Kyōraku Shunsui's Katen Kyōkotsu pierced through the chest of the Schrift "X"—Lille Barro.
But in that very instant, Lille Barro opened his previously shut left eye.
From the wound in his chest, not a single drop of blood fell.
"You've made me open my left eye three times now, Shinigami."
Lille spoke calmly.
"It's only when both eyes are open… that you can wield the essence of Piercing All Things, right?"
Kyōraku finished his sentence for him.
"Correct. My bullets will pierce your body, and my body… will pierce your blade."
"You know my power well. But once I open my eyes… no weapon in this world can kill me."
His voice remained indifferent, certain of victory.
Katen Kyōkotsu passed through his body—harmlessly.
The moment his eyes opened, normal attacks could no longer harm him.
"If I kept both eyes open all the time, it'd be far too unfair for the sinners."
A trace of arrogance crept into Lille's tone.
"Ah—is that so?" Kyōraku smirked. "Then hurry up and close them again!"
"That rule only applies to those who make me open my eyes less than three times," Lille replied coolly. "I am His Majesty's finest creation—the man closest to God. You, who have forced my third opening… are beyond forgiveness."
In the next moment, a radiant glow burst from Lille's left eye. His body became engulfed in a brilliant green pentagram.
As the star's glow faded, Lille Barro's form had completely changed.
Four pairs of glowing green spirit wings sprouted from his back—each perforated with gaping holes.
A green halo floated above his head.
His body was wrapped in white armor—transforming him into a winged, divine figure.
"Quincy: Vollständig – Divine Judgement."
Divine Judgement—Lille Barro now gazed down like a god surveying ants.
"This is bad..."
Kyōraku gave a bitter smile.
He had already received intel from Katori Nanatsuki about Lille Barro. He knew just how terrifying this opponent was.
There was no defeating him—not head-on. The only path forward was exploiting his arrogance... and buying time.
"We'll have to trust Old Man Yama… and Captain Katori."
Sensing the Reiatsu around him, Kyōraku realized his teacher was still entangled, but Katori Nanatsuki was nearly done with his own battle.
No time to waste—he vanished from his spot at top speed.
A moment later, multiple holes appeared where he'd been standing.
Piercing All Things.
Once in Vollständig, Lille could channel the ability through the holes in his spirit wings.
Anything in his line of fire—pierced instantly.
Kyōraku reappeared beside the fallen Isshin, lifted him up, and vanished again.
BOOM BOOM BOOM—the ground where they had stood exploded into more piercing holes.
Lille adjusted his wings, constantly unleashing waves of All-Penetrating Judgment to hunt them down.
But every beam of green light missed.
"Your speed… seems to have increased quite a bit."
Even Lille was puzzled that his attacks failed to connect.
While Piercing All Things required no charging—only a thought to activate—tracking a moving target still required time.
Kyōraku's movement exceeded Lille's aiming speed.
"Thanks to the Research and Development Bureau's medicine."
Kyōraku ducked into a ruined house with Isshin over his shoulder.
A small cube was embedded at his neck, pumping liquid through microscopic needles into his artery.
A continuous-injection drug—developed by Mayuri Kurotsuchi specifically to counter All-Penetrating Judgment.
While active, it drastically boosted his speed.
"If I use this stuff… I'll be bedridden for months…"
Kyōraku muttered. He only used Mayuri's drugs in emergencies—the side effects were brutal. He might not be able to use Reiatsu for months afterward.
"How's your leg?" he asked.
"Not great. Can't move it at all." Isshin grinned bitterly.
Kyōraku examined the wound—grimacing. The injury had struck a critical part of Isshin's leg.
"Don't know if this'll help. Got it from Vice-Captain Kurotsuchi too."
He produced another vial, injecting it directly into Isshin's wound.
In the next moment, Isshin's leg began to regenerate at incredible speed.
"The R&D Bureau's insane..."
Kyōraku couldn't help but be impressed.
His Zanpakutō was perfect for stalling enemies, which was why he'd volunteered to take on Schrift "X"—Lille Barro. In order to stall him longer, Mayuri had supplied a range of specialized drugs.
"I've got another dose of the Acceleration Drug. Use it."
Kyōraku handed Isshin a backup vial crafted specifically to counter Lille Barro's abilities.
Knowing they couldn't stay put for long, the two quickly evacuated the area.
"Are you ready to receive divine judgment?"
Lille Barro soared into the sky. His eight spirit wings spread wide.
Each wing had three holes—that meant he could fire 24 beams of Piercing All Things simultaneously.
The next instant, 24 beams of green light rained down from the heavens.
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!
Twenty-four holes ripped into the ground.
BOOM—Kyōraku burst from the rubble.
The green beams pursued him relentlessly.
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!
Twenty-four more holes—yet none touched him.
"Trying to dodge divine judgment like this?"
Lille adjusted his strategy: 12 beams would track, and 12 would block Kyōraku's movements.
It worked.
Forced to dodge the intercepting beams, Kyōraku's speed dropped.
In the next moment—three green beams pierced his body.
"In the face of God's messenger, all struggle is futile."
Lille's eight wings aligned to fire a finishing strike.
Just then—Isshin appeared behind him.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
A massive crescent of flame surged forth—
And swallowed Lille Barro whole.