mind, it must be my imagination."
"...Let's talk about your abilities, Miss Inoue. Although there are still many unsolved mysteries about you, your abilities have indeed become stronger, and they are very strong... In my opinion, that is a power absolutely not inferior to Bankai."
"...So when you encounter an opponent using Bankai and you don't have a better solution, use it. With your current spiritual pressure, you should be able to handle Captain-level strength... But I personally advise against using it on yourself or on enemies. After all, in situations where Koten Zanshun, Sōten Kishun, and Santen Kesshun—these three-in-one offensive, defensive, and healing techniques—are ineffective, it's usually because the opponent's restrictive abilities outweigh their actual combat power, preventing you from utilizing your full strength."
Therefore, in such a situation, activate it against space itself~ It can effectively help you get out of trouble and then deliver an unexpectedly painful blow to the opponent~"
...
Rip!
The sharp pain of a blade cutting through her body pulled Orihime's thoughts back to reality.
This strike, if she were in human form, would have been a fatal wound.
But with her spiritual pressure negating the damage, it wasn't a big problem.
Speaking of which... why didn't the opponent stab her body with the sword?
Was he afraid that one strike wouldn't be fatal enough, allowing her to activate her ability to recover, or...
The question flashed through her mind.
Perhaps it hid a weakness of the opponent's Bankai.
But it no longer mattered.
Orihime deliberately swung her sword to intimidate the opponent, then unexpectedly reversed her grip, plunging the blade deep into the ground, and softly chanted a new incantation.
"「Shiten Kōshun」!"
In an instant, an orange-yellow light surged from the cracks in the ground, flowing like water beneath Orihime's feet, spreading out further, coating the earth like golden aluminum.
But at the edge of the barrier, this light climbed along the edge, eventually covering the inside of the barrier.
Above and below, in all directions.
The completely black oval space turned orange-yellow.
"What?!"
Tōsen Kaname couldn't see, but he could feel an unusual spiritual pressure filling the entire space like a gas.
It was as if...
"—I refuse!"
Accompanied by Orihime's shout.
The Bankai space of Suzumushi was shattered.
In its place was an orange-yellow barrier space.
"—!"
Tōsen Kaname's face changed dramatically, as he found that he had lost his hearing and spiritual pressure perception, leaving only the tactile sensation of gripping his sword.
"To resist and destroy my Bankai, and even reflect the ability to strip senses back to me?"
How could such an exaggerated ability exist?
Does this woman think she's a god?
Refusing the proud power of those who dare to challenge a god, and then returning it intact as a punishment...?
Just then.
A large sword slashed down from above.
Orihime gritted her teeth, delivering a heavy blow to her opponent.
Although harming life other than Hollows was not her intention, to rescue Rukia, she had to injure the opponent.
The opponent's companions would then be too busy tending to the injured to pursue them.
"Ugh...!"
Blood splattered from Tōsen Kaname's chest, and he knelt on the ground in disbelief.
He was like a completely different person from his previous calm and composed self, who regarded victory as already in his grasp.
"Tōsen...!"
"Captain Tōsen!"
The orange-yellow barrier and the severely injured Tōsen Kaname both came to an end.
Seeing their Captain (friend, respected superior) in such a miserable state, Komamura, Shūhei, and Iba were greatly alarmed.
What happened?
Why was Tōsen, who directly activated his Bankai, defeated so quickly?!
"Take this...!"
Komamura unhesitatingly drew his Zanpakuto and slashed at Orihime, forcing her away from his friend, then called Iba to help guard him.
"Komamura, I'm sorry..."
"Don't say another word... leave the rest to me."
Tōsen Kaname, his mouth full of blood, lay in Iba's arms, weakly wanting to express his shame.
But Komamura cut him off.
"ryoka girl, to defeat Tōsen with such valor is truly remarkable. Now, let an old man be your opponent... Tenken!"
Surging spiritual pressure swirled like a wild wind.
In the air, a giant hand, holding a long sword of the same size, slashed down at Orihime along with Komamura's movements.
"Santen Kesshun!"
Orihime raised her Zanpakuto, releasing a triangular barrier that firmly blocked this powerful strike.
"Well done. Then... Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!"
Komamura was also a decisive person.
When Shikai couldn't shake the opponent's defense, he immediately used his full power.
A giant samurai warrior clad in armor rose from the ground.
Its height was comparable to a skyscraper.
Orihime and Rukia both gasped.
Only now did they understand what Tōsen Kaname meant by "worried about accidentally injuring the prisoner."
Just the sword in the giant's hand was the size of a street below; it was unimaginable what a full-power strike amplified by spiritual pressure would look like.
It felt like leveling a mountain range wouldn't take much time.
Orihime intended to retreat, but after pulling Rukia and running only a few steps, Shūhei, without a word, released a high-level Bakudo.
If a dozen light rods pierced their bodies, they would surely be unable to move for a while.
Tōsen Kaname's injured defeat meant that Shūhei, as Lieutenant, could no longer stand by idly.
"Since Captain Komamura's Bankai is prone to accidental injury, I, in the name of the Prison Squad, Ninth Division, will first apprehend the criminal!"
However, the light rods of 「Hyappo Rankan」 were blocked in mid-flight by a swarm of insects that appeared from nowhere, failing to penetrate and hit Orihime or Rukia.
"...?"
Shūhei's pupils contracted.
Then he and Komamura saw two more people appear beside the opponent.
A boy and a girl.
Their first impression was that they were not ordinary.
They had a unique aura.
Furthermore, their spiritual pressure was not weak.
At least at the level of a high-ranking seated officer.
But they were unfamiliar; there didn't seem to be these two figures in the Gotei 13.
Instead, Orihime and Rukia were the first to recognize the newcomers.
"Miss Hachihara, and Rindo-kun!"
"Weren't you with Shimiya and the others that day...?!"
Orihime was almost overjoyed.
Rukia also let out a long sigh of relief.
Finally, reinforcements had arrived.
"Yo, Orihime~ Rindo and I have been waiting for you for ages. Seeing you struggle, we decided to come and help!"
Hachihara flashed a brilliant smile.
Rindo Yu silently typed beside her.
[We'll take Kucihki first, okay?]
"Mm!"
With the arrival of reinforcements, Orihime's morale soared, and she nodded heavily.
"I'll stop that Seventh Division Captain!"
"Good! Let's go!"
"Whoa! I'm going to throw up in this position...!"
Hachihara slung Rukia over her shoulder in one swift motion and vanished.
Rindo Yu also followed, glancing at Shūhei before leaving, as if warning him not to follow.
This left the latter furious and anxious.
"Hisagi, go after them."
Tōsen Kaname's weak voice came.
"Yes!"
Shūhei acted without hesitation.
"Iba, you go too..."
Tōsen Kaname said to the Seventh Division Lieutenant who was tending to him.
"But Captain Tōsen, you..."
"I'm fine. It's just a sword wound. If necessary, I can still rejoin the fight."
Watching Tōsen Kaname shakily stand up, leaning against the wall, Iba looked at Komamura with some difficulty.
"Since Tōsen says so, then go."
"Understood!"